205/60 on OEM 14x5.5" wheels? rubbing?

90LegAWD · Post by **90LegAWD** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 1:43 pm

i'm looking at a set of falken 512 for my stock class autox legacy/daily driver. anyone run a 205/60 on OEM 14x5.5" wheels? any rubbing problems? $215 including shipping from discounttire isn't a bad price.

8.3" section and 6.7" tread width (on a 6" wheel). compare that to the pathetic 5" tread width i have now

Warp3 · Post by **Warp3** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 2:54 pm

I recently bought a 91 Sport Sedan and the previous owners had put 205/65-15s on it instead of the factory-sized 195/60-15s (yeah, lets go wider AND a higher aspect ratio...morons...

). Regardless, though I pushed it pretty hard on the road where I live (including pretty hard braking into a 90-degree turn) and it doesn't appear to rub at all.

So since your setup is a lower profile AND a smaller wheel, I would think you would be perfectly fine (though your installer may swear at you for cramming a 205 on a 5.5" wheel...

(at least it's still a relatively high-profile tire...a low profile 205 would be much tougher to mount those wheels)).

90LegAWD · Post by **90LegAWD** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 3:00 pm

well, they're approved to fit a 5.5" width, so i figured the installers wouldn't have a problem with them.

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 10:47 pm

What technically works and what's easy to instal are not always in sync. Anyway, I run 205/50s on my 16" Foresters with no poblem, though they come too close to the strut in the rear that I couldn't go to a wider size in this offset.

Steve

scottzg · Post by **scottzg** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 12:20 am

sounds like a kind of sloppy set up. Turn in isn't going to be optimal. They will be more prone to sliding on rain and snow. In all, not huge problems, and you may not notice them.

The later style struts clear better in the back.

90LegAWD · Post by **90LegAWD** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 1:13 am

they will be for summer/autox only. i have winter tires for the snow

90LegAWD · Post by **90LegAWD** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 2:42 am

so, what's the consensus here?

the price difference is $1 so it doesn't matter. i am a pretty avid autocrosser and these will see quite a lot of hard daily driving.

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 4:30 pm

I wouldn't do it.

That's a WIDE tire for a NARROW rim.

The narrowest I'd go would be a 6" rim for a 205, and even then, that's kinda pushing it. It's gonna bulge a bit, and turn-in is gonna suck. You might actually notice better performance with a 195 than the 205.

That said, I'd suggest getting some WRX wheels and some 205's.

I saw and drove a stock WRX with 215's on there, and it didn't handle well at all

90LegAWD · Post by **90LegAWD** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 5:06 pm

yeah, i've basically decided on the 195/65

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 2:51 am

I'd seriously consider getting a larger wheel.

That much sidewall is going to flex a lot, and give you a vauge turn in. The best handling upgrade I have done so far has been the 225/45/17's. So little sidewall to flex (but not so little as to risk rim damage), my turnin is inspiring and impressive to say the least.

A WRX wheel with a 205/55/16 somewhat sticky tire would be great.

scottzg · Post by **scottzg** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 3:02 am

are you running on original suspension, bac?

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 3:21 am

Yes.

225/45/17 on 17x7.5" + 48mm wheels. I rubbed the fenders, rolled them with a baseball bat, barely rub now.

90LegAWD · Post by **90LegAWD** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 12:22 pm

BAC5.2 wrote:I'd seriously consider getting a larger wheel.

i can't do that and still be legal for SCCA autox stock class

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 4:26 pm

oh, then get R-compound tires if you can find them for the stock wheels.

I forget all about Stock Class knowing that if I want to run, I've gotta run in Street Mod

90LegAWD · Post by **90LegAWD** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 4:46 pm

i can't afford r-comps

these are going to be my summer daily driver wheels/tires too

professor · Post by **professor** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 4:49 pm

if just using for autocross, I'd suggest lower profile 195/55/14 which is fairly common, change your gear ratio favorably for quicker acceleration, especially good if the autox is on small, tight courses

and second that comment about R compound, big difference

if you have to use every day then I suppose the 195/65 will have to do. Don't drive R's on the street they'll last like 2 months

90LegAWD · Post by **90LegAWD** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 5:52 pm

yeah, if i wanted an autoX only setup, i'd go with 14x6-7" and azenis. no question.

i'm not going to try and be highly competitive or anything, just out to feel the car at it's limits and have fun.

i've built and won with my competitive setup before, so i don't feel a need to win

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 7:59 pm

Azenis are OK if you street the car and track the car. If you wanted auto-x only setup, just get an R-compound.

You an get 195/60R14 Azenis. I'd HIGHLY suggest getting a set of those for summer/auto-x. You can get them for $56 each from www.tires.com. http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direc ... =195&rd=14

I think I'm probably gonna shod my car in Azenis as well come spring. $117 per tire for 225/45/17, hard to beat

Warp3 · Post by **Warp3** » Fri Oct 22, 2004 3:06 pm

90LegAWD wrote:yeah, if i wanted an autoX only setup, i'd go with 14x6-7" and azenis. no question.

You do realize that in Stock class both the diameter AND width of the wheel must be stock, right?

Speaking of which, did the N/A Legacy models have 15x6 wheels available as factory option or were those only available on the Turbo models? The reason I ask is that as long as they were a FACTORY (not dealer) option, then the size is allowable in stock.

On a related note, I was really wanting to try out a couple events in my '91 Sport Sedan in Stock, but I guess replacing the seized turbo with a 16G kinda shot that plan in the foot. Went into the shop bone stock and came out in Street Mod (with only one modification).

Oh well...that's what my RS is for anyway...hehe

90LegAWD · Post by **90LegAWD** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 1:07 am

yeah, of course, but again.... i'm not out to be competitive. i've already modified a few things to technically kick me outta stock class anyway.

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 4:39 am

Yea, I've been in SM for quite some time. But now I'm competitive in it. Time for Auto-X

legacycentral bbs

A forum for 89-94 BC-BF(BJ) Legacy Owners and Fans

205/60 on OEM 14x5.5" wheels? rubbing?

205/60 on OEM 14x5.5" wheels? rubbing?