Impreza STi - Tyre Recommendations
Discussion
I know this has probably been asked before, but, I would not mind some opinions on tyres for my MY05 Impreza STi.
To set the scene, the car is for weekends only, so things like road noise and other such things that may annoy on a daily basis are neither here nor there (besides, everything is pretty much inaudible over the exhaust). In addition, tyre wear is not all that important either given the car does not do huge mileage (4K per-year), I do most of my ‘fun time’ driving in dry weather, and a price point of no more than 125 per corner.
I currently have Eagle F1’s which I don’t really like – they seem to tramline a lot compared to the Bridgestone’s on my previous WRX which felt more neutral.
Thanks all.
To set the scene, the car is for weekends only, so things like road noise and other such things that may annoy on a daily basis are neither here nor there (besides, everything is pretty much inaudible over the exhaust). In addition, tyre wear is not all that important either given the car does not do huge mileage (4K per-year), I do most of my ‘fun time’ driving in dry weather, and a price point of no more than 125 per corner.
I currently have Eagle F1’s which I don’t really like – they seem to tramline a lot compared to the Bridgestone’s on my previous WRX which felt more neutral.
Thanks all.
IIRC Bridgestone RE070 were OEM for the STi around that time but no idea what they cost, I use Bridgestone RE001 on the GTB and find them much better than the Eagle F1 and Toyo T1R's I had before them (sidewalls aren't made of jelly for starters), BS RE050 also have a good reputation.
Edited by GravelBen on Thursday 2nd December 20:19
I've got the RE050 on each corner, seem very good in the dry and wet and have also been very good in the snow/ ice so far. Cant remember the price i paid for them though sorry.
ETA - this is on a wrx not an sti too sorry (not that it should make too much difference/in any)
ETA - this is on a wrx not an sti too sorry (not that it should make too much difference/in any)
Edited by mazdajason on Friday 3rd December 07:28
Bridgetone Potenza RE070's were OE on mine (2006 STI) and must say they are very good and would probably be about in budget too.
I've had Toyo T1R's on my previous WRX and they were ok but as an XL tyre and due to the soft tyre walls I tended to set the pressures quite high to compensate (38psi) and they were ok then.
Goodyear GSD3's I had on the WRX too and they seemded ok, although didn't last too long but nice tread pattern (if this matters to you!)
Bridgestone Potenza Re050's I've had, not too impressed I'm afraid, wear rate was high and wouldn't say grip was better than the Toyos and were quite a bit more expensive.
The BS RE070's would get my vote, or if on a budget Toyo's.
I've had Toyo T1R's on my previous WRX and they were ok but as an XL tyre and due to the soft tyre walls I tended to set the pressures quite high to compensate (38psi) and they were ok then.
Goodyear GSD3's I had on the WRX too and they seemded ok, although didn't last too long but nice tread pattern (if this matters to you!)
Bridgestone Potenza Re050's I've had, not too impressed I'm afraid, wear rate was high and wouldn't say grip was better than the Toyos and were quite a bit more expensive.
The BS RE070's would get my vote, or if on a budget Toyo's.
peterpeter said:
yes re070s are dire in the snow!
Gwagon111 said:
So you fitted REO70s to your STI in this weather. Hold on to your hat Dorothy, Kansas is about to go bye bye 
. Seriously though, REO70s are somewhere between scary and lethal in the winter 
I've run my Spec D on RE070's during the snow and they've been fine. Fair enough they are not an ideal tyre, but were better than the Toyo T1Rs I had on the previous one.. Seriously though, REO70s are somewhere between scary and lethal in the winter AndySpecD said:
peterpeter said:
yes re070s are dire in the snow!
Gwagon111 said:
So you fitted REO70s to your STI in this weather. Hold on to your hat Dorothy, Kansas is about to go bye bye . Seriously though, REO70s are somewhere between scary and lethal in the winter
I've run my Spec D on RE070's during the snow and they've been fine. Fair enough they are not an ideal tyre, but were better than the Toyo T1Rs I had on the previous one.. Seriously though, REO70s are somewhere between scary and lethal in the winter 
i pootle along to my destination... or use my Focus Toyo T1-Rs if you don't mind a bit of wobble steer round the corners, or Vredestein Ultrac Sessantas if you want the best tyre at the price.
Also consider Yokohama Parada Spec 2s as they're lookers.
Failing all of those, blow your budget and buy Toyo R888s and be considered a god on future tyre threads by mortals.
Use Camskill for the rubber, and a local cheap fitter for putting 'em on.
Rich
(currently enjoying the snow on the Vredesteins and doing OK thanks)
Also consider Yokohama Parada Spec 2s as they're lookers.
Failing all of those, blow your budget and buy Toyo R888s and be considered a god on future tyre threads by mortals.
Use Camskill for the rubber, and a local cheap fitter for putting 'em on.
Rich
(currently enjoying the snow on the Vredesteins and doing OK thanks)
paulmoonraker said:
Are they not track day tyres? Whats the rough cost as Christina and the twins are asking what to get me for xmas 
-P
Road legal track tyres yeah. Supposedly not meant to be exactly the cutting edge of performance in the wet, but hey who cares !-P
Approx cost between £150 & £200 a corner depending on sizes.
As another thought the newish Yokohama Neova AD08A are supposed to be quite good as a step up from Paradas.
I always have a laugh to myself when someone on a forum suggests using track tyres like R888's on a road car.
You'll hardly ever get them warm enough on the road to really benefit from the grip available (and when you do you're probably pushing the limits of responsible driving somewhat!), they'll be crap on standing water and loose gravel/grit on the road, and they'll wear out about twice as fast.
By all means have a set to use on trackdays (though you may want a baffled sump to go with them to be safe), but using them on the road is pretty pointless IMO.
GravelBen said:
I always have a laugh to myself when someone on a forum suggests using track tyres like R888's on a road car.
You'll hardly ever get them warm enough on the road to really benefit from the grip available (and when you do you're probably pushing the limits of responsible driving somewhat!), they'll be crap on standing water and loose gravel/grit on the road, and they'll wear out about twice as fast.
By all means have a set to use on trackdays (though you may want a baffled sump to go with them to be safe), but using them on the road is pretty pointless IMO.
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