Replacement Tires for 2003 Forester

[Horst]

I currently have the OEM Yokohama Geolanders, which now have only
23,000 miles on them, but the tires look like they won't last too much
longer?!
I'm thinking I'll be lucky to get 30,000 -32,000 out of them.
Noticed others were getting short life out of the Geolanders as well.

In my experience, the Geolander is a good tire on dry road, OK in the
rain, but very poor in the snow.

I will be in the Sierra mountains around Lake Tahoe (snow and rain)
quite a bit this winter, and I am loooking for a replacement tire for
my Forester.

I want an "all season" tire that has a very good wet /snow handling
characteristics. (I won't be exclusively in the rain/snow, but most
weekends,and all winter hoiliday periods - probably 30-40 days -
thus I can't go with a "traditional" snow tire)

Suggestions and experiences greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[Passman]

I don't have these myself (I have an 05 Outback XT) but I've read a lot of
good things about them. They're the Goodyear Assurance Triple Tread. They
seem a bit pricey but maybe you get what you pay for. I personally never
liked Goodyear tires but these could be the exception. Anyhow you can check
them out here.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Assurance+TripleTred

Mike

 

[A7N8X-X]

I've got the Michelin HydroEdge and so far they have been excellent. I have
not driven them in snow yet - got them in August.


|I currently have the OEM Yokohama Geolanders, which now have only
| 23,000 miles on them, but the tires look like they won't last too much
| longer?!
| I'm thinking I'll be lucky to get 30,000 -32,000 out of them.
| Noticed others were getting short life out of the Geolanders as well.
|
| In my experience, the Geolander is a good tire on dry road, OK in the
| rain, but very poor in the snow.
|
| I will be in the Sierra mountains around Lake Tahoe (snow and rain)
| quite a bit this winter, and I am loooking for a replacement tire for
| my Forester.
|
| I want an "all season" tire that has a very good wet /snow handling
| characteristics. (I won't be exclusively in the rain/snow, but most
| weekends,and all winter hoiliday periods - probably 30-40 days -
| thus I can't go with a "traditional" snow tire)
|
| Suggestions and experiences greatly appreciated.
| Thanks.

 

[Frank Logullo]

I currently have the OEM Yokohama Geolanders, which now have only
23,000 miles on them, but the tires look like they won't last too much
longer?!

I'm not sure what was on my '98 but they only lasted 23,000 miles. Mostly
my fault because I ignored rotation and alignment.
Got new set at NTW (did not record brand) and free alignment after 6,000
miles then errant PT cruiser demolished my car.
Now with '03, I intend to keep an eye on. I had bought first Forester
because some one stole and stripped wife's Mazda which also had new tires.
Most annoying was not getting re-imbursed by insurance for new tires on both
cars.
Another observation, in my opinion, which may have changed over the years,
is that Japanese are not as good as rest of world in stabilizing rubber
stock and tires degrade more rapidly. I saw this in bicycle tires that
would not last more than a year.
Frank

 

[hippo]

<<I want an "all season" tire that has a very good wet /snow handling
characteristics. (I won't be exclusively in the rain/snow, but most
weekends,and all winter hoiliday periods - probably 30-40 days - thus I
can't go with a "traditional" snow tire)>>

Just noticed someone selling 4 x 16" WRX alloys with snows on a later post
than this. Worth looking into & then swapping them on and off on a needs
basis? Yes it's a pain but it's much less of a compromise for given road
conditions. A true all rounder can't exist, although some come closer than
others. Cheers

 

[Horst]

Well, after several hours of research on a few forums, UseNet, and
Tirerack.com, I finally decided on these:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...earch=false&partnum=16HR6TTA&fromCompare1=yes

Getting them installed tomorow.

I'll report back later and give you my opinions - but they are
obviously going to be MUCH better tires than the Yokohama Geolander -
which were essentially skis in the snow/

 

[H]

I just replaced my Geolandars (04 Forester XS, 17,000km) with the Goodyear
Triple Treads. Wow, what a difference, Tenacious grip in the wet and very
good resistance to aquaplaning. I got $40CDN apiece trade in for the
Geolandars too. Note the treadwear rating for the Geolandars is 320,
Traction B. The Triple treads have 740 treadwear and Traction A. Consumers
rates them over the Michelin Hydroedge. It feels like a whole new vehicle. I
highly recommend these tires