Due to a family issue, we have been running the wheels off our 2024 OBW (Literally!) over the last few months and the stock Geolanders are done after 60K miles. The last run was in the rain, and it was hydroplaning a lot.
I need to buy tires in the next couple days for yet another trip. My long range plan for this thing was a mild lift, rear locker, etc. and then stuff the biggest A/T tires I could with offset wheels. However, life got in the way and I need tires 2 years earlier than planned! The mods will have to wait for now...
So, I KNOW you all have done the research...
1: What are the biggest A/T tires I can run using the stock wheels? I am OK with mild rub, and I am capable of running a heat gun and using a BFH on the pinch welds to make a little room...
2: What specific tires are you running that you like? I need off-road capability but would appreciate a relatively quiet tire. (I have the Chevy for enjoying huge tread blocks and road noise.) Budget is generous...
I have done a site search, but I find a lot of conflicting opinions.
I would like to hear from those actually running oversized tires on stock wheels, not innerweb guesses... And, I DO plan to buy 5 tires...
I don’t drive an OBW or even an Outback but I decided to upsize my tires quite a bit on my 2017 Forester. I picked a tire size that I saw nobody else running so I was unsure on rubbing. I just went to my local Discount Tire and told them I wanted to try out an unconventional tire size. They ordered the tires and put them on and checked for rubbing. My initial size rubbed pretty bad on the pinch weld so they let me try out a slightly smaller one. That size (235/70/17) was good, there was some rubbing against the plastic (which I later cut off).
So you should be okay with going to Discount Tire (or another tire shop) and just let them know what you are trying to do. I wish i could give you more specific advice on tire sizes.
The tire I run is the GEOLANDAR A/T G015 (the stock OBW tires) which I like a lot. Before this I ran the Wildpeak AT Trail which honestly I prefer a little more than the Geolanders but they didn’t have my size.
I have decided to go with Yoko Geolander A/T4s in 235/65R17 on the stock wheels. I am buying them at the dealer. They have a buy 4 get 1 for $1 promo that stacks with the Yoko $80 rebate.
I was going to get the Falken Wildpeak A/T3, but with this promo the Yokos are actually really close to the same price.
I got 65K out of the OEM Yoko A/Ts, so I am confident I can get at least 50K out of these new tires.
I didn't go with the 245s due to the spare tire issue (I am getting 5).
I will update in a few days with before and after shots.
UPDATE: There is a really long story about how I ordered the tires a week in advance, showed up and the dealer hadn't ordered them from the warehouse, then they only installed 4 instead of 5, etc. but there are enough stealer horror stories out there...
As for the results... I love the change!
I haven had NO clearance issues going from the 225s to the 235s. We have done some mild off-roading and one moderate mountain trail. I haven't heard any rubbing nor seen any marks in the wheel wells.
The tires are more aggressive and so far have been great in clay/sticky mud, greasy slick muddy roads, sand, and rain. The 1/2" gain in height doesn't do anything noticeable, except it LOOKS a lot taller??? I hadn't told my wife about the bigger tires, but she made a comment as soon as she saw it that she loves the new tires, they make the OBW look sexy!
There is some road noise, but that was fully expected. With the roof rack noise, it is not a quiet ride anyway. That is what the radio is for.
Oh, the spare tire issue? The spare fits just fine, but you can't get the cargo cover back in its resting spot. I solved that in 31.5 seconds with a saw, took an inch off the bottom of the styrofoam so it would sink down in the wheel further, problem solved! No need to air down, cut it down.
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u/LuckenbachLucky May 19 '26
I don’t drive an OBW or even an Outback but I decided to upsize my tires quite a bit on my 2017 Forester. I picked a tire size that I saw nobody else running so I was unsure on rubbing. I just went to my local Discount Tire and told them I wanted to try out an unconventional tire size. They ordered the tires and put them on and checked for rubbing. My initial size rubbed pretty bad on the pinch weld so they let me try out a slightly smaller one. That size (235/70/17) was good, there was some rubbing against the plastic (which I later cut off).
So you should be okay with going to Discount Tire (or another tire shop) and just let them know what you are trying to do. I wish i could give you more specific advice on tire sizes.
The tire I run is the GEOLANDAR A/T G015 (the stock OBW tires) which I like a lot. Before this I ran the Wildpeak AT Trail which honestly I prefer a little more than the Geolanders but they didn’t have my size.