17's & offroad rubber..??????

L-Raiser · Post by **L-Raiser** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 12:50 pm

Does anyone know if this can be done...????

The Tyre Centres I speak to wont give me an answer yes or no only saying "its not legal, so we cant support it."

Basically, Im investigating the possibility of putting 17" RIMS on my (Forester Stud Patturn) - on my, soon to be 4" lifted L-Series and I want to put on some OFFROAD rubber. I'm HOPING to put on some low-ish profile offroad rubber.

This is due to the rather restricted selection of decent looking RIMS in 16's to suit Sube's. _IF_ I can get away with 17's, there is a huge choice of hot rims to choose from. Plus I LUUURVE the look of large rims on 4WD's.

I'd welcome any goss on this matter.....tho I'm probably dreaming....

Regards,

Karen

Fatz · Post by **Fatz** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 1:27 pm

depends on the size rubber you want really. i doubt there will be much in the way of low profile. But if you want 30s or something, most tyre manufactures make them.

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 1:44 pm

are you trying to build a lifted car that looks cool or a lifted car that you can actually use offroad?

L-Raiser · Post by **L-Raiser** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 3:10 pm

vincentvega wrote:are you trying to build a lifted car that looks cool or a lifted car that you can actually use offroad?

YES... both hopefully...

Wanna car that performs well AND looks good...

This car is being built for 80% offroad usage... ideally I'd love a set of decent looking rims in 15's or 16's, but there is SWEET FISH OIL out there.... <sigh>

L-Raiser · Post by **L-Raiser** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 3:14 pm

Fatz wrote:depends on the size rubber you want really. i doubt there will be much in the way of low profile. But if you want 30s or something, most tyre manufactures make them.

I will be happy with anything that will fit over a 17" and will fit under my 'L' guards at the same time without TOO much panel work required...I know Im asking a LOT....hehe

I rally type tyre would be neat, they are strong, low-ish profile and have full offroad tread patturns... but getting them might prove a challenge....

BrennyV · Post by **BrennyV** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 3:50 pm

17" wont give you much of an option for offroad in low profile, and if there was id say it would be much chop. id stay around 16"

Wilbur · Post by **Wilbur** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 4:47 pm

Bridgestone D694 (225/70R17)

The new upmarket Xtrails come out with 215/65R17. Not alot of sidewall so very little in the way of gains should you need to let your tyres down to improve the length of your footprint. It would look different, and before you get too excited about 17's go check the price of the offroad tyres.

L-Raiser · Post by **L-Raiser** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 6:12 pm

Lightning_Silver_RX wrote:Bridgestone D694 (225/70R17)

The new upmarket Xtrails come out with 215/65R17. Not alot of sidewall so very little in the way of gains should you need to let your tyres down to improve the length of your footprint. It would look different, and before you get too excited about 17's go check the price of the offroad tyres.

Thanks for this Lightning

.....Ive just gotten off the phone to an old mate whose been hard to get hold of lately, who works in the tyre industry. He said there is a 225/60R17 (= 704mm Outer rolling dia) size coming out from Yokohama in the Geolander AT style and it will be available in roughly 3 months. Cost will be approx $250+ ea.

A '60 Series' profile should do the job OK offroad I recon....I dont have any plans to go TOO hard offroad and for those really rough driving conditions I could always throw on a set of Stock 15" Forester Steelies with a tougher tyre on em....

Does anyone know if a 225/60R17 (704mm OD) Tyre would fit under an L without fouling on the suspension...????

Apparently there are a few Tyre Manufactures that have a 225/65R17 in an offroad tread patturn, including the Dunlop AT3 Grandtrek...

MUDRAT · Post by **MUDRAT** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 7:00 pm

The guys are right, low profiles are not the best for off-road, but they aren't that bad, depending on the type of terrain you drive.

I will be going to a 285/50/20 BFGoodrich All-terrain on a non-Subaru soon. My father has used 255/55/18s Coopers on his Land Rover Disco' for about 2 years now and has never had a puncture or dented rim; to spite driving like a maniac up the bush.

I think your car will look good. Go with black or charcoal colour rims to contrast the yellow.

Wilbur · Post by **Wilbur** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 8:49 am

I would think you'd need a 2 inch lift to fit the 225/60R17 as they appear to be around the 27 inch size.

L-Raiser · Post by **L-Raiser** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 11:02 am

Lightning_Silver_RX wrote:I would think you'd need a 2 inch lift to fit the 225/60R17 as they appear to be around the 27 inch size.

....No probs....Im ending up with roughly a 3-4" lift anyway...

Thanks heaps for all this guys....very valluable feedback...!!

Ive made up my mind....a set of GOLD 17" rims with 235/60R17's All Terrain rubber....

The gold rims should look great with the Yellow paint.

I recon my baby will look dang hot after this...

I saw a 'LUX' today with what looked like 17's and '60' series offroad profile rubber...and it looked very hot! Tiz a shame BFG dont make a 235/60R17....coz they are my preferred tyre...

I will be posting plenty of pics of when complete....

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 11:05 am

235's are going to rub all over the place on an L - thats a damn wide tyre for a car that came out wiht a 175 from the factory. You should be able to make them work through with appropriate use of a large hammer

and why gold?? you need some contrast to your yellow paint. go gunmetal grey or black imho

L-Raiser · Post by **L-Raiser** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 1:26 pm

vincentvega wrote:235's are going to rub all over the place on an L - thats a damn wide tyre for a car that came out wiht a 175 from the factory. You should be able to make them work through with appropriate use of a large hammer and why gold?? you need some contrast to your yellow paint. go gunmetal grey or black imho

.....Ive still got some 'fitting' trials to do with my friend down at his tyre shop. If it needs some minor panel massaging then so be it.

Why GOLD...? Mostly so that it contunues my Yellow theme and to carry a bit of 'STI yellow rim' influence... Im yet to try superinposing RIMS on a side view of my car to see how they look one by one until I make my final choice.

These are other rims Im quietly considering......

BrennyV · Post by **BrennyV** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 2:48 pm

the anz ssd rims look aiight. got a bit of a bbs jdm style look :P

ea82_beast · Post by **ea82_beast** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 3:17 pm

yeh the ANZ ones would look good with low profile tyres, but the hyperblacks would look awesome with real meaty rubber... reminds of a offroad rim i saw in the Volk racing catelogue.

L-Raiser · Post by **L-Raiser** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 3:58 pm

ea82_beast wrote:yeh the ANZ ones would look good with low profile tyres, but the hyperblacks would look awesome with real meaty rubber... reminds of a offroad rim i saw in the Volk racing catelogue.

.....Yessss....I must admit I am rather partial to these Hyparblacks.....I could easilly see them on my car...

You just cant go past the Deep Dish look....... ( DROOL )

MUDRAT · Post by **MUDRAT** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 4:19 pm

Sorry if this has been discussed somewhere else . . . but what are you doing to adapt the wheels to your L-series? Spacers or adapters will also influence what width tires you can use as well depending on their thickness.

L-Raiser · Post by **L-Raiser** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 5:23 pm

MUDRAT wrote:Sorry if this has been discussed somewhere else . . . but what are you doing to adapt the wheels to your L-series? Spacers or adapters will also influence what width tires you can use as well depending on their thickness.

...No it hasnt been discussed...

My mechanic is installing an entire 2004 Forester Front end to fit under my L, (including steering, crossmember etc) and adapting it to use my exising L control arms and L struts (which are new KYB shocks & KING springs). While throwing in replacement nolathane bushes at the same time. The rear is an 04 Forester diff with a set of modified Liberty rear hubs to fit my L trailing arms and again utilising my L struts. So I will end up with 5-Stud allround.... He tells me the Forester front hubs and Lib rear hubs will be virtually idendical to L stock dimensions.

Karen

Post by **Alex** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 7:40 pm

go the hyperblacks, theyre pretty nice!

id be pretty scared to take them offroad but! very very scared!

alex

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 12:56 am

Seems very very strange he is adapting the EJ hubs to your existing L series front struts???
Sounds like a major modification to do to end up with inferior struts - especially considering the EJ struts should just bolt straight into the L series strut towers anyway........

The Crossbred kit at the front is a custom pair of control arms - thats it. Just so the EJ balljoint goes in. Much simpler. Then the EJ hub fits complete with the whole EJ strut and spring. The strut top is the same - just goes into the strut tower like normal.

17" wheels.........ur gonna have to have very low profile rubber on them to prevent scrubbing, which will be terrible offroad. Might have to opt for something smaller - or cut the heck out of your guards like I'm gonna do