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Mid Atlantic Impreza Club Forum sponsored by Annapolis Subaru |
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04-03-2013, 07:55 PM | #1 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 350169
Join Date: Mar 2013
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Vehicle:2013 WRX Hatch WRB |
PA: Summer/Winter tires on stock WRX - worth it?
My '13 WRX hatch will be here in June/July. I'm trying to decide what my best route will be with tires.
1) Keep the stock summer tires, run them for ~3 months, buy winter steelies (~$400?), buy winter tires (~$600?), and have them mounted ($60).Estimated cost: $1000-$1300 2) Sell the summer tires, ($225/tire new, so maybe $180/tire used). Buy Conti DWS All seasons ($135/tire), and then mount them ($60). Estimated cost: break even or maybe a small profit. I'm not doubting that option 1 will do better in their respective season, I'm just questioning the worth. I don't red light race and I won't be taking it to the track. I just want a little excitement in my commute. 2 of my friends have similar cars (Modded 09 Si, modded Genesis 3.6) in terms of market/speed/class/etc. They both say option 1 but that sounds like a waste of money to me. I feel like I wouldn't even max out the capability of the all seasons. What do you guys think?
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04-03-2013, 09:15 PM | #2 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 178811
Join Date: Apr 2008
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: MoCo
Vehicle:2011 White Corolla Over 400hp |
Always worth it to have seasonal tires.
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04-03-2013, 09:47 PM | #3 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 350169
Join Date: Mar 2013
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Vehicle:2013 WRX Hatch WRB |
Can you explain?
As I said, I have no doubt I will have better traction with seasonal tires but in this scenario would it be worth the additional money? I could understand if someone wasn't getting enough traction from their all seasons but what would someone do with a DD that a good all season tire couldn't handle? |
04-03-2013, 10:28 PM | #4 |
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Member#: 72891
Join Date: Oct 2004
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: In the blue & hating it!
Vehicle:2018 STI 99 2.5RS 2dr - 2017 XV |
Check the classifieds here, people are having a hard time selling the stock WRX summer tires for more than $350 for all 4. I also don't think you will be happy with DWS as a year round tire since they have soft sidewalls. If you want to run all seasons year round there are better choices.
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04-03-2013, 10:43 PM | #5 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 350169
Join Date: Mar 2013
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Vehicle:2013 WRX Hatch WRB |
Quote:
What all season do you recommend? In regards to the poor resale of the stock WRX tires, maybe I'll look in to getting some cheap wheels and then put the all seasons on for winter and use the summers (during summer) until they wear out. Edit: Looks like I can get wheels for $104, tires for $110, so it comes out to $950 shipped after mount and balance. Last edited by Brent22; 04-03-2013 at 10:58 PM. |
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04-03-2013, 11:08 PM | #6 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 262498
Join Date: Oct 2010
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Mount Joy, PA
Vehicle:2005 5mt LGT wagon RBP |
If you're patient, you can find someone unloading winter wheels and tires for under 500. I got mine well below that with only a season of use. I run 16 inch wheels on my 2012 WRX in the winter since the tires are way cheaper and it's easier with the potholes up have more sidewall.
Do you need winter tires... No. But it's great insurance. I'm not a crazy driver either, but I always like to know that if someone else loses control I can make a safer move defensively. |
04-04-2013, 12:05 AM | #7 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 72891
Join Date: Oct 2004
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: In the blue & hating it!
Vehicle:2018 STI 99 2.5RS 2dr - 2017 XV |
I've had DWS on 2 cars, they came on wheels I had picked up used. They were fine on my SVX (taller side wall and soft suspension) as a DD all season tire. They were not so great on my WRX (low profile tire and stiff suspension). A better DD all season would be the RE970AS. I would still suggest separate summer and winter tire / wheel set ups if you can afford it.
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04-04-2013, 07:50 AM | #8 |
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Middle River, Maryland
Vehicle:2015 Honda Accord |
+123 to having two setups.
I have '04 BBS wheels with Nitto tires (235/45/17) for summer and '07 Stock WRX wheels with Dunlop WinterSport 3D tires (225/45/17) for winter. Granted we have not had a ton of snow the past few years ( ) but they are always nice to have just in case we do get bad weather. Peace of mind. Where in PA do you live? I don't see any exact location. Ultimately the decision is up to you... We can give you our advice/opinions but it depends if you really want to go with them. It sounds like you are leaning towards Option 2. I like option 1. I've had two sets of wheels/tires since around 2008. |
04-04-2013, 08:54 AM | #9 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 350169
Join Date: Mar 2013
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Vehicle:2013 WRX Hatch WRB |
Quote:
I live in Lancaster. South central part of PA. I have no preference on either choice. I just want to do what is most cost effective. When I thought I could get $180 a tire for the stock tires Option 2 was more attractive because I could break even. Now I'm considering getting winters/allseasons off of craigslist and when my summers run out I can always replace them with all seasons and be done with it. Since I have some time I should be able to find a deal. I'm not really sure what to look for though. I know tires are 235/45/17 but I don't know what I have to match with wheels. Do we have a resource for that? I know I'll need 5x100 and 17"x7.5. As someone said above, I could use 16". Is there anything else I need to take in to account? |
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04-04-2013, 09:31 AM | #10 | |
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Member#: 178811
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Vehicle:2011 White Corolla Over 400hp |
Quote:
Never skimp on tires...they're the 4 things holding your car to the ground. Is it expensive? Yeah. Is it gratifying to have the best grip in all seasons because I have the right tires for each season? Yeah. DD? That means lots of rain, driving in winter weather, AND beating on it in the summer. Can one tire really do all that WELL? Can you skip getting ultra super duper maximum high performance tires? Yes. A DD doesn't need ZII Star Specs, unless you're autocrossing and not switching wheels. |
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04-04-2013, 09:38 AM | #11 | |
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Member#: 122993
Join Date: Aug 2006
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: West PA
Vehicle:Ex's WRX 02, 04 Sti, 12 Hatch |
Quote:
Looks a bit better then steel wheels too. |
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04-04-2013, 09:45 AM | #12 |
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Join Date: Feb 2012
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Location: Baltimore, MD
Vehicle:2015 STI LE WRB on Gold! |
Yep, I have stock summers and a set of Michelin Alpin PA3s. World of a difference between those and all-seasons. Don't really like the stock "Dumblops", but they do feel better in the summer than my MS6 felt on the DWS tires. The DWS has a soft sidewall, and it gave my MS6 a TON of squishy feelings even hyper inflated. Granted, the MS6 is a heavy car and those tires didn't feel as squishy on my SRT-4... But I'm glad I went to dedicated seasonals.
Meanwhile, the PA3's are considered more of a "winter performance" tire. Amazing handling in any weather under 45 degrees, amazing rain handling, pretty damn good (read better than all seasons) in the snow. You're in Lancaster so you might see decent snowfall. And the extra money you spend, you have two sets of tires that will last longer than one set. Been running the PA3s all winter with zero signs of wear. Spend the extra cash now on two sets of tread that will give you better results for a longer period of time, or over time with multiple sets of floppy all-seasons... |
04-04-2013, 10:00 AM | #13 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 350169
Join Date: Mar 2013
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Vehicle:2013 WRX Hatch WRB |
I have a friend that will sell me some wheels he had on his SRT4
http://www.amazon.com/Motegi-Racing-MR2048-Gloss-5x100mm/dp/B00267T9S4/ref=au_pf_pfg_s?ie=UTF8&Make=Subaru%7C13&Model=Impreza%7C62&Year=2013%7C2013&carId=005&n=15684181&newCar=1&s=automotive&vehicleType=automotive He said $200 for the set of 4. So how can I look at that and find out what tires I want to run on it? I think he runs 215/45's. |
04-04-2013, 10:09 AM | #14 |
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I bought DWS for this winter and I run them on the stock WRX wheels. I will be buying new wheels to put on the stock summer tires sometime soon. To me it makes more sense to have them that way, it's an easy swap when you need to go back to winter set up anyways, and personally I don't want my car to look ridiculous with steelies for the winter so I just beat the hell out the stock wheels.
Ps. Buying new winter tires, plus mounting and balancing and all that good stuff shouldn't run you anywhere around 1000-1300. I paid $830 for mine total. |
04-04-2013, 10:17 AM | #15 |
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Member#: 156443
Join Date: Aug 2007
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: South East Penna.
Vehicle:2006 WRX Wagon WRB 2001 Forester S, EJ205/5m |
Being about an hour south of Lancaster, I would HIGHLY recommend going to a 16" wheel for winter. The road conditions might not always warrant the need for a dedicated snow, but the extra tyre sidewall is nice for all the frost heaves and potholes we get in winter. If you travel any of the Amish traveled roads, it's nice to have something to combat the ice grooves as well.
I would recommend a friction ice tyre over a traditional snow tyre. Right now the hot ticket is the Michelin X-Ice 3, though a set of Hakka R2s would also be a good choice. You can use this "configurator" to figure out tyre sizing: http://www.rimsntires.com/specs.jsp |
04-04-2013, 10:17 AM | #16 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 350169
Join Date: Mar 2013
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Vehicle:2013 WRX Hatch WRB |
Quote:
But as I said in my other post, my friend will sell me those wheels above assuming they'll work. When I looked in to them it appears they'll work but I'd feel better with a second opinion. |
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04-04-2013, 10:57 AM | #17 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 350169
Join Date: Mar 2013
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Vehicle:2013 WRX Hatch WRB |
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04-04-2013, 11:06 AM | #18 | |
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04-04-2013, 11:07 AM | #19 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 350169
Join Date: Mar 2013
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Vehicle:2013 WRX Hatch WRB |
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04-12-2013, 05:39 PM | #20 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 350169
Join Date: Mar 2013
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Location: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Vehicle:2013 WRX Hatch WRB |
I'm going to pick up those Motegi wheels soon. Besides getting tires mounted and balanced is there any other cost associated with this?
Each season I'll be putting the car on jack stands and switching them myself. I assume each time I put the winter tires on I will have a TPMS light on the dash but shouldn't that go away when I put the stock tires back on? |
04-12-2013, 07:09 PM | #21 |
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04-14-2013, 08:12 PM | #22 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 350169
Join Date: Mar 2013
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Vehicle:2013 WRX Hatch WRB |
So once I get the tires there are no other costs associated with swapping them on/off myself? Is there anything I need to be aware of when running a smaller tire (besides speedometer being slightly off)?
I think TPMS comes to ~$150 so I think I'll hold off on that for the winter tires. |
04-15-2013, 11:46 AM | #23 |
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Vehicle:2006 WRX TR Steel Grey Metallic |
I think you should be set on costs unless you've intentionally altered the camber to your wheels. I never had any costs back when I used to swap, but I was stock.
And let me say: I think you made the right choice. I currently run DWS due to space constraints in my apartment and I wish I hadn't. They're fine for the mild Maryland winter but just no fun in the other seasons... Edit: accidentally hit send too soon Last edited by MmmTabasco; 04-15-2013 at 11:52 AM. |
04-15-2013, 02:16 PM | #24 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 350169
Join Date: Mar 2013
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Vehicle:2013 WRX Hatch WRB |
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