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89 Subaru Gl


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ive got stock rims on my wagon, what are the biggest rims and tires I can put on it without making any modifications to the vehicle itself? 89 Gl Wagon i want to know because i have some 15 inch 4 lug honda rims but the tire would be wider.

Edited by minty14
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I'm surprised more members don't chime in here for a new member.  JesZek knows Subarus extremely well, is a fantastic resource, and is very generous with his knowledge.  He is correct about the rare bolt pattern.  I know there are many people on USMB who know this subject up and down more than me.  This is something I have been considering for a while on my wagon.  Some people redrill used Toyota wheels too.... even trailer wheels... some change hubs. 

 

There's alot of info on USMB about this topic and that's probably, in general, why you haven't had more responses.  Use the search feature and search the topics, posts, and the USMB.  I'm sure others will add more info that I forget.  But sometimes new members need to do some searcing of the USMB "archives" on their own.....

 

In a nutshell:  Older Subarus have low power already and if you add bigger wheels and tires most people like to swap in a bigger Subaru engine.  Also bigger wheels and tires need changes to axles, mounts, and ?.  Problem with the 13 inch stock wheels is lower clearance and basically no "offroad" type tires for them. 

My wagon has the stock wagon wheels and I can fly along on the freeway at 85-90 mph ( using momentum on the uphills..lol ) and offroad plenty fast enough.  Challenge for me is clearance is not enough sometimes in tricky spots offroad and the tire selection is limited to street tires ( so I usually have two good spares when away from civilization). 

Hope this helps minty14, welcome to the USMB.  Alot of great people on here!! 

Edited by two85s
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I'm surprised more members don't chime in here for a new member...

 

Lately more and more members only point the newbies to use the Search Function, but the same time and effort could be used to write the right answer, and that is a better welcome, in my own humble opinion; beside that the seach function, is not working well with the New USMB system / software.

 

 


 

...  JesZek knows Subarus extremely well, is a fantastic resource, and is very generous with his knowledge.  He is correct about the rare bolt pattern...

 

Thank you so much for your Kind Words, which I Really appreciate. thumbsup-1.jpg

 


 

... Some people redrill used Toyota wheels too... even trailer wheels... some change hubs...

 

Yes, there are Threads about all that, the Popular re-drill pattern is to 6 lugs, but I chose 4X114.3 and I drive my beloved Subaru "BumbleBeast" with that redrilled pattern since 1996 without any related issues.

 


 

... Older Subarus have low power already and if you add bigger wheels and tires most people like to swap in a bigger Subaru engine.  Also bigger wheels and tires need changes to axles, mounts, and ? ...

 

Yes, some modifications triggers the "Avalanche Effect" where everything starts with a simple change, then you need to "Upgrade" other things, then others because the others changed, etc...

 

The Bigger tires I recommend to use on a EA82, are 25" for Mixed City / offroad \ Highway driving; and even with them, the EA82 feels "Anemic" when compared with newer cars with similar displacement engines; that is due to many reasons, like the Heavy Body, Lower Hp output, The GearBox is intended to turn smaller tires, etc...

 

But it does fine in every and each circumstance, with 25" ... despite that I drive in the extremely mountanious Honduras.

 


 

...  Alot of great people on here!!

 

Yes, like you.

 

Kind Regards.

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Thanks for the reply guys. Btw I own 2 Subaru wagons an 89 fwd automatic and I just bought a 87 4wd Manuel wagon gl. I have very little mechanical experience but I did do some repairs on my 89 wagon "my very first car bought for 200USD" and I really did just like the way the wagon looked so I finally decided after 5 years it wastine to go with the 4wd manuel. I was also wondering what are some pretty cool mods I could do to make it a little more unique in my town.

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Your welcome and you are in a very good part of the country to catch the incurable Subaru Fever.  Show pictures of your wagons!!!! (use the low resolution lens on a smart phone.  The one on the key pad side) or lowish res camera photos.  Posting high res images on USMB doesn't work.  Cheers  

 

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Cool, I was trying to help.  Here's a link to a post I made a while back that has some photos of my 85 GL non-turbo, Dual Range very much stock Subaru.  I have a total of seven of the white spoke wagon wheels (just in case).  The cool thing is that I can fit one in the engine compartment because it IS NOT an oversized tire.  On way off the road trips I usually have two good spares. Take care out there!!  

 

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/149092-my-1985-gl-charger-wagon-story/

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...Show pictures of your wagons!!!! (use the low resolution lens on a smart phone.  The one on the key pad side) or lowish res camera photos.  Posting high res images on USMB doesn't work...

 

I found a simple & easy way to post here High Resolution Photos that features small size (Always less than 1000 pixels Wide) you only need a Free program named "irfanview" which allows you to resize the photos on a couple of Clicks, almost without losing resolution; so despite that I upload them often @ 800X600 pixels, they can be Zoomed up many times more than full screen, without looking pixelated.

 

As usual on my posts, Underlined words are Web Links with further info on the Subject.

 

Kind Regards.

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