Tire suggestions?

"GreenN_Gold" (GreenN_Gold)
10/09/2014 at 16:37 • Filed to: None

My 2010 WRX is due for new tires. Looking for all season instead of the summer bias tread it came with. The factory tires are 225/45R17. Anyone got a good suggestion? Is the W speed rating gonna cost me? Do I even need it since I'll never hit 100, let alone 168?

DISCUSSION (60)

CRider > GreenN_Gold
10/09/2014 at 16:39

Why do you want all seasons?

Aaron M - MasoFiST > GreenN_Gold
10/09/2014 at 16:41

I have the Continental ExtremeContact DWS on my WRX. They ride fairly nice and last a good while (last set did 45,000 until I got a flat and decided to replace all 4). Only real disadvantage is that the sidewalls are a bit soft, making them squirmy...but unless you autocross in your WRX, I doubt you'd notice.

macanamera > GreenN_Gold
10/09/2014 at 16:41

All season is crap. Put some cheap winter rubber on now, and spring for some nice summers in a few months.

Jcarr > GreenN_Gold
10/09/2014 at 16:42

Conti ExtremeContactDWS. I've had a set in that exact size on my Jetta for about 4 years and they've been great.

Party-vi > GreenN_Gold
10/09/2014 at 16:42

Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3.

GreenN_Gold > CRider
10/09/2014 at 16:42

I live in Seattle. It rains half the year. And then we get slushy snow a couple times a year. The tires it came with are "ok" for rain, and miserable for snow or freezing temperatures.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > GreenN_Gold
10/09/2014 at 16:42

I put Goodyear Eagle RSAs on my wife's car (08 Saturn Astra) and they seem to do very well for year round driving. Not sure they would be a great fit for your more performance-oriented car though.

Really, owning winter wheels/tires isn't that expensive. You'll get more wear out of both sets and you can have some seriously fun summer tires and not worry about winter driving.

You should look into getting some cheap steelies with winter tires and save your stock wheels for summer driving.

EL_ULY > GreenN_Gold
10/09/2014 at 16:44

Pirelli PZERO Rosso Asimmetrico BW. Not too pricey for 91 Y. $188 and change

Kinja'd!!!

Steve in Manhattan > GreenN_Gold
10/09/2014 at 16:46

I used to be partial to Yokohamas for reasons I can't remember - maybe they have something good.

nermal > Jcarr
10/09/2014 at 16:46

I went for the DW version on my GTI and they've been awesome. Completely transformed the car compared to the crappy all-seasons it came with. I can go full throttle in 1st gear in the rain without any wheelspin, simply amazing.

GreenN_Gold > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
10/09/2014 at 16:49

Seattle is a unique climate. No real need for winter tires, and summer tires to not fair well in all conditions. For the amount it rains, some all seasons might give me more fun than the summer treads.

Trevor Slattery, ACTOR > GreenN_Gold
10/09/2014 at 16:50

How much you tryna spend?

GreenN_Gold > Steve in Manhattan
10/09/2014 at 16:50

I purchased a set of Yokohama Avids for my last car, and they proved quite fun.

GreenN_Gold > Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
10/09/2014 at 16:51

Just enough?

I'm willing to spend enough for a decent set, but certainly don't need the ZOMG BEST TIRES IN THE WURLD, or anything of that nature.

Steve in Manhattan > GreenN_Gold
10/09/2014 at 16:53

I had Yokohamas on my CRX Si when I sold it, and I think I had a set on my '97 SHO at some point. You can see from my screen name that I don't have a need for tires anymore.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > GreenN_Gold
10/09/2014 at 16:53

Try reading the reviews on TireRack.com. Lots of great customer testimonials there. I tend to skew my reading toward the middle of the ratings since you'll get people giving 5 or 1 stars for a variety of dumb reasons.

GreenN_Gold > Aaron M - MasoFiST
10/09/2014 at 16:54

Hmm, I like a firm sidewall (that's what he said!), but the sidewall is so short that I doubt it would be unacceptably soft. Might help the ride a bit. 45,000 is good tread life, that's a consideration too. I somehow have 52,000 on the current set, which shocks me.

GreenN_Gold > EL_ULY
10/09/2014 at 16:54

Thanks, I'll make note of these when I shop.

Jcarr > nermal
10/09/2014 at 16:54

I'd do that, but we get too much S in Iowa.

GreenN_Gold > macanamera
10/09/2014 at 16:55

Seattle is rainy year-round and I have no need for winter tires really.

jariten1781 > GreenN_Gold
10/09/2014 at 16:55

You live in Seattle and don't want winters? How will you do runs to Whistler and Crystal?

GreenN_Gold > CRider
10/09/2014 at 16:57

If you note the tread pattern/blocks of the factory tires, you can see they are definitely dry pavement oriented. (Not my photo, but the same tires.)

Kinja'd!!!

Milky > Jcarr
10/09/2014 at 16:58

4 years?! Holy damn …. are tires supposed to last that long?

Rico > Party-vi
10/09/2014 at 16:59

Best all seasons next to Conti DWS.

GreenN_Gold > jariten1781
10/09/2014 at 17:00

Don't ski, sorry. I like a good day hike in the summer, but the passes are always dry that time of year.

Aaron M - MasoFiST > GreenN_Gold
10/09/2014 at 17:03

At 45,000 my treads were still about minimum snow height (5/32) so it really was only the puncture that did me in. As for the sidewall, there was a distinct split on NASIOC where the 02-05 guys tended to hate the DWS (16" rims) while the 06+ guys didn't mind them or liked them (17" rims), so take that anecdote as a potential data point. I don't notice the squirmyness, except maybe while doing something stupid in the rain. The definition of stupid will be left out for, er, legal purposes.

jariten1781 > GreenN_Gold
10/09/2014 at 17:09

Missing out.

Winters also help you to avoid being on one of the KOMO crash compilations of everyone sliding down the hills in the once in 5 year ice-overs.

GreenN_Gold > Aaron M - MasoFiST
10/09/2014 at 17:09

Thanks. Yeah, I'm not willing to go into winter with my current tread. Last winter was slippery enough.

Party-vi > Rico
10/09/2014 at 17:12

Best all seasons.

Conti DWS are noisy and old. Michelin or nothing!!!!

GreenN_Gold > jariten1781
10/09/2014 at 17:17

Haha I've been skiing, but it's an expensive hobby.

I've lived here since I was age zero and I've managed to avoid the KOMO crash cams so far. :) I enjoy watching them every year though.

Textured Soy Protein > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
10/09/2014 at 17:31

Interesting, as the Eagle RS-As are often original equipment tires, and people often complain that they suck and were happy to replace them with something better.

JEM > GreenN_Gold
10/09/2014 at 17:31

As others have mentioned, the Contis are a real solid choice. I had a pair of those and was very happy.

My goto performance all-season tire though was always the Kumho Ecsta (?) - great price and I was never disappointed by the traction, handling, wear, etc... My old Tiburon came with Goodyears (Eagles?) and the Kumhos were better I thought.

GreenN_Gold > JEM
10/09/2014 at 17:33

Thanks, I'll put them on my shopping list.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > GreenN_Gold
10/09/2014 at 17:38

I've had Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3's and they've been awesome. They're great in rain. I would also look in to the Continental DWS's, they're quite a bit cheaper and I hear they're really good.

macanamera > GreenN_Gold
10/09/2014 at 17:41

ah, Seattle. Well, summer tires are good in the rain, just not in cold. How cold do winters get? You could get Pilot A/S's.

GreenN_Gold > macanamera
10/09/2014 at 17:59

My factory tires are ok in the rain (worse with age naturally). It could have more to do with the tread pattern than the traction rating, though. Winters here get below freezing for small periods, but those temps are usually accompanied by clear skies and dry roads.

It's really those infrequent occasions when the roads are cold and soft packed where the summer tires turn into ice skates. They will go if you ask nice (AWD) but they won't steer or stop. Some better tread would make easy work of it. I've survived every Seattle winter on all-seasons with no sweat.

Rico > GreenN_Gold
10/09/2014 at 18:03

I've got Kumho Ecsta 4xs on my C300 and they've been great in the rain but they do have a summer bias, there are some other Ecstas you could look at.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Textured Soy Protein
10/09/2014 at 18:05

Compared to the super-eco tires it came with they were much better. I bought a set as my winter tires for my SVT Focus running SVT Contour wheels.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > GreenN_Gold
10/09/2014 at 19:00

randomly scrolling through, when I see seattle!

Woo seattle opponaughts!

GreenN_Gold > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
10/09/2014 at 19:04

I used to be around Oppo a lot more, now I'm found mostly on the front page stuff.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > GreenN_Gold
10/09/2014 at 19:06

oh, ok! cool!

Hey, I'm thinking of trying and getting a seattle oppo meet on at some point... any interest in that by chance?

sketchcat > GreenN_Gold
10/09/2014 at 19:17

this shot taken before first drive. all that tire shine end up on your fenders after you get rolling.

GreenN_Gold > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
10/09/2014 at 19:51

Possibly.

GreenN_Gold > sketchcat
10/09/2014 at 19:54

That was indeed a fresh coat, but it will stay on there. The trick is to leave the car parked a long time (I do it before I park for the night) before you drive it. I used to detail cars for a living.

sketchcat > GreenN_Gold
10/09/2014 at 20:02

hmm.thanks for the tip.

ill try that when i have a ride that doesnt have sidewalls like the 31-10.5-15 on my truck.

nafsucof > GreenN_Gold
10/09/2014 at 20:27

eagle f1 a/s

Jcarr > Milky
10/09/2014 at 22:10

Only drive about 10k a year :)

Trevor Slattery, ACTOR > GreenN_Gold
10/09/2014 at 22:13

Seriously. Under $200 each, under $150...$125?

JEM > Rico
10/10/2014 at 08:05

That's a good point, Ecsta is a fairly wide model line and they have everything from full summer to more regular all season tires IIRC.

Rico > JEM
10/10/2014 at 08:12

I went with Kumho after a neighbor recommended it to me, I wanted Michelin AS3s but for my wheel setup it would've cost $700+mounting. The Kumhos were $380 with mounting and came with a $50 rebate I couldn't ignore that deal.

GreenN_Gold > Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
10/10/2014 at 11:06

I suppose what I was trying to say is that price is not the primary factor in my purchase decision. I found the Continentals everyone is recommending for $96 at TireRack, that seems like a pretty good value. And the tread life and traction rating exceed the factory tires.

GreenN_Gold > Jcarr
10/10/2014 at 11:21

540 tread life is impressive! Thanks for the suggestion. Found them for $135 at TireRack.

Trevor Slattery, ACTOR > GreenN_Gold
10/10/2014 at 11:22

That is a good deal. I should scoop those. I picked up a nice set of Eagle GT all seasons recently and I paid more than that.

GreenN_Gold > Party-vi
10/10/2014 at 11:26

Are the Michelins truly quieter? They're only about $15 more each, could be worth it if they're quiet.

GreenN_Gold > Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
10/10/2014 at 11:28

Scratch that, those were the DW, the DWS are $135. Still reasonable.

Jcarr > GreenN_Gold
10/10/2014 at 11:35

Check out Discount Tire Direct, too. Their prices are a couple bucks higher, but they have free shipping so it usually ends up being cheaper. That's where I got mine.

Party-vi > GreenN_Gold
10/10/2014 at 11:35

I've heard 0 complaints from my mother, who put them on her G37x. A TireRack rep should be able to give you more information. I think people like the Contis because of the tread pattern - it would appear to be better suited to light snow.

GreenN_Gold > Jcarr
10/10/2014 at 11:40

I'll end up going to the store to buy them and have them mounted and balanced. I've had really good experiences with my local TireRack. Thank you though!

GreenN_Gold > Party-vi
10/10/2014 at 11:43

The 540 tread life is nice too, and they're a bit cheaper. The Michelins have a higher traction rating though (AA versus A). I plan on talking to a rep, but I like to have some idea going in of what I'm looking at and what questions I might have...and to that end everyone on Oppo has been a great help!!

Party-vi > GreenN_Gold
10/10/2014 at 11:47

That's why Oppo exists.