where to buy just one rim (for full-sized spare)?

TireRack...Discount Tire, etc

------------------------------------ Mike Mangione

Wrecker....It's only going to be a spare. Probably get the tire on it too.

Bugalugs

Provided that you are looking for an OEM Subaru rim, in no particular order, I would try these:

- they have a classifieds forum - an inventory site for salvage yards - links to subaru dealers (most expensive, but you get a brand new wheel)

If it's just a spare, I wouldn't limit yourself to an OEM wheel b/c they're needlessly expensive. As long as the aftermarket wheel is close in weight to the original, I think you're fine. But, I wouldn't deviate too much in terms of weight b/c any significant difference in unsprung weight on your car is going to create problems handling/stability wise.

Hi,

While I'd agree you want to keep weights close, I've found width and offset are FAR more important to handling than actual wheel weight. If the OP's JUST looking for a spare, it's probably not much of a big deal. OTOH, if he wants five matching wheels and tires to do a five wheel rotation pattern, then matching ALL aspects of the wheel becomes quite important.

Rick

[...]

I'm just looking for a spare, and am actually glad to hear your point of view. As someone suggested, discounttire.com will sell just one rim, but the after-market (cheap) rims are all steel. In addition, I can match the tire size much better than I can the weight, expercially if I choose to buy a relatively inexpensive 225/60 whatever. Maybe I'm deceiving myself, but my aim would be that the next time I have a flat on a dirt road 14 miles from the highway, I don't have to disable AWD and hope I can get back up the hills by the power of prayer alone, with Subaru's helpful instruction "do not drive on any rough roads with the temporary spare".

A side note -- I had no trouble finding a 2003 Outback -compatible 16x6.5 rim, with 5-bolt patern, but was then stymied by these choices:

bolt diameter:

98 mm 100mm 108mm 112mm 114.4mm 115mm 120mm 120.65 ... 205mm

I thought for sure I could find the size used in my car (original wheel bolts), but the info is certainly not in the tiny manual from the glove compartment, and I've yet to find the info on-line. It's just a US-sold

2003 Subaru Legacy Outback Wagon, 2.5 L, nothing special. My next step is to take one of the lug nuts off.

That is the bolt hole circle diameter. It is 100 mm from the tirerack site when I looked up your car. This size has been posted here before for most if not all Subaru's

Blair

Thanks, I was able to find the size simply by trying a different route to the same info on discounttire.com. They said they could make me a spare with an aftermarket steel rim and a "less expensive" tire for about $128. With luck, I'll be able to pick it up tomorrow.