96 OBS - New wheels rubbing a bit. What are my options?

[eatmorepossum]

Well Dagnabbit,

 

I bought some wheels of craigslist for my 96 Impreza Outback Sport.  I knew they were a bit big (225/50/R16) but hoped for the best and well you know where this is going.  I'm already in this a bit deeper than I'd prefer and thus I'm in dutch with the wife.  What are my options to make these wheels stop rubbing on the rear wheel strut towers when i corner and hit minor bumps?  Spacers?  Forester struts?  Lift kit?

 

 

Here is what wheel-size.com says is supposed to fit my car:

 

2.2i 144hp 205/55R15 6.5Jx15 ET55 5x100 M12 x 1.25 56.1   205/50R16 7Jx16 ET51 5x100 M12 x 1.25 56.1   225/45R16 7.5Jx16 ET48 5x100 M12 x 1.25 56.1

 

The wheels I bought were 225/50/R16

 

Photos of the rub

 

 

 

 

 

[1 Lucky Texan]

seems like an offset problem so, maybe try a few mm spacer(.  Make CERTAIN your lugnuts; A. engage enough threads , B. have the correct seat profile for the new rims , C. are deep enough not to 'bottom-out' on the stud's end

 

is the offset stamped on the new rims anywhere?

Edited September 7, 2016 by 1 Lucky Texan

[eatmorepossum]

seems like an offset problem so, maybe try a few mm spacer(.  Make CERTAIN your lugnuts; A. engage enough threads , B. have the correct seat profile for the new rims , C. are deep enough not to 'bottom-out' on the stud's end

 

is the offset stamped on the new rims anywhere?

 

Here is the link to the wheels.  They are Offset +40.00mm.  Thinking of trying a 5mm spacer.  The lugs are properly seated and torqued now.  Do you think this will require longer studs?

[1 Lucky Texan]

I'm sure there's info somewhere on minimum thread engagement (w'ever) but I dunno what it is. Maybe some info over at tirerack.com ?

[vtwinjunkie]

hahaha. I just liked your post on reddit. 

[eatmorepossum]

hahaha. I just liked your post on reddit. 

Dernit.  

[Fairtax4me]

That part of the strut moves with the wheel when it moves up/down. If the tire is rubbing there you have a serious problem because the wheel would have to move independently of the strut in order to reach there.

Seems to me that probably rubbed on that spot a bit when you were putting the wheel on.

 

The tire has to be rubbing on a lower part of the strut.

Crawl under it and look between the tire and the strut tube and see how much room there is.

[1 Lucky Texan]

oh yeah - he's right - there isn't ENOUGH offset so, more likely to be rubbing on the fender. duh. Spacer will make things worse I think!

Edited September 8, 2016 by 1 Lucky Texan

[eatmorepossum]

That part of the strut moves with the wheel when it moves up/down. If the tire is rubbing there you have a serious problem because the wheel would have to move independently of the strut in order to reach there.

Seems to me that probably rubbed on that spot a bit when you were putting the wheel on.

 

The tire has to be rubbing on a lower part of the strut.

Crawl under it and look between the tire and the strut tube and see how much room there is.

 

Thanks,  I figured this out when i thought about it.

 

I took this photo today to answer the question you posed.  It looks close to the rim & tire.  I guess a spacer would fix things?  I saw an article that said try putting washers on to determine how much space is needed.  I may just sell the wheels and get a different set...

 

 

[Fairtax4me]

That the front, the tire is not likely to rub on the front strut because there is alot more room at the front. It could rub on the fender liner or on the lower corner of the frame if the wheel is turned to full lock.  I dont marks on the tire that indicate it has rubbed anything. And you're gonna need a ball-joint soon. 

 

There is not as much room between the rear struts and the tire because the rear struts are mounted more straight up and down than the fronts. Look at the rears and see if there is a mark on the inside of the rear tires.  

Edited September 8, 2016 by Fairtax4me

[1 Lucky Texan]

if those wheels are 'upsized' in width, that also needs to be calculated into the issue. roughly, you want 1/2 the difference in width subtracted from the offset, so, if you are going from 6.5" 48 offset, a 7" 40 offset isn't crazy - BUT, that means the inside and outside of the rim are ~ 1/4" closer to suspension parts or wheel liners.

Edited September 8, 2016 by 1 Lucky Texan