Give Your Outback More Capability With These Great Offroad Wheels
By Ben Boxer
Last updated on April 24th, 2024
Whether you just want a more aggressive look for your Outback, or you are planning to build it into an off-road machine, we’ve compiled a list of the best wheels for it. We’ve asked our readers, combed through forum discussions and reviews, and even tried some ourselves. Hopefully this guide will have a wheel that meets your technical and aesthetic needs.
Although each of these wheels are available is a wide range of sizes, this article will be focusing on 17 inch wheels. 17 inch wheels will usually fit perfectly over Outback brakes and still allow for a large amount of sidewall on the tire. However, many off-road enthusiasts that own Outbacks also use 15 and 16 inch wheels. If you want to do this, check with each manufacturer to ensure that their wheel will clear your specific Outback’s brake calipers. However, keep in mind that if you own a newer Outback, running wheels below 17 inches may not be possible.
Our Top picks for the best off-road wheels for Subaru Outback:
A few things to remember when purchasing wheels for your Outback:
- If your Outback is 2015 or newer, you will want a wheel with a 5×114.3 bolt pattern.
- You will also want aftermarket lug nuts. Please do NOT try using your stock lug nuts on aftermarket wheels. In our experience, they rarely fit non OEM wheels.
- Don’t forget to check the hub bore size on your new wheels. You will likely want a 56.1 hub bore. If it’s not available, remember to get hub-centric rings that fit the wheel you are purchasing and bring the bore down to 56.1mm.
Best Overall Value
Lightweight
- In 17x8, this wheel weighs only 23.5 lbs.
Sporty Design
- The spoked design of the Bully allows you to retain good styling without trading functional capabilities.
Low Offset
- With a 38mm offset, you will get an aggressive appearance and pull your wheels further away from suspension and brake components.
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Strong Wheel With Aggressive Looks
Tough And Ready For Anything
- The Boxer was designed specifically for Subaru drivers to accommodate their demanding off-road needs. The 10 spoke design allows this wheel to stand up to serious abuse. In fact, we have a friend that bashed into a boulder and destroyed his control arm but he is still running that same wheel on his new car.
Aggressive Looks Without Sacrificing Performance
- While function is the #1 priority, there is something to be said about providing aesthetics and usefulness in one package. Black Rhino has done just that. The wheel looks fantastic, but is durable and weighs around 21 lbs in the 17x8 options that come in the 5x114.3 bolt pattern.
Rally Tested & Proven
Tough Enough For Rally
- We have multiple friends who use the MR502 as a dedicated rally wheel. They are durable and the full face design protects brake components from debris. We've run the MR502 on our cars before and LOVE them. They have a long history with Subaru owners and are proven to work well with our cars.
Clears Bigger Brakes
- The MR502 is designed to fit over the larger brake kits that some people have swapped onto their performance Subarus. This wheel will give the brakes on your Outback plenty of room in the event that debris finds its way onto the caliper.
Performance & Aesthetics
High Strength Wheel
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The Mayhem Voyager has a load rating of 1650 lbs in the 17x8 configuration that is popular among Outback owners. This is well above the minimum 1250 lb load rating needed to safely install on current Outback models.
Note that this wheel is available in 5x114.3 and 5x100 bolt patterns to accomodate all Outback owners.
Sporty & Affordable
- The Voyager is a great looking wheel that will round out any Outback's appearance nicely. With the "d-hole" styling and full face coverage, this wheel looks fantastic without breaking the bank. Even in a 17 inch variation, these wheels are well under $250.
Affordable, Light, and Highly Underrated
(Very Good Budget Option)
Affordable, High Quality Racing Heritage
- Motegi released this wheel with an MSRP of under $150 for the 17" sizes. This wheel is great for anyone building their Subaru on a budget and doesn't want to sacrifice performance. Motegi has been producing high performance wheels for serious racers for years. In fact they have been partnered with Ferrari in their racing department. If they're good enough for GT championship racing, they're good enough for us. Best of all, they only weigh in at 22.45 lbs.
Full Face Protection
- Similar to the MR502, the Motegi MR139 also has a full face design that helps keep snow and dirt from packing into the wheel as heavily.
Sturdy Wheel With Strong Styling Features
Stands Out Visually Against Similar Wheels
- LP Aventure has only recently begun to offer wheels to Subaru owners but they've wasted zero time in hitting the market hard. The LP1 is a no frills, rally-inspired wheel that looks straight up mean on Outbacks.
Strong And Ready For Trail Use
- This 12 spoke wheel is perfect for you if you want to stand out among the thousands of folks running the same MR502 set up but don't want to sacrifice fitment and strength, this is a great option. The only thing to keep in mind is that this wheel is a little heavier than other similar wheels. It may be best suited for 3.6R and XT owners who have a little extra power.
Born Out Of Decades Of Rally Experience
Classic Rally Styling
- Sparco has become popular among rally drivers and earned the trust of race enthusiasts all over the world. And now, overland and off-road Subaru drivers are also beginning to adopt this as a go-to wheel.
Affordable, Lightweight, & Strong
- As with many of the wheels on this list, the Terra has a large, protective center mass to repel rocks and other debris from entering the brake area. This wheel also provides a strong option without straying too far from factory performance. This wheel weighs a mere 21lbs in the 17x7.5 size. This is important when trying to prolong the life of your vehicle's components.
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Before you select a new wheel for your offroad Outback build, make sure you double check fitment and ask a professional for help if you have questions.
To learn more about how we choose our wheels for offroading in Subarus, check out our wheel buying guide.
We always recommend purchasing your wheels from a local or online authorized dealer such as Tire Rack, Discount Tire, or from the manufacturer via Amazon. This will ensure that you’re always getting a premium product and good customer service.
Lifted Imports cannot be held responsible for any mods or actions taken by the end user. Always consult with a professional.
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