JohnW2

Thanks to everyone for their input and after the additional 6" of white stuff last night, and the temp out the window of -18, I'll ponder and make phone calls this morning. Now with all the facts and figures and lots of variables that you, the venerable and knowledgable contributors have made, I should be able to make the correct, informed decision. On to the next problem..........thanx again to all..

Thanks John, I thought I would hunt around in the local wreckers for dead subies and make sure they were the 16" that I need before I drag them to the local tire changer and get a little more grip in my winter's life.....am I to understand that any Subaru with 16" rims would fit my situation?

sorry, should have been a little bit clearer on that last post.....I will be using 16" rims but I am assuming that they will be the same width, across the wheel sideways from rim to rim.....

thanks for the sage advice gentlemen, I believe I'll slide down there tomorrow and pick up some free tires. Then I have to get my hands on some ugly rims....which should be the same size as the stock ones that are on there, right?

It's probably a no brainer but I'll ask anyway before I jump into the changeover! I've got a 2002 Forester with 215-60-R16 tires on it. Up here in the Great White North we just got about 12" of fresh white powder. A friend of mine has offered me some not so old 225-60-R16 snow tires for "free"......any problem with clearances in the wheel wells.....any problems with anything else?