Help with Aftermarket Wheels on 1997 Legacy Wagon
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Help with Aftermarket Wheels on 1997 Legacy Wagon
Hello,
I have a 1997 Legacy Wagon that came with 14" steel rims (185/70/R14). I went to an aftermarket store and bought 15" alloy wheels (195/60/R15). According to the store this is the proper "upsize" to 15". The problem is that the tires rub on the back fenders under moderately heavy loads when going over bumps or when turning.
You'll have to excuse me as I'm new to this stuff. Unfortunately I don't know the offset of the wheels I bought. Upon going back to the store they ordered different wheels with an offset they thought would work but it appears they would also rub (didn't actually mount the tires to try it though).
At that point I had accepted the fact that I should just play it safe and stick with 14" wheels. The sales person then proceeded to call around to various suppliers and most didn't really have 14" wheels they thought would fit. In fact some suppliers suggested that NO aftermarket wheels could ever be used on that car and that I would have to go to the dealer.
Does this make sense? I'm sorry I don't know the offsets of the two wheels we tried but the sales person is fairly convinced that any 15" wheel would be too wide. Even if that's true, I find it hard to imagine that no aftermarket 14" alloy wheels (185/70/R14) would work.
The Subaru dealer wants over $500 (Canadian) for 14" alloy wheels! I'd rather suck it up and go back to wheel covers before paying that. ;-)
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
I have a 1997 Legacy Wagon that came with 14" steel rims (185/70/R14). I went to an aftermarket store and bought 15" alloy wheels (195/60/R15). According to the store this is the proper "upsize" to 15". The problem is that the tires rub on the back fenders under moderately heavy loads when going over bumps or when turning.
You'll have to excuse me as I'm new to this stuff. Unfortunately I don't know the offset of the wheels I bought. Upon going back to the store they ordered different wheels with an offset they thought would work but it appears they would also rub (didn't actually mount the tires to try it though).
At that point I had accepted the fact that I should just play it safe and stick with 14" wheels. The sales person then proceeded to call around to various suppliers and most didn't really have 14" wheels they thought would fit. In fact some suppliers suggested that NO aftermarket wheels could ever be used on that car and that I would have to go to the dealer.
Does this make sense? I'm sorry I don't know the offsets of the two wheels we tried but the sales person is fairly convinced that any 15" wheel would be too wide. Even if that's true, I find it hard to imagine that no aftermarket 14" alloy wheels (185/70/R14) would work.
The Subaru dealer wants over $500 (Canadian) for 14" alloy wheels! I'd rather suck it up and go back to wheel covers before paying that. ;-)
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 681
From: Warsaw, Indiana
Car Info: 02 WRX Wagon White
I have safe listings for up to 17" wheels on this car, the key is the width and offset of the wheel as well as tire size. They gave you the correct size of tire with the 15s so the offset/width of the wheel must be incorrect. The wheel should be between 6 and 7 inches wide with offset between 48 and 52mm. This is a tough fit, but we have them available. Take a look at the Tire Rack wheel search and even though we don't have a picture of the car, the wheel pictures will show all the safe fits in various sizes.
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Thanks very much for the reply Dexter! I see on your search page that you have the Legacy L Sedan listed but I don't see one for the wagon. Is it OK to use the Sedan for this type of search?
If your safe data is similar to that of other suppliers do you think that might explain why some suppliers said they didn't have any aftermarket wheels that would work?
Lastly, do you know the safe width and offset for a 14" wheel?
If your safe data is similar to that of other suppliers do you think that might explain why some suppliers said they didn't have any aftermarket wheels that would work?
Lastly, do you know the safe width and offset for a 14" wheel?
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 681
From: Warsaw, Indiana
Car Info: 02 WRX Wagon White
Oops - yes, go with the sedan wheel listing. Your wagon tire options are:
185/70-14
195/60-15
205/50-16
205/45-17
Use those numbers to override the ones given for the sedan.
The only 14" wheel I have is a 14x6 with offset 38 - works fine because of the width of the wheel and the tire to be used.
185/70-14
195/60-15
205/50-16
205/45-17
Use those numbers to override the ones given for the sedan.
The only 14" wheel I have is a 14x6 with offset 38 - works fine because of the width of the wheel and the tire to be used.
Last edited by Dexter@tirerack; Aug 19, 2003 at 10:39 AM.
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