Ask the Car People.SM


Subaru Legacy/Outback

11746 messages,  Last post on Dec 06, 2011 at 12:51 PM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Wagon

Messages Page 1106 of 1175

#11049 of 11746 Is it OK to replace 16" wheels with 15" wheels? by ulpilot

Nov 29, 2005 (8:18 am)

Message:
I have a 2003 Legacy GT Station Wagon which came with 205/55/16 tires on 16" wheels. I want to install a "winter package" consisting of 195/60/15 tires on 15" wheels.
 
A 15" package is a lot less expensive that a 16". I went to 2 Subaru dealers and they knew less about it than I did. At least they would not commit to the 15" and that I should go to the tire sellers. I did this and they said they couldn't tell without the 15" inch wheels. Something about the "calipers" might be different.
 
They all said to go to "Tire Rack" on the internet and of course they would be happy to sell me anything I wanted, but no guarantee as to fit.
 
Isn't a Legacy L wagon and a Legacy GT basicaly the same suspension wise except the L comes with 15" wheels and the GT comes with 16" wheels?
 
Is there anyone who has made this change successfully?
 
Any help is greatly appreciated.

#11050 of 11746 Re: Is it OK to replace 16" wheels with 15" wheels? [ulpilot] by leo2633

Nov 29, 2005 (8:37 am)

Replying to: ulpilot (Nov 29, 2005 8:18 am)
I can tell you this. The 15 inch steel wheels I have for my Forester's winter tires definitely do NOT fit on my wife's 2003 Outback, due to the brake calipers. Give the Tire Rack a call. They will definitely be able to help you, but you may be stuck with 16" (or larger).
 
Len

#11051 of 11746 Re: Is it OK to replace 16" wheels with 15" wheels? [ulpilot] by robr2

Nov 29, 2005 (9:14 am)

Replying to: ulpilot (Nov 29, 2005 8:18 am)
Go to tirerack.com. They do actual fitments of steel and alloy wheels.
 
I just checked for you and they state you cannot downsize to a 15" on an 03 Legacy GT wagon and they are already sold out of 16" steel rims for the season.

#11052 of 11746 Re: Is it OK to replace 16" wheels with 15" wheels? [ulpilot] by ateixeira

Nov 29, 2005 (1:22 pm)

Replying to: ulpilot (Nov 29, 2005 8:18 am)
Yup, they are trying to make sure you have enough clearance for the brakes. The brake caliper is the part that comes closest to the inside of the rims, so that is why they mention it.
 
I doubt most 15" rim will fit, though there may be rare exceptions (the Gold rims on the Impreza RS left an unusual amount of space for instance).
 
-juice

#11053 of 11746 Re: Revisiting tires [occking] by occking

Nov 30, 2005 (7:54 pm)

Replying to: occking (Nov 27, 2005 8:20 am)
Just back from 800 mile trip. Same trip I took three weeks ago. Weather was fine, no additional traffice. Gas mileage with the triple treads down a full 10%. From 26.5 to around 24. That is exact calculation based on miles driven divided by amt of gas put on. Of course, the computer in the car always registers more than actual. In this instance showed 26.7
 
I have a call into Goodyear consumer service to complain. I have a 30 day trial on the tires. Anyone out there with similar experiences, having gas mileage drop dramatically due to new set of tires?

#11054 of 11746 Re: Is it OK to replace 16" wheels with 15" wheels? [ulpilot] by garandman

Nov 30, 2005 (11:26 pm)

Replying to: ulpilot (Nov 29, 2005 8:18 am)
A 15" package is a lot less expensive that a 16". I went to 2 Subaru dealers and they knew less about it than I did. At least they would not commit to the 15" and that I should go to the tire sellers. I did this and they said they couldn't tell without the 15" inch wheels. Something about the "calipers" might be different.
 
The GT has bigger brakes. The 05 and 06 models can't go down to 16" for the same reason. You can go to the joe spitz site and all the wheel - and brake - sizes are listed.

#11055 of 11746 Re: Revisiting tires [xwesx] by bobny11580

Dec 01, 2005 (9:12 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Nov 21, 2005 3:56 pm)
Jason,
 
If you decided not to get dedicated winter tires in Fairbanks how are us folks in the lower forty eight supposed to rationalize Blizzaks? I was counting on the Alaska people to spur me on with tales of snow and ice. But no, you have opted for all seasons. You have let me down lad.
 
Bob from Long Island

#11056 of 11746 Re: Power and torque [subieseeker] by bobny11580

Dec 01, 2005 (9:16 am)

Replying to: subieseeker (Nov 21, 2005 11:52 pm)
My Subaru OB XT's engine is a tabernacle of the Holy Ghost and I would not put anything but premium in it.

#11057 of 11746 Re: Revisiting tires [occking] by bobny11580

Dec 01, 2005 (9:27 am)

Replying to: occking (Nov 30, 2005 7:54 pm)
I too experienced a drop in gas mileage when I switched from OE Potenzas on my OB XT to Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires five thousand miles ago. But that changed as the tires "broke in". Now I am getting same 23.5 mpg I formerly got with the Potenzas. Perhaps the improved mpg could be the result of the car breaking in. I switched tires at 5,000 miles. Now I have only 10,000 miles on the car. So I'm not sure what to attribute the improvement I'm now seeing to.

Messages Page 1106 of 1175

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement