Tire Size(s)?
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On my Crosstrek, I had to go up one size so I could use K02s on 17" OEM rims. Went from 225/60 R17 to 225/65 R17. That was an increase of 1" diameter and raised the clearance from 8.7" to 9.2". No lift needed and no rubbing. Been off roading them in the summer for 4 years now, and works great. My son has a Forester and was also able to go up one size similarly.
So I suspect we should be able to do the same thing with the Solterra, and raise the clearance by .5" to 8.8" which would be quite respectable. We also need to know stock OEM offsets and bolt pattern specs, if we want to use diff rims. Being a heavier vehicle, the Solterra likely has larger calipers, and need to be sure sufficient clearance for them.
The suspension is a question, too. The new Crosstrek and Forester (not the old ones) have very sturdy long travel suspensions which work very well on rough roads. They are soft on top, making for a smooth glide over the smaller bumps and washboard, but also long travel to handle the bigger bumps and potholes. Hope the Solterra is the same. I sure hope they didn't choose the Rav4 type suspension, because it doesn't work nearly as good off road.
So I suspect we should be able to do the same thing with the Solterra, and raise the clearance by .5" to 8.8" which would be quite respectable. We also need to know stock OEM offsets and bolt pattern specs, if we want to use diff rims. Being a heavier vehicle, the Solterra likely has larger calipers, and need to be sure sufficient clearance for them.
The suspension is a question, too. The new Crosstrek and Forester (not the old ones) have very sturdy long travel suspensions which work very well on rough roads. They are soft on top, making for a smooth glide over the smaller bumps and washboard, but also long travel to handle the bigger bumps and potholes. Hope the Solterra is the same. I sure hope they didn't choose the Rav4 type suspension, because it doesn't work nearly as good off road.
Allows for a smaller sidewall giving your better handling.
2019 Ascent Touring (me) 2020 Forester Limited (Spouse)
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I don't think we've seen that specification yet.
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Hopefully the basic version does not come with steel rims plus hubcaps
2019 Ascent Touring (me) 2020 Forester Limited (Spouse)
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297 Posts
It doesn't. Those days are long gone...
That looks like a wheel for an Impreza? Can it handle the weight of the Solterra?
Did you reuse the bolts that came with the car?
Did you use the tpms from the origin al wheels? Who connected them?
Looking forward to switching to 18” as soon as I can
Wow, there is a lot of confusion in the market.
I ordered a set of after-market 18-inch wheels that seemed to check off all the requirements - off-set, hub clearance, etc.
Got a call from the tire shop informing me they are concerned.
They don't have the correct bolts for the after-market wheels. The stock ones (for the stock 20-inch wheels) won't work. They didn't have any replacement ones because it was not something they had encountered up to now.
(This is from a company that has been fitting wheels and tires for more than 30 years).
They only had one wheel design they were confident enough to recommend - more expensive, of course.
Long story short - I cancelled the 18-inch wheels and winter tires - as I didn't want to be the guinea pig for the new wheel set-up.
I am going to go with an all-weather (4-season) tire (Michelin CrossClimate 2) that can serve as my guarantee that I can survive winter.
But there is a compromise/advantage.
By switching to a 235/55-R20 (instead of a 235/50-R20) I get an extra half-inch of clearance while satisfying all the load requirements and recommendations of the stock.
The difference in diameter is 3%, which is within recommendations.
This wheel change by Subaru/Toyota (from lug nuts to bolts) has been a nightmare so far - with the issue with the bolts loosening and the wheels falling off - was just the tip of the iceberg, in my opinion.
While my new set-up is actually cheaper than buying a dedicated winter wheel and tire set-up, it is not my first choise - nor do I believe this is the end of the story.
As some of us try to customize our rides, this issue is going to dog the Solterra until the dust (or snowflakes) settles.
Just my two cents......
I ordered a set of after-market 18-inch wheels that seemed to check off all the requirements - off-set, hub clearance, etc.
Got a call from the tire shop informing me they are concerned.
They don't have the correct bolts for the after-market wheels. The stock ones (for the stock 20-inch wheels) won't work. They didn't have any replacement ones because it was not something they had encountered up to now.
(This is from a company that has been fitting wheels and tires for more than 30 years).
They only had one wheel design they were confident enough to recommend - more expensive, of course.
Long story short - I cancelled the 18-inch wheels and winter tires - as I didn't want to be the guinea pig for the new wheel set-up.
I am going to go with an all-weather (4-season) tire (Michelin CrossClimate 2) that can serve as my guarantee that I can survive winter.
But there is a compromise/advantage.
By switching to a 235/55-R20 (instead of a 235/50-R20) I get an extra half-inch of clearance while satisfying all the load requirements and recommendations of the stock.
The difference in diameter is 3%, which is within recommendations.
This wheel change by Subaru/Toyota (from lug nuts to bolts) has been a nightmare so far - with the issue with the bolts loosening and the wheels falling off - was just the tip of the iceberg, in my opinion.
While my new set-up is actually cheaper than buying a dedicated winter wheel and tire set-up, it is not my first choise - nor do I believe this is the end of the story.
As some of us try to customize our rides, this issue is going to dog the Solterra until the dust (or snowflakes) settles.
Just my two cents......
PS. I live in Victoria, the most temperate area of Canada.
While CrossClimate 2's are more than adequate for me, I doubt they would be for fellow Canadians enduring a typical Canadian winter.
It should not have to be this difficult to get proper wheels and tires for a vehicle supposed to get you to where you want to go in most weather conditions.
Yes, I did enquire about Subaru 18-inch wheels. As discussed in other forums, they are more than $1,000 each - and there is no estimated time you will actually see them.
Maybe they should call them Unicorns 🦄
While CrossClimate 2's are more than adequate for me, I doubt they would be for fellow Canadians enduring a typical Canadian winter.
It should not have to be this difficult to get proper wheels and tires for a vehicle supposed to get you to where you want to go in most weather conditions.
Yes, I did enquire about Subaru 18-inch wheels. As discussed in other forums, they are more than $1,000 each - and there is no estimated time you will actually see them.
Maybe they should call them Unicorns 🦄
Dealer told me they have been doing a lot of research into this and the conclusion at this point is that they have specific winter tires they are recommending for the 20 inch wheels. They say they expect to be able to confirm a reasonably priced aftermarket option for 18” wheels that they will stand behind but it will not happen until before next winter.
That's why I went with the CrossClimate's for this year - and possible for the life of my ownership
After I get mine, I would like to obtain a set of 18" wheels and mount A/T 235/65 R18 tires vs stock 235/60 R18. That would also give an extra 1/2 inch clearance to 8.7" but with a larger sidewall. The Falken Wild Peak A/T Trail come in that size. These would be my summer off-road wheels/tires. I would still keep the OEM 20" wheels/tires and use them for the rest of the seasons.
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Totally agree with your comment. I live in Edmonton and my Solterra hadn't left my garage because I do have winter tires for them. I need Nokian studded, but they are all out this season. So I either spend $1000 to get a set of studless winter tires and sell them next year, or I don't drive it this winter.
I have emailed Subaru Canada regarding my opinion on Dec 2nd, 2022. Of course, I haven't heard back. May I ask all new Solterra owners to email the three managers <Press release> and let them know our 2 cents?
"Hi Subaru Canada,
I have just recently taken delivery of a Solterra. Unfortunately, the dealer told me there are no rims approved by Subaru Canada as an accepted alternative to the original rims that came with the car.
As someone who lives in Canada, it is extremely inconvenient to not be able to purchase another set of rims to put winter tires on. The only alternative option is to switch out the current all season tires with winter tires every season. This process is time-consuming (booking a tire swap, waiting for a swap), expensive (cost of labour) and damaging to the tires. Also note the timing of your delivery of these vehicles. They are being delivered in the middle of winter when everyone else has purchased their winter tires and tire stores are running low in stocks and variety.
Furthermore, this lack of clear directions of when new rims will be approved or arrive does not align with your brand's image. It does not inspire "confidence in motion" when driving on icy roads when we are stuck using all-season tires; it inspires fear.
I hope that you understand the situation your brand has put the new owners in. It is extremely frustrating and damaging to your brand. We understand it may take time to sort out the wheel recall issue, but in the meantime, please do think about your customers and come up with an interim solution. The new owners of Solterra are all die-hard customers of Subaru and will likely act as your ambassadors for the brand and new model in the next little while. Therefore, it would be irresponsible for a business to leave things as they are. Like your Toyota counterpart in the USA, it would be wise to create a stop-gap while things are sorted out.
My suggestion for Subaru Canada to implement would be:
1) Continued, high quality communication regarding the state of your search/verification of alternate rims. Solterra has been plagued by a lack of communication throughout the whole process. It is necessary to remediate and provide outstanding customer service so that you can stand out from your direct (BZ4X) and indirect (other manufacturers) competitors.
2) Set out a reasonable pre-order price for those alternative rims before they come to market. Currently, your OEM rims are asking for $600+ a piece, compared to $250 aftermarket. It would be ideal if you could offer Solterra owners the option to purchase your new "approved" rims at a price competitive to aftermarket ones.
3) Free tire swap for all Solterra owners until the approved rims are readily available on the market.
Looking forward to hearing from your executive team.
One disappointed Subaru owner of 15 years who took home a Solterra that is not fit for the roads of Edmonton, Alberta."
I feel your pain - and frustration.
Getting set for winter is pretty easy. Pick tires suitable for your weather conditions.
With enough time to plan, it's easy.
Here we have a delayed launch. Vehicles which should have arrived in June/July are now getting delivered (sorry, our US friends).
But like you found out, some popular tire sizes are already sold out for the season.
Along with wheels that are either not available or exorbitantly expensive, it just creates frustration and confusion instead of satisfaction and joy of ownership.
2023 Subaru Solterra with Technology Package, Platinum White with Two-Tone Black Roof
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Subaru should be offering an OEM (official accessory) 18” wheel that people can use for winter. Or at least make the standard 18” wheel on the base trim available for a decent price. Gotta get on their supplier and start cranking those out.
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