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Subaru Crew - Modifications II

5351 messages,  Last post on Jan 03, 2012 at 1:47 PM

You are in the Subaru Crew Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Impreza, Subaru Outback, Subaru, Subaru Legacy, Subaru Baja, Subaru Forester

Your Community Leaders are ateixeira and rsholland.

Messages Page 275 of 536

#2736 of 5351 Pilot Sport A/S on Forester by lark6

Jul 14, 2002 (1:48 pm)

This is in reply to sten2's request in the Cleaning forum but to all generally.
 
I did a plus-one wheel/tire upgrade when changing to the Pilot Sports. My rationale was better handling on pavement and in the rain, plus a stiffer sidewall for handling curves. I had seen two Forester WRSport models prepared by Prodrive in the UK in late 2000 which were running on 17-inch wheels, and thought this might be my answer. Appearances weren't top priority but I didn't want to make things look worse.
 
Size is 225/50-17 on 17x7 OZ Superleggera wheels. The original combo I tried was 225/55-17 on 17x7 Speedline P7 wheels, the recommended combination from distributor The Tire Rack. These didn't work - had rubbing problems due to tire width and improper wheel offset. (P7 wheel = +53mm IIRC, correct for Impreza and Legacy; Superleggera = +48mm, correct for Forester, works on other models as well.) I ran that combo for 2 days; Tire Rack accepted the wheels back and sent out the 50-series. I sold the P7 wheels to a WRX owner and broke even on the transaction.
 
I had numerous e-mail exchanges with engineers from Prodrive in the UK before settling on the OZs and 225/50-17 combination. They had used both the Superleggeras and Speedline Superturismos, which were no longer available. Prodrive confirmed that the suspension settings are the same for the UK-spec S turbos which they convert to WRSports and the US-spec S that I drive.
 
There is no rubbing with the current combination. So far (approximately 1000 miles) they've given me all the handling benefits I expected. Excellent wet traction; improved dry traction and lateral grip (though I haven't given them the backroads workout I'd wanted yet). Ride has not been noticeably harmed.
 
The major tradeoff is noise. They are noisier than the OEM Geolandars; so much so in fact that, according to my Subaru dealer, I am mistaking their sounds for the sound of yet another failing rear wheel bearing. Two dealer techs drove the car and attributed the noise to the tires. However, the tires give off a dull roar as opposed to the whirring roar of the bearing. I heard this while the Geolandars were on the car as well. I expect the wheels will have to fall off before SoA gets involved, at which point I feel sure they will attribute the failure to the use of the non-OEM wheels and tires. Given that this is a known problem with Foresters and Imprezas (and many of the latter have been modified far more extensively than the former), that I have a service history with SoA, and that several dealerships have begun to replace the bearings with the sturdier Legacy version, I can't see how that argument would stand.
 
But I digress. The benefits of the Pilot Sport A/S have so far outweighed the costs. Speaking of which, they are pricey - $189/each from Tire Rack - but hopefully I got what I paid for. We'll see how treadwear goes - they are rated 400 so that is promising. If I had to do it all over again I may have opted for something cheaper and with shorter tread life, but that's the price I pay for being a guinea pig.
 
Ed

#2737 of 5351 Ed's book :-) by bluesubie

Jul 15, 2002 (6:03 am)

Great write-up!
You still have your OEM wheels, don't you?
You could just throw them back on and see if think you're getting bearing noise.
 
-Dennis

#2738 of 5351 by lark6

Jul 15, 2002 (6:04 am)

Dennis,
 
I did and I do. Should take it back to the dealer with that setup.
 
Ed

#2739 of 5351 Anybody tried Falken by strider98

Jul 17, 2002 (5:30 pm)

Azenis sports? Whenever I get my wagon, I was wondering if the dealer could replace the Poortenzas with these.
 
Jimmyp1: Which dealership did you get yours at?

#2740 of 5351 Azenis by paisan

Jul 18, 2002 (4:41 am)

I wouldn't get em as a daily driver tire. They are great auto-x tires but as a daily driver they'll be gone in less than 10K miles, and have poor rain traction.
 
-mike

#2741 of 5351 Gotta be another Jim, Strider...... by jimmyp1

Jul 18, 2002 (8:16 am)

I own no such tires. There's a Jim using the screen name jfl, or something like that, and one or two others, anyone?
 
Jim (no azenis)

#2742 of 5351 Not me, by jfl

Jul 18, 2002 (5:14 pm)

I replaced my OEM RE92s with RE92s (but with WRX rims included!)
 
Jim

#2743 of 5351 Side Visors by originalbitman

Jul 19, 2002 (7:11 pm)

Still trying to track down a set of UK side visors for my GT wagon. Emailed 3 UK dealers (including Quinby Bros as mentioned here) with no response. Going to start making calls this week.

bit

#2744 of 5351 side visors by lakepop

Jul 20, 2002 (3:30 am)

bit...you might try mikeexeter.com. Got visors for my 01 Forester from him. Had zero luck with the UK and the shipping costs from there and Australia are $$$$.
  They are located in the northeast and their phone was 877-782-2789. Hope this helps..........

Messages Page 275 of 536

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