18x8.5 on standard suspension
- Front and rear
- 18 × 8.5 inch, ET48 · 245/45 R18
Posted by an owner of a 2011 Forester on standard suspension in the SH wheel-fit thread on SubaruForester.org.
2008–2013 · SUV
Subaru Forester SH wheel fitment
The SH Forester has two wheel audiences: turbo XT owners who lower the car and fit wider 18s, and owners who add a small lift and taller all-terrain tyres. It uses Subaru's 5x100 pattern with high-offset 16 or 17-inch factory wheels, and the wheel arches have more room than the narrow factory wheels suggest.
5x100 bolt pattern · 56.1 mm centre bore · Stock wheels: 16 × 6.5, 17 × 7 inch · Stock tyres: 215/65 R16, 225/55 R17
Updated 2026-10-31 · Medium source confidence. Check your exact trim and market. How we check specs
Quick specs
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Bolt pattern | |
| Stock tyre sizes | |
| Centre bore | 56.1 mm |
| Fastener and thread | Wheel nut, M12x1.25 |
| Tightening torque | Confirm in your handbook |
Stock wheels and tyres
Factory options vary by trim and market. Match your car to the row below and check its tyre placard before using it as a baseline.
| Trim | Axle | Wheel | Tyre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5X and other 16-inch grades | Front and rear | 16 × 6.5 inch, ET48 | 215/65 R16 |
| 2.5XT and 17-inch 2.5X grades | Front and rear | 17 × 7 inch, ET48 | 225/55 R17 |
Explained in our guides
Read these before choosing wheels for the Forester: they explain the offset, fitment and hub numbers in this guide.
- Wheel offset explained: choosing ET without guessingUnderstand positive and negative wheel offset, calculate inner clearance and outer position, and choose an ET using measurements from your own car.
- Lifted truck wheel fitment: backspacing, 33s, 35s and trimmingPlan larger truck tyres around lift-kit requirements, backspacing, steering and articulation. Compare 33 and 35 inch tyres without assuming a lift guarantees clearance.
- Hub-centric vs lug-centric wheels: choosing hub ringsLearn what hub rings do, how to specify their inner and outer diameters, and why centring, wheel seats and vibration need separate checks.
Popular community setups
Starting points for a build. Read the notes with each setup, especially if your car is lowered or has different brakes.
18x8 on lowering springs
- Front and rear
- 18 × 8 inch, ET50 · 245/45 R18
A SubaruForester.org member runs BBS wheels in this size on Swift springs with the original struts.
18x8 lower offset
- Front and rear
- 18 × 8 inch, ET35 · 235/50 R18
A 2009 Forester on standard suspension in the same thread runs this size, which sits about 13 mm further out than an ET48 wheel of the same width.
JDM STI wheels
- Front and rear
- 17 × 7.5 inch, ET53 · 225/55 R17
The owner on Swift springs also runs 5x100 wheels from a Japanese-market Impreza STI Version 7, in the factory 17-inch tyre size.
Width and offset guidance
Offset range
Check the exact setup
There is no confirmed range for this car yet. Compare a known wheel with your proposed size and measure both sides.
Common width limit
Measure before ordering
A maximum width has not been confirmed. Tyre shape, ride height and alignment all change the available space.
These figures belong to the setups described here. Combining the widest wheel with either end of the offset range does not guarantee a safe fit. For how ET moves the wheel in and out, read wheel offset explained; for how far the tyre can sit out, see flush, poke and tucked fitment.
Clearance notes
- The SubaruForester.org SH thread shows 18-inch wheels from ET35 to ET50 on standard and lowered suspension, mostly with 235 or 245-section tyres.
- For lifted cars, RalliTEK's lift chart lists 215/70 R16 and 225/60 R17 for a 1 to 3-inch lift, and says larger sizes such as 235/65 R17 may need minor trimming. That chart is a supplier guide, not owner reports.
- Some databases also list 18 and 19-inch sizes for this generation, including Japanese and European grades. We have only confirmed the 16 and 17-inch fitments listed above.
- The hub bore is 56.1 mm and the wheel nuts are M12x1.25. Wheels with a larger bore need hub-centric rings.
- Published wheel-nut torque figures for this generation disagree, so use the figure in your owner's handbook.
- Check full steering lock and suspension travel with the car loaded. Match wheel load rating, tyre load and speed ratings, fastener seats and brake clearance.
See it on your car.
Upload a photo and start with a look that suits the Forester. Try the wheels, colour and stance before you spend on parts.
An AI preview shows the look. It cannot verify physical fitment.
Run the numbers
These tools start with the 2.5X and other 16-inch grades front size. Choose your own trim or axle in the calculator if it differs.
Questions
What is the bolt pattern of the 2009–2013 Forester?
5x100, with a 56.1 mm centre bore and M12x1.25 wheel nuts.
What are the factory wheel sizes on an SH Forester?
16x6.5 ET48 with 215/65 R16 on the 16-inch grades, and 17x7 ET48 with 225/55 R17 on the XT and other 17-inch grades.
Do Impreza and WRX wheels fit the SH Forester?
Subaru 5x100 wheels bolt on. One owner runs Japanese-market Impreza STI 17x7.5 ET53 wheels with 225/55 R17 tyres.
How wide can I go on 18-inch wheels?
Owners document 18x8 and 18x8.5 at ET35 to ET50 with 235/50 R18 or 245/45 R18 tyres on standard or lowered suspension.
What size tyres does the Subaru Forester SH have?
Factory tyre (tire) sizes for the 2008–2013 Subaru Forester SH are 215/65 R16 and 225/55 R17, depending on trim. Your tyre placard shows the size for your car.
What is the Subaru Forester SH centre bore?
56.1 mm. Aftermarket wheels with a larger bore need hub-centric rings sized to it.
Specs checked against
- TireWheelGuide: 2011 Forester sizes by market, bore and thread
- TireSize.com: 2011 Forester tyre sizes by trim
- SubaruForester.org: SH wheel fit on modified suspension
- RalliTEK: lifted Subaru tyre size chart
This guide is a starting point, not a fitment guarantee. Specs can differ by market, trim and previous modifications. Confirm all sizes, clearances and fastener requirements with a qualified wheel and tyre professional before buying or fitting parts.
Related cars
More guides from Subaru or cars with the same bolt pattern. A matching pattern alone does not make a wheel interchangeable.