2018 Crosstrek: Method 502's and BFG KO2's First impressions
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- Опубліковано 17 жов 2024
- Just had 215/75/15 BFG KO2's installed on 15" Method Race 502 VT spec +15 offset wheels. ...
MR 502 wheels: www.discountti...
KO2 tires: www.discountti...
This is a video about my first impressions...
Music by Bensound. www.bensound.com
NO Fit issues, rubbing etc., Yes, they are louder, Center caps fit
Revs per mile is 727 stock vs 729 New. Calculator shows no speedometer discrepancy. 8.9 inches wide, Stock, vs 8.5 inches wide New
Hey Rick, absolutely love your videos and your setup on the crosstrek. Is this still stock height? And you didn’t have any performance issues with rubbing or wheel well clearance? I just want to make sure I’ll have no issues when I install the same wheels and tires. Thanks!
Hello Mike and thank you very much for your kind words. I really appreciate it! Yep, she is stock height and zero rubbing issues with my set up. I have been on a few fairly bumpy roads that test the suspension a decent amount and all good to go. Best of luck and let me know how it goes with the wheels/tires. Cheers Mike
5 or more decibels is a HUGE difference! Might not seem like it data wise but an increase in just 3 decibels doubles the sound intensity. So a 6 decibel change would quadruple the sound intensity. This all because our hearing is very sensitive, and decibels are in an algorithmic scale.
Great video! Keep up the solid work!
Hector, thank you for watching and for your explanation. I wasn't familiar with the science behind the decibels. That is really cool info and makes sense that 5 decibels has really changed the car. All I hear now is road/tire noise and my quiet crosstrek is gone LOL Cheers man, really appreciate your comment!
He means logarithmic :)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decibel
Dan McCoy hahaha wow... Good catch! Idk what I was thinking...
no center cap is a GO! just for my opinion.
Any problems come up with the stock ride height??
None at all. Fit with no issues at all. I hear 235’s rub a little
Don’t know if this question has been answered already but do you feel a difference with acceleration? I know a bunch of guys running 235 lose some acceleration but I’m wondering how it is with the 215’s
Thanks for the question...no obvious change with acceleration that I have noticed. Just extra road noise over stock. 👍🏻
Thanks so much for the informative video Rick. I’m taking delivery of my 2022 Subaru cross trek limited and went with the same setup as this. Keep up the great work I appreciate the videos you got a sub
Thank you, best of luck with the car!
Looking good just bought 2023 same color got hit so waiting to get it out of the body shop didn't make my first payment plus guy had no insurance but I'm fixing to do mine like yours u did a good job thanks for sharing leave the caps
Thank you and sorry to hear about the crash...may that is a bummer. Hope they do a nice job for you.
I'm happy you actually called them wheels and not rims.
Dont know if my comment went through, UA-cam froze. here it is again:
Did you do anything with the TPMS Sensors? Did you put on the wheels and get new ones yourself? or leave them off for this set? I dont know much about them except TireRack wants me to add them to my order if needed...
Thanks!
Hi Kevin, I don't see a different message from you so maybe it didn't go through? I bought new TPMS sensors because at the time I planned to keep my stock set up and use them for long trips. I have since sold them. If you do not want to buy new ones you can have the shop that installs the new set up switch the stock TPMS over to the new wheels/tires for a lot less than the cost of new TPMS. Just depends what you want to do with the stock set up. If you do not put any on your new Wheels/tires you will have a warning light on all the time.
Hi Rick, watching all of your videos regarding Crosstrek. i have a question. when you changed your tires & wheels does it impact on your previous millage? TIA.
Thank you! No noticeable change, but I only had a couple thousand miles on the car when I switched over. Best recorded MPG with the set up is 33mpg. Avg is about 27mpg. Biggest change was the increase in road noise especially on the highway. They are worth it though😃
Hi Rick - Great Video. I love the fact that people take the time to do this - much appreciated! Were there any issues with weights for balancing? I was looking to have a local shop here in New Hampshire put the same setup on my 2018 Premium and they said the MR502 15x7 wheels would be an issue when installing weights for balancing. They said they talked to both Method and Subaru and came to the conclusion that the weights would (could) hit the calipers. Seems bizarre since these wheels were designed for stock Subarus - maybe they don't balance the tires on true off-road vehicles?? This is the first I have heard of that after looking at so many people that have done this upgrade. Any info would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you Dave very much. This is the first I have heard of any issues with balancing the Methods and I have been reading about Crosstrek wheel upgrades for over 3 years now. My local shop never mentioned it even as a possible issue. I will say, that I have not looked to see where the wheel weights are and do not have the car with me today at the station, but will look in the morning when I get home. The wheels were designed with the off set to fit over the calipers so I can't imagine the wheel weights being a problem. I'll let you know what I find in the morning. Shoot me an email azdroptopyt@cox.net if you don't hear back from me.
Your use of camera angles, drone footage and editing are top notch way to go. Smile
Thank you Julius, I sincerely appreciate your letting me know. Means a lot.
Thank you so much you deserve the kudos i am a teacher for a tech company and the way you present information to the consumer is great and informative.
Also i can relate to you i am buying a impreza sport hatch because of you my choice is clear for me.
Thank you again. Great vehicle choice.
does your son help with video editing or are you just kick arse with tech? cause I'm hoppeless
Hey Rick. Is your trek equipped with eyesight? If so, do you notice anything different with how it works when you changed your wheels and tires?
Hi Ivan, no eyesight on my car, but from what I understand wheels/tires should not affect it. I believe even a lift is ok as long as you don't do something way out of the ordinary. Have fun and thank you for watching.
Hey mate - love the video just about to order these but what are you using as your spare? Did you get a 5th wheel or getting away with using the stock wheel and tire albeit slightly larger?
Hey Dylan, I used one of my take off wheels for awhile and then the spare tire after I sold the stock wheels/tires. The Method/BFG set up is basically the same circumstance as stock so you can use the spare. Best case scenario is to buy a 5th wheel/tire for a spare, but I still have not gotten around to doing that.
Looks great Rick! I’m actually surprised that they are smaller despite looking bigger. Must just be the squared off edges of the tread?
Thank you corey, not sure to be honest, but that could be. Optical illusion I guess. Measurement wise they are .4 inches smaller than stock. Cheers
Silly question, but what do you typically run for tire pressure? Just picked up the same wheel/tire combo and on the freeway the car wanders a bit at speeds above 75. Very minimal but a bit more than stock. Any help? Thanks!
Generally 34 to 36 psi. No issues that I have noticed with wandering. Hope this helps and best of luck!
Now that you have these for 6 months hows the wear on them? Ive always used KO2s on my truck but curious to how well they've stood up to the all wheel drive system. Really contemplating a Crosstrek as our next family ride looks like it has more room than our 2013 4dr Civic. Thanks for the videos!
So far so good with no noticeable wear or increase in noise. I have about 4K miles on them so far. You all will really enjoy the versatility of a Crosstrek over the Civic, but I have to admit the Civic's are great little cars. Thanks much for watching along. cheers.
I'm sooo glad to see that a lift isn't needed. I'm purchasing a Crosstrek next month and have been pondering that question. My Subaru dealer told me it would cost an additional $4200 for the tires,wheels, & lift. Not now!! Lol!
Chris, that is a crazy price for wheels/tires/ and lift. Were they using gold nuts and bolts on the that set up. :) Most of the lifts are around $800 and the wheels/tires are approx $1700. The lift install doesn't look too crazy to do at home...then throw in a $125 alignment and you're done. Congrats on the new car! What color are you going with? Thank you for watching.
Great look. Keep the center caps. Loses no "toughness", presents a more finished look. As a new 2018 CT owner considering some mods, I've really been enjoying your vids.
Thank you Jay! Appreciate your saying so and for watching along. Happy to help if I can.
Hey Rick, Any reason you chose the 215 tires over the 235 BFG KO2s? The 215 is not as wide as the stock limited tires. Notice any differences in handling? Thanks!
Hello, mostly chose the 215’s because I was pretty certain I wouldn’t have any rubbing issues and was not planning on doing a lift. I think they are a 1/4 or 1/2 inch less than stock. When I first switched them out I felt a bit more understeer, but I believe that’s from the taller sidewalk. Now after a couple thousand miles I don’t notice it at all. Thank you for the question. Are you going to buy some method’s and BFG’s? As you have probably heard me say they are quite a bit louder on the road, but worth it for off road driving. Cheers
Thanks for the explanation. Makes sense. I'm looking into it, but like you said they will be much louder. Definitely thinking about it though!
My pleasure. I am getting used to it now, but do miss how quiet the car was now and then. Best of luck and let me know what you decide.
hi Rick. I have a question, please forgive my ignorance i know nothing about vehicles other than putting gas them lol! If you install new tires & rims, and happen to get a flat in the middle of nowhere, can you use the factory spare tire on an AWD?
You can use the stock spare with aftermarket wheels/tires as long as they are the same circumference as what the original stock set up was. If you put a mismatched wheel/tire on you can do some damage to the AWD system from what I understand. You are also only supposed to use the spare in the rear, something I didn't know when I got my flat last year. Oops. :) It didn't damage anything thankfully. Hope that helps.
Good afternoon, I just received my wheels and tires and I’m loving the look! I asked the rep if the my spare tire would suffice with these KO2 tires size and he did calculations and said the spare is still within range of using! No need to buy a 5th wheel.....after you did the swap, did you do a realignment?
Sorry Jacob for the slow response. I did not do an alignment....all good to go. Glad you are enjoying them!
Hey Rick this is a little late on the video but was wondering if you had any problems with the tire pressure sensors after installing these?
I did after a couple of years. Turns out the TPMS sensors had a recall and started going bad about six months ago. All replaced now.
@@AZdroptop thanks so much! This helps a lot
Did these tires fit without any other stock modifications or did you have to lift your Crosstrek first for them to fit?
Hi i Stacey, they fit with the car 100% stock. No rubbing or other problems. The Methods and BFG's are almost exactly the same circumstance so the speedo is still correct and the set up is actually about 1/2 inch narrower than stock. 215 BFG's vs 225 width stock. They do not make the BFG's in 225's and 235 are a bit to big for my taste.
Hi Rick, thanks for the video. How many miles did you have on the Crosstrek when you made the change?
Just about 2,000 if I remember correctly. Thank you for watching.
I think the centerkaps fit up pretty well with the color of the car itself, it's a nice touch. But for full aggressive mode, go without them
Great vid! Thanks a lot. I’m looking to upgrade the tires on my Crosstrek which I have owned fro 2 weeks now. Do you know if ko2s will fit on the stock wheels?
HI Ken, thank you for watching. I don't believe they make KO2's in the stock Crosstrek wheel size, but I did find these from BFG. Not sure if you have the 17 or 18 inch wheel on your car. Best of luck and enjoy the new Crosstrek.www.discounttire.com/tires/brands/bfgoodrich-catalog?cat=all-terrain-tires
Hi, Rick! did you use any spacers with these rims, or just bolt-in install? I like Rhino Blacks more besides they are lighter. but definitely ko2! and tires btw - are they 'civilian' or LT, thicker version?
tnx. hope to meet one day!
Thank you for watching along brother. No spacers on the wheels, just put right on. The Black Rhino's are really nice and I wish they had them available when I bought my Method's. The tires are the LT version and I have been really happy with them so far. Most of the reviews talked about how well they lasted and so far after just over 10K they don't show any wear. Best of luck and if you ever make it to Tucson let me know! Cheers.
@@AZdroptop thanks Rick!
I'm actually negotiating with Subaru Tucson right now about XT version of 2017 Forester. I can not be there now so I think this car will be gone so maybe in the month I'm about to go there.
Very nice choice. If you come up with questions my very good friend works there and would be happy to help. Trent Nichols. best of luck.
@@AZdroptop Rick can I ask you if your friend Trent could just check - I'm working with Anthony Taormina, he looks like a pretty professional guy. but still in case he needs any assistance. I need some financing guru there to make it happen. tnx in advance
sorry I don't know how to message here. my name is Dennis
Great vid! So literally no rubbing issues at full turns and reverse? I also have the 2018 premium and it's quite hard to source lift kits into the country. 215/75/15s?
Hi Louis, not that I have noticed at all. I supposed it is possible and I don't hear it, but no indication that I have seen or heard so far. I did see a video where an owner had 235's on his car and they were rubbing, but not with my 215/75/15's.
Just the kind of video I was looking for! Thanks so much!
Awesome. Thank you. Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for the straightforward info on the noise. And don't forget Db is a logarithmic scale, so "5 more" might not seem like much but it really is.
Thank you very much! A few posters have explained the logarithmic nature of Db which I was completely ignorant of when I made the video. Makes sense. Cheers and thank you for watching.
Did you have to use a camber kit after installing and alignment? I installed rims and tires and now need a camber kit , got one through sixty auto! Thanks for reply
Hi Tony, no camber kit of the car currently even with the springs. I did buy some camber bolts that have more adjustment on them from either Anderson design or Subtle solutions, can't remember now since it has been awhile, but I have not put them on the car yet.
Hi!another question.how did you manage to fit the stock center caps to method rims?seems that it is loose when I tried.
The stock ones kjust clicked in for me. I believe the original method wheels required a little retention ring. The ones I have were changed to accept stock center caps
@@AZdroptop yeah i think so also.thanks
Rick Those Tires Are Sick I am considering it after my car is paid off the mission is 3 years but then a whole custom paint job a more Copper Orange and New Tires! Thanks for your videos sir!
Thank you very much and thank you for watching. The tires have been great fun off road for sure and definitely give the car a nice look. I like the sound of your paint plan as I love the look of copper. Best of luck with the car.
What prompted you to choose a 215 over a 225? Looking into this set up for my crosstrek and I'm wondering if there would be rubbing issues with a 225
Hey Drew, they don't make the KO2 in 225. They do in some other AT's, but I was stuck on the KO2's so that's partly why I went with them. I was also worried about rubbing with 225's or bigger. Cheers.
Wow, thank you for the quick reply! I look forward to continuing to follow your crosstrek adventures. Keep up the great content!
my pleasure Drew! Let me know if I can answer any other questions. And thank you for watching!
Hi rick! I am from the philippines and BF goodrich ko2 stocks are plenty in my place, however, looking for method rims 15s is a pain in the ass. Can you recommend other brand?
Also, do you think that a 265/65/17 tires + black rhino boxer rims of 17s + body lift will cause rubbing? thanks rick
Hi Dien,
Sparco and Black Rhino are a couple of other wheels you can consider. The tire size you mentioned are probably way too wide for our wheels. They come stock with 225's on all wheel sizes and I know 235's will rub on the 18+ model Crosstrek.
Hello Rick awesome video. You did lift your crosstrek for these wheels? No rubbing? Is there an alternative tires for these awesome wheels. Thanks
Hi Leland, thank you much. No lift at all and they fit with no issues. 215/75/15 tires BFG KO2's You can also go with the 235/75/15's, but there is some rubbing on mud flaps with those. There are other tire brands that people like as well. Geolanders are popular as well.
Looks Rad! Wanted to know if you also lifted the car some or are you running stocks? Why r15 and not larger?
Thank you! No lift at this point, maybe down the road. I went with the 215's because they don't make the bfg's in 225's, would have had to jump to 235's...15 inch rims to give more sidewall protection. Cheers and thank you very much for watching.
Your videos helped sell me on a Crosstrek, and I just purchased this wheel/tire combo after being inspired by your videos. I’d say Subaru and America’s Tire Co. owe you a buck or two at this point.
Thank you so much! That's awesome. How are you liking them?
Rick Hutton I love them so far, it’s like a whole new car. Looks terrific, performs much better off road, and also unexpectedly improved the ride quality.
maybe a weird question? but with running tires this big in the winter, is there a chance snow can get lodged or anything? i just came from a legacy and i always had snow stuck in the wheel well. Sorry if this is dumb im new at this! Love the Car and the vid!
Hi Joshua, we do not get much in the way of snow here in Tucson, maybe once or twice a year max, and it doesn't stick around much so I don't have much experience in that department. I have read that some love the BFG's in snow and others don't care for them. I have had them in snow just a couple of times and didn't have any issues and they are great for the rest of the year for me.
@@AZdroptop what psi do you keep your tires for regular travel?
Good Afternoon Rick,
I’m in the market for a new set of wheels and tires. I’m looking into the same set up as your Crosstrek. However I’m trying to decide on which size rim and tire to go with. Is there a difference in the height (same, shorter or higher) clearance of your car?
Hello Marites, the 15 inch Method wheels and the 215/75/15 inch BFG's are almost exactly the same height/circumference as my stock 18 inch Subaru wheels and 225/55/18 tires. The stock wheels are about a 1/4 inch or so wider than the new set up. They do not sell the BFG's in 225 or I would have bought them and 235 are bigger than I wanted to go with for a few reasons. There is also essentially no change in the speedometer as well. Best of luck and thank you for watching.
I cant seem to find any 15" method502's.. I have a 2017 subaru crosstrek. And I love the rally look on these cars. Do you think 16" will work fine with BFG KO2 215/75/16?
Hi Mathew, the 215's would be fine width wise, but I am not sure what size your stock wheels and tires are. If you take your stock size and goto this site: tiresize.com/calculator/ Put in the stock size and then the 215/75/16 size in and see what the difference is. You want to be as close to the same as possible circumference wise... Hope that is helpful.
Rick Hutton thanks a ton Rick! Will do more research on it :)
Hey Rick just a question. Mentioned I was looking into the same wheel/tire combo.. how did you order your tires? I’ve been on two websites and I can’t seem to order them. They keep telling me “can’t complete order and call” lol! Did you go someplace in person ? Thanks!
Hey Ian, I ordered mine in person at Discount tire...they had to order both the wheels and tires. Did you happen to try tire rack.com? It seems when I looked awhile back that they had them.
Rick Hutton I’ll try them. Maybe call in person too. When you ordered them direct did they give any inclination the combo wouldn’t fit? Maybe because it differs from the stock wheel and tire combo I need to actually talk to a sales rep. Anymore question I’ll let you know thanks again! 🤙🏻
Ian Rivera The asked me 3 or 4 times if I knew if they would fit and even called Method on the phone to check wheel fitment. I bet that is why the websites are giving you a hard time. Cher’s and good luck
Rick Hutton thanks again just got my tires and wheels today. What lug nuts did you use? Will the stock ones fit? I’m assuming not. Thanks!
HI Ian, that is great, congrats. The stock ones will not work and you will need a deeper set and to be honest I am not sure which kind I have. Discount tire here in town ordered them for me and installed them and I never asked. Sorry man. I hope you enjoy the set up as much as I am. Cheers
So why did you go with the 15" wheels? I know they make them in a 17". Is there a fit issue? I like the wheels, don't know if I want the added noise with the tires.
John, mostly for the larger sidewall since they are better for off road use. I don't off road all the time, but like to get out there now and then and after my wheel/tire damage awhile back I decided to make the change. 18's just aren't great for rocky terrain. If you have 17's you could throw on a more All terrain type tire, but I think with any of them you're looking at more noise.
The noise is a bummer and in my opinion it is a big difference from stock. Its not crazy different, but it is significant. I could have chosen a less aggressive tire, but all the reviews pointed to these being the best. I knew going in there would be an increase in noise so it is what it is at this point.
Hey Rick, if you wanted to take a spare of the same wheel/tyre would it fit where the factory spare tire is put away? What would your preference be if you were to take a spare method wheel and bfg? On the roof, on a tire hitch carrier or inside the hatch?
That is a great question, my guess is the BFG might fit in the hole for the spare, but would stick up because they are wider. I will have to set the spare next to a BFG a see what the size difference is for sure. Currently I plan to use one of the stock wheels and put it in the hatch.
It looks sick Rick ! Are you gonna be able to drive that thing with the undersized spare tire if you get a flat ?
Will the Crosstrek do a strong 80 on the highway ? Thanks and have a great day.
Hi Peter, I think the spare should be ok for short distance, but I guess we will see if it happens. :) Let's hope not though just to be safe. ha ha. It will definitely do 80 no problem unless you are at a pretty good incline. Cheers Peter.
Thanks for this solid, creative review. After watching, I just ordered the exact same set... with confidence.
Awesome Rick! I think you will really like them especially if you are going off road. When you get them installed let me know what you think and send over a pic if you want. Cheers! azdroptopyt@cox.net
I have a 2017... I wonder if the configurations are different between the 2017 and the 2018. Did your crosstrek come stock with 17” or 18” wheels? It looks like starting in 2018 they had trims with different options available.
Mine came stock with 17” wheels so I’m wondering if I’d be able to use the same setup that you did with the 15” methods
I also wonder if they both sit at the same stock ride height
Hi Andrew, the Limited's came with 18's and 225/55 tires while the 17 inch wheels had 225/60 tires so they would be at the same height. Just a larger sidewall on the 17 " wheel. The Methods should fit your 17 from what I remember. If you go with 215/75/15's on the methods it should be just fine.
Rick Hutton awesome thanks!
Was there any lift with the 215/75/15's like around a inch or is this something people are fibbing about
No lift at all. The tires are essentially the same diameter at the 18" wheels/stock tire combo.
Awesome vid! What do you think about the new lift kits? It could help with your the distance between the tire and mud guard area. The cross trek is the car on my list this year and the lift is something I’m very interested in.
HI Rob thank you! Appreciate it. A lift is on the list now for sure to help with approach and departure angles. Looking at an LPadventure small front bar and skid plate as well. With all of the wash crossings etc around here they will both be helpful.
Rick Hutton
That’s interesting as well! Please make a vid of that final result. This new body style deserves a lot of customization.
Will do Rob, not sure exactly when I will get the chance to do the life, but I hope to purchase the front bar sometime in the rear future. If you haven't seen the video, Talon Sei put a lift on his 18 to give you an idea of what it looks like. Cheers
@rick this wont allow for mudflaps will it? unless lifted? this would be perfect on the 2021 just shown with the 182hp but i dont need the lift just more aggressive tires in 215/75/15
Should fit with no issues unless they really change something on the 21. If you go with the 215/75/15's you'll be good to go!
Wow, what a difference, totally changes the look of the car.
I've got a 2017 crosstrek, would that set up work? Also is it a good set up for soft beach sand and snow? Or is it better for Rocky/hard dirt?
Hi and thank you for watching...I believe the set up I have should work fine on the 2017, but it would be worth a call to method race wheels just to make sure. Discount tire called them 2 times and must have asked me at least 3 times if I was sure they would fit. :) Seems like I have seen a few cars on subaruxv forum with the set up.
My understanding is that the BFG's are not great in snow, at least according to some reviews I came across, so I can not answer that from personal experience. Sound be fine on the beach. Cheers and shoot me an email or message if you have other questions.
Just ordered 15x7 Relations Racing Wheels. Looking for tires and I noticed I hear a lot about 215 and 235 width. Is there any particular reason why I'm not hearing people do 225 like the factory width? It seems like the sweet spot because 235 rubs. I got time to shop so any help is appreciated.
Great question. The main reason for me was that they do not make the BFG's I wanted in 225. Not sure why really, they just do not offer them. I never really looked at other A/T tires to see if them make them in 15" and 225 width. Congrats on the the new wheels and hope that helps.
What are the exact 15” method wheels you perched? MR502 VT-SPEC
15 X7 5-100.00 15 BKMTXX?
Method vt spec 502 15x7 5 x 100. +15 Here is a link. www.methodracewheels.com/products/mr502-rally-vt-spec
Rick, great videos, what did you do regarding the TPMS sensors? Did you reuse the ones from stock?
Never mind, just read through all the comments. So stressing about my tpms situation. Lol. I may attempt to switch over my OEM sensors to the new rims. Thanks again for the great videos.
Thank you Brandon, much appreciated. I actually kept the stock wheels and left the TPMS installed on them. Just bought a new set for the methods and KO2's. I believe it was an additional $150 or so.
Hey sweet ride man I just got a 21 crosstrek same colour will your wheel and tire set up work on mine it comes stock with an 18” as well?
Awesome! Congrats and have fun. My set up will fit your 21 no problem at all. If you buy the wheels/tires from discount tire or similar store they will try and tell you they don't fit. :) My store even called Method wheels directly. They fit fine with zero issues. 215/75/15 BFG KO2 tires and Method VT spec 15 x 7, 5 x 100 bolt pattern +15 off set. Cheers.
Hi Rick, I was wondering if your 2018 Crosstek was the LIMITED* or premium/base model?Do you know if your setup works for all three models? thank you much!
HI Erika, Mine is the Limited and the wheels/tires will work on all the models. Method Race 502 VT spec 15" wheels and BFG KO2 215/75/15 tires. cheers.
Awesome thank you! Also what about the bolt pattern on the wheel? 5 holesx 3.94 inches?
You are welcome. Yes ma'am, 5 x 34 inches or you will see 5 x 100 as well. Are you going to pick up some Method's?
Okay perfect! Yes, I put my order in for a Crosstrek 2018 limited it will be here next month. Im looking at getting wheels and tires for it. Was looking to do the General Grabber AT2 215/75/15 and Method Rally 502s 15". Ive been trying to gather as much information as possible before purchasing. Also I haven't found many blogs explaining if everything will fit correctly WITHOUT a lift.
Congrats! That is great to hear. Everything fits just fine with no issues with the 215 tire and no lift. On a different Crosstrek someone had a bit of rubbing on mud flaps with a 235 inch tire.
Just a quick heads up on the noise level of the BFG's...they are definitely louder. The one thing I really liked about the 18 over the 14 I had was how quiet it is/was :)..the new tires have kind of ruined that a bit, but their off road performance and look makes up for it. The AT2's might be more quiet on the road, but I have never been in a car with them on. Best of luck and let me know if I can help with anything else.
Does it effect long term drivetrain, suspension?
Or what about eyesight if you have automatic transmission?
And what is tire size
No long term issues after about 40K miles now. Tires are 215's instead of the stock 225's. They don't make KO2's in the 225 size. Actual circumference is almost identical to the stock tire/wheel size so no issues. I don't have eyesight, but putting on different wheels/tires will not be a problem unless you go way off of stock set up.
Thanks for the very informative video. Quick question about the new wheel and tire install. Did you have to get hub rings for the Method wheels? And what lug nuts did you got with. Thanks!
Frank, no hub rings needed for center caps. Discount chose the lugs for me so I honestly do not know what kind they are. They did come with a deep socket though.
Hello what tire pressure are you running thanks Don 2014 Black Rhino Boxer 15in wheels bfg ko2s same size as yours
36 psi. I like those Black Rhino's...nice choice!
Hi Rick. I tried to get rims and all terrain tyres for my xv. Same model as yours but late 2017. Tyre shop said I can't get 15inch rims because of the brake callipers. How did you get around that? Thanks
My shop tried to tell me the same thing and called the wheel manufacturer a couple of times. I think they must just go by manufacturers suggestions or something. Here is a link from Methods site, on the bottom it talks about brake clearance and says they don’t clear STI brakes. Have the shop call them direct because they will fit...other earlier model Crosstrek’s are on them. Cheers brother. www.methodracewheels.com/collections/rally-wheels/products/mr502-rally-vt-spec
Rick Hutton. Thanks Rick. Will try again.
My Pleasure, maybe even email method and get confirmation and take it to the shop with you. Best of luck and let me know how it goes. Cheers
Hey Rick love the look of your crosstrek. Im getting a '19 in few weeks, I want to get a similar setup (same tires and size) but with black rhino boxers 15x7 on stock height. Do you think with rally armour mud flaps it would rub, I see that you have subaru mud guards installed instead of regular mud flaps? Do you also think flaps might add more to the wind noise, thus guards might be a better option for a quieter ride between the two? Also any issues with stock brake calipers fitting 15" inch wheels?
Hi and thank you for watching along. I actually have the Gorilla mud flaps on the car now and I do not have any rubbing issues. My tires are 215/75/15's though and I have seen that 235/75/15's do rub mud flaps just a bit so keep that in mind. Both the Method race wheels vt spec 502 and black rhinos, not sure which specific model, clear the brake calipers on our cars so no worries there. Hope you enjoy the 19 and new wheels and tires...the Black Rhinos look great. Happy to help if you come up with more questions.
Oh, and check out HighjackSecondary's video on his wheels. :) ua-cam.com/video/wZIehQ7i8Kg/v-deo.html
Rick Hutton thanks for the reply! Much appreciated.
Rick Hutton hey rick, finally got my ‘19 crosstrek (white). Waiting on the 215/75/15s ko2 to come in. I have a question regarding the splash guards you had vs the mud flaps. Some people mentioned you need mud flaps because of the offset making the wheels kick up for debris. Did you notice the difference between the oem splash guards and mud flaps protecting the paint. I’m wondering because this is my daily but I won’t be off-roading in it, I primarily want that wheel setup for north eastern gross winters that we get and wanted to know if the oem splash guards will be sufficient enough to protect from our rock and salty roads. I prefer the splash guard look as well.
When going over rocks or even small boulder, will your tires rub the wheel well? Or rub? Thank you
Nope, no rubbing at all.
Hi Rick, thanks for responding to my other question. One more for you, have you checked to see if the wheel tire combination voids any of the existing warranty? I called Subaru and they were very vague, saying they recommend the stock OEM wheels and tires.
Hi Bob, that is a great question that I don't have a definitive answer for. My friend who works at Subaru knows about my wheels and didn't mention that to me, but I will ask him. My local dealership puts aftermarket wheel/tire combos on show room cars and sells them so I don't know how they could deny warranty. Unless of course you put on a combo that radically changes the suspension, handling etc. My guess is they could try, but my experience since 2011 with Subaru is that they are reasonable about covering issues. Some guys would mod their STI like crazy, blow the motor and then ask them to fix it. :) I asked the service advisor back then what he thought about doing a ecu tune on my STI. He was fine with it and said there would be no issue with coverage. If I did an up pipe/down pipe that changed the game. I'll let you know what I find out.
Hi Bob, I spoke to my Dealer friend and he says no issues with the wheels/tires as long as they are not directly related to a warranty claim. Like the wrong size causing damage to the brakes etc.
Thanks Rick. I ordered the same wheels and tires you have. The look great, although I would tske the Subaru caps off. I won't be using, looks better without. I have a 2018 black Crosstrek, hope the look good on mine.
My Pleasure Bob. Congrats on the new set up. They will look really nice on your black car! The center caps has been an ongoing saga. :) I bought some cheap black ones from ebay that ended up not fitting so I caved and bought the nice ones. They arrived yesterday while I was here at work. I will post a short video later once I get them installed....If they fit. Cheers and let me know when yours come in. Would love to see a pic.
Wow looks great!!! Good to hear you are not having any issues at stock ride height. Now I really am looking forward in getting into the new Crosstrek after watching this. I also vote for black center caps if you can find them. You could always plastidip your current center caps black as well.
Thank you! Looks like black or no caps is the consensus.....
Hey great video, are you running the stock tire pressure on the highway with these tires?
Thank you. Generally I run between 34 and 36 psi and it seems to work out well.
I’m planning to get the same set up on mine. So stock height will be ok without any rubbing on the tires? I want to mud flaps too just worry that it might rub.
Hi Chris, stock height so far and with the 215/75/17's I don't have any rubbing at all even on the flaps. Folks with 235 tires have had a bit of rubbing on their mud flaps, but did a quick snip and they were good to go. Best of luck! And thanks for watching
I love how you keep getting better at editing your videos
Thank you very much!!!
hey Rick, I'm really glad I came across your channel! I'm really considering using your wheel/tire setup for my '18 Crosstrek Premium. Did you have to do anything for your TPMS sensors to read the K02's tire pressure?
oh and one more question, how do those tires handle in the snow? Any worse than stock, or comparable?
Hi and thank you. You have a couple of options with the TPMS sensors. You can have the tire shop switch the sensors from your stock wheels over the the KO2's, or you can buy new sensors and have them installed. I ended up buying new ones because my plan was to use the stock wheels/tires for long road trips and figured it would make life a little easier. New senosors are around $150 if I remember correctly and they can program the new ones for you when you have the tires and wheels installed.
If you plan to use your stock wheels/tires and keep the sensors in them it only takes a couple of minutes to reprogram them to the car. I pull the methods off at home, put on the stock set up and swing by the tire shop. A bit of a pain, but not too bad. I will probably just sell my stockers because I have only used them a couple of times since getting the new set up. Best of luck and thank you for watching.
Thanks for the input! Have you had to use the K02's in snow/winter conditions at all? I live in Utah and would prefer to not have to switch out to snow/winter tires once ski season hits.
Oh sorry about that. :) I have not had them in snow. Thankfully we don't see much of it around Tucson, but I do remember reading in reviews that they were "just ok" in snow. I would say look into it a bit further just in case. Probably better than stock I bet.
Just ordered the same wheel/tire setup you have. I can't wait to get them on my car! Again, really glad I came across your channel and keep making those vids!
Rick, love your setup! Which lug nuts (black) did you go with or recommend?
Thank you Chris. To be honest Discount tire chose those for me when they did the install and I am not honestly sure which ones they are. My apologies. I will have to try and dig up the paperwork and see if I can get a name for you. If I can I will post it here.
hi ,Mr.rick,actually becasue of your helpful information.I am doing the same thing like you.But i also have another question, might i know what is your lug nut size?
HI Walter unfortunately I can't answer that question. When I had ordered the wheels and had them put on the shop chose them for me. They are essentially the same size as stock, but came with a longer lug wrench adaptor to give access through the wheel. Sorry about that.
Rick, did the 15 inchers give you a +/- in mpg?? Thanks. Great look.
Initially I thought there would be a decrease, but as of my last take I am pretty convinced three mpg is the same as stock. 33 mpg for a whole take and I never did better than that stock so all good. 😃🍻
All your trek videos are top notch! Had to scroll back to find this one - you previously said you may do a lift down the road. Simply for clearance? Wondering now that you've been running these a while if you're still thinking of lifting or satisfied as is. I am close to pulling the trigger (more options now like Black Rhino, Motegi, KMC etc) on the same sizing and would prefer not to lift.
Hi Kevin, thank you very much, I appreciate it.
So when I first got the car I really had no intention on lifting it all. After doing quite a bit of off roading around here I realized that with all of the undulating washes, big rocks etc, it would probably be a good idea. The Crosstrek has good approach and departure angles for a stock car, but I was tending to rub the front lip a lot as you might have seen in the off road videos. I am still not 100% on the lift, but I am leaning towards doing it at some point still. Probably later in the year. My first goal is to get the LP adventure small front bar and then go from there. As for the tires/wheels there are no clearance issues at all with the 215/75/15's. Cheers man and best of luck with the new wheels you choose. The black Rhino's look pretty nice.
Rick Hutton Thanks - that small LP guard looks great especially with the plate add-on. Also on my list!
You've done some offroading on a regular basis with and without the new tire setup. Would you recommend mud flaps? I'm not sure I like the mud flap looks personally but the bigger Method + K02s look enciting. Subaru has a history of putting bad tires on their cars, like Prius tires on their BRZ and I don't know what inferior tires on the Crosstrek.
I wasn’t a fan of the mud flaps initially either so I understand that. I ended up putting them on because the tire sticks out a little beyond the wheel well. Can’t say they have been necessary, but I have learned to like them.
For the Method Wheels: Did you get the 5 Holesx3.94 Inches or the 5 Holesx4.49 Inches?
Hi Michael, 3.94. Cheers
Hi Rick. Since you've managed to create a lot of feed back with you great video series, I wanted to ask you and your followers if anyone has any deep knowledge/experience regarding the effects of positive offset. There are a few comments posted here on the topic, but none really gets to the point of whether the offset will harm the car or not..and whether Subaru has denied anyone's warranty for drivetrain related issues due to the use of the Methods. I'd love to here your thoughts or those of your followers. Thanks
Hi, I just had another question about this today in fact. In all honesty it wasn't something on my radar when I purchased the wheels. I guess I figured if Method is making wheels for Subaru's that fit the car they would be good to go. My biggest concern was whether or not they would clear the brakes.
I have done just a bit of reading about offset and how it can cause premature bearing wear. From what I have come across so far, some say yes it will cause premature wear, some say no? Hopefully others will comment. On the question of can Subaru denying warranty... I am sure that they would try to do so if possible. My understanding is that if they can prove a modification caused "a problem" with the car then they will deny coverage. At this point I have not heard of a claim being made, but it is a possibility.
I guess I will have to let you know if the wheels affect my bearings down the road since I plan to keep running them.:) Hopefully not.
What about your spare? Did you match your spare as the others or is it still OEM?
Because the tire size/circumference is the same as OEM I can use the spare if necessary, but I was using one of the stock wheels/tires up until last week. Sold those so I plan on buying a matching method/KO2 to take when I go off road.
Rick Hutton how much did it run you for the 4 wheels and tires and the labor? I’m looking to add them on to my 2019 crosstrek
225x65x17 should fit without a lift? It's only .5 diff from stock?
I wouldn't want to say for sure on that one...Tire size calculator says 27.6 vs 28.5 inches...so .5 sidewall, but almost an inch diameter wise. You are also looking at the speedo being off with no way to correct it...What is the reason for going with 65's vs 60's?
So if I don’t want it to be loud, do you have any suggestions what tires to put with the same wheels? Thanks in advance
HI Edward, to be honest I'm not really sure. The BFG's are praised in reviews for being quiet, but the are definitely louder that stock especially on the freeway. It isn't ear shattering, but louder for sure. I did a video using decimal app and I think it was 4 or 5 db's louder over stock? Do you live near Tucson at all? Happy to take you for a ride if you want to hear them in person. Cheers.
Hey Rick, what PSI are you running on your KO2s?
Hey David, Discount set them at 35psi and I haven't touched them. With the cooler temps at night and warm days this time of year in Tucson the computer says 32 to 35 psi.
few years later... are you still happy with the 215s or are u planning to get the larger 235? thank you
No issues at all with the 215's...they are working out great. I wouldn't mind 225's, but the don't make the KO2's in that size so I would have to choose a different tire.
Remember that decibels are a logarithmic function, so an increase from 75db to 80db is a 50% increase in sound pressure, since going from 70db to 80db is a 100% increase. So, yes, these tires make a LOT more noise than stock tires according to your measurements.
Thank you! I was unaware of that when I made the video. Makes sense. I am pretty used to them now.
@Rick Hutton What are you running for pressures on-road and off-road? I just put that combo wheel / tire on a 2014 Crosstrek.
By the way the stock wheel tire combo is not taller, you need to measure both setups unweighted. 26.7" vs 27.7" diameters. My new setup actually rubs slightly on the front of the front inner fender at full lock in reverse. No lift. Luckily those inner fenders are quite light and flexible, so no need to trim.
Hey Bob, correct on the tires, that was my bad. :) Thinking out loud and not thinking very well at that. No rubbing on my 18 thankfully. Pressure wise I run 34 to 36 psi and up to now have not pressured down when off road. Hope you are enjoying the methods and BFG's.
Thanks Rick. Definitely a softer ride than the stock setup albeit not as responsive on road, and certainly noisier. It's a cool look. I'm running 33 psi now. Will likely air down to low 20s when off road.
Very cool...definitely a bit more understeer with this set up and I agree on the noise. :) I think I am used to it now for the most part. Cheers Bob
Looking good! I'd go with black center caps. Also, did you get your alignment done after tires and the odometer tuned for correct mileage?
Hey Bryan, I am not planning an alignment at this point as Discount didn't seem to think it necessary. I will research that a little more though. Good suggestion. I haven't had the speedo recalibrated yet, but plan to call my Subaru buddy today to find out how to go about it. Cheers man
Lifted mine via subtle solutions to fit the k02 on stock 17 inch.
Milage dropped from 32.9mpg average to 32.4. 4k miles on standard and 2 k miles on k02
Great info..Thank you. I filled up yesterday so should have some personal data here soon. That's not a bad drop in mileage at all. What do you think about the change in road noise?
Rick Hutton . Nice little hum. Blew up multiple tires on my 22k mile road trip in my old forester. Resulted in 7 cvt joint replacements, despite having 2 full sized repairs and always changing 2 tires at a time. Peace of mind on rough remote roads priceless.
Amen brother. I went down this new wheel/tire set up after damaging a wheel/tire on an off road trip as well. Not sure if you saw the Reddington video and the follow up tire videos, but yep, I agree. I will get used to the noise.
I say either paint the center caps to match the wheels, or leave them off and paint the hub to match the wheels. Looks great though!
Thank you! I ended up with subaru caps in the end. Black ones to match.
I'm looking into getting a 2016 crosstrek, do you by chance know if the wheel clearance is the same so that I could save money on not needing a lift? and if I may ask about how much was it for the installation of this sweet set up?
Hi Ryan, I know there is a bit more room in the wheel opening on then 18+ cars, but I believe my set up, Method wheels and 215/75/15 bfg KO2's will fit the earlier model cars with out any modifications. I would check out the forums a bit just to double check, but I do believe you would be fine. Cost was about $1500 I believe. Wheels, tires, install, TPMS sensors, new lug nuts.
@@AZdroptop Thanks Rick! I bought the car Yesterday! I've never bought new wheels and tires for a car before so I'm still a little new, i'm looking into getting MR139 wheels and the size is 15x7. does that fit into the 215/75/15 KO2s? sorry if that is a dumb question
No worries Ryan, yep they will fit. The only thing to look into is if the MR139's have the correct offset to fit over the Crosstrek brakes. The Method's are +15. The website should tell you if the fit.
Hi Rick
Did you had to lift the car or it’s stock?
Thanks
She is stock height for now. Might do a lift down the road for a little more clearance.
I'v got a set of 225/70/15 General Grabber AT2's. Any rub issues I should worry about?
Hi Tyler, I have not heard of any rubbing with 225's, just 235's at this point and that was just on the mud flaps. My 215's clear no problem. Cheers
On the pre 2018 models you will get some rubbing but not too crazy. Definitely will rub though, that's what I have
Rick, I am a little confused of what to buy for my crosstrek 2018, Method - 502 VT-Spec (Matte Black) 15x7 et15 - 5x114.3 or Method - 502 VT-Spec (Matte Black) 15x7 et15 - 5x100? thanks!!
5 x 100 is the size for our Crosstrek's! Congrats on the new wheels.
Thanks!! I will buy it this week, I ll have to pay some extra for shipping because I am from Chile, here the Crosstrek is called XV. Anyways, thanks for your help!!!
Awesome. My pleasure. Send me a pic when you get them on the car. azdroptopyt@cox.net
Thanks for video. I think this is a great setup. Since you asked, I don’t think the silver caps look like they belong on the wheels. Also, comparing fire height while one tire is weighted and the other is not is not accurate. The only really meaningful comparison is both weighted and filled to the PSI you intend to drive with. That’ll tell you how much difference it makes on YOUR vehicle.
Thank you Keith, much appreciated. I ended up with black center caps in the end and realized my brain malfunction on the height of the tires later on. :) Thanks so much for watching.
So I just got me this exact setup ...thanks for all your videos and recommendations...one question I do have is what PSI are you running the KO2s..Max says 50 psi but it recommended not to do so so I'm trying to figure that out
Awesome Jose congrats! Hope you enjoy therm. I have been running 34 to 36 psi and so far my mileage has remained basically the same as stock and I have virtually no wear to speak of. I have read a few posts where guys are running 40psi, but I haven't tried that pressure as of yet. Hope that is helpful.
I assume you can't use your stock spare tire correct? Does a ko2 on the methods fit in the trunk?
You know this is a great question and one I have not really answered yet. In reality the methods and BFG's are essentially the same size as the stock 18" Limited wheels. So, theoretically, I should be able to use it, but I probably will not unless it is my only option. When going off road of late I have been throwing one of my stock wheels/tires in the back just in case. The method will not fit in the spare "hole"
did you use your factory tpm sensor as well as top valve stem?
Hi Dylan, sorry for the slow reply. Super busy right now. I actually bought new TPMS sensors because originally my plan was to keep the stock wheels and tires and use them for long road trips. Sold them awhile later after realized the BFG's are not too bad on the highway...just louder. The stock ones can be switched over to problem though. If you have other questions feel free to email me. azdroptopyt@cox.net
Love the new set up! Have you noticed any rock chips caused by the wider tire?
Thanks Bobby! No chips as of yet. I am hoping the mud flaps keep the chips down....fingers crossed. :) Cheers and thanks for watching.
Hey Rick, did you get an alignment after installing the new wheels? I’ve been sourcing your videos a lot for information and they’ve been really helpful.. much appreciated!
Hi Mitch, thank you very much. I did not get an alignment after he wheels and tires. Just had them put on and off for some fun. :) The are essentially the same circumference as the stock set up so you should be good to go with no alignment.
No lift needed and lose the caps. Setup looks great, questioning if I should change my order to the khaki grey... how’s the mpg with the new tires?
I got the Khaki grey and no regrets at all :)
No MPG data as of yet. Hope to have an update next week with MPG info. Cheers
Hi Rick, great looking tyres and rims! They look terrific on your Crosstrek without being OTT! Interesting that the original tyres was a bit taller than your new ones. The aggressive tread pattern is vey much rallytread-like in design, which I like. Please keep me posted about the new mpg you get with them. Impressed! Cheers again from here in Aus.
Thank you and will do. Hope to have a mpg and other updates in about a week. :) I was a bit surprised by the taller original wheel too...I knew they were a bit different from the tire size calculator, but was thinking the new one was taller for some reason. Cheers
OEM wheel lugs will not fit correct? You will have to buy aftermarket lugs? you remember the thread of the studs for the new lugs?
The original lugs will actually fit ok, but I did get new ones that matched the wheels. They are a bit longer and also stronger than stock. I believe they were only like $20 or $25 bucks. As to the thread I'm not sure..whatever the normal Subaru threads are should be good. Discount tire chose them for me and there isn't much info on my receipt about them sorry brother.
Thanks for the reply! Good to know the original fits
Im on the Fence about the caps. I like both!! LOVE THE VIDEOS RICK Keep them coming.
Thanks Bob! Appreciate the feedback...I still feel the same, but I just ordered some cheap black ones off of ebay to try out. :) Thanks for the compliment on the videos, very appreciated. Cheers.
I got a crosstek 2019 limited, added a 2" ready lift, same rims and tires as yours, also added a trailer hitch. No to haul but to add a step in the back. Current I get about 21 mpg. I noticed you said you get about 32. Any idea on why my mpg is so low?
Hi Lazaro, 32 is via the computer calculation, though with this set up I did get a real 33 mpg once, so the real mpg is around 28 or 29 mpg on a regular basis. With heavy AC use or in the winter it is more like a real 27 mpg. Where I live I do not do a lot of stop and go traffic, city driving stuff...I live on the outskirts of Tucson and my comment to work is only about 7 miles. Stop lights are about a mile apart on most of the roads I drive. Do you do a lot of stop and go? 21 seems a bit low, but maybe being up those 2 inches is effecting the mpg a bit. I just added the 1" springs so I am interested to see if it effects my mpg as well.
I averaged 41.7MPG at one point yesterday with a stock 2016 CVT, according to the computer. The same tank is now averaging 39MPG after my 50+mile commute. My first tank averaged 38MPG, and I refilled at about 400 miles, with about 2 gallons left in the tank. Meanwhile, this car is only rated for about 33MPG hwy. I often set the cruise around the speed limit...55-65MPH.
I'd use a fuel system cleaner, like Techron or Seafoam. Check your airfilter. Check your tire pressures. Remove roofrack crossbars when not using them. Use cruise.
I'm switching to a hi-flow dry cotton airfilter this week. I'm putting Duralube in with the oil too, to help avoid oil consumption as the miles accumulate. I'm also contemplating a Borla catback, because they aren't obnoxiously loud on road trips, but I could maybe get some better flow and hear the boxer sing when revving. I might average 40MPG on my commute with these changes.
Hey Rick, great video and those wheels are awesome. I am shopping around for 2019 Crosstrek. I was going to go with white but after seeing your's is that the cool grey khaki? Thanks in advance.
David, yep, that's the color. Looks a bit different in various lighting conditions and is good at hiding scratches. :) Best of luck with you search for a new Crosstrek. White is also a great color. Cheers.
@@AZdroptop Thanks Rick, Cheers.