favourite subaru tyres

[saloon]

Alright then... its that time of year again. I've worn out my bridgestone semi slick trackday tyres for my hawkeye sti - all on the road of course - After several 'moments' i don't want another set of trackday tyres as they seem determined to pitch me into a ditch/field/other car at the first sign of rain or snow. Can anyone recommend a good replacement set that aren't too expensive? Also, is it worth trying non reinforced types or will it ruin the handling?

Many thanks in advance - any advice welcome - and merry christmas to all

[GravelBen]

I've been quite impressed by the Eagle F1 rubber my Legacy is wearing, sticks well dry or wet. Have also heard plenty of good reports on the Toyo T1R which might be a bit cheaper.

ETA: The semi-slicks you mention, would that be the factory fit (in some markets anyway) RE070 or something more agressive?

Edited by GravelBen on Friday 26th December 22:47

[ScoobieWRX]

Toyo T1R's!!
Been using them for 3yrs now. I get through a new set every year but then i wouldn't have it any other way No idea why they call them summer tyres as they work excellent in the winter as well!!

I've been thinking about trying Bridgestone RE070's though as a change. I hear they can be impared in the cold but then again i keep hearing the same thing about Toyo T1R's as well!!

I guess i won't find out till i try them for myself!! I'll only use them once if they're no good

Edited by ScoobieWRX on Saturday 27th December 10:13

[dnb]

T1-S Not tried the T1R yet because I haven't done that many miles in the last year or so.

There's less overall grip than the Eagle F1s but they let go much more progressively making the car so much more fun with the DCCD unlocked

[saloon]

Yes Bridgestone Potenza RE070 - they grip very well wet or dry. But in the wet its grip or slip - nothing between and it all happens too quickly. I ended up totally house bound in the snow though. I might as well as greased them with festive goose fat becuase i was going nowhere.

[ScoobieWRX]

I didn't get that with the T1R's.

Feb 2007 when we had a reasonable sprinkling of snow they came to very good use. Put it this way, whilst all of those around me were strugling to get up slight inclines on ungritted country roads where the snow had compacted to almost sheet ice i sailed past them without a problem. I even went out of my way to find some deeper snow to get stuck in and no joy, my scoob just ploughed on through although i'm sure the 4x4 capability of the car helped as well!!

I have to say though turn in isn't what it should be as the sidewalls aren't as stiff as they should be even with the reinforcement the T1R's have, but then again grip is excellent wet or dry, i cannot fault them there. When they let go you get plenty of warning but i find the limits plenty high enough for on-road driving and they're not bad in standing water If you get some T1R's pump them up 2-3psi more than your car manufacturers spec and they'll work better.

I have a spare full set of wheels in the garage that need refurbishment. I should get them done and keep a proper set of winter tyres on them, then use the RE070's i'll get next for warmer weather use only.

[mjrc]

[quote=saloon] I've worn out my bridgestone semi slick trackday tyres for my hawkeye sti - all on the road of course - After several 'moments' i don't want another set of trackday tyres

RE040 are the factory fitted and excellent have also driven in the snow and no problems whatsoever.

Edited by mjrc on Saturday 27th December 16:14

[cw42]

Had toyo T1-S's on my old classic and swore by them, excellent all year round grip. When I bought my 03 sti, I started with bridgestone re040's (I think) which were naf, upgraded to eagle F1's asap, which were fantastic. 2 years and 2 sets of tyres later, I needed new ones back in Oct/Nov, and couldn't afford the £110 + asking price of F1's or asymetrics (F1 replacement) so had a good look around and settled on Falken fk452's from Camskill. Bargain price, excellent service from Camskill fitted by my local selecta tyre.
I've been well impressed with the Falkens too, not as much grip as my F1's in the wet, but not far off, and at £201 cheaper than a set of F1's, I don't mind going a little slower!

[pjlfc]

Try Vredestein or Michelin Pilot Sports

RE070 are standard fit on STi's,(RE040's on WRx)great tyre,just wish I could get them in 18's for my FSTi!!

[Orangecurry]

My favorite tyres for a 'classic' were the OLD German-made Goodyear F1 GSD3s, but they don't make these in Germany anymore, so my recommendation would be

Vredestein Sessantas, because grip in the wet is the most important factor to me.

96 GBP from Camskill

[quigonjay]

they still are made in germany
its just that some tyre importers are getting the inferior/cheaper chinese made ones (or is it taiwan, cant remember now)

[Nicol@]

I had no problems with T1-R and S

[DaveV6]

Must admit I don't like Toyo's (either T1S or T1R), too much slop in the side wall.

My current car came with some tyres I'd never heard of, and I was going to get rid of them, but they really are quite good (better feel than Toyo's and quite progressive at the limit, sexy tread too). I'll be sticking with them again, especially at £230 for FOUR

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m4b580...

[retrorider]

nothing wrong with MARANGONI tyres...

[Orangecurry]

quigonjay said:

they still are made in germany
its just that some tyre importers are getting the inferior/cheaper chinese made ones (or is it taiwan, cant remember now)

Incorrect - various sizes of GSD3 made for the European market are now made by Goodyear only in their China factory - 215/45/17 for instance. You are correct in that they are inferior. Until Goodyear sort out their act, I won't be giving them anymore of my money.

[Barbapapa]

On my Spec. D, I've been using a set of Uniroyal Rainsports that were already fitted to my Prodrive wheels, and have been surprised at how capable they are. They are outstanding in very wet weather, and overall this more than makes up for the original RE070's ultimate performance and dry-weather grip.

I would also consider looking at the Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta, which seem to do consistently well in tests.

[quigonjay]

DaveV6 said:

Must admit I don't like Toyo's (either T1S or T1R), too much slop in the side wall.

My current car came with some tyres I'd never heard of, and I was going to get rid of them, but they really are quite good (better feel than Toyo's and quite progressive at the limit, sexy tread too). I'll be sticking with them again, especially at £230 for FOUR

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m4b580...

i have the zeta lineas on my mr2, great tyres and would also rate them above the toyos (though i have only experienced stock 15" tyres in the toyos and they have a squidgy sidewall)

[trophies]

In the 2 last years I have had yokohama parada's, toyo T1R's, goodyear eagle F1 gsd3's and avon (zz3 i think)

The best were the toyos lots and lots of grip wet and dry, but dont last very long.

Lew

Just a quick word on the marangonies, i have had 2 tyres back in the last year that have split. I stopped selling them.

[quigonjay]

eek, split how?
where they being tracked or something or is this just from normal road use?
(sorry for the hijack op)

[trophies]

Normal road use. One was on the rear or a mondeo. The other was on a mr2. It was very strange. I gave up on them at that point.

Lew