Choosing the correct tire size for your lifted vehicle is essential for optimal performance and appearance. Transitioning from stock sizes involves tradeoffs between off-road capability and on-road handling. Exploring these factors ensures you make informed decisions, highlighting the impact of lift kit adjustments on your driving experience.
Lifted Subaru Tire Size Chart
| CAR | STANDARD FITMENT | DIAMETER | AGGRESSIVE FITMENT | DIAMETER |
| 13-17 CROSSTREK | 215/75-15 | 27.7″ | 235/75-15 | 28.9″ |
| 18+ CROSSTREK | 215/75-15 | 27.7″ | 235/75-15 | 28.9″ |
| 1998-2002 FORESTER | 215/75-15 | 27.7″ | 235/75-15 | 28.9″ |
| 2003-2008 FORESTER | 215/75-15 | 27.7″ | 235/75-15 | 28.9″ |
| 2009-2013 FORESTER | 215/75-15 | 27.7″ | 235/75-15 | 28.9″ |
| 2014-2018 FORESTER | 235/75-15 225/65-17 | 28.9″ 28.5” | 245/65-17 | 29.5″ |
| 2019+ FORESTER | 255/55-18 225/65-17 | 29″ 28.5″ | 245/65-17 | 29.5″ |
| 1997-1999 OUTBACK | 215/75-15 | 27.7″ | 235/75-15 | 28.9″ |
| 2000-2004 OUTBACK | 215/75-15 | 27.7″ | 235/75-15 | 28.9″ |
| 2005-2009 OUTBACK | 215/75-15 | 27.7″ | 235/75-15 | 28.9″ |
| 2010-2014 OUTBACK | 225/65-17 | 28.5″ | 235/75-15* | 28.9″ |
| 2015-2018 OUTBACK | 245/65-17 | 29.5″ | 245/70-17 | 30.5″ |
| 2020+ OUTBACK | 245/65-17 | 29.5″ | 245/70-17 | 30.5″ |
| 2023 Outback Onyx | 225/60/18 | 28.8″ | ||
| 2019+ ASCENT | 255/65-18 255/55-20 | 31.1” 31” | 255/70-18 | 32.1” |
| 2008+ IMPREZA | 215/70-15 215/65-16 | 27″ | 215/75-15 | 27.7″ |
| 2008-2020 WRX | 225/55-17 | 27” | 215/65-17 | 28” |
Understanding Lift Kits
Before delving into tire sizes, it’s crucial to understand the fundamentals of lift kits and their influence on your vehicle. Lift kits elevate your vehicle’s chassis, providing increased ground clearance for navigating rough terrain.
However, this enhancement comes with tradeoffs. It can affect handling and stability on paved roads, requiring adjustments to suspension and steering components. Balancing these factors is key to optimizing your vehicle’s performance both off-road and on-road.
Exploring these challenges ensures informed decisions when selecting tire sizes, aligning your choices with the desired balance of aesthetics, capability, and practicality for your lifted vehicle.
Factors to Consider
When choosing tire sizes for your lifted vehicle, several key factors come into play. First, consider legal restrictions, as exceeding certain tire dimensions can lead to fines or failed inspections. Next, vehicle clearance is crucial; larger tires can enhance off-road performance but may require modifications to avoid rubbing. Additionally, balancing off-road versus on-road performance is essential.
Larger tires improve off-road capability but can impact fuel efficiency and handling on paved roads. Each choice involves tradeoffs, making it important to carefully evaluate these aspects to make well-informed decisions about your Lift Kit Tire Size Chart.
Stock Tire Size vs. Lifted Tire Size
When comparing stock tire sizes to those for lifted vehicles, several key differences emerge. Stock tires are designed for a balance of comfort, fuel efficiency, and handling on standard roads. However, lifting your vehicle changes its dynamics, allowing for larger tires that offer improved ground clearance and off-road performance. This enhancement comes with tradeoffs.
Larger tires can affect fuel efficiency, increase wear on suspension components, and alter handling characteristics. Exploring these challenges is essential to finding the right balance. When deciding on your Lift Kit Tire Size Chart, consider how each change impacts both your vehicle’s performance and your driving experience.
Benefits of Larger Tires
Opting for larger tires with a lift kit offers several advantages. First, increased ground clearance allows your vehicle to navigate rough terrain more easily, reducing the risk of undercarriage damage. Additionally, larger tires provide enhanced off-road capabilities, offering better traction on loose or uneven surfaces. However, these benefits come with tradeoffs.
Larger tires can negatively impact fuel efficiency and may require modifications to suspension and steering components. Balancing these factors is essential for optimizing performance. When creating your Lift Kit Tire Size Chart, consider how each choice affects both the benefits and challenges, ensuring you make informed decisions for your vehicle’s needs.
Choosing the Right Tire Size
Selecting the right tire size for your lifted vehicle involves several key considerations. Start by matching the tire size to your vehicle’s lift height, ensuring adequate clearance and avoiding potential rubbing issues. Additionally, think about your vehicle’s intended usage.
Larger tires enhance off-road performance but can compromise fuel efficiency and handling on paved roads. This balance requires careful evaluation of your driving habits and priorities. You may need to make adjustments to suspension and steering components to accommodate larger tires.
By exploring these challenges and tradeoffs, you can make informed decisions that will be reflected in your Lift Kit Tire Size Chart, optimizing your vehicle for both performance and practicality.
Popular Tire Brands and Models
Choosing the right tires for your lifted vehicle means looking at popular tire brands and specific models that excel in off-road performance. Brands like BFGoodrich, Goodyear, and Nitto are renowned for their high-quality tires that are well-suited for lifted vehicles.
BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2: This model offers excellent off-road traction and durability. However, the aggressive tread can result in more road noise and slightly reduced fuel efficiency.
Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac: Known for its versatility, this tire performs well both on and off-road. It provides a smoother ride on paved roads but may wear faster under extreme off-road conditions.
Nitto Terra Grappler G2: This tire balances off-road capability with on-road comfort. It’s quieter than more aggressive options but may not offer the same level of traction in extreme off-road situations.
Each of these models comes with tradeoffs. While they enhance off-road performance and durability, they may also impact fuel efficiency, road noise, and tread life. When making decisions about your Lift Kit Tire Size Chart, consider these factors to find the right balance for your driving needs.
Installation Tips
When installing larger tires on a lifted vehicle, there are several tips and considerations to keep in mind. First, ensure you have adequate clearance to prevent rubbing against the fenders or suspension components. This may require trimming or additional modifications. Next, check your vehicle’s alignment. Lifting and adding larger tires can affect your alignment, leading to uneven tire wear and handling issues.
Additionally, consider upgrading your suspension and steering components to handle the increased size and weight of the new tires. Beefier shocks and stronger tie rods can help maintain performance and reliability. Balancing these factors involves tradeoffs, as modifications can be costly but are essential for optimal performance.
Furthermore, remember to recalibrate your speedometer. Larger tires can throw off the accuracy of your speed readings, so adjusting this will ensure you stay within legal speed limits. Lastly, keep in mind that larger tires can impact fuel efficiency and handling, so it’s crucial to weigh these challenges against the benefits.
By considering these tips and potential impacts, you can make well-informed decisions for your Lift Kit Tire Size Chart, ensuring a smooth installation and optimal performance.
Conclusion
A lift kit tire size chart is an invaluable tool when it comes to selecting the right tires for your lifted vehicle. By using this chart, you can make sure that your new tires will provide optimal performance and look great with your lifted truck. With the right information and resources, you can find the perfect lift kit tires for your needs.
FAQs
What is a lift kit, and why would I need one?
A lift kit raises your vehicle’s chassis, providing increased ground clearance and allowing for larger tires. This is beneficial for off-road driving, enhancing your vehicle’s ability to navigate rough terrain. However, it can also affect on-road handling and fuel efficiency.
How do I choose the right tire size for my lifted vehicle?
Choosing the right tire size depends on your lift height and intended usage. Larger tires offer better off-road performance and ground clearance but can impact fuel efficiency and handling. Consider the balance between these factors and consult a tire size chart to find the best fit.
What are the tradeoffs of installing larger tires on my vehicle?
While larger tires improve off-road capabilities and aesthetics, they can lead to reduced fuel efficiency, increased road noise, and faster wear on suspension components. They may also require additional modifications for proper clearance and alignment adjustments.
Do I need to modify my vehicle to fit larger tires?
Yes, in many cases, you will need to make modifications such as trimming fenders, upgrading suspension components, and adjusting alignment to accommodate larger tires. These changes ensure that the tires fit properly and maintain vehicle performance.
How does lifting my vehicle affect its alignment?
Lifting your vehicle changes the geometry of the suspension and steering, which can affect alignment. Proper alignment adjustments are necessary to prevent uneven tire wear and maintain handling performance.