215/60 tires on an OBS?

[JT95]

I got a sweet deal on some new tires. I am currently in the middle or redoing my alum Subaru wheels, so the tires are just stacked in my garage for now. My Outback Sport is a 99 model and came with 205/60 from the factory. I am currently driving with a set of 205/70 that were already mounted to my spare set of wheels that I had pulled off an Outback Wagon. They do rub sometimes when I have to cut the wheels real tight like in a parking lot.

 

The tires I bought are 215/60 BF Goodrich. I like the tires a tad bigger than factory, but not if it is going to cause any real issues. The 205/70s on there are too tall though. By my calculations, the ones I bought are 1/2" taller overall than factory and not quite 1/2" wider. (The 205/70s are over an inch taller than factory spec...but I was never great at math formulas.)

 

215 / 25.4 = 8.46" width. 60% of 8.46 = 5.07". That's for one section of sidewall, so you'd double it and compare that to the same from the factory tire to determine overall height difference of the tires.

 

 

Anybody run 215/60s on an OBS or other GC8 car before? The car had 195/60 tires when I started driving it, and they were too small for me. Have never driven it with the factory spec 205/60s.

 

 

Since I haven't mounted the tires, I can swap them if I decide I need to...but I'm just looking for at least one green light from somebody to keep them.

[johnceggleston]

I got a sweet deal on some new tires. I am currently in the middle or redoing my alum Subaru wheels, so the tires are just stacked in my garage for now. My Outback Sport is a 99 model and came with 205/60 from the factory. I am currently driving with a set of 205/70 that were already mounted to my spare set of wheels that I had pulled off an Outback Wagon. They do rub sometimes when I have to cut the wheels real tight like in a parking lot.

 

The tires I bought are 215/60 BF Goodrich. I like the tires a tad bigger than factory, but not if it is going to cause any real issues. The 205/70s on there are too tall though. By my calculations, the ones I bought are 1/2" taller overall than factory and not quite 1/2" wider. (The 205/70s are over an inch taller than factory spec...but I was never great at math formulas.)

 

215 / 25.4 = 8.46" width. 60% of 8.46 = 5.07". That's for one section of sidewall, so you'd double it and compare that to the same from the factory tire to determine overall height difference of the tires.

 

 

Anybody run 215/60s on an OBS or other GC8 car before? The car had 195/60 tires when I started driving it, and they were too small for me. Have never driven it with the factory spec 205/60s.

 

 

Since I haven't mounted the tires, I can swap them if I decide I need to...but I'm just looking for at least one green light from somebody to keep them.

 

215/60 is about 1/4 inch larger (6mm) in radius, center to top, than the stock 205/60. this is where it counts, there is nothing to rub against on the bottom. this should be fine if you have been running 205/70 which is 20.5mm taller radius or a little more than 3/4 inch radius, 1.6 inches diameter.

 

you should be fine if the ones you now have only rub sometimes.

 

check out the calculator to see the difference in speedo readings http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

[idosubaru]

215 60 16 tires rubbed on my 97 OBS in the rears going around turns. It was bad enough (to me) that I took them off and used them on the XT6 and OBW instead.

 

Someone has a great thread on the "rear end sagging" of the OBS and the fix for it. not sure if that would help with clearance but i would think it would given how it only happens on turns? i bought the parts but never installed them before I sold the car.

Edited May 6, 2010 by grossgary

[rverdoold]

Someone has a great thread on the "rear end sagging" of the OBS and the fix for it. not sure if that would help with clearance but i would think it would given how it only happens on turns? .

 

Do you have a quick link? I am going to install stiffer springs that hopefully will reduce the sagging.

[Gloyale]

Do you have a quick link? I am going to install stiffer springs that hopefully will reduce the sagging.

 

Swap Forrester Strut tops onto the rear struts.. Forrester mounts are taller....like 3/4 inch.

 

Kinda like a mini-lift block.

[JT95]

215 60 16 tires rubbed on my 97 OBS in the rears going around turns. It was bad enough (to me) that I took them off and used them on the XT6 and OBW instead.

 

Someone has a great thread on the "rear end sagging" of the OBS and the fix for it. not sure if that would help with clearance but i would think it would given how it only happens on turns? i bought the parts but never installed them before I sold the car.

 

And what exactly were said parts, and do you still have them for sale?

I know there's a fab shop that sells "butt-sag" spacers. Mine doesn't sag that much, but I don't feel like replacing struts right now. Will struts off an Legacy Outback wagon fit, or only Forester?

[JT95]

215/60 is about 1/4 inch larger (6mm) in radius, center to top, than the stock 205/60. this is where it counts, there is nothing to rub against on the bottom. this should be fine if you have been running 205/70 which is 20.5mm taller radius or a little more than 3/4 inch radius, 1.6 inches diameter.

 

you should be fine if the ones you now have only rub sometimes.

 

check out the calculator to see the difference in speedo readings http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

 

Yeah, my GPS has kept me straight on the speed since I started running these 70 tires temporairly.

 

 

I think I'll keep them. I am excited because I have been waiting very patiently for a good deal on tires to come my way and these ended up being cheaper than mailorder.

 

Thanks for the feedback