I know a bunch of you also drive Subarus, so I could use some advice on some all-season tires. It's a 2003 Forester. Money is tight and I'd like to get away under $500.
If you've got a tight budget figure out what sizes will reasonably work using an upsize calculator. Once you have your size range start scanning craigslist for a mildly used set. "All-season" is relative. What are your winters like?
CL is a good idea - thanks. Typical Southern New England winters, which means usually sloppy/wet with the occasional snow or ice storm. I was under the impression that Soobs took only certain types of tires due to AWD, or is it only important that they all match (and are the proper size)?
Not sure if Impreza Outback uses the same size, but I have a one year old set of Nokia snows on aluminum rims. Sold the Subaru and the new car takes a different size. Was just getting ready to put them on CL for $300.
Okay, so Boondox and I are trying to work out a deal. Does anybody know if 225/60 r16 tires on Outback rims will fit an 03 Forester okay? They seem a bit wider.
Originals are 205/70-15, right? So 225/60-16 will be a 0 offset and I guess they will fit... Check here for more accurate answers. http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f72/tire-size-calculator-other-useful-information-22233/
i have had dozens of subarus ....what size does the forester come with ? ov er here its 15 inch or 16 inch... some add the 17s .... most of the time its 205 55 15 ..... or 205 60 16 ..... most 14 inch rims are 195 65 14 . .....
It's the only place I buy tires anymore. Just check the dates on the ones you look at. You don't want to buy a set that's been mouldering away in someone's garage since the Clinton administration.
I too have had good luck on CL, also had bad luck. Make sure they can give you specifics before you go up. I found one "matched set of 4" that was two entirely different brands, and one set that was 40% tread....not great to begin with but the edges weren't too far from showing cords..... Discount tire runs some good deals once in a while, the 225/75-16 I was going to buy was going to be $375 minus a $50 mail in rebate on some yokohama's, not bad for new rubber. I got my 225/60-16 big-o premium touring tires for my outback for $150 and they probably had less than 5k miles on them!
I really like the BF Goodrich Touring TA tires. Last a long time, fairly cheap at Sam's Club and decent in the snow. Linky http://www.samsclub.com/sams/bfgoodrich-touring-t-a-215-60r16-95h/prod2410076.ip?navAction=
You can do a set of four new all-season tires from tirerack.com and pick them up at the warehouse in Windsor Locks. I got a set of Blizzak snows mounted on black steel rims for $700. 2003 Forester 2.5X with a case of the uglies.
I don't know what to tell you, I run motorcycle tires on all my cars. Just kidding, just kidding. In all seriousness, it is pretty hard to beat the cheap tires at Walmart. With my high-mileage hulks the tires would last longer than the cars.
Or try a local tire shop. My friend stopped in to get his tires balanced on his beater truck as he was trying to hunt down a death wobble that came up after he did wheel bearings. The guy at the local Discount Tire said "I'll balance those old tires, but I've got a set of 50% tread take-offs that will run you $100 for a balance and mount." Not $100 each, but $100 for all 4. Sold.
