Tire Question

[VTgiants]

I recently traded my in my 2004 WRX Wagon and bought a 2008 base
Outback. I still have the snow tires for the old car (205/55 r16)
Does anyone know if I can use them on the outback which has size
225/60 R16, or do I need to go shopping for new tires?

 

[Todd H.]

I recently traded my in my 2004 WRX Wagon and bought a 2008 base
Outback. I still have the snow tires for the old car (205/55 r16)
Does anyone know if I can use them on the outback which has size
225/60 R16, or do I need to go shopping for new tires?

Yeah, seems like you need to go shopping for new on your outback.

Good news is that with how many WRX's around out there, I bet you'd do
well on Ebay or craigslist with your WRX snows to get some $'s out of
em.

Those tires are fairly significantlydifferent widths and aspect
ratios, so you'd need new rims anyway. May as well get rims that take
a tire that's the proper width and aspect for your vehicle's weight
and handling.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=46

Though there's probably some rim magic you cuold do to make it sorta
work, with teh point of snow tires being additional safety, no sense
in trying to be safer with a narrower tire on a heavier car than that
for which it was designed.

I'm sure someone who knows tire stuff left right and sideways will
contribute more info to this though!

Best Regards,

 

[S]

Hi VT

I recently traded my in my 2004 WRX Wagon and bought a 2008 base
Outback. I still have the snow tires for the old car (205/55 r16)
Does anyone know if I can use them on the outback which has size
225/60 R16, or do I need to go shopping for new tires?

Sure, you can use 'em; as in they'll fit the rims and aren't gonna rub
or anything. They'll look kinda funny, tho, as they will be
considerably smaller (25 inch diameter vs 26.5 inch or so) than the
standard tire. Speedo will be off (~5% fast) as well.
Never the less, if the tires are in good shape, and you don't mind the
"low rider" look, go ahead and run them. A new set of snows in
225/60/16 is gonna set you back $400 or more; for some of us that is a
serious consideration.
Resale on your old tires via craigs list or the like will yield
$100-$150 tops., FWIW.

ByeBye! S.
Steve Jernigan KG0MB
Laboratory Manager
Microelectronics Research
University of Colorado
(719) 262-3101

 

[Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B]

I recently traded my in my 2004 WRX Wagon and bought a 2008 base
Outback. I still have the snow tires for the old car (205/55 r16)
Does anyone know if I can use them on the outback which has size
225/60 R16, or do I need to go shopping for new tires?

I don't see a real problem here. You're talking about 3/4 of an inch
'skinnier', and a little lower profile.

Actually, if you're expecting a fair amount of snow, and *need* to get
through, I'd get steel wheels and go a bit skinnier, 195 or even 185.
Wider tires tend to ride on top of the snow and can lose grip, while a
skinnier tire will bite a little deeper so more of the tread gets used. If
you were running a Silverado this wouldn't be a real consideration, but
with a light car the difference can be amazing.

 

[JD]

I recently traded my in my 2004 WRX Wagon and bought a 2008 base
Outback. I still have the snow tires for the old car (205/55 r16)
Does anyone know if I can use them on the outback which has size
225/60 R16, or do I need to go shopping for new tires?

They'll work. I did it with the Forester. The speedometer is off and the
car will be a bit harder on gas (it'll rev higher at highway cruising
speed), at it looks pretty goofy; like someone put go-kart wheels on your
car. But they work OK.