How good is the STi Rubber?

[White_Rex]

I am currently working on a deal to get brand new USDM gold STi wheels/tires and just wondering how good is the rubber? I see a lot of ppl selling these tires but its usually because they want to go to 18's.

For the price, I know i cant go wrong but i still like to know how good they really are.

Thx

Jared

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[bezerk]

I LOVE my stock tires. They are much grippier than the 17" S-03s that I had on my '02 WRX.

The road noise on the highway is not too obtrusive.

I cannot comment on the tread life, since I have but 4,800 km on them.

The handle not quite as well as the S-03s in the wet, due to the S-03s directional grooves, versus what I like to call the "slick" tread of the RE070s.

If you can get a good deal w/ the BBS wheels...get it!

[White_Rex]

cool. thx for the reply.

When i put these tires on can i do this myself or do i have to take it to a tire shop b/c of the awd?

I just finished on a price, so hopefully my next set of days off i will have them on.

[bezerk]

If the tires are on the wheels, which I assume they are, it's a joke to bolt them on. Just use a good jack...NOT the factory one, and block the wheels.

Also, use proper torque specs for the nuts (85 ft-lb?????) and retighten them after about 100 km of normal driving....

have fun

[Nivek-CA]

I have 9K on mine and they are still going strong.

For winter weather, like rain, they absolutely suck. Do not even risk driving on them.

For summer driving, they are one of the best for the prices they go for.

For track driving, I would look for some track tires. You will melt the rubber of the stock tires fairly easily.

One thing: These are some heavy tires due to the insanely stiff sidewalls, but that is what makes them handle well too, so it is a tradeoff.

[Zuffy]

Originally posted by White_Rex
cool. thx for the reply.

When i put these tires on can i do this myself or do i have to take it to a tire shop b/c of the awd?

I just finished on a price, so hopefully my next set of days off i will have them on.

I think you will be very impressed with the STi wheel and tire combo. Good rubber really makes the most of the WRX suspension on pavement, and makes it feel much more effective. Swapping tires is easy with a good jack. Like Bezerk said, torque wheels properly. Use a 5 star pattern, and torque to ~70 ft lbs.

[damianq]

Put it this way... There is currently only ONE other car in the world that comes equipped witht the same rubber as the current STi: the Ferrari ENZO! At least that's according to Bridgestone. I think that says something.

[Digitalfiend]

How do these tires handle in the rain, during the summer/fall?

[kracka99]

Originally posted by damianq
Put it this way... There is currently only ONE other car in the world that comes equipped witht the same rubber as the current STi: the Ferrari ENZO! At least that's according to Bridgestone. I think that says something.

Is this really true??!?

[bezerk]

well....they handle "ok" in the rain and snow...this was in Hinton this morning...a little scarey in sharp corners that would be a joke at 140kph in the dry...120 kph was scarey on some of these...

but all things considered, I think was too timid, they are good tires for the rain (constant driving, not performance rain driving)

mike

[damianq]

Originally posted by kracka99
Is this really true??!?

Check out Bridgestone's website... that's all I did. There may be other cars that have them on but it's the only car that comes "equipped" with them from the factory.

[rexxer]

For winter weather, like rain,

Is this not a CANADIAN forum... winter... rain.. ha.

More like spring... snow... like now and the last few weeks on and off.

I notice this guy was banned...

[Smoke Show]

we got 3 inches of snow from that weird snow falling.. and it was -6.6 one of the mornings since i got back.

in canada we really do have to be equiped for anthing specially when you live in fort nowhere