New tires

[KAYbear2]

I just took my outback 2000 in for a recall. They dixed the recall problem, and
told me that I need 4 new tires. They are right...mine look pretty sad. I
would like to get good ones, but know next to nothing about tires. Can anyone
recommend some very good tires for my 2000 Outback? I think the front end
needs realignment too. Should I do that before or after I get new tires???
Many thanks.

 

[Alan]

Regarding the type of tires- It depends what kind of driving you do and what
your preferences are (handling, soft ride, quiet tires, weather and road
conditions...) Get the alignment at the same time you get the tires.

 

[mac]

You should get tires that are HR rated, just like the oem tires that came on
your car.

HR rattings are usually a really high performance sort of thing. but the
subie awd needs the extra sidewall strength the HR provides to give you the
consistent handling you are used to.

I did not buy HR, I went for $$. Costco wouldn't sell me anything BUT HR,
which had to be ordered, so I went to Sam's and bought some goodrich at half
the price. they work, but I can feel the difference in corners. and I wish i
had had my conversation with the subie Master Mechanic before i bought them.

FWIW

 

[D H]

I just took my outback 2000 in for a recall. They dixed the recall problem, and
told me that I need 4 new tires. They are right...mine look pretty sad. I
would like to get good ones, but know next to nothing about tires. Can anyone
recommend some very good tires for my 2000 Outback? I think the front end
needs realignment too. Should I do that before or after I get new tires???
Many thanks.

Alignment should be done WHEN you get new tires, IF it needs it. The
wear pattern on your old ones should tell you if it is needed or not. Don't
change it if the wear pattern has been even and true.
I just put Kumho 717 tires on our two 99Foresters. My wife and I are
both very impressed with the smooth, reasonably quiet ride and excellent
grip, but of course new tires ALWAYS feel better than old ones that have
lost most of their tread life. These were highly rated in user reviews at
Tirerack.com and got better ratings for treadwear, snow and wet traction,
etc. than the Yokohama tires in same category. I used two different sets of
Yokohamas before these, the stock Geolanders and then an "S305" tire that
was similar to the Avid tires. The S305 tires were good while they lasted,
which was over 45,000 miles when we tossed them, and they would have gone
another 10 easily for many folks, but we knew they didn't hold the road as
well anymore, especially in the wet, and with snow coming on, we had to have
new ones.
I have decided at this point that from now on, I will gladly get rid of
tires when they are about 60-70% used, rather than wait for them to be fully
worn to minimum specs. That last 1/3 of their wearable life doesn't give you
much traction and safety.
By the way, these are the first Kumho tires I've tried, and I had to
read a lot to be convinced enough to try them. I usually want a top brand
tire, but the prices on these are so ridiculous now that I decided to gamble
on a "lesser" name at a cost savings of close to 40%. I have not been
disappointed (but have less than 1000 miles on them yet, so time will tell.)
I ordered these through my local dealer at only a small increase over what
Tirerack.com would have cost me. He is worth that premium because he can be
trusted to treat me right.