SG Forester tyres in 2022

Tannin

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2008
Messages
209
Location
Huon Valley Tasmania
Car Year
2007
Car Model
Forester
Transmission
Manual
A quick look at the usual places suggests that there is not even one all terrain tyre available for the classic Forester - that's 215/60/R16. Blimey! What can I do?

I do mostly highway driving but require the ability to cope with quite a lot of bad gravel and now and again need to do a bit of mud or deep sand. Puncture resistance (direct or sidewall) is the most important thing.

I have two sets of rims, when I go outback I borrow one of the "other" rims so as to have two spares. Going to 215/65/R16 might make that very difficult. (And can I even do that?)

Dazed and confused.
 
You should be able to fit 215X65X16 tyres. I run that size without any problems except for the spare in the wheel well. That requires a bit of knife work to help it fit and even then it needs to be deflated.
I run Bridgestone 697`s and have used Pirelli Scorpions in the past. Both good brands of tyre. Haven`t had a puncture since I got rid of the original Geolanders.
 
Ouch! This is pretty grim. Not having a spare that fits in the spare well is unacceptable. The car has a mild lift so 65 series will fit no worries, but I'm not happy with not being able to fit a spare.

How do 15" wheels work? What do you do, go 15" and 70 series? That would be a significant hit to on-road handling, yes?
 
"Not having a spare that fits in the spare well is unacceptable."
It does mean that you ALWAYS need to have a tyre pump of sorts. I, and others, overcome the problem with a second spare usually on an external wheel carrier.
 
Thanks Kevin.

Ateday, I certainly do always have a pump - two actually, a foot pump and an electric one. An external spare won't work for me as I'm in and out of the boot constantly (I am a wildlife photographer and frequently stop for interesting creatures, thus needing tripod and stuff out of the boot.) But I'll investigate what I can do by way of squeezing a 65 series spare into the well.

I might end up having to buy road tyres, but let's not rush into that yet.
 
I guess that the wheel well on your 2007 model is much the same as my 2002 MY03 SG so it is mostly a black foam structure. This is very easy to trim to size with a sharp knife and does not seem to affect structural rigidity.
And the wheel fits and is accessible.
 
Cheers Ateday. It is a metal pan (exactly the same as on my old MY05) with a little of that trim near the rear of the car. I think I'll go into the local tyre dealer and ask to borrow a suitable tyre to try. (Obviously, it will be a little larger when fitted and inflated. I'll have to allow a bit for that.)
 
Run G15s on standard steel wheel on MY09. Prior tyres were the old AT/S which lasted 110,000km but did not have the grip of the G15, especially in the wet. However, I can't fit the standard wheel with G15 in the well and the spare is a standard road tyre. So far this arrangement has worked ok - have only had one puncture (picked up a bolt) and got repair immediately - but if you were really getting off the beaten track it might be less appealing.
 
How bad would it be doing a few hundred k on a (slightly) mismatched tyre? After all, it's not as if we worry too much about driving around on 4 fairly worn tyres with an unused spare in the boot - which would have to be almost as far out, yes?
 
Tannin said:
How bad would it be doing a few hundred k on a (slightly) mismatched tyre? After all, it's not as if we worry too much about driving around on 4 fairly worn tyres with an unused spare in the boot - which would have to be almost as far out, yes?
Click to expand...
It really depends on the degree of 'slightly' ...
 
Maybe that's my best bet then: 4 x 65 series AT tyres, standard spare, and try not to do too many k on the spare. Thanks all, I think I'll go that way (but first I will see how I go fitting a 65 into the spare well).
 
Depends what handling you prefer. I had no probs to handle car on 235/75r15 muds. Then went to 225/65r17 or even 215/50r17 winters its too hard on those small tires . More rubber better. But then i dont drive faster then 115km/h as then Its hits too much on fuel usage its no point, on 4 speed auto i wouldnt drive on that speed even
 
Also open diff at the rear and less stress ;)
 
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