SJ Forester tire size?

WyoSJ

Forum Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2020
Messages
5
Location
Wyoming USA
Car Year
2017
Car Model
Forester
Transmission
CVT
First post.
Just got a Primitive 1.5" lift installed on my 2017 Forester (not turbo).
I am considering staying with the stock wheels for now, but AT tires.
Stock tire is 225/60/17.
225/65/17 adds 0.9" diameter.
235/60/17 adds 0.5" diameter and 0.4" width.
Anybody have real world fit experience with either of the latter two?
Suggestions on best choice for off road capability?
Many thanks.
 
G'day& Welcome aboard @WyoSJ

225/65/R17 seem popular for SJs. My son has been running 235/55/R17 General Grabbers on their SH but I reckon he could have gone with 60 aspect
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Thanks. I'm leaning toward the 65's for a bit more height and sidewall, but I'm hearing that I would then need a different temporary spare -- not really sure how to figure the right one -- perhaps just match diameter of 65's and width of stock donut? And would need to keep old donut to match my current Blizzaks -- so many details!
(I know a full size spare is better -- not sure I want to go there right now -- stowage isn't straightforward.)
 
Welcome to the forum @WyoSJ!

I usually choose the size closer to diameter of the original. 235/60R17 is just 1.8% larger in diameter and many popular all terrain models are not available in that size but you get a lot of road-oriented ones. 225/65R17 is 3.3% larger in diameter and, still, it's not supposed to affect your effective gearing that much (3% rule of thumb) but you get much more tyre models at that size.

What type of off-roading are you looking at doing, regular access to parks/forest service roads or beaches, weekend off-roading or long-distance/remote touring/overlanding?

If you are going to do long-distance/remote touring/overlanding, go with the ones that are popular as, if in case you need a replacement, they can be procured even in smaller towns. Samples of popular ones available in 225/65R17 (tirerack) are:
  • BFG K02 - These are LT tyres so the ride can be a bit stiffer than the ones below. These are pricey but you will have a low risk of committing purchase error as these at tried and tested internationally.
  • Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail - becoming more and more popular in North America due to the relatively low price point and good performance. This is the most affordable model in this list.
  • Toyo Open Country A/T III - same as the Falken. These have good reviews even for pickup trucks.
  • Yokohama G015 - What I have. It is a bit more expensive vs Falkens and Toyos but has really good compound.
You can't go wrong with any of those above as they are properly-engineered ones. Cheers.
 
Thanks for the opinions and info and welcome.
Well, there was certainly some back and forth -- I've thought more about wheels and tires in the last week than ever before (10x more than ever before).
I decided to go with an AT tire in the stock size -- partly to do with the spare tire issue (no simple stowage of a full spare, probably needing a different size donut if going larger, not knowing if a larger donut would fit, cost of new donut, my Blizzaks needing original donut) and what I think is the relatively small benefit of going .9" larger in diameter (especially as I already have a 1.5" lift). It just seemed simpler to stay stock size with little downside. I may yet get a full size spare and put it in roof basket or maybe via trailer hitch mount (forester hitch is 1.25" and perhaps not up to a swing away or swing down tire mount (do i really want to pull the mount off to access the back?). No perfect solutions.
I chose the Continental TerrainContact AT based on very good reviews (though perhaps not the best choice based on common availability). Also, I (and my wife) will appreciate what I suspect will be their good manners on the highway. I am hoping that they will also provide adequate traction and resist punctures on Forest Service roads -- day trips and multi-day exploring to remote campsites (maybe not Oz-level remote!).
Hey, nothing is perfect -- point being to get out there!
Happy to hear opinions on the Continentals.
 
From what I have read you can't go too far wrong with the Continental AT
 
Good one. To have all-terrains in the stock tyre size is a win-win. I can't find all-terrains in my SG's stock tyre size for the 16" wheels.

I know 2 Europeans who did the African continent tour using Continental TerrainContact A/Ts. They did it with a brand-new set and made sure they rotated the 6 wheels to make sure that all tyres received equal road (or off-road) times to keep all them happy. They said they like the road manners of that those tyres but still have good-enough sidewall protection. I think that's good enough peace-of-mind for that tyre model.

This was actually in my list when I was looking for a set but the people at Beaurepaires kept on pushing be to get the K02s, when I was actually after more affordable ones. After that, they bumped up the price of the Continentals by NZD 70 :(.
 
:welcome: to the forum.

Keeping vehicles as stock as possible is always a wise move IMHO.

The wheels/tyres on my SG (215/60 16) are already wider than my 1968 Landcruiser. That is more than adequate IMO. Pressure at 36 psi all round on normal roads. Air down to 15-20 psi in deep mud or sand.
 
Just a quick thanks for the opinions and the welcome.
(Now, I wish someone made a burly, off-road, donut -- not enough of a market I suppose -- or maybe a contradiction in terms.
 
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