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Put on 2 different size rims on the GT?
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2003 8:35 am
by ej22t
Hi People, please help for this questions!
Last week my dad has 1 flat tire and 1 slow leaking tires on his GT, then he put 2 of my snow 15" Legacy turbo rims on front and 2 of the 16"GT rims at the rear, according the old post some of the people said it may damage the tranny if put on 2 different size tires!
I has 195-60-15 in front, and 205-55-16 at the rear now, will it damage the tranny?
Since it still in winter season, the new sets of the all season tire that I order has take 2 weeks to arrive, so I have to make sure the car is drivable like the above set-up!
Thanks for reply!
Ben
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2003 11:44 am
by LegacyT
This isn't good for an AWD drive car. First of all. Changing tire sizes in the front from rear, espiecially larger tires in the front, can make the back end very light at speed (I know it has happed to me). Also It won't damage anything quickly, but over time it will hurt the differentials and the viscous coupling.
Mark,
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2003 4:24 pm
by vrg3
Where are the other 15" winter wheels from your turbo? Couldn't your dad put them on his car too?
Like LegacyT says, it's bad for the AWD system, and for handling, to use different size tires front and rear.
You could protect the transmission by putting the GT wheels on the left and the turbo wheels on the right (or vice versa), but for obvious reasons that's really bad for handling...
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2003 10:16 pm
by ciper
If anything put the two matching on the same side. Two 15 inch on the left and two 16 inch on the right. That way at least you dont kill the center differential.
You dont have an LSD right?
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2003 1:27 am
by totech
Ben,
You can borrow a set of 15's from me if you like...
Also remenber - he should be replacing the tires as a set of 4, or put both new ones on one side..
Andrew
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2003 6:14 pm
by ej22t
Ciper, are you sure the set up will work fine?
My car don't have LSD(I think so; since its 99GT and I don't see the sign on the rear diff. case)
I just ordered a set of new tires but it has to wait about a week!
Ben
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2003 10:27 pm
by vrg3
Ben, it won't work "fine" but it'll be much better for the differential.
Having smaller tires on one side of the car than the other can cause dangerously bad handling, but having smaller tires on one end of the car then the other can cause death to the transmission. Neither is a good idea in the long run, but as a stopgap measure you're probably better off with the former, since it won't kill your car (unless you crash it
).
Re: Put on 2 different size rims on the GT?
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2003 4:32 pm
by magicmike
ej22t wrote:195-60-15 in front, and 205-55-16 at the rear now
Guys!,
I think you might be missing something. Although the rims are different sizes you can notice that the tires are also different sizes. the 15" rim has a taller tire on it signified by the number 60. The 16" rim has a lower profile tire by the rating of 55. you can use different size rims as long as the overall tire circumfrance is the same. You should call a tire place, they have charts that list circumfrance for when you want to go with a bigger rim. I'd be willing to bet that your pretty damn close, but all you have to do is make a quick phone call to check
Mike
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2003 4:35 pm
by boostjunkie
You're not close enough. A 195/60/15 tire is significantly smaller than a 205/55/16 in rotational circumference. You'd need a 195/65/15 to compensate for the smaller 15 wheel size.
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2003 9:18 pm
by ciper
Specs on paper or some tire calculator are never going to be close enough for what subaru wants.
The only way to tell is to jack the car up and use some string.
Putting the the matched set on left and right side will prevent wear to the center differential.
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2003 6:40 pm
by totech
Jeez Ben,
Borrow my tires or don't drive it...
Andrew