I'm running 245/45-18 on 8.5" wide rims and have no issues (I'd want something wider on a 9.5" wide rim, but you'd be cutting it close running 255's... might hit the strut
it's definitely a chip and not some junk on the paint from the transportation film, etc.? (that comes right off with a clay bar, or with a little effort and a cleaner wax)
a lot of folks have had the service stop working for a little bit (for me it was a few hours) as well as some or all of the station icons disappearing with the USB update - they come back in a bit (took 3-4 days for me, or at least that's when I noticed all was well) - the thread over on subaruoutback.com has more info/input from folks who had issues
New, never installed - bought these back when I first purchased my 2012, but never installed them. Includes everything (2 fronts, 2 rears, all the install hardware) - $35+shipping (MSRP is $110, online is $96)
I thought only the DCA updates were mandatory? Apparently not! The software version is weird, though - my car went from F61WMM033-681 to F91WMM053-880. (I know that 033-270 was an older version, but haven't seen 043-270 - that must be the OTA update)
I ended up getting a brand new set of STi option rims for the 2016-2021 WRX (they are black 15 spoke rims - 18x8.5, ET55) with 245/45-18 tires (Pirelli PZero AS+ 3) - finally got it all together on Friday (with new OEM TPMS sensors) - they look great, definitely feel a whole lot more stable just cruising along than the Avid GTs and there's no rubbing!
I think the yellow stuff is what the white dielectric grease they smear all over that turns into with time. If there's some acid migration/weeping happening, it usually has a wet appearance on the surface of the battery (and often the tiedown is the first part to show signs of corrosion) - one of the reasons I like AGM batteries are they don't do that.
Just did one of the recommendations - changed out the wheels/tires for a brand new set of STi option rims (the 18x8.5" 15-spoke ones for the WRX sport package from 16-21 - got a brand new, still in the boxes set shipped for less than cost!) with Pirelli PZero all season plus 3 tires (245/45-18) - literally had them put on yesterday, but after doing a few 100 miles trips with the OEM Avid GT tires, I decided they were waaaay to squirmy and loud for me. And I wasn't a big fan of the grey wheels that came stock on the 24 Sport.
Wish someone made a rear swaybar - Whiteline has one for the Outback - I figured with the new "global platform" things would be more swappable than ever between cars, but evidently not.
The latest update fixes the USB issue (where it would forget what song it was on more often than not when starting up the car) as well as a slew of other stuff - info in this thread on subaruoutback.com including a link to the latest software (installed via USB - can probably have it done at the dealership as well if you desire - no idea if it will come OTA (it's big - 4GB compressed, about 14.5 GB uncompressed))
https://www.subaruoutback.org/threads/denso-cp-1-5-software-thread-2023-2024-mys.549346/page-26#post-6447519
(it's post 515 in that thread)
How hard is it to get to the connector on the back of the button? You could probably just run a jumper across the right pins and accomplish the same thing without wedging something in place...