Best tire choices for `01 Outback?

[Bradley Walker]

I am going to be needing to replace my tires on my `01 Outback here within
the next few months. Currently one of my main options is to goto Costco to
get tires there because if you purchase tires there you get free tire
rotation service for as long as you have the tires. While that isn't why I
would go there, my mom has bought tires from them for years now for her
Subaru and she's never had a problem with service or the tires.

Now my question is, what brand of tires should I get? I'm looking for
something that will be good for some moderate interstate driving in the
spring/summer but yet not be so smooth that they won't handle a bit of mud,
snow, and have the needed traction. In fact where I live at (Appalachian
Mountains) I'm always needing a bit of traction when going up a moderately
steep hill which is someone's driveway. Or crossing ditches in someones
driveway. Then there is the 2000' mountain climbs in the winter with snow
etc.

Currently the Firestone Wilderness tires are installed on the vehicle from
the previous owner.

Thoughts? Comments? Opinions?

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

I am going to be needing to replace my tires on my `01 Outback here within
the next few months. Currently one of my main options is to goto Costco to
get tires there because if you purchase tires there you get free tire
rotation service for as long as you have the tires. While that isn't why I
would go there, my mom has bought tires from them for years now for her
Subaru and she's never had a problem with service or the tires.

Now my question is, what brand of tires should I get? I'm looking for
something that will be good for some moderate interstate driving in the
spring/summer but yet not be so smooth that they won't handle a bit of mud,
snow, and have the needed traction. In fact where I live at (Appalachian
Mountains) I'm always needing a bit of traction when going up a moderately
steep hill which is someone's driveway. Or crossing ditches in someones
driveway. Then there is the 2000' mountain climbs in the winter with snow
etc.

Currently the Firestone Wilderness tires are installed on the vehicle from
the previous owner.

Thoughts? Comments? Opinions?

You could try some of the reviews/info at www.tirerack.com . I'm a
satisfied customer too. No other coneection blah, blah.

Carl

 

[Sheldon]

I am going to be needing to replace my tires on my `01 Outback here within
the next few months. Currently one of my main options is to goto Costco to
get tires there because if you purchase tires there you get free tire
rotation service for as long as you have the tires. While that isn't why I
would go there, my mom has bought tires from them for years now for her
Subaru and she's never had a problem with service or the tires.

Now my question is, what brand of tires should I get? I'm looking for
something that will be good for some moderate interstate driving in the
spring/summer but yet not be so smooth that they won't handle a bit of
mud, snow, and have the needed traction. In fact where I live at
(Appalachian Mountains) I'm always needing a bit of traction when going up
a moderately steep hill which is someone's driveway. Or crossing ditches
in someones driveway. Then there is the 2000' mountain climbs in the
winter with snow etc.

Currently the Firestone Wilderness tires are installed on the vehicle from
the previous owner.

Thoughts? Comments? Opinions?

I'm currently considering those Goodyear TripleTred tires. They get pretty
good reviews, and they are supposed to be good in anything. Still, if you
live where it snows a lot, you should get genuine winter tires for the
winter. I'm at 8000', and we have to deal with snow and ice 6+ months of
the year almost daily. Go to TireRack.com and see what kind of reviews
their customers give different tires. You really need to be able to stop,
as the AWD will take care of the going part regardless of the tires you get.

 

[John Rethorst]

I am going to be needing to replace my tires on my `01 Outback here within
the next few months. Currently one of my main options is to goto Costco to
get tires there because if you purchase tires there you get free tire
rotation service for as long as you have the tires. While that isn't why I
would go there, my mom has bought tires from them for years now for her
Subaru and she's never had a problem with service or the tires.

Now my question is, what brand of tires should I get? I'm looking for
something that will be good for some moderate interstate driving in the
spring/summer but yet not be so smooth that they won't handle a bit of mud,
snow, and have the needed traction. In fact where I live at (Appalachian
Mountains) I'm always needing a bit of traction when going up a moderately
steep hill which is someone's driveway. Or crossing ditches in someones
driveway. Then there is the 2000' mountain climbs in the winter with snow
etc.

Currently the Firestone Wilderness tires are installed on the vehicle from
the previous owner.

i have the same car and the same forthcoming need, although I live in an area
with lots of rain and some snow (NW Washington). I read the reviews at
tirerack.com on two interesting candidates: Goodyear TripleTred and Michelin
HydroEdge. Both are well-regarded.

 

[j]

I've got a set of Michelin Hydroedge's on my wife's Altima. They are
oh so sweet. I am about to rplace the tires on my Baja, and will
probably go with the same, or with the Good Year Triple Treads.

I've bought tires at costco, and from Tirereack.com. Costco is nice
and convenient, but be cautious of the techs' inexperience. Tirereack
is great, too, but there are added expenses.

Short version....you won't go wrong with the Hydroedge or the Triple
Tread.

 

[John Rethorst]

Short version....you won't go wrong with the Hydroedge or the Triple
Tread.

I went through the reviews at tirerack (great resource BTW; I'm not affiliated;
I don't know whether they're the best place to buy tires), and the HE and TT
simply stood out from the pack for my needs, which include much rain and a
little snow. The OP sounded like he needed to deal with more snow. IIRC the TT
beat the HE in that department, but I haven't read the reviews in a couple of
months now.

 

[-rick-]

I am going to be needing to replace my tires on my `01 Outback here within
the next few months.

Thoughts? Comments? Opinions?

I recently put on a set of Pirelli Pzero Nero M&S and
couldn't be happier.

-rick-

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=UHPAS

 

[BobN]

I do a lot of fast highway driving and the Goodyear Comfortreads I put on in
December are the best tires I have ever had on my Outback in dry, rain or
snow. Previously I had the OEM Michelins and Toyo 800s. I got over 100K
miles on the last set of Toyos. I have read reports of short lifespans on
the Pirellis and I think they may even be DOT rated for a shorter life. For
the best combination of all-around ride, handling and poor weather
conditions, the Goodyear Tripletread is widely considered the best tire
around today. I opted for the quieter tire which doesn't give up much in the
handling department. Check the user reviews and ratings for all the tires
you are considering on the tirerack.com site.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

I went through the reviews at tirerack (great resource BTW; I'm not affiliated;
I don't know whether they're the best place to buy tires), and the HE and TT
simply stood out from the pack for my needs, which include much rain and a
little snow. The OP sounded like he needed to deal with more snow. IIRC the TT
beat the HE in that department, but I haven't read the reviews in a couple of
months now.

I'm just a flatlander, but from what I've read - if you need to deal
with snow a lot, the WORST 'snow' tires will beat the BEST all season
tires in snow -period. That's why people buy take-off rims or used rims
for a second set of tires for winter. ALSO, AWD with all-season tires is
likely better than 2WD with snows - so I might be tenpted to just run a
good all-season on my Subie unless I were a mail carrier or fire captain
or had some other job that would not allow me the luxury of just staying
home in EXTREME weather conditions.

Carl

 

[Larry Van Wormer]

I'm just a flatlander, but from what I've read - if you need to deal
with snow a lot, the WORST 'snow' tires will beat the BEST all season
tires in snow -period. That's why people buy take-off rims or used rims
for a second set of tires for winter. ALSO, AWD with all-season tires is
likely better than 2WD with snows - so I might be tenpted to just run a
good all-season on my Subie unless I were a mail carrier or fire captain
or had some other job that would not allow me the luxury of just staying
home in EXTREME weather conditions.

In the critical area of braking, AWD with all seasons won't match 2WD
with snow tires. (I live in a high-snowfall area of Ontario, I know this
very well from personal experience.) Real snow tires with AWD are far
the best option in heavy snow conditions. However, if you have little
snow, all season tires are likely fine, except for the braking response
when you do see even a little snow or ice. Each person will have to
decide for themselves how important that is.

Larry Van Wormer

 

[Grolch]

I put the Goodyear Triple Treads on my 04 Forester and drive them year
round. I live on the west coast where driving on wet pavement is very
common. Occasional snow falls (dumps) at least a couple of times a season. I
take the forester up skiing and tested the Triple treads on local roads when
we had snow. The TT's are very good all around and absolutely supreme in wet
or dry conditions. Turning or Stopping on snow with All-seasons is
acceptable but I have to adjust the driving style. It's all about physics
anyway. Even with snow tires you have to adjust your driving style. I have
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice tires on my FWD 1990 Legacy. In the snow they are
great. On wet pavement they are abyssmal. They are probably slipperier (is
that a word?) than the Firestone 440 all-seasons normally on the car. For
me, I would choose the great wet and dry + good snow traction over great
snow, poor wet traction anyday. But that is just me. I don't drive a great
deal of snow but lots of wet roads. Most areas that get snow have the
majority of roads reasonably cleared so it's generally a matter of getting
to the main road. The TripleTreads do that for me easily. The only thing
that would have me put dedicated snow tires on my Forester is if I lived in
a n area that gets lots of icy conditions.

 

[Warren]

I am going to be needing to replace my tires on my `01 Outback here within
the next few months. Currently one of my main options is to goto Costco to
get tires there because if you purchase tires there you get free tire
rotation service for as long as you have the tires. While that isn't why I
would go there, my mom has bought tires from them for years now for her
Subaru and she's never had a problem with service or the tires.

Now my question is, what brand of tires should I get? I'm looking for
something that will be good for some moderate interstate driving in the
spring/summer but yet not be so smooth that they won't handle a bit of mud,
snow, and have the needed traction. In fact where I live at (Appalachian
Mountains) I'm always needing a bit of traction when going up a moderately
steep hill which is someone's driveway. Or crossing ditches in someones
driveway. Then there is the 2000' mountain climbs in the winter with snow
etc.

Currently the Firestone Wilderness tires are installed on the vehicle from
the previous owner.

Thoughts? Comments? Opinions?

I went to a local associate of Tirerack and got Goodyear Tripletread
tires to replace my Firestone Wilderness. He (dealer) got the tires
locally and matched Tirerack's price, plus if I get my oil changed
with him every 3.000 miles, (<$20 cost) he rotates the tires
every-other time for me.

I believe that the Tripletreads are better than the originals but I
have been getting slightly lower gas mileage with them than with the
original tires.

I go for the safety angle rather than the slight $ savings with loss
of some mileage.

Just my opinion.

Warren

 

[Bradley Walker]

John,

Where I'm located it's really all season with the worst of winter and worst
of summer hitting. Here in the Appalachians it's not unusual to get snow in
November and have a solid icepack for a few months in the winter. Or like
last winter, have little snow or ice. Plus I do drive to ski resorts where
parking lots are ice mixtures sometimes. Then in the spring it's rainy,
wet, stormy, with the summer being hot, dry, and like the Sahaira desert at
times.

My concern is should I get a really good set of all weather tires and just
use those, or get something that has a strong focus on rain and snow? Not
that I'm living in an enviornment where it snows everyday for 5 months.

Brad

 

[Bradley Walker]

You bring up an interesting point, how much does gas mileage get affected
with different tires? Is it a loss of like .5mpg or more like 2-3mpg?

Currently I'm getting 29.697mpg after having driven a trip from WV to
Michigan last month while using my Firestone Wilderness tires.

 

[bj]

my vote is for nokian nrw's or the newer nokian wr's all
season...canadian government rates them as almost equal to winter snow
tires...unbelievable tire...used for ice racing etc...50k warranty.

you can get 'em off ebay from tire shops for less then $75/tire..i
bought five 225/55/16 for $280.and .$30 shipping.....do a search on
nokians..made in finland...a great tire

 

[Grolch]

Regarding reduced gas mileage, I calculate mileage by logging every tank of
fuel. The difference in mileage for my switch from the stock Geolandars to
the Triple Treads was about 1%. However, closer investigation shows that
tires are not always the same size. Even though the Geoladars and the
TripleTreads were nominaly the same size, actual circumference was different
by, you guessed it, 1% (TripleTreads being 1% smaller in actual
circumference. So fuel mileage is a non-issue. The biggest difference is in
the weight per tire (unsprung weight). The TripleTreads are somewhat
heavier.

 

[Warren]

You bring up an interesting point, how much does gas mileage get affected
with different tires? Is it a loss of like .5mpg or more like 2-3mpg?

Currently I'm getting 29.697mpg after having driven a trip from WV to
Michigan last month while using my Firestone Wilderness tires.

My mileage dropped by about 1 -2 mpg after getting the Tripletreads
but part of that drop is because of driving more around town than
before (I was working then and am retired now) so the drop may not be
as much as I figured. It has also been awhile since I had any tuning
service work done. I only have a little less than 50,000 miles on my
2000 Outback and I got it in summer of 1999.

There is a definate drop but the safety aspect is more important to
me. The tread pattern radiates out from the center (like the
Aquatread) which helps for better handling in wet weather. I have not
had any problems with snow however I no longer have to drive in really
bad weather because of being retired.

The tires look heavier than the Firestone Wilderness ones so that may
be part of the reason for less mileage.

Warren

 

[Body Roll]

It takes forever to read the test results in set of 3 over there.

Since you want all weather capability Continental ContiExtremeContact
probably would offer the most traction in a variety of conditions you
drive thru. $96 a piece in your size.