Hello, love my Premier Forester 2025 with 19 inch wheels. Now need to get winter tires have seen the posts on sizing down to 18 inch wheels and tires as per techincal manual advice. Looking for some guidance on buying alloy rims and ones that are hub centric and suitable for the winter. I am getting older and want to avoid the weight of steel wheels. Are there any options out there that are hub centric or do I need to go with steel wheels? Also what is the tire size. Thank you.
NS_Forester2025
Buy some used, refurb, or takeoff OEM Forester wheels in 17" or 18" sizes.
My pick would be 17's and the stock tire size on the '25 base model is probably 225/60x17 and I think 235/60x17 on the Wilderness. I would either use the 235/60's or consider 225/65x17's for a slight diameter increase.
If you want 18's the stock tire size is 225/55x18 and I would size up to 225/60x18 for a little more height and safety margin if you hit big hard things.
None of these sizes would be expected to give you any interference ever, but you may not be able to use tire chains with the upsizes.
My pick would be 17's and the stock tire size on the '25 base model is probably 225/60x17 and I think 235/60x17 on the Wilderness. I would either use the 235/60's or consider 225/65x17's for a slight diameter increase.
If you want 18's the stock tire size is 225/55x18 and I would size up to 225/60x18 for a little more height and safety margin if you hit big hard things.
None of these sizes would be expected to give you any interference ever, but you may not be able to use tire chains with the upsizes.
See this thread for the alloy 18" rims I got for winter. OEM specs. I bought Subaru centre caps from a dealership.
For the winter tires, I've been using Blizzaks on our cars for the last 20 years, but this year I'm trying the Hakkas. It's just coincidence that I needed new winter tires for both cars the same year. In the Vancouver area, the pricing on Blizzaks vs Hakkas is only a few dollars difference, and reviews are split about evenly.
This thread has some photos of the 18" rims on the car.
For the winter tires, I've been using Blizzaks on our cars for the last 20 years, but this year I'm trying the Hakkas. It's just coincidence that I needed new winter tires for both cars the same year. In the Vancouver area, the pricing on Blizzaks vs Hakkas is only a few dollars difference, and reviews are split about evenly.
This thread has some photos of the 18" rims on the car.
It's better if the center bore of the wheel matches the hub but it it doesn't then just use the appropriate sized hubcentric rings.
Hubcentric rings are dirt cheap. Lots of people use them.
Example: https://www.gorilla-auto.com/products/installation-measuring-tools/hub-rings
Hubcentric rings are dirt cheap. Lots of people use them.
Example: https://www.gorilla-auto.com/products/installation-measuring-tools/hub-rings
If it's better to match the centre bore, and perfectly good wheels with the proper centre bore are available, why use the rings? I'd just get wheels with the proper specs. For our other car I use the hub centric rings because I had to accommodate the winter wheels my wife picked for aesthetic reasons, but honestly, my proper-spec wheels look better and they don't require the rings.
If you're the only one that's going to be changing wheels on your wife's car, it's fine, but you can imagine a time when you're not around, and your wife needs someone to put the spare tire on or whatever. Different centre bore, rings, different lug nuts.... It's better to just use standard parts to accommodate whomever will be doing the work. It's not about the purchase price of the rings.
In another thread, someone said "there are perfectly good non-directional tires available, why pick directional ones." At least anyone changing seasonal tires will know which way they go on (or, anyone that you allow to change the seasonal tires will know), but you can't always pick who's putting the spare on.
If you're the only one that's going to be changing wheels on your wife's car, it's fine, but you can imagine a time when you're not around, and your wife needs someone to put the spare tire on or whatever. Different centre bore, rings, different lug nuts.... It's better to just use standard parts to accommodate whomever will be doing the work. It's not about the purchase price of the rings.
In another thread, someone said "there are perfectly good non-directional tires available, why pick directional ones." At least anyone changing seasonal tires will know which way they go on (or, anyone that you allow to change the seasonal tires will know), but you can't always pick who's putting the spare on.
There are a number of Canadian online dealers that will have OEM spec wheels (48 offset, 56.1 center bore, 5 x 114.3mm bolt pattern) that will fit your Forester. Try Blackcircles Canada: Buy Tires Online at the best price.. I have purchased wheels and serval sets of tires from them and I been happy with the service and prices. There are also other online sites such as https://www.canadawheels.ca/, https://www.1010tires.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopb0qTnae9PO-SC98rw7IkhMS1KHBmaeVyw5NbpXy7odF9TGXrA, etc. Or, try a local tire shop. They would likely be able to match you up with a OEM spec wheel (steel or alloys) and respective snow tire.
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