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Can I use a 215/60R16 Spare when other tires are 225/60R16 wheels

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3.1K views 3 replies 3 participants last post by  3liter914-6  
S
#1 ·
Hi to everyone. I have a 2003 Forester XS manual transmission and I discovered a flat tire this morning while at my house. My spare is the OEM 215/60R16 Geolandar G900 (its 13 years old but has never been used and is like new condition). I currently have a set of Firestones 225/60R16 on all four tires.

Would I risk damaging the differential if I drive on at Highway speeds for a couple days with the spare being a different size?

The tires are worn out so I will just replace them. Would you recommend that I buy a new spare that matches the rest? (Buy 5 tires instead of 4). I do not plant to rotate the 5th tire because it comes with an ungly steel rim that does not match the rest.

I was thinking on buying a Continental Truecontact 225/60R16. Any other suggestions? I drive mostly on paved roads and live in the north east.

Thanks!
 
M
#2 ·
not recommended but if you have to put it on the front

a 13 year old tire is pretty much trash , never used or not

maybe keep the best of the current tires as a spare so the sizes match closer to the new set of 4

or get a 5th alum wheel , if you rotate them yourself it makes it easier
 
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#4 ·
You've already got this sorted, but Subaru (and most AWD vehicle manufacturers) recommends less than a .25" difference between tire circumference. Tire sizes are always a rough estimate and circumference and width can vary significantly amongst tire brands and models that are nominally the same size, so your best bet is always a matched set with similar levels of tread wear.

New tires usually check in around 11/32" of tread and wear bars are usually at 3/32", which works out to a .25" difference between new and totally worn, so you're normally ok with new and some degree of wear, but matched as closely as possible is ideal.
 
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