New Tires for '02 Forester S - ?Size?

[RankAndFile]

I have a 2002 Forester and soon need to replace the original Yokohama
Geolanders 215/60/16. I would like to go with a slightly wider and shorter
tire like 225/55/16. I don't need winter tires just all-seasons.

Any recommendations would be appreciated. Cost is less of a priority than
performance, durability, and noise. The Yokohama's weren't bad overall but
didn't last very long in my book (25000+ miles).

Any cautions about changing the size, other than speedometer readings, would
also be appreciated. It doesn't seem like a BIG size change and the car
seems to have ample wheel wells. However, I'm obviously no expert.

Thanks,
Jamie

 

[T]

To keep your speedometer accurate you need to make sure the overall diameter
of your tires remains within 1/4" of stock. You might want to talk with a
tire store. Usually when you reduce the sidewall aspect ratio from 60 to 55
or 50, you need to increase the size of the rim. When going from nnn/60/16
to nnn/50/16 you would need to increase rim size by 1". This is called Plus
sizing. Plus 1 would be 1" larger rims and nnn/50/16 tires, Plus 2 would be
2" larger rims & nnn/40/16 tires. If I were you I'd look for a better tire
in the stock size instead of going with a different tire size. 215/60/16,
you should be able to find some better on-road tires in this size. If you
really want better on road performance I'd say go with 17" rims and
nnn/50/16 tires.

Here's a link to Pep Boys' website that will show you how to calculate
overall tire diameter by using the tire size #'s.

http://tinyurl.com/32phl

-T

 

[David]

To keep your speedometer accurate you need to make sure the

That assumes it already is. I think all the japanese cars I've had have read fast. The
one I just sold was especially bad: it read just over 10% too fast. All were checked
with the correct tire size. My '03 Forester reads about 2MPH fast at 65MPH, and
it's probably the most accurate I've checked.

Anyway it might be interesting to check speedometer accuracy before changing tire
sizes. If it already reads a little fast, slightly bigger tires could actually improve the accuracy.

As far as clearance, the tightest spot I'm aware of is between the rear tire and the strut.

 

[RankAndFile]

If you
really want better on road performance I'd say go with 17" rims and
nnn/50/16 tires.

A bit confusing to me. I guess I thought the diameter of the rim had to
equal the diameter of the tire. Thanks, though. I'll probably end up
taking your advice about getting a better tire of the same size.

Jamie

 

[RankAndFile]

What's the best way to check your speedometer's accuracy? It does "seem"
like I'm going slower than my speedometer reads.

 

[David]

What's the best way to check your speedometer's accuracy? It does "seem"
like I'm going slower than my speedometer reads.

Most convenient, is go fairly straight & level, and use GPS. Setting the cruise, and
timing yourself past several mile markers is probably good. I've only done
it those two ways, but there are shops that will check it for you. Careful taking
an AWD car in though: they better have all 4 wheels moving in their test setup.
For example, don't put a sube in a 2-wheel dyno.

 

[y_p_w]

A bit confusing to me. I guess I thought the diameter of the rim had to
equal the diameter of the tire. Thanks, though. I'll probably end up
taking your advice about getting a better tire of the same size.

Uh - it does. You can't mount a 16" tire on a 17" rim.

Plus 1/plus 2 is supposed to refer to going to a larger rim/tire
**combination** with approximately the same outside tire
diameter.

You might be able to use a wider tire with the original rims,
but I'd still worry about the tires scraping the wheel wells.