winter rims?

[Yousuf Khan]

Sometime back the service guy at the dealership said that Subies require
special winter rims, not the standard black ones that you get at an auto
parts stores. True or not?

Second my standard rims are 16 inchers. I was wondering if I could go
down one inch on my winters, and get higher profile narrower tires to
maintain circumference? 2000 OBW.

Yousuf Khan

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Sometime back the service guy at the dealership said that Subies require
special winter rims, not the standard black ones that you get at an auto
parts stores. True or not?

Second my standard rims are 16 inchers. I was wondering if I could go
down one inch on my winters, and get higher profile narrower tires to
maintain circumference? 2000 OBW.

Yousuf Khan

As long as the offset is correct, shouldn't matter. Though I confess to
having little experience with snow.

;^)



Carl

 

[Bonehenge]

Sometime back the service guy at the dealership said that Subies require
special winter rims, not the standard black ones that you get at an auto
parts stores. True or not?

BS. They either fit, (correct diameter, offset, and bolt pattern) or
they don't. He's pissed about people buying mounted snows from Tire

Second my standard rims are 16 inchers. I was wondering if I could go
down one inch on my winters, and get higher profile narrower tires to
maintain circumference?

Yup!

You need to keep the same inflated overall diameter and rim offset.
Some folks do the same thing to drive on sand.

 

[johninKY]

15" wheels will not clear the brake calipers. Never heard about "winter"
rims.

 

[Chicobiker]

Sometime back the service guy at the dealership said that Subies require
special winter rims, not the standard black ones that you get at an auto
parts stores. True or not?

Second my standard rims are 16 inchers. I was wondering if I could go
down one inch on my winters, and get higher profile narrower tires to
maintain circumference? 2000 OBW.

Yousuf Khan

As the others said, I'm sure it's just about finding rims that will
fit. I do seem to remember that they weren't as common as rims for
other vehicles, but that seems to be the case with a lot of newer cars!

My stock wheels (2003 OBS) were 205-55R16 and I found rims and went to
195-65R15 with no trouble.

I guess you just need to find a supplier that is willing to try some
rims! Fitting over the brakes was the issue people warned me about
back then.

Chico

 

[eachcornerpulling]

Sometime back the service guy at the dealership said that Subies require
special winter rims, not the standard black ones that you get at an auto
parts stores. True or not?

True!

Up here in igloo country we switch to winter tires each year and if
you expect to keep the car a while it pays to buy a set of steel rims
and keep the winter tires on them. Makes swapping every spring and
fall much easier and saves winter corrosion and damage on the better
looking regular rims.

Most of the generic steel rims sold at mass outlets all come from one
manufacturer, so I'm told, and a Subaru service manager I trust said
that on some Subie models the generic steel rims are fractionally
different from Subie specs and that causes serious damage after a
while. He did show me exactly what happens but I have forgotten the
details of what got worn away by the misfit - but it was real.

I wasn't about to risk wrecking my new '05 OB for the sake of a few
bucks so got my winter steel rims from Subaru. I advise you to do the
same.

 

[KLS]

Up here in igloo country we switch to winter tires each year and if
you expect to keep the car a while it pays to buy a set of steel rims
and keep the winter tires on them. Makes swapping every spring and
fall much easier and saves winter corrosion and damage on the better
looking regular rims.

I personally am opposed to the appearance of the steel rims if they
are to remain on the car for 5+ months a year(as they must in my
climate). They are eye pollution. I advocate buying a set of used
OEM rims. What I did with my car was put the winter tires on the
original alloy rims, and put the summer tires on a newer set of the
same alloy rims, and my car looks lovely year round.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

I personally am opposed to the appearance of the steel rims if they
are to remain on the car for 5+ months a year(as they must in my
climate). They are eye pollution. I advocate buying a set of used
OEM rims. What I did with my car was put the winter tires on the
original alloy rims, and put the summer tires on a newer set of the
same alloy rims, and my car looks lovely year round.

You can often find 'takeoffs' as people 'upgrade' to lighter or more
fashionable rims. This is more true for Imprezas/WRXs than Legacys but
still an option. Unfortunately, this is the time of year EVERYONE looks
for snow tire options. check ebay, the marketplace threads at
www.nasioc.com and www.ultimatesubaru.org , etc.


Carl

 

[Yousuf Khan]

True!

Up here in igloo country we switch to winter tires each year and if
you expect to keep the car a while it pays to buy a set of steel rims
and keep the winter tires on them. Makes swapping every spring and
fall much easier and saves winter corrosion and damage on the better
looking regular rims.

You're probably in the same country as me then. I'm up here between
Montreal and Ottawa.

Most of the generic steel rims sold at mass outlets all come from one
manufacturer, so I'm told, and a Subaru service manager I trust said
that on some Subie models the generic steel rims are fractionally
different from Subie specs and that causes serious damage after a
while. He did show me exactly what happens but I have forgotten the
details of what got worn away by the misfit - but it was real.

Well, that's what my Subie service manager told me as well. Well, if two
service managers are saying the same thing, then maybe there might be
some truth to it. Unless we're talking about the same service manager
for both of us.

So what about going down in size on the winter rims? The regular tires
are 225/60-16. I was thinking of going down to 195/70-15's for winter.

Yousuf Khan

 

[Ed]

You can often find 'takeoffs' as people 'upgrade' to lighter or more
fashionable rims. This is more true for Imprezas/WRXs than Legacys but
still an option. Unfortunately, this is the time of year EVERYONE looks
for snow tire options. check ebay, the marketplace threads at
www.nasioc.com and www.ultimatesubaru.org , etc.

I checked these out and can get a nice new set of alloys for a whole lot
less then people where asking.

 

[Pumps]

I have steel rims on my '03 Legacy GT. Stock tires are 205/60-16, I got 16
inch rims from Canadian Tire and have run them for 3 seasons with absolutely
no problem. The snow tires are the same size as my summers.
The dealer did the service during warranty period and never once mentioned
any problems with the rims and tires.
Brian

 

[Body Roll]

I have steel rims on my '03 Legacy GT. Stock tires are 205/60-16, I got 16
inch rims from Canadian Tire and have run them for 3 seasons with absolutely
no problem. The snow tires are the same size as my summers.

Hmm, I thought on an LGT or another car with pretense of better
handling
you'd notice the difference with bricks. You're saying that the car
does not handle
any worse with the steel rims despite the substantially increased
unsprung weight?
I don't mind steels if they come with the car off the dealer's lot
since they can be
reused for winter, but why buying steel rims when the difference
between used
15" steels ($50) and cheapest new 15" made-in-china gravity cast allows
on tire rack is about $15
per wheel? You'd pay close to that for mounting each tire!!!
Are there any problems with the dirt cheap alloy rims?

 

[Pumps]

The new 16" steel "bricks" cost ~$50 and you are right, they do change
handling, but so do the ice radials that are mounted on them! I don't worry
so much about performance handling during the winter months, I just need to
be able to stop, go and get hell out of the way of the idiots with worn
all-seasons tires.
I have no experience with the Chinese alloys, but I would worry about how
well they would hold up to cold, salt and gravel. Of course at that price,
it wouldn't matter much.
My son had a cheap set on his Supra and had to get the bead welded on
multiple wheels due to cracking. Mind you that may relate to his driving
style...

 

[nobody >]

Hmm, I thought on an LGT or another car with pretense of better
handling
you'd notice the difference with bricks. You're saying that the car
does not handle
any worse with the steel rims despite the substantially increased
unsprung weight?
I don't mind steels if they come with the car off the dealer's lot
since they can be
reused for winter, but why buying steel rims when the difference
between used
15" steels ($50) and cheapest new 15" made-in-china gravity cast allows
on tire rack is about $15
per wheel? You'd pay close to that for mounting each tire!!!
Are there any problems with the dirt cheap alloy rims?

Another gem of wisdom from the man who knows everything because he read
it in a car rag.

For most people the difference in unsprung weight is barely noticeable,
if that.

Most tire shops can get steelies for $25-$40.

As for those $15 alloys from China, I've seen them in the tire shops,
broken beads, leaks, one that actually had a broken center from bumping
a curb in a parking lot at a ~60 degree angle. Yup, I'm going to put a
set of those on for the winter... not! I'd be in fear of breaking one
following a rut in snowpack/ice.

 

[Body Roll]

As for those $15 alloys from China, I've seen them in the tire shops,

$15 difference. I can't get the steelies for under $50 in california.
And shipping $30 steelies from the tirerack (when they have them) would
probably
kill the savings over the alloys. The Chinese gravity cast alloys were
$65 on tirerack.
Strange that tirerack would risk their reputation by selling those
if they are as bad as you claim they are.

broken beads, leaks, one that actually had a broken center from bumping
a curb in a parking lot at a ~60 degree angle. Yup, I'm going to put a
set of those on for the winter... not! I'd be in fear of breaking one
following a rut in snowpack/ice.

What would be your recommendation for the cheapest alloys that are
still usable
and fall apart after knocking about on rough pavement? Are gravity cast
rims completely out of the question?

 

[nobody >]

$15 difference. I can't get the steelies for under $50 in california.
And shipping $30 steelies from the tirerack (when they have them) would
probably
kill the savings over the alloys.

I have to back up on price on steellies. It was a year ago that I
bought 1 steel rim for my wife's OBS with 15" rims (set up a 'real'
spare) and the rim was a "multi-fit with 10 holes for 2 different bolt
circles, cost was $40 then and that ws a 15". I called a local shop and
a 16" steel to fit a Soobie is $55

The Chinese gravity cast alloys were

$65 on tirerack.
Strange that tirerack would risk their reputation by selling those
if they are as bad as you claim they are.

You get what you pay for. I was going by BodyRoll's price, not local.
There was a "tuner shop" selling probably the same crap in the $25
range. They went out of business real quickly and the buyers were stranded.

A $65 alloy from TireRack is a whole different animal. They don't want
to sell outright crap. I wouldn't have a problem with those except I'd
be concerned about corrosion resistance at that price.

What would be your recommendation for the cheapest alloys that are
still usable
and fall apart after knocking about on rough pavement? Are gravity cast
rims completely out of the question?

I can't answer that as I'm satisfied with my stock alloys and haven't
been shopping and asking questions about rims. I've been busy with tire
shops otherwise; both Soobs, my old Bronco II, and my mother's Tempo
have needed tires in the last 4 months.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

I have to back up on price on steellies. It was a year ago that I
bought 1 steel rim for my wife's OBS with 15" rims (set up a 'real'
spare) and the rim was a "multi-fit with 10 holes for 2 different bolt
circles, cost was $40 then and that ws a 15". I called a local shop and
a 16" steel to fit a Soobie is $55

The Chinese gravity cast alloys were



You get what you pay for. I was going by BodyRoll's price, not local.
There was a "tuner shop" selling probably the same crap in the $25
range. They went out of business real quickly and the buyers were stranded.

A $65 alloy from TireRack is a whole different animal. They don't want
to sell outright crap. I wouldn't have a problem with those except I'd
be concerned about corrosion resistance at that price.



I can't answer that as I'm satisfied with my stock alloys and haven't
been shopping and asking questions about rims. I've been busy with tire
shops otherwise; both Soobs, my old Bronco II, and my mother's Tempo
have needed tires in the last 4 months.

I sold my takeoffs with TIRES on 'em for $500 no shipping,no taxes !
Real 17"x7 subaru 2006 WRX OEM with less than 350 miles.

But this is the wrong time of year cause all the yankees want snow wheels.


Carl

 

[YKhan]

I can't get the steelies for under $50 in california.
And shipping $30 steelies from the tirerack (when they have them) would
probably
kill the savings over the alloys. The Chinese gravity cast alloys were
$65 on tirerack.
Strange that tirerack would risk their reputation by selling those
if they are as bad as you claim they are.

Being in California, I think you're misunderstanding whole concept of
"winter rims". The concept of winter rims is that they're supposed to
be as unstylish as possible so that when crap & crud gets on them, they
look the same, because they already looked like they were crap. They're
also supposed to be durable. Somehow cast wheels of any kind, and
especially cast aluminium seems to be the opposite of durable.

Yousuf Khan

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Being in California, I think you're misunderstanding whole concept of
"winter rims". The concept of winter rims is that they're supposed to
be as unstylish as possible so that when crap & crud gets on them, they
look the same, because they already looked like they were crap. They're
also supposed to be durable. Somehow cast wheels of any kind, and
especially cast aluminium seems to be the opposite of durable.

Yousuf Khan

The other problem with most alloys would be the amount of snow and ice
that might build up in them I guess. But cheap alloys might still be an
option for folks who have trouble finding 'real' snow tire rims with the
correct offset.

Carl

 

[KLS]

Being in California, I think you're misunderstanding whole concept of
"winter rims". The concept of winter rims is that they're supposed to
be as unstylish as possible so that when crap & crud gets on them, they
look the same, because they already looked like they were crap. They're
also supposed to be durable. Somehow cast wheels of any kind, and
especially cast aluminium seems to be the opposite of durable.

I reiterate, steelies are eye pollution. The OEM alloy wheels I use
for my winter tires are holding up just fine after 8 winters in the
rust belt of Ohio/New York, and they look a hell of a lot better than
steelies. Again, I leave my snows on for five months a year, and
that's a long time.