Subaru Legacy B4 - Tyre choice??!
Discussion
I'm going to treat the scoob to a nice new set of boots before the winter, and just wondered if anyone had any opinions of the different brands on similar cars?
The choices I have in 215/45 ZR17 with a minimum of W Rating, are :drumroll:
Bridgestone £110 each
Yokohama £85.00 each
Pirelli £97.00 each
Sava £85.00 each
Goodyear F1 £95.00 each
The size wasn't listed under Legacy on their chart, so it may have Impreza wheels fitted as a mod or from the factory. I'm not sure as it's an import.
Any thoughts?
The choices I have in 215/45 ZR17 with a minimum of W Rating, are :drumroll:
Bridgestone £110 each
Yokohama £85.00 each
Pirelli £97.00 each
Sava £85.00 each
Goodyear F1 £95.00 each
The size wasn't listed under Legacy on their chart, so it may have Impreza wheels fitted as a mod or from the factory. I'm not sure as it's an import.
Any thoughts?
Thats the standard tyre size, same as mine.
Mine had Eagle F1s when I got it and I liked them, still have two but replaced a pair with Bridgestone RE001 (aka 'Adrenaline') which are even better (and ~20% cheaper here)
Dry grip - RE001 win, especially when warm. Little difference when cold.
Wet grip - Similar when warm, small advantage to F1 when cold.
Sidewall strength - RE001 win, no contest.
Tyre noise - RE001 much quieter (especially on coarse-chip NZ roads, may be less difference on yours)
Tramlining - RE001 much better.
The tyre behaviour is different though - the F1 feel like having a better initial bite, but gives it up (ie push into understeer if on the front) much earlier than the RE001. With a pair of each the car feels much better with the RE001 on the front and F1 on the rear than vice versa (which made the front end feel quite horrible, vague and wandery).
Mine had Eagle F1s when I got it and I liked them, still have two but replaced a pair with Bridgestone RE001 (aka 'Adrenaline') which are even better
(and ~20% cheaper here)Dry grip - RE001 win, especially when warm. Little difference when cold.
Wet grip - Similar when warm, small advantage to F1 when cold.
Sidewall strength - RE001 win, no contest.
Tyre noise - RE001 much quieter (especially on coarse-chip NZ roads, may be less difference on yours)
Tramlining - RE001 much better.
The tyre behaviour is different though - the F1 feel like having a better initial bite, but gives it up (ie push into understeer if on the front) much earlier than the RE001. With a pair of each the car feels much better with the RE001 on the front and F1 on the rear than vice versa (which made the front end feel quite horrible, vague and wandery).
Edited by GravelBen on Thursday 20th August 11:34
Out of your list I'd probably go with the Eagle F1s. Had them on my previous car and they were a great road tyre - sidewalls possibly a little soft and they absolutely destroyed themselves on track though.
I've gone for Vredestein Ultracs in that size to replace the (borderline dangerous) JDM Bridgestones that were on my Legacy when I got it. I'd have stuck with the F1s if it wasn't for the track thing - can't afford to wreck a set if my track car is broken and the Legacy ends up going out instead. They have lots and lots of grip wet or dry, can't really comment on feel as I don't have much to compare with and I don't think the Legacy is ever going to be the last word in feel and communication. Horrible wandering front end that it had on the old tyres is gone though
I've gone for Vredestein Ultracs in that size to replace the (borderline dangerous) JDM Bridgestones that were on my Legacy when I got it. I'd have stuck with the F1s if it wasn't for the track thing - can't afford to wreck a set if my track car is broken and the Legacy ends up going out instead. They have lots and lots of grip wet or dry, can't really comment on feel as I don't have much to compare with and I don't think the Legacy is ever going to be the last word in feel and communication. Horrible wandering front end that it had on the old tyres is gone though
GravelBen said:
Biggest complaint I had with the F1's and the main reason I looked for an alternative was the soft sidewalls getting sliced up pretty easily on gravel (2 terminal punctures in 6 months), but I presume that isn't such an issue for you. 
No, mainly smooth A Roads and some rutted B Road blasts, but nothing too bad mate. Will report back Just got back from the tyre place, and on first impression the F1's seem extremely quiet and surefooted. They seem to have added some welcome weight to the steering, which is nice as I have always thought it to be ridiculously light.
Next stage is to take it back in for a geometry check, and to get a bit of negative camber dialed into the fronts. It feels like the front of the car is tripping over itself when you pitch in hard, and positive camber could be contributing to the light steering feel.
Will do a few miles on these boots and take it for a blast over the weekend.
Next stage is to take it back in for a geometry check, and to get a bit of negative camber dialed into the fronts. It feels like the front of the car is tripping over itself when you pitch in hard, and positive camber could be contributing to the light steering feel.
Will do a few miles on these boots and take it for a blast over the weekend.
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