This isn't a question for me it's more of an answer for other people. How big of a tire can you fit on an older impreza? Well... This was the biggest tire I could fit into the wheel well without any modifications to the fenders. Here are pics of a 235/70/16 tire with a 28.95 inch OD on a 16 inch VW rim with an offset of +38(15mm further out from hub then oem). The tire is at 8/32nds. fozzy suspension + 3/8 and 1/4 inch spacers. The car is on the tires, lift isn't touching the car. As you can see there is room inside the fenders to fit the tire. The wheel actually won't turn to the inside, it is hitting the front side of the fender, the outside of it. A little bending or cutting and it would turn freely. One issue you would have if you didn't have the right offset with this wide of a tire is clearing the strut and even more so if you have an oem suspension. These tires and even smaller big tires will not fit without outback trailing arm brackets or cutting out a bit of the fender unless you have oem suspension, in which the biggest size you can fit with oem wheels is 215/65/16 or that seems to be the consensus. After this test fit I decided to go with 215/70/16s which is a full inch smaller tire. Less weight and gearing disadvantage for this tiny motor. It's not really on a lot of big tire and lift discussion but I would recommend upgrading your brakes if you're going to toss on an extra 15+ pounds rotating mass per axel. Just my .02
Hmm, using +38 16x7s I get rubbing with 205/55-16s. Both on my '98 OBS and on my '98 LGT. Try two passengers in the back then report back on whether it rubs. 3/8th saggy-butt spacers helped but not entirely.
That size tire was just a mock up to show what can physically fit in the wheel well, I'm not going to run it. Lots of people run 215/65/16 with oem impreza suspension with very little if any clearance issues besides a bit of rubbing and definitely much less with a 38 offset. There is lots of stuff about this on the interwebs, no one has ever gone loco and bolted up a tire this big on this car(that i know of) with unmodified fenders so I figured it might help some lurker somewhere make a decision. I don't consider rubbing tire a fitment issue, a fitment issue is being unable to turn your steering wheel or bolt the wheel to the hub because of clearance, not some noise. If you were going to be distressed by rubbing issues you should have kept oem size and suspension.
I ended up going 215/70/16s Before After Yes it rubs a tiny bit, but that can be sorted with more grinding. These tires are too big to run even with forester struts unless you have the proper alignment, they will hit the rear strut perchs at highways speeds. To make sure this doesn't happen until you get an alignment when you put your struts in make sure the cam bolts are giving the hub all the positive camber you can get. Also be ready to break out the grinder and go to town on your fenders, pinch wields, etc. I had to remove and cut out the area where the mudflaps bolt in the front. I need to hit that spot with a grinder and make room for aftermarket mudflaps. So far I love it and the car looks just plain mean from the front or rear. It's taller than it looks.
