Tires for factory wheels

[JDubs]

Lots of good advice here, and definitely helps me out!

I know you never know who you are talking to on the internet... I'm 43 and have bought more tires in my life than I like to think of ($$$!). I've changed sizes, gone from summer to all season and back again, gotten all terrain and "low rolling resistance". I know about the compromises between contact patch and bigger sidewall, larger diameter etc. I asked here because I know you guys have had experience with these cars specifically and would know what works... you didn't disappoint.

I was leaning toward getting different wheels, but based on what you guys have said I can get a nice 225 summer tire and get what I need with the factory wheels. Yes, I don't track the car but that is not what is going through your mind when you attack a curve on a mountain road... you just want confidence. You can't drive it to the edge and slide through it.

[Mr.Impreza]

225 tires won't help you drive the car at the limit any greater than 215's would on a curvy road. Your contact patch will still be roughly the same with 215 or 225 tires on a 7" wheel.

In fact, 225's will make you lose tire feel in most cases if you will be running them on a 7" wheel.

Get 225 tires if you like the meaty look. But if you think that you'll be able to drive at the limit with more confidence with a 225 tire on a 7" wheel. You are mistaken.

Get proper summer tires and you will feel the confidence. The stock primacy tires are a joke. They were used for the purpose of marketing to showcase how drift friendly the car is and how good your MPG are. Those tires belong on a Economy car.

[Toyarzee]

Well, @Mr.Impreza, you have already posted near identical opinions and responses on this same thread. Not sure why you have so much angst built up over this topic, but I'd dial back the hate for SLIGHTLY larger tires and oem primaries. I assure you they are not crap, as the price tag alone would suggest otherwise, plus there are others (myself included) who have hit up canyons and tracks with these tires and those options suggested above with great (albeit limiting over other more aggressive and serious options) success. One thing is absolutely certain, you will not lose feedback and steering response from a jump from 215 to 225 summer tires. Please stop ushering in misinformation like it's the gospel.

If nothing else, I respectfully agree to disagree, if for no other reasons than those based off the information the OP has provided and his given intended use of the car.

[JDubs]

Please don't get it twisted... I was actually talking about NOT driving at the limit.

[JazzleSAURUS]

If you were local I'd have you drive all my available wheel and tire combos back to back on my car. 215 primacies, 225 RE71R's, 215 Conti DW, 215 Conti extreme contact, and finally 225 S-04s.

[Yoshoobaroo]

Originally Posted by JazzleSAURUS

If you were local I'd have you drive all my available wheel and tire combos back to back on my car. 215 primacies, 225 RE71R's, 215 Conti DW, 215 Conti extreme contact, and finally 225 S-04s.

Out of those, what's your favorite setup?

-Josh

[gramicci101]

@JDubs, tires play a huge part of happy fun driving times, but you should also consider a performance alignment and negative camber. Camber bolts are a cheap addition and they allow you to get negative camber on the front. The rear is a little more expensive to adjust, so I wouldn't worry about that until you get around to lowering the car. But if you can get -1 to -1.5 in the front that will make your windy roads that much more fun.

http://www.ft86speedfactory.com/spc-...l#.WC02y3i9LCQ

[JDubs]

Originally Posted by JazzleSAURUS

If you were local I'd have you drive all my available wheel and tire combos back to back on my car. 215 primacies, 225 RE71R's, 215 Conti DW, 215 Conti extreme contact, and finally 225 S-04s.

Very generous, thank you. I think I'll just research the brands mentioned here and pick one. I don't think I can go wrong for my purposes.

[venturaII]

Originally Posted by JazzleSAURUS

If you were local I'd have you drive all my available wheel and tire combos back to back on my car. 215 primacies, 225 RE71R's, 215 Conti DW, 215 Conti extreme contact, and finally 225 S-04s.

All 17s?

[JazzleSAURUS]

Originally Posted by Yoshoobaroo

Out of those, what's your favorite setup?

-Josh

For daily driving and enjoying myself, the S-04's. The RE71R's are genuinely amazing, but live on the Forester XT. The Autox, genuinely fast car.

The S-04's are glorious tires.

[JazzleSAURUS]

Originally Posted by venturaII

All 17s?

Yes, I'm a sucker for function

[venturaII]

Originally Posted by JazzleSAURUS

Yes, I'm a sucker for function

Function is exactly why I went with 16s...

[JazzleSAURUS]

Originally Posted by venturaII

Function is exactly why I went with 16s...

It's why I keep my rubber fat!

My FXT has 15" RCG4's to clear the 4/2 pots for winter mode. The BRZ wears 16" in winter.

The 17 with a slightly wider tire gave me enough compliance and comfort with a more aggressive tire that I had a lot of mechanical grip. I like it.

[venturaII]

Originally Posted by JazzleSAURUS

It's why I keep my rubber fat!

My FXT has 15" RCG4's to clear the 4/2 pots for winter mode. The BRZ wears 16" in winter.

The 17 with a slightly wider tire gave me enough compliance and comfort with a more aggressive tire that I had a lot of mechanical grip. I like it.

Basically the same attitude is why I went with 16s...they still clear brakes, including the Wilwood WRX fronts, and I get the extra sidewall I want. Works very well with a 225...makes the car very enjoyable. Our roads are a fucking abomination...