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Subaru Impreza Tire/Wheel Questions

114 messages,  Last post on Feb 07, 2012 at 8:31 PM

You are in the Subaru Impreza Maintenance & Repair Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Impreza, Tires, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 8 of 12

#66 of 114 steel vs alloy wheels and aftermarket alloy opinions by rebel71

Dec 29, 2009 (5:58 am)

I've had both on my Subaru's and really don't notice a difference with driving, gas mileage etc. I know that alloy's look better, they're supposed to help dissipate heat, a bit lighter in weight. Does anyone have experience with aftermarket alloy's for their Subaru? Aftermarket alloy can be cheaper depending on what you choose. Just wondering if the quality was good. I just got a quote from dealer for 2010 Impreza 16"in
alloys for $339 ea. Tirerack has them as low as $79 ea.
 
thank you

#67 of 114 Re: steel vs alloy wheels and aftermarket alloy opinions [rebel71] by ateixeira

Dec 29, 2009 (9:25 am)

Replying to: rebel71 (Dec 29, 2009 5:58 am)
OEM alloys are usually overpriced like that. Those aren't even forged, so spend that sort of money elsewhere.
 
I had inexpensive MB Motoring wheels on a Forester. They were cast, as you'd expect, but they were still lighter than the inch-smaller steelies they replaced. After 9 years the finish showed some oxidation, but again, that's 9 years, I'm not sure OEM would fare any better.
 
I say go with Tirerack.

#68 of 114 Re: Replacing OEM tires on '08 Impreza 2.5i [oldladydriver] by geoffboston

Dec 30, 2009 (12:13 pm)

Replying to: oldladydriver (Dec 28, 2009 8:37 am)
I had the same problem and put the Bridgestone Potenza 205/50/R17 Go19 Grid on my 2008 Impreza Outbacksport. They are great tires. I lost 1 MPG but the traction is 100% better then the OE tires from the dealer. I am going out in the snow right now. Good luck.

#69 of 114 Re: Replacing OEM tires on '08 Impreza 2.5i [oldladydriver] by xwesx

Jan 04, 2010 (4:03 pm)

Replying to: oldladydriver (Dec 28, 2009 8:37 am)
A couple all-seasons (used year-round in Fairbanks, Alaska) with which I was very satisfied are Goodyear Allegra (about $80 per tire) and Goodyear TripleTred (about $125 per tire) The TripleTreds were fantastic on snow and ice for an all-season - the best I have ever used. Both of these tires have exceptional treadwear characteristics. I took the Allegras to 76,000 miles (again, using them year-round and replacing them in November, which was well into another winter) before internal sidewall issues forced me to replace them. The TripleTreds have an 80,000-mile factory treadwear warranty.

#70 of 114 Impreza aftermarket alloy wheels and warranty by rebel71

Jan 09, 2010 (6:24 am)

For those of you that have purchased non-subaru alloy wheels were you concerned about voiding the warranty? Does the non-OEM alloys fit as well as Subaru alloys?
The dealer price is $339/ea wheel. I think the price is too high, I've seen Tire Rack selling them for $80 and up. Do you also have to purchase a new set of tire pressure sensors for each set of wheels you have? I would have steels for snow and alloys for summer.
 
Thanks

#71 of 114 Re: Impreza aftermarket alloy wheels and warranty [rebel71] by kyfdx HOST

Jan 09, 2010 (7:54 am)

Replying to: rebel71 (Jan 09, 2010 6:24 am)
non-OEM wheels will not void your warranty.. Unless, they happen to actually be defective and cause some other issue with the vehicle (chances of that? Oh... 10,000 to 1?)

#72 of 114 Re: Impreza aftermarket alloy wheels and warranty [rebel71] by ateixeira

Jan 09, 2010 (7:20 pm)

Replying to: rebel71 (Jan 09, 2010 6:24 am)
Get the proper offset and something in the same size/weight class and you should be fine.
 
What you might want to do is shop for wheels from other Subaru models. For a while there Tire Rack was selling WRX "take off" wheels, i.e. nearly brand new from customers who did a Plus One upgrade.
 
Avoid STI because the lug pattern is different, but regular WRXs are 5x100 like most other Subarus.

#73 of 114 Inexpensive tires? by gldustgirl

Feb 25, 2010 (4:41 pm)

Hi I have a 2007 Impreza 2.5i sedan. My lease expires in a few months, but I have to replace the tires to pass inspection. I hate to spend an arm and a leg on new tires, only to surrender them. Any suggestions? They should be all-season because we still have a few months of winter up here in New England. The tires I am replacing are Potenza's P205/55VR16. Any help would be great! I'd like to sound like I know what I'm asking for.

#74 of 114 Re: Inexpensive tires? [gldustgirl] by xwesx

Feb 25, 2010 (7:10 pm)

Replying to: gldustgirl (Feb 25, 2010 4:41 pm)
For inexpensive tires, I was always very satisfied with Goodyear Allegra tires. I am not sure if Goodyear still makes this one (they did as of last Spring), but it was about $80 per tire (in Alaska) and performs very respectably in snow/ice conditions. There are a lot of cheap tires out there that do okay in dry and/or wet conditions, but many of those fall quite short in snow and ice.

#75 of 114 OEM 2010 SUBARU IMPREZA TIRES ARE REALLY BAD AND SUBARU KNOWS ABOUT IT by isilverboy

Jan 11, 2011 (12:22 am)

Bridgetone Potenza RE92A, high performance tires, rated to go over 140 MPH. Really bad in light/ deep snow as well as ice. They cost $254 each at tire rack.
 
TIRERACK TIRE REVIEW HERE
 
Hello guys, my first post here. I've spent hours looking for info on the tires that Subaru installed on my new 2010 Subaru Impreza Sport Auto.
My wife drives this vehicle with my kid in it, my point, my most precious things in life ride in it.
I'm so upset, it is unaceptable.
Bought the car for the safety, and its AWD bread and butter that sells each Subaru.
I noticed how bad this vehicle handled on the snow last week (First week of Jan-2011) in Denver. The car went everywhere(I know there was ice on the road) and it didn't feel safe so I let my wife drive my 2011 Scion XB instead for safety (bare with me here) since it stops and handles better in snow than the Impreza.
I had so many cars and this is the worse in the snow.
Call me crazy, I was ready to trade it for different vehicle but then, I figured it out, after checking the OEM tires that came with it. At tirerack those tires are rated so poorly in light/deep snow and ice.
MY GOD, they are rated so poor.
I called Subaru and asked why they installed a high performance tire that I can drive over 140 MPH and not handle light snow?
I asked why Subaru installed this tires in this area(Denver/lots of snow) and putting safety aside?
I asked Subaru why those tires came in my car? I have the regulat 170 HP, not the WRX or STI.
I asked Subaru that, since their bread in butter (selling point is their AWD) why they installed those tires so my family wouldn't bee able to stop or turn during 1" of snow on the ground?
I don't care how good their AWD is, I don't do off road races, I got that car so my family will drive in a safe car, instead the car wouldn't stop when I made a turn last week going 10 MPH (yes, that fast). Pathetic it is.
 
Got in touch with Subaru and all sounded so great, yes they offered to pay for replacement tires. So I made the appointment to go to GO SUBARU WEST(in Golden CO). The minute I made the appointment and the next day when I spoke with the service manager I realized the reason why I didn't buy the car there. The SM started telling me on how great those tires are and that Subaru will not pay for new tires. The first time I had an issue with this car was the front speakers, rumble noise at low valume(all the Impreza have this problem 2008-2010) and I was told by their mechanic "I don't see what the big deal is, I live with that problem in my Subaru for many years. I don't even listen to the radio". I told them that I paid a lot of money for that car and I expected the radio to sound normal w/o vibrations at low volume. They fixed it. What a way to explained a problem to a costumer expecting not to fix it. Also, that dealership is so greety, I drove 40 minutes to Groove Subaru and saved $2K in the car purchase, no hassles, too bad they are so far away, great dealership. They were so good that I went back 9 months later and purchsed the Scion from Groove Toyota.
 
Anywho, going back to Subaru, I left and tried to get in touch with Subaru again, many times (four calls- wasting 30 minutes average just to speak to a rep)now they are not even calling me back.
Everytime I tried to call, there is a least a 25-30 wait to speak to someone live. I told every single rep the same story and I was told they will call me back, I'm still waiting. I called again and explained the rep that at least some one shuld call me before the day was over, she told me they would, never happened. The rep told me today that the service manager from GO Subaru in Golden has not call them back, mind you, this is five days later. Why haven't Subaru call that stealership. Also, the rep agreed with me last Wenesday that the Service Manager in that stealership was "short of fuses with his attitude'. I told the rep to do something about it!
 
So my take is, I will make sure to post this info so Subaru can start installing better tires in their great AWD. Those tires, the Bridgetone Potenza RE92A go for $254 a piece.
I have the Pirelli P4 four seasons installed in my FWD 2011 Scion XB and are rated #2 by tire rack in all conditions and that vehicle stops and turns better than the AWD Impreza.
My first and last Subaru.
Poor 4 speed transmition, worse radio. Also having a loud noice from the A/C but is not consistant, sounds like water pump is bad.
Can I just go and replaced the tires with a better brand to keep my family safe and avoid all those headaches?
why? that car is new and Subaru should do something about it since they brag so much about the safety on their vehicles. Really?
 
If you have this type of vehicle, you should also call Subaru and complain. The rep told me that they agreed, those tires need to go. I'm still waiting.
 
Long post, thanks for your patience.
I drove a Hyundai Tucson today(AWD) the cost? $2,500 more, well worth it. Even comes with better tires.
 
Feel free to post your advise, thanks.

Messages Page 8 of 12

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