abakja1

iTrader: (20)

Before:




After:

And I dont scrape anything even with a load of Costco groceries being this low

Front Clearance:

Rear Clearance:



Bought the suspension at the Friday meet and installed them Saturday morning.
Everything went in fine till I installed the rear shocks.

I guess the tires I bought months ago are too meaty as on the oem stock FXT suspension, the BFG in 235/55/17 were fine and i had no problems. Didn't think about dropping the fxt back then,,,,

After installing the wrx shocks with the blue prodrive springs, the top of the tires touch the bottom of the spring cups on the rear shocks. Then reversed my fxt to see if there was any clearance at all and noticed in front I no longer can turn full lock range as the tires rub the inner fender wells or against something.

Anyone have any idea what tire size I should run with the setup as Im thinking a 225/50/17 tires or maybe 235/45/17s but want to be sure before I order. Stock diameter is 27" now and with he smaller tire size around 25.5" according to tire rack.

Im afraid that even though I may clear the spring cup on the rear shock, Im still not sure if I will clear the front fender liner or fender itself as something rubs as I get somewhat close to full lock. Rims are the STI V7 rims that are 17x7.5" and +53 offset. Any suggestions if a smaller tire will work or is the drop too low?

mistaanime

iTrader: (12)

tires are pretty meaty. 225/50/17 would be good.. how about adding spacer in the back. would that give you more clearance?

abakja1

iTrader: (20)

Shock spacers would put distance between body and shock, but the tire would still touch the bottome spring cup i believe. Also wouldnt solve the front clearance problem,..

Fxt owners please chime in your thoughts as i searched the forester forums too and posted there but havent got a solution yet. 225/50/17 or 235/45/17 would keep speedometer almost correct, but im stilll not convinced if these size would solve the tire clearance problem. The tire diameter size would be about 25.5" compared to the 27" i have now.

PSBeachBum

iTrader: (11)

Wheel spacer. Push out and roll fenders if you need

PSBeachBum

iTrader: (11)

I have 225/55-17 on my car if you wanna test fit the size. I don't have a jack that would fit so if you supply the tools we can do the test fit. **** while I am at it I'll see if those 235 fit mine just for reference.

Blazingbuda40

iTrader: (11)

I would say run a smaller sidewall, the might work. When I was running wrx struts and lowering springs I ran same size wheel with a 225/40 or something basically a either stock wrx size tire or a lower profile one. Your problem is the sidewall is large so it will hit the spring. But as said above you can also run a spacer to solve that problem also.

arghtwo

Roll fenders and go with a smaller profile tire... Youll probably be able to lower aswell

04FXTURBO

iTrader: (8)

I believe you need spacers. Depending on the offset of the rims itself, you will encounter that with the FXT. I have an 04 FXT and im running 225/45/17 with stock 06 wrx rims and they barely clear the struts/springs. I believe the max I can run is 215/55/17 and it will have no rubbing issues. I know I didnt clear with 225/55/17.

abakja1

iTrader: (20)

I got 5 mm spacers in the rear to clear the rear shock body on oem suspension. Wrx shock clear even more, except for the lower spring cup touching or really close to it in the rear due to aspect ratio of the tires im running now.

Problem is finding the right tire size. 225/50 or 235/45/17 is what im hoping to get. Of course a 215/40 or 225/40/17 would allow total clearance, but my speedo would be off a lot.

PSBeachBum

iTrader: (11)

Yeah I am off 5mph. Speedo reads 60 but I'm 65. Got a ticket second day I had the lift

queeg9k

iTrader: (11)

Don't fxts have narrower springs than wrxs?

04sleeper

iTrader: (9)

here you go bro.

Custom rims, wheel tire packages for your ride - RIMSnTIRES.com

just plug in stock size and configure till you find what works. you shouldn't have any problems as i think the 04 sti bbs are the same specs as your wheels. i think they came with 225/45/17 tires. i miss my xt. GL

Island Style

iTrader: (66)

I'm running 2005 WRX struts/springs on the FXT with 3/8" saggy butt spacers in the rear...I considered the blue Prodrive springs but felt they would lower me too much...

I'm at a happy height right now where I seldom scrape anything except the most extreme of speed bumps created by over-zealous 4x4 owning, Psycho workers...

Currently the FXT has 18x8.5 wheels, +48 offset 255/35/18 tires. No issues with rubbing on the WRX Strut body...

Your tire aspect ratio is really high...you can either space your wheels out (the JDM STI rims are +53 offset)...with 25mm spacers and get the tires way away from the strut...get shorter tires...or get coilovers...

I would go for shorter tires or coilover route. I have a set of coilover that I am contemplating putting on...but I really like the way the 2005 WRX struts/springs ride...they are firm but very comfortable to ride on...

pm me Kevin...I have a set of rim/tires you may be interested in...guaranteed to fit...it does need 5mm spacers in the rear...cheaper than buying new tires...

Blazingbuda40

iTrader: (11)

I would say go for a lower profile tire or get coils

Island Style

iTrader: (66)

At some point I am going to throw on a set of 255/40/18 Nitto Invo's ..now those are "WIDE" tires...it's amazing how much wider some brands are than others...the Invo's are much wide than the 255/35/18's I have on now...