Opinions about the "best" replacement tires for a 2000 Outback SW?

[Warren]

I have looked at tirerack.com and at some comments here. I have
narrowed my choice (for replacing my Firestone Wilderness OEM tires -
at 43,000 miles due to edge ware) to the following:

Top recommendation so far are for Goodyear tripletread ($118.00
locally, plus $10.99 mounting at NTB - MSRP of $142.50). These only
have a "B" rating for heat and have a lower speed rating than the OEM
tires (H is the OEM rating). All other factors are excellent.

Another finalist is the Kumho ECSTA HP4 716, which is a 225/60HR16
("H") rating as was my OEM's. There are in stock locally at $74.99
plus 10.99 mount and balance. Sears is $10.00 cheaper per tire, but
not in stock locally AND Tirerack has them backordered ($59.99
there!). These are reated one step lower than the Goodyear, but are
still excellent (at tirerack rating comments).

I had also considered Kumho ECSTA ASX (can't find locally) and
Sumitomo HTR+ (same thing). All but the HP4 716 are available at
tirerack - (any comments about dealing with them?).

Any experience with these or any other recommendations? I live in PA
and get snow, bad at times.

Thanks.

Warren

 

[Ron Joiner]

I have looked at tirerack.com and at some comments here. I have
narrowed my choice (for replacing my Firestone Wilderness OEM tires -
at 43,000 miles due to edge ware) to the following:

Top recommendation so far are for Goodyear tripletread ($118.00
locally, plus $10.99 mounting at NTB - MSRP of $142.50). These only
have a "B" rating for heat and have a lower speed rating than the OEM
tires (H is the OEM rating). All other factors are excellent.

Another finalist is the Kumho ECSTA HP4 716, which is a 225/60HR16
("H") rating as was my OEM's. There are in stock locally at $74.99
plus 10.99 mount and balance. Sears is $10.00 cheaper per tire, but
not in stock locally AND Tirerack has them backordered ($59.99
there!). These are reated one step lower than the Goodyear, but are
still excellent (at tirerack rating comments).

I had also considered Kumho ECSTA ASX (can't find locally) and
Sumitomo HTR+ (same thing). All but the HP4 716 are available at
tirerack - (any comments about dealing with them?).

Any experience with these or any other recommendations? I live in PA
and get snow, bad at times.

Thanks.

Warren

Take a little trip to Canada and pick up some Motomaster Touring 160s at
Canadian Tire. Great tire for a price that can't be beat. Anything is
better than the Wilderness which were a poor tire choice for the Outback
to begin with!

http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortments/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524442

check them out

 

[Ron Joiner]

Take a little trip to Canada and pick up some Motomaster Touring 160s at
Canadian Tire. Great tire for a price that can't be beat. Anything is
better than the Wilderness which were a poor tire choice for the Outback
to begin with!

http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortments/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524442


check them out

Sorry, you have to navigate to tire section.

Ron

 

[kramer]

From personal experience I would stay away from the Firestone Affinity LH

 

[lkreh]

I really like the Goodyear Regatta II's currently on my OBW. Had BFG
Precepts before that, which were good, but I like the Regattas better.
Triple-treads are great, but you could save a few bucks with the the
Regattas and still be happy.

 

[Dan Jensen]

I have looked at tirerack.com and at some comments here. I have
narrowed my choice (for replacing my Firestone Wilderness OEM tires -
at 43,000 miles due to edge ware) to the following:

Top recommendation so far are for Goodyear tripletread ($118.00
locally, plus $10.99 mounting at NTB - MSRP of $142.50). These only
have a "B" rating for heat and have a lower speed rating than the OEM
tires (H is the OEM rating). All other factors are excellent.

I have put 10,000 miles on the Goodyear Tripletread and can sum them up in
one word: WOW! What a difference. With my old tires, I had to turn up the
stereo once I got on the freeway. I don't even touch the dial now. You will
not believe how quiet these tires are. I used to think the reason I felt
every crack in a road was the Outback's stiffer suspension. The difference
with these tires is incredible. I took a tight circle freeway offramp with a
20 mph speed limit at 40 mph and the car took the turn better than going 20
mph with the old tires. Where I used to get a side lean in a corner, these
tires hold solid and make cornering effortless. I was driving down the
freeway going from dry road to heavy showers and could feel no difference -
and the traction was solid.

I also tried them up in the mountains. While I was there I got to try the
tires in snow, ice and combo of slush and ice. I was amazed how well these
tires griped in all these conditions. I was deep in the mountains on logging
roads and really tested these tires. They exceeded my expectations!

 

[Edward Hayes]

I'm running Kumho HP4 716 on my Forester with very good reports. I now
have about 10,000 miles on them. They are quite, very good in dry and
in our Florida monsoon rains. A good price at Sears was out the door
for ~$365.

 

[Warren]

I have put 10,000 miles on the Goodyear Tripletread and can sum them up in
one word: WOW! What a difference. With my old tires, I had to turn up the
stereo once I got on the freeway. I don't even touch the dial now. You will
not believe how quiet these tires are. I used to think the reason I felt
every crack in a road was the Outback's stiffer suspension. The difference
with these tires is incredible. I took a tight circle freeway offramp with a
20 mph speed limit at 40 mph and the car took the turn better than going 20
mph with the old tires. Where I used to get a side lean in a corner, these
tires hold solid and make cornering effortless. I was driving down the
freeway going from dry road to heavy showers and could feel no difference -
and the traction was solid.

I also tried them up in the mountains. While I was there I got to try the
tires in snow, ice and combo of slush and ice. I was amazed how well these
tires griped in all these conditions. I was deep in the mountains on logging
roads and really tested these tires. They exceeded my expectations!

Sears has the Tripletread "on Sale" right now. They get $115.69 each
(plus a rebate coupon for $50) but their total adds up ti $622! That
means they must charge a really high installation/balancing amount
along with a high disposal charge for the old tires. This price also
includes 6% PA stste tax.

Tire rack has them for $96 each plus $33 shipping and a local
authorized (by Tire Rack) repair service/installer gets $10/$15 each
and a $2 each disposal fee. That would make the out money less than
$500 - a big difference!

Thanks Dan (and others) for your advice and especially for confirming
my thoughts on the Triple Tread by Goodyear.

I am going to the local dealer today to get more details (his yellow
pages adv has a Tire Rack logo in it).

I will also call my order in so that I can see if Tire Rack has info
about the $50 coupon.

Thanks again.

Warren

 

[BobN]

I've been running Toyo 800s on my 98 OBW since 2001. They are quiet,
handle well and have lasted well over 100K miles.

 

[Darren Dempsey]

Well in my opinion the only tyre that should be on a Subaru are the ones
that SUBARU run on there WRC race cars(World Rally Championship for those
whe dont know) and the tyre brand is PIRELLI

 

[Warren]

<snip>

Tire rack has them for $96 each plus $33 shipping and a local
authorized (by Tire Rack) repair service/installer gets $10/$15 each
and a $2 each disposal fee. That would make the out money less than
$500 - a big difference!

Thanks Dan (and others) for your advice and especially for confirming
my thoughts on the Triple Tread by Goodyear.

I am going to the local dealer today to get more details (his yellow
pages adv has a Tire Rack logo in it).

I will also call my order in so that I can see if Tire Rack has info
about the $50 coupon.

Thanks again.

Warren

Just found out that there is a current $40 coupon (rebate) for the
TripleTread tire for my outback (and others).

This, along with the $96 TireRack price, (which my local dealer will
match) and mu dealer's pre-Memorial Day special on mounting and
balancing ($12.99 each) brings my final tire cost down to $105.57 each
(after I get the rebate).

Looks like I should jump at this deal!

Warren

 

[Dan Jensen]

Just found out that there is a current $40 coupon (rebate) for the

TripleTread tire for my outback (and others).

This, along with the $96 TireRack price, (which my local dealer will
match) and mu dealer's pre-Memorial Day special on mounting and
balancing ($12.99 each) brings my final tire cost down to $105.57 each
(after I get the rebate).

Looks like I should jump at this deal!

That is an excellent deal. I got mine from Discount Tires. The total I
paid, including mounting and balancing, was $450. Since buying mine, I
have seen a rebate offer from them for $50 at two different times.

Good luck... you are going to love them!

 

[Tom Reingold]

What kind of tire does the Tripletred aim to be? I think I'm willing to
sacrifice handling if I can get a little more ride comfort. Durability
is not a concern for me.

 

[Dan Jensen]

What kind of tire does the Tripletred aim to be? I think I'm willing to
sacrifice handling if I can get a little more ride comfort. Durability is
not a concern for me.

In reading the write-ups on them, talking to tire experts, reading reviews
and putting over 10,000 miles on them... I really think the aim is to be the
best all around tire without having any area that you have to sacrifice in.
The tire has improved my car's handling, performed excellent in torrential
down pours and surprised me with its ability in snow both on and off road
(see my earlier post in this thread). One thing that really stands out is
how much better these tires performs in all categories, including in the
snow, from my old Michelin XW4. Also, the drop in road noise was also
unreal.

 

[Hal Whelply]

That TripleTred has been appealing to me, except for some reports of high
rolling resistance, and resultant lower gas mileage. Also, it's a T-rated
tire, unlike the H-rated OEM Yokohamas. A T is good to 118 MPH. I've only
had my Forester XT up to 100, very briefly, once. So I suppose the T is no
problem. Nevertheless, I'm also considering a couple of Yokohamas, the AVS
dB S2, and the Avid H4s. Anyone with experience with those? They look real
good on TireRack.

Another concern: the TripleTred weighs 27 lbs., versus the two Yokos weight
of 23 lbs. More unsprung weight.

HW

 

[Dom]

I have put 5000 miles on my triple treads (on my forester).
I love them! I paid around $420 installed (After $40 rebate).
I also have not noticed any drop in mileage.
They are quieter than the stock Yokos that came with the car, and MUCH
better in wintery conditions and handling. They seem to stick better
to the dry pavement as well.
The TTs have an 80,000 miles treadwear warranty.


I love driving my car even more with these tires.

On my 2nd car (a 97 saturn), I have the good year regatta2 on. That
too, is a pretty good tire. But leans more toward comfort than
performance, and is not as good in the wintery weather, but I have
never gotten stuck either.
The regattas also have a high treadwear warranty as well.

If you can afford the extra $100 or so - get the triple treads.

Dom

 

[BobN]

That TripleTred has been appealing to me, except for some reports of high
rolling resistance, and resultant lower gas mileage.

Is there an online source of authoritative information about the rolling
resistance of different tires? I'll need a new set on my 98 Outback soon
and in view of the amount of highway driving I do, it could be a material
issue.

 

[Dom]

All the driving I do is highway - 37 miles each way (2 miles of that is
rural side road). I haven't noticed any drop in mileage. I have been
consistenly averaging 28 mpg in my forester between the original Yoko
tires and the new triple treads. Other than effecting mileage, why is
there a concern for rolling resistance?
If there is any increase in resistance in the TTs, it must be minimal
because I havent seen any effect on my mileage.

Dom

 

[BobN]

there a concern for rolling resistance?
If there is any increase in resistance in the TTs, it must be minimal
because I havent seen any effect on my mileage.

My interest is mileage. I drive about 35K per year, mostly on highways.
The less I spend on gas, the better. I also equate, perhaps mistakenly, a
smooth-rolling tire with low noise level. Comments from the more
knowledgeable?

 

[Dom]

Well as far as noise level, the TTs are quieter than the stock Yokos
that came with my forester (not 100% quieter - but definitely quieter).
I can say that much.
Dom