New tyre advice needed:)

wombataaron · Post by **wombataaron** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 1:26 pm

Hi all, i have a 2000 Subaru outback H6, i have just ordered a subaextreme bullbar and raised king springs, the next step after both are on is new, bigger tyres, whats the biggest and widest i could go with this setup and avoid scrubbing etc? Also advice on brands from people with experience would be nice, i only plan on doing some beach driving really:)

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 5:05 pm

Bridgestone Dueler HP Sports in a 215/65R16 will do you nicely. I'd recommend higher profile like 225/70R16 but you'll need to get a little more than HD springs for the clearance.

wombataaron · Post by **wombataaron** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 6:15 pm

The springs are gonna give me an extra 35mm of height and the bullbar gives a little more room for steering, my tyres now are 215/60r16 i thought i would be able to go a little taller and wider then what they are now:(

wombataaron · Post by **wombataaron** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 2:25 pm

Just rung up the only yokohama dealer in town, $240 each for geolander at-s in the same size as stock, holy moly thats expensive:(

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 4:07 pm

I'm thinking off hand, you can get higher in the AT (All Terrain) range.. have a look for 225/70R16 or if you are good friends with the store, ask if they could try 235s but I was thinking you'd be better off with HP Sports as they make a better beach sand tyre.

BTW.. Bridgestone tyres aren't the cheapest but I think in the long run they work out around the same price (wear/kms) plus they are one of the safest tyres available.

taza · Post by **taza** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 6:20 pm

wombataaron wrote:Just rung up the only yokohama dealer in town, $240 each for geolander at-s in the same size as stock, holy moly thats expensive:(

Thats really steep. I have Geolander AT-S in 215/70R15 (27.5") on my Forester. Awesome tyres in all terrains. There are heaps of people on here and offroadsubarus.com with Geolander AT-S, Bridgestone Dueler 694 and BFG T/A. The BFG's are more hardcore and with heaps of tread, not so great onroad. The Duelers are very average allround and not the best offroad (coming from experience in many different cars not just Subies). The Geolanders a good majority of people are happy with including me with both onroad and offroad performance.

I wouldn't get anything other than unless my car was purely for offroad purposes not my main car/daily driver too.

I paid $220 a tyre for 4x Geolander AT-S in a larger size than stock for my foz in Outback W.A. So ring around and get some prices.

I know with a gen 3 outback you can fit 215/70R16 (29") tyres which will give you 1.5" of clearance plus your raise springs will help heaps. There should be only slight rubbing on full steering lock with there tyres with 1" raised springs.

Hope this helps
Taza

NachaLuva · Post by **NachaLuva** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 8:10 pm

If you already have 215/60/16 then 215/65/16 will be a little taller, but not much.

I have a preference for the Geolander AT-S, i think they are a brilliant onroad/offroad compromise & have a factory puncture warranty. I have a personal dislike of bridgestone tyres, except as fish attractors on the bottom of the ocean! lol

But as you will see on here everyone has their own opinions, likes & dislikes. I'd suggest talk to as many people as you can re brand & then go with what you feel most comfortable with. A big factor would be how much offroad use they will have.

As for size listen to the guys here who have been there, done that. There is a huge wealth of knowledge here for us newbies to utilize....

Venom · Post by **Venom** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 8:35 pm

I've got Dunlop AT3's on my car in a 215/65 R16 and i am happy with them. I'd buy them again thats for sure, if i didn't go for a more aggresive MT tread. I haven't been able to lock up the AT3's in the wet and they've done well of road. From looking at them the AT3's looks to have a better design for channeling water than the blocky Geolander AT-S.

In addition to the tyres i always buy the optional puncture repair insurance/road hazard warranty. 1 free puncture repair covers the cost of the warranty, and if it can't be repaired you only pay a percentage of new tyre price based on how much tread was left on the old one.

wombataaron · Post by **wombataaron** » Sun Oct 30, 2011 1:01 pm

Taza thanks for the input, i"m gonna go for that size, little bit of rubbing never hurt anyone, ill just cough up the cash for the geolanders, i know if i buy something else i will regret it:p

taza · Post by **taza** » Sun Oct 30, 2011 1:10 pm

wombataaron wrote:Taza thanks for the input, i"m gonna go for that size, little bit of rubbing never hurt anyone, ill just cough up the cash for the geolanders, i know if i buy something else i will regret it:p

Im sure there is better but I can say that you won't be disappointed with the Geolanders, they work magic wonders.
Also if your going to do it get 5 not 4 because you shouldn't use a different size spare with a Subie.

wombataaron · Post by **wombataaron** » Sun Oct 30, 2011 1:16 pm

What kinda kms are people getting out of a set of geolanders?

taza · Post by **taza** » Sun Oct 30, 2011 1:34 pm

I think I will be looking at getting around 45,000km from them. This is with hard driving too, I brake hard, accellerate hard, corner hard and offroad hard. So no complaints. I know a few guys over on offroadsubarus.com that are getting 60,000km from them

wombataaron · Post by **wombataaron** » Sun Oct 30, 2011 1:46 pm

Wow thats actually very impressive, my mind is set, thanks everyone:)

Post by **yarney** » Sun Oct 30, 2011 2:27 pm

With bigger tyres it's not just clearance it's when your on full lock you will rub also

Jan

Davidov · Post by **Davidov** » Sun Oct 30, 2011 2:36 pm

wombataaron wrote:Just rung up the only yokohama dealer in town, $240 each for geolander at-s in the same size as stock, holy moly thats expensive:(

I know that off memory someone was able to fit 215/75/R16 (28.7 inch) without any bumper mods, which will give an extra 1.25 inch of clearance under the car from stock tires.

You MIGHT be able to go 225/75/R16 but it would be pushing it. Pretty much measure up the size of your wheel arches and the clearance to your strut tops then use http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html to work out the right size for you.

That geo price is insanely expensive. They really are a great tire but.

wombataaron · Post by **wombataaron** » Mon Oct 31, 2011 2:26 pm

I'll just take the car around to them once its been lifted and with the new bullbar and stuff and ask them to cram as big as they can under there, they specialise in 4wd stuff as well as tyres they can sort it out for me:)

Maggoo · Post by **Maggoo** » Tue Nov 01, 2011 6:02 pm

Hey mate

I have an 03 gen 3 outback 2" body lift and king springs
I was able to fit a set of 215/70 geolanders. There is a little bit of rubbing when on full lock and also at the back.
Any bigger and there would be major rubbing. The height of the wheel well isn't a problem its the width. No way i would have fit a set of 225/75 (which is what i was looking at) unless i cut the guards a little bit wider.

Cheers,
Paul

Davidov · Post by **Davidov** » Tue Nov 01, 2011 7:43 pm

Just equipped a subaextreme bullbar and i found it actually gives less room for bigger tyres than the stock bumper does (thats only without lift but).

So keep that in mind.

wombataaron · Post by **wombataaron** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 3:25 pm

Maggoo wrote:Hey mate

I have an 03 gen 3 outback 2" body lift and king springs
I was able to fit a set of 215/70 geolanders. There is a little bit of rubbing when on full lock and also at the back.
Any bigger and there would be major rubbing. The height of the wheel well isn't a problem its the width. No way i would have fit a set of 225/75 (which is what i was looking at) unless i cut the guards a little bit wider.

Cheers,
Paul

How bad is the rub?

Maggoo · Post by **Maggoo** » Thu Nov 03, 2011 10:09 pm

Its not that bad. It rubs one of the lift blocks at the front when on full lock. I probably could fix it by twisting the block but i haven't gotten around to it.
At the back though it was rubbing on the inner side of the wheel arch. The plastic has worn down a little bit now and it no longer rubs.

Here is where it was rubbing. This is a pic of when i first got the tyres put on.