98 Forester 15 inch maximum tyre size

rayroovers

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Joined
Jan 17, 2011
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25
Location
Berlicum, The Netherlands
Hi All,

just to be sure, can't find the post where I thought I read it, 205/75 15 will fit under a 98 Forester, right?

I'm now running on 225/55 16, according to rimsntires.com my new ones wil be 35mm taller.
Old ones diam. New diameter.
654 mm (25.7'') 689 mm (27.1'') 35 mm (5.4%) taller.

and does anyone know if I can go any bigger, like 225/70 15?

thanks!

Ray
 
Hi ray
I have just installed some Hankook 225/70R15's rf-08's - (Outer Diameter of 694mm) on a '97 Forester Ltd. It just fits without rubbing anywhere. The tightest spot is in the rear wheel. It just misses the suspension guard / support / shoulder in the wheel well. However I do have King springs installed which gave me about a 35mm lift. The tyres have given me another 15mm.
 
Thanks Campbell,

I've got the original self levelling shocks with stock springs, so will that fit for me?
Did you just replace the springs for heavier ones? We don't have King springs here in Holland as far as I know.
 
215/75R15 or 225/70R15 are the biggest you can go on a first gen Forester without serious modification. I know of someone in America who had 245/70R15 M/T but the Forester had 6" lift :lol:
I have 215/70R15 and at the present time stock clearance and suspension. I have no rubbing whats so ever.

Either size is still quite bigger than stock. I will be going 215/75R15 on my next set of tyres in either BFG's or Geolander AT-S (I have them in 215/70R15 now). Reason I didnt get that size 5000km ago when I got my Geolanders was due to my stock height but my raised springs and lift blocks go in next Tuesday :biggrin:

Regards
Taza
 
If I were u I would go as big as u can. Every mm. of ground clearance is important, depending on what kind of off roading u plan to be doing:)

And I'm sure u could get a set of ironman or king sprigs shipped out to u:)

Good luck
 
Garret,

thanks for the advise, 215/70 is a bit higher, maybe go for those then.
And were can i buy kingsprings online that ship to holland, any advise which ones to get, I've got the SL shocks, can I keep them or should I replace them?
 
rayroovers said:
Garret,

thanks for the advise, 215/70 is a bit higher, maybe go for those then.
And were can i buy kingsprings online that ship to holland, any advise which ones to get, I've got the SL shocks, can I keep them or should I replace them?
Click to expand...

You will have to replace your self-leveling shocks in the back but can keep your standard ones in the front. I am getting this done with my Foz.

As Garret said every mm does count. If you get the springs before the tyes then you can go bigger with the tyres, maybe 215/75R15 :lildevil: I have heard good things about the General Grabbers.

Cheers
Taza
 
taza said:
You will have to replace your self-leveling shocks in the back but can keep your standard ones in the front. I am getting this done with my Foz.

As Garret said every mm does count. If you get the springs before the tyes then you can go bigger with the tyres, maybe 215/75R15 :lildevil: I have heard good things about the General Grabbers.

Cheers
Taza
Click to expand...

If you do that you'll have to replace the rear struts with MY03 struts. The spring seat is higher than the SF series.
 
Got 'm!

old:

forester.jpg



new:


grabber1.jpg




grabber2.jpg



thanks guys!

Ray
 
Last edited:
Looking good rayroovers :) And I like the dark wheels too, really suits it :)

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
Hi Ray
Looks good
What tyre size did you get ?
A girl in our club has General grabbers on her 07 xt Forester she hasn't had any problems with them yet
I had 215 /75/15 on my sf 97 Forester and they rubbed on the bottom spring housing
I could only fit them when they were worn down by half
Since then i got some 07 struts i still have to put them in yet

Jan
 
Nice! I am seriously contemplating 15x7 rims for my '11 Forester, and 215/70-15 tires - for winter driving. Still trying to figure out 100% for sure if this combo will actually fit without rubbing/clunking etc (quite a change from the 225/55-17 tires and 17x7 wheels it came with).

Any advice or suggestions welcomed, I am very new at this. Is changing from 48mm to 53mm offset as small a deal as it sounds like, or are there important things I need to know about this that I don't?
 
g'day rather then start a new thread i thought i would post it here.
after recently buying some geolander at-s for my girlfriends forester, mine now feels left out :p
ive looking at some over sized tires for the 15in rims, as i want to keep my 16's with road tyres.
i know taza runs 215/70r15 on his forester has i was wondering if you can run 215/75 r15 on a sf? i am replacing the rear struts in the coming weeks. im after this size as there is a lot more choice for mud terrain tyres :lildevil:
 
thunder039 said:
i know taza runs 215/70r15 on his forester has i was wondering if you can run 215/75 r15 on a sf? i am replacing the rear struts in the coming weeks. im after this size as there is a lot more choice for mud terrain tyres :lildevil:
Click to expand...

If you replace the struts definitely get SG rear struts NOT SF like I did...grrrr :(:shake:
They give you heaps more room from the spring mount to the tyre, so lots more tyre size choices with no risk of rubbing.

You could ask Taza as I'm sure he knows but but I think 215/75/15 will just squeeze under SF struts...SG struts easy peasy :iconwink:
 
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