Replacement Tires

[David Mauriello]

I just bought a new 2006 Outback a couple of months ago, as a
replacement for my '98 OBW. So far, I really like the car.

However, I have seen a number of postings about the poor handling
characteristics of the original equipment Bridgestone RE-92 tires,
especially in wet weather or snow. Any ideas on replacement tires for
this car?

Dave

 

[bigjim]

DO NOT BELIEVE THOSE POSTINGS . The OE bridgestones are GREAT in Snow
and rain for about 40k mikes. Enjoy them for a while. I almost bought
the same tire as a replacement I liked them so much.

 

[Cam Penner]

I just bought a new 2006 Outback a couple of months ago, as a
replacement for my '98 OBW. So far, I really like the car.

However, I have seen a number of postings about the poor handling
characteristics of the original equipment Bridgestone RE-92 tires,
especially in wet weather or snow. Any ideas on replacement tires for
this car?

I was disappointed in the RE-92s. My 2wd Nissan with 2
year old snows outperformed the Subaru with new RE92s in
ALL areas. As the REs wore, the gap increased.

I've got a new set of Yokahama Avid V4Ss on now. Much
better in the wet and snow than the RE-92s ever were[1].
They seem to give a shade less feedback from the road
(which is a downside) but ride slightly less harsh (an
upside). I feel the grip is better cornering, but the
change in feedback is still something I am getting used to.

[1] Caveat - I haven't had them out in deep snow yet. For
the couple of inches we've had, and the ice/frost, I've no
complaints.

 

[Larry Van Wormer]

I just bought a new 2006 Outback a couple of months ago, as a
replacement for my '98 OBW. So far, I really like the car.

However, I have seen a number of postings about the poor handling
characteristics of the original equipment Bridgestone RE-92 tires,
especially in wet weather or snow. Any ideas on replacement tires for
this car?

Dave

I found the RE92's to be okay, not great, in rain, so used them up.
Likely lousy in snow with that tread, but here in Ontario it's much
better to use snow tires, so that's what I always do.

You should check out:

www.tirerack.com

I can recommend Michelin Hydroedge tires as a very good all season
choice, including light snow (a friend of mine uses them in lighter
snow, they work fine for that)

Larry Van Wormer

 

[Grolsch]

I found the RE92's to be okay, not great, in rain, so used them up. Likely
lousy in snow with that tread, but here in Ontario it's much better to use
snow tires, so that's what I always do.

You should check out:

www.tirerack.com

I can recommend Michelin Hydroedge tires as a very good all season choice,
including light snow (a friend of mine uses them in lighter snow, they
work fine for that)

Larry Van Wormer

If your going to check Tirerack.com then the clear choice would be Goodyear
TripleTread
They top the Hydroedge in all areas at the Tirerack site. I put the
Tripletreads on my 04 Forester
to replace the OEM tires. Night and day difference, great tire.

 

[MD]

Yes I have heard a lot of bad things about the RE-92's.

So far really I have just used them for winter use and some summer use and
they seem ok. I think next year they will be delegated to strictly summer
use and I will get some winter treads. But as long as they are relatively
new I think they will work ok with winter. Just have to go slow.

 

[bigjim]

Please ignore the badmouthing of the RE92. Drive sensibly and you will
have no problem . Winter of 2004 I had no problem following a friend
who had a Landcruiser everywhere. After 40k miles then you will notice
traction declining seriously- then you will need new tires. Traction
is great (abs rarely engaged in wet rapid stops)

 

[Bob Lund]

Please ignore the badmouthing of the RE92. Drive sensibly and you will
have no problem . Winter of 2004 I had no problem following a friend
who had a Landcruiser everywhere. After 40k miles then you will notice
traction declining seriously- then you will need new tires. Traction
is great (abs rarely engaged in wet rapid stops)

I had the RE92's on my 2003 wrx in Feb when I bought it in Minneapolis.
The car performed very nicely in the snow. They do seem to wear out
fairly quickly though. I replaced them with the P zero nero ms, which
also seem to be a pretty good all-season tire.

 

[DK]

I just bought a new 2006 Outback a couple of months ago, as a
replacement for my '98 OBW. So far, I really like the car.

However, I have seen a number of postings about the poor handling
characteristics of the original equipment Bridgestone RE-92 tires,
especially in wet weather or snow. Any ideas on replacement tires for
this car?

I was disappointed in the RE-92s. My 2wd Nissan with 2
year old snows outperformed the Subaru with new RE92s in
ALL areas. As the REs wore, the gap increased.

I've got a new set of Yokahama Avid V4Ss on now. Much
better in the wet and snow than the RE-92s ever were[1].
They seem to give a shade less feedback from the road
(which is a downside) but ride slightly less harsh (an
upside). I feel the grip is better cornering, but the
change in feedback is still something I am getting used to.

[1] Caveat - I haven't had them out in deep snow yet. For
the couple of inches we've had, and the ice/frost, I've no
complaints.

My experience with Yokahama Avids:
First year - fantastic on wet and snow, best tires I ever had!
Second year - considerably worse. Third year - the most
slippery tires I ever had on any car. A total disaster on wet
roads particularly. (The tires *are* regularly rotated and
the thread wear is minimal).

DK

 

[k. ote]

Yes I have heard a lot of bad things about the RE-92's.

So far really I have just used them for winter use and some summer use and
they seem ok. I think next year they will be delegated to strictly summer
use and I will get some winter treads. But as long as they are relatively
new I think they will work ok with winter. Just have to go slow.

The RE092's are unfortunately relatively tractionless. There is simply no
comparison between them and the RE070's in summer (which makes sense
considering the RE070's are summer tires,) and the RE092's and pretty much
any Max or Ultra-high performance tire from Pirelli.

One slides and skids after half the tread's gone, the others grip like
crazy.

Big difference.

 

[M. Butkus]

I had those on my old 2001 OB... worked fine.
There is someone always complaing about traction and better tires. They are
the kids with nothing to do but spend $215 per tire on some "performance"
brands that last a whole 15K.

 

[JD]

I had those on my old 2001 OB... worked fine.
There is someone always complaing about traction and better tires. They
are
the kids with nothing to do but spend $215 per tire on some "performance"
brands that last a whole 15K.

Depends on where you are. RE92 is an all-season tire which are not as good
in summer as summer tires, and all but useless if your winters get cold. If
you are in an area where winter weather is generally near freezing with not
too much snow, they'll likely be fine. However, they are like hockey pucks
at anything colder than -9C where a winter (much softer compound) is good to
about -25C.

 

[Alan]

DO NOT BELIEVE THOSE POSTINGS . The OE bridgestones are GREAT in Snow
and rain for about 40k mikes. Enjoy them for a while. I almost bought
the same tire as a replacement I liked them so much.

Same with me, exccept I did buy the same tires! Got 48 K on them- still had
3/32 - 4/32 remianing, but winter was coming...

 

[Larry Van Wormer]

Same with me, exccept I did buy the same tires! Got 48 K on them- still had
3/32 - 4/32 remianing, but winter was coming...

While it depends on the winter weather you encounter, no all-season
tires can be considered very good for severe winter weather, compared to
good ice/snow tires. (A friend persists in using all-season tires year
round. Funny how the roads always seem a lot more slippery when we use
his vehicle. He has commented on it himself...)

Of course, if you encounter only rain or a bit of light snow,
all-seasons are likely fine.

Larry Van Wormer

 

[ranugad]

I had put some Nokia 7 ply's (forget the actual tire name, but I think
they only make one 7 ply tire) on my 98 Legacy Outback for some sumer
back rode driving in Alaska. When winter came, I decided to leave em on
when I encountered really long lines for having my studs swapped on.
They ended up working so well I ended up leaving them on for 4 more
years. They worked really well in all weather and blew me away at how
well they even handled snow more than a foot deep.