TyPe~~R

How important is it to have wheels with the correct Subaru Offset? If you dont have wheels with the correct Offset what will happen?

pippyrips

i might be wrong but with my limited knowledge having the wrong offest effects the handling of the car - it also increases uneven tyre wear. Advice i've been give in the past is don't do it..

Godspeed Brakes

iTrader: (259)

it will either make the wheel sit in too far and maybe hit the brakes , or they stick out to far and look like Carlos Fandango ..

TyPe~~R

It sounds like a definate NO - NO then.

rob@supertracker

The manufacturers spend hundreds and hundreds of hours working on the handling of their vehicles. This is why changing the wheels sizes can cause a problem. Cosmetically it may look great. However if you have gone crazy on the size, you may have problems on getting them to fit in the wheel arches. Generally only go up a couple of inches max. But it's the hidden changes that may come to haunt you. Wider wheels and tyres mean you have probably moved the pivot point within the contact patch of the tyre, this is because the K.P.I remains the same but the off set may have changed. However don't despair, providing you haven't gone mad a good alignment guy such as myself or the others often mentioned will now how to compensate for the changes made. My advice stick with the Off Set the Subaru Suspension Techs have spent so many hours working on (If it tramlines best keep it for shows only)

TyPe~~R

Thanks very much for the above, Could you explain what tramline means?

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

it's when you drive along the road, and the tyres try to follow imperfections in the road, like tramlines, road repairs, lorry ruts etc. In bad cases they even follow white lines etc
A bit disconcerting, to say the least!
Alcazar

Frank Bangkok

I am having an off-set of 47, should this still be ok or is it too much.

Tires do rub the arches sometimes but I am mostly driving alone so cant be bothered, it's the handling I am more worried about.

Cheers

Frank