I've got a 2003 wrx wagon with prodrive PFF7 18 inch 52mm offset wheels. I'm currently running 225/40/18 dunlop sp 901 tires that suck. I want to run 235/40/18 kumho spt tires on my exisiting set-up. I'm lowered on prodrive springs and have -1.4 degrees of camber in the rear and -.5 up front. I currently have NO rubbing with my existing tires, My main concern is the clearence between the rear strut and tire. Right now I've got 4-6 mm of clearence between the tire's rim guard and the strut, the dunlops are a bit streched on the 8inch wide wheels so I'm thinking that a 235 would sit "flatter" and the rim protector wouldn't protrude as much. Any thoughts if these will fit or not??
10mm wider tire will result int 5mm rubber added to each side of that tire. If you have 5mm of space, you will not have any space later. I bought a set of 235/40/18 from someone who was going to put them on their wagon, but didn't fit.
you should have called me. i was just in minot today and already back to fargo. you could have tested my rt-615 225 on a 48 offset to see how close it would have been for u. Maybe it would have helped.
problem is that wagons jsut really arent built for the 8 in wide wheels. bust out the fender roller because azenis/ecsta mx/dunlop ss/re070 runs really wide.
did anyone actually read my first post?! I'm looking at running 235/40/18 KUMHO spt's and my main concern is the clearence between the inside sidewall and the rear struts! I already have access to a fender roller so that isn't my issue/problem.
I looked at my buddies wagon today and he has the kumho spt tires and they don't have a rim protecting strip along the edge that will give me atleast a good, 5-6 mm extra room to play with.
You need to compare the sectional widths of the two exact tires that you both have right now and the one you plan on getting. Go to Tirerack.com and they usually have the specs listed for most of the tires on their site. If the sectional width isn't hardly any bigger then it might not rub, but if the sectional width is >1/2" from your current tire, then you will most likely rub. EDIT: Did some of the work for you: Kumho Ecsta SPT sectional width = 9.5" for a 235/40-18 Dunlop SP Sport FM901's = ???? I can't seem to find specs on this size FM901 anywhere, are you sure it isn't a 215/40-18? I think they'll rub. -Steve
I'm postive that the dunlops are 225/40/18 I know tires better then the back of my hand. And tire rack lists the tire sizes on a universal chart, there is no descrenpancy between the different brands even if they are slightly different. So basically they go by each size and not the specific tire.
I ordered them from discount tire on friday, wish me luck. This is my $500 experiment for all my subaru brothers out there!!
I got the tires mounted yesterday and they don't rub at all!! The rear fender lip comes realllyyyy close to the side wall under 80% compression but don't rub. They are nice and straight sidewalls and look to be the perfect size on the 18x8 wheels. They sure are sticky, too!! Everytime I drove thru a patch of sand or out of the groove in the road I could hear the tires flinging pebbles and crap up in the fenders, good thing I got my rally armor mud flaps! I'm probably going to roll the rear fender lips just to be safe if I'm carrying 100 lbs of groceries or something, hahah. edit: no strut issues either, they have the same if not better clearence then the 225's, they have a much better designed rim protector strip.
What tires are you running with? My Dunlop Z1 Star Specs throw sand and gravel EVERYWHERE. It is quite comical. I stuffed their ultra-wide 225s on my stock 7" wheels.
