Things will be happening to the Legacy for the first time since I've owned it

"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
11/29/2016 at 18:38 • Filed to: Tires and recalls

Other than fixing my dome light and the scuff that happened to the back bumper, I’ve only done an oil change so far.

The tires on it are original to the car, which obviously should be replaced even though they still have lots of tread left. I’m deciding between Nokian WRG3, Toyo Celsius CUV, or Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06. If any of you have preferences for tires that are winter rated but quite good in the rain, I’d be interested to hear. Living in a temperate rainforest climate makes good wet traction a priority.

The other things getting done are recalls that I just found out about. The recall on the passenger airbag I was already aware of, but the dealer claimed that the replacement wasn’t available yet. I called Subaru Canada today and learned that not only is my airbag available, but there are two other recalls unconpleted on my car. One for possible brake line corrosion, and another for a reprogram of the ECM. Something to do with cold start A/F sensor behavior. So my airbag should be here in 1.5 to 2 weeks, and then I guess I’ll find out if the dealer can take apart and reassemble my dash without giving me any squeaks or rattles....

Maybe I’ll get an interesting loaner out of it.

DISCUSSION (26)

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > gmctavish needs more space
11/29/2016 at 19:07

That reminds me, I have to get over to the Mini dealership before my power steering sets itself on fire.

Dusty Ventures > gmctavish needs more space
11/29/2016 at 19:23

When my local dealer did the airbag they broke a bunch of the plastic clips that hold the fake wood trim in place, then instead of trying to replace the broken clips they tried to hide it by telling me the reason the trim wasn’t fitting together properly anymore is because the heating and cooling cycles of summer and winter had warped it and these things usually don’t fit back together properly after they’ve been taken apart.

gmctavish needs more space > Dusty Ventures
11/29/2016 at 19:28

Ugh, that’s disappointing. As if not usually fitting together again properly would be an excuse for giving your car back in a different condition anyways.

gmctavish needs more space > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
11/29/2016 at 19:28

That’s such a fun and unusual place to catch fire though

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > gmctavish needs more space
11/29/2016 at 19:30

They have a habit of short circuiting and igniting the fluid (its a hydraulic system but uses an electric motor instead of running off the engine).

gmctavish needs more space > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
11/29/2016 at 19:34

Oh geez, that sounds sketchy

Boxer_4 > gmctavish needs more space
11/29/2016 at 19:37

I’m running Continental TrueContacts on the Forester and have been happy with their performance on wet roads. I haven’t had them on snowy roads yet, but I anticipate that they will be good (well, as good as all-season tires can be in the snow). The TrueContacts are the direct replacement for the ProContacts, and I was pretty happy with them for the ~40,000 miles that they lasted. I believe you are running a 205-50R17 though, and I don’t think they run in your size (I’m running a 225-55R17 on the Forester).

I’ve had the brake line recall done on mine. Basically, the dealer will inspect the brake lines for corrosion. If they pass, they will spray a wax sealant on the brake line connector under the car and under the hood.

The ECM programming is to improve warm-start emissions in cold weather (I believe I have the right recall. There have been a number of emissions recalls / ECM reprogrammings on the late model non-turbo EJ25s). The full-gist of the recall can be found here (the formatting isn’t great though).

A friend of mine had the passenger airbag replaced in his 2008 Legacy earlier this year and had no complaints of squeaks and rattles. His was replaced at ~170,000 miles, too, so it wasn’t exactly a new, low-miles example.

Phatboyphil > gmctavish needs more space
11/29/2016 at 19:40

I used to have bfg summer tires that were superb in the rain. obviously they’d suck in the cold/snow, even though I’ve never lived anywhere with snow from reading fp

YOU NEED SNOW TIRES, YOU NEED SNOW TIRES OR YOUR BASICALLY KILLING PUPPIES

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > gmctavish needs more space
11/29/2016 at 19:41

It took BMW forever to acknowledge the issue. The pumps were used from 2001-2006 and there wasn’t so much as a TSB until it was recalled last year.

BeaterGT > gmctavish needs more space
11/29/2016 at 20:02

In the same boat as you regarding tires, seems like a lot of Subie guys go with the Continentals. I’m stuck between those or the BFG G-Force Comp A/S

gmctavish needs more space > Phatboyphil
11/29/2016 at 20:04

I always drove my Blazer whenever it snowed or got icy just with the all-terrains on. Horrible traction in 2WD but it was pretty alright in 4Hi. Certainly better than whatever sketchy BMW I was daily driving at the time. This is my first time trying to get appropriate tires and be sensible

gmctavish needs more space > BeaterGT
11/29/2016 at 20:09

I was looking at those too, and now my mechanic is suggesting I get Goodyear Assurance TripleTred or, weirdly enough, Sailun Atrezzo Z4+AS. I’m skeptical, but he says they’re the only Chinese tires he likes

gmctavish needs more space > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
11/29/2016 at 20:09

Wow that’s lame...

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > gmctavish needs more space
11/29/2016 at 20:10

Don’t even get me started on how they handled the CVT debacle.

BeaterGT > gmctavish needs more space
11/29/2016 at 20:34

You should get the Contis and let me know how they are! Are you doing the tire rack ship to mechanic route?

gmctavish needs more space > BeaterGT
11/29/2016 at 20:37

I’m in Canada and after shipping and currency conversion I wouldn’t save much, if at all. I’ll probably just get my mechanic to order them

BeaterGT > gmctavish needs more space
11/29/2016 at 20:53

Ah, gotcha.

Spasoje > gmctavish needs more space
11/29/2016 at 21:04

I just put WRG3 SUVs on my Volvo this past weekend, which replaced a set of WRG2 SUVs.

After being satisfied with the WRG2s (which were close to the wear bars by the time I was done with them), and having very good first impressions of these WRG3s, I wouldn’t consider another year-round tire for an AWD vehicle in our climate. My Volvo drives like a mountain goat lol

Also, it turns out that the RCMP and BCAS only use Nokians for their entire fleets!

gmctavish needs more space > Spasoje
11/29/2016 at 21:09

My dad has WRG2s and I like them a lot, the only thing making me consider otherwise is the price difference. WRG3s will be at least $215 each before tax, since Kal Tire has a distribution monopoly on them. I sure as hell wouldn’t get them mounted there, but I’d have to buy them there

Spasoje > gmctavish needs more space
11/29/2016 at 21:18

Check out Discount Tire in the states! After the exchange rate, their price was within ~10 CAD of KalTire’s price. Plus, I’ve had multiple good experiences with the location in Bellingham, both with my car and my friend’s.

They’re usually pretty quick as well – took them seventeen minutes, start-to-finish, to take off my old tires, get these new ones on properly, and bring my car out front!

The price is well worth it, either way. With these, you know you’ll be good no matter what the weather’s like!

gmctavish needs more space > Spasoje
11/29/2016 at 21:25

That would be very tempting if I had a passport......

I’m gonna do more researching, but I really am leading towards the Nokians. Between my dad’s WRG2s and Hakkas, I really trust them

Dusty Ventures > gmctavish needs more space
11/29/2016 at 21:34

Yeah, I stopped going to them after that

Spasoje > gmctavish needs more space
11/29/2016 at 21:36

Hmm. There’s this custom build place in Richmond, called Shenanigans Speed Shop – paid them a visit when researching some upgrades for a friend’s E39. Found out that they order all sorts of parts from the states regularly, and drive them to their shop...

Perhaps they could order/mount them for you, instead of KalTire?

gmctavish needs more space > Spasoje
11/29/2016 at 23:21

Perhaps, my mechanic is currently seeing if he has a way of ordering them, so it might not be an issue. If I decide for sure on the WRG3s, worst case scenario I buy them from Kal, but get them mounted by my mechanic

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > gmctavish needs more space
11/30/2016 at 18:46

Nokians. Try discounttiredirect.com as they have free shipping to Canada (prices in USD, though). The exchange rate might make it cheaper, close, or break even.

gmctavish needs more space > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
11/30/2016 at 19:34

Cool! Maybe I’ll do that in the spring and get all-seasons. I’m gonna get winters for now, my mechanic is selling me a set of Michelin X-Ice that only have one season on them for $350