New Winter tires

Hondafan · 10-20-2009, 02:52 PM

I pulled the trigger today on my new Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D tires to get me through the next couple winters. I'm really excited about them and I read Subie specific reviews for hours and made the decision. It was between these and the Michelin Pilotsport Alpin PA2s. the PA3s seemed to be more like an all-season than the PA2s and that's what appealed to me. I was looking to get a set that worked for dry and wet conditions because, although it snows like crazy in Utah, once the roads are plowed I typically drive more on the wet/dry roads. I still needed something for the times I go to work before the roads get plowed as well though, so this seemed to be the ideal solution. I got the set of 4 for under 600 shipped and I'll have the local tire shop mount them and balance them for about 40. I just wanted to put the info on why I decided to purchase them to simplify everyone else's search for winter tires too. Hopefully it benefits someone.

airplnmdls · 10-21-2009, 10:19 AM

Awesome! thanks!

Hondafan · 10-27-2009, 09:12 PM

First of all, the day after I placed the order I already got the tires. I'm sure glad I didn't pay for faster shipping because it couldn't have come more quickly! I got them mounted up, and I wanted to share a couple impressions.

First, I have to say they have less road noise than my old RE92s, which surprised me for a snow tire. When I took it on the freeway I have to say I was less than impressed. From all the reviews it was supposed to be a great tire for that, and I was just going to deal with it to have the performance in winter. Up until yesterday we were still hitting about 60 each day here in Salt Lake City, and it finally dropped low enough to snow today. It didn't snow much, but the temperature drop made a HUGE difference in the tires. It was barely cold enough to snow, so I'm really excited to see how the compound acts when it's actually winter! In the warmer (that's relative!) weather it felt like I was driving on a Koosh ball. I had plenty of tread squirm and it felt a little sketchy. I understand why, it just felt uncomfortable. It made a large difference on how they really felt today on my drive to work. It was snowing, but nothing was sticking, so it was wet, and I was really happy with the sudden change. I'll be sure to get on when it gets really cold again, like when the temp gets a low of a few degrees and also give feedback on the snow and ice performance.

SV23 · 10-28-2009, 05:12 PM

Hondafan, Did you decide to swap out the winter/summer tires ea. season while keeping the same rims? I'm debating whether to do this but am leaning towards buying a new set of wheels with the tires.

Wondering, does anyone know if a 2009 wrx will take a set of 16" wheels for winter? I have the stock 17s with summer tires right now.

Thanks.

newtothegame · 10-28-2009, 06:00 PM

I dont think that they will. If so they just have to have the proper offset to them.

mosc · 10-29-2009, 10:42 AM

16" wheels clear the 09's brakes. Not every 16" wheel will work though, most won't.

Hondafan · 10-30-2009, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Did you decide to swap out the winter/summer tires ea. season while keeping the same rims? I'm debating whether to do this but am leaning towards buying a new set of wheels with the tires.

Yes, after a while I debated getting a different set of rims to mount up the tires to, but I just decided to get a set of tires to fit the wheels. I looked at getting a used set of 02-03 wheels (16") which will fit and have the proper offset, but decided against it for a couple reasons. I wanted to still have more of a feeling of control over the car, and tires change that so much that I didn't want to increase the size of the sidewall too much. The other reason comes down to the aesthetic of the rims. I really had a tough time finding a set of rims that I liked to replace the stockers, especially if I got 16" wheels. I think they end up looking ridiculous unless they have some meaty rally tires on them.

It still hasn't gotten quite cold enough to feel the tires any better. It warmed back up here in Utah (to about 55) and I'm back to the "koosh ball" feeling again. It's funny to think that I'm excited for it to ge crazy cold outside so I can try out my tires. If the tires are anything like my old Michelin X-Ice I'll be one seriously happy camper. I felt so secure with those, and I could stop, go, really anything with them without too much of a hint that it was slick outside. I sold my last WRX when it was snowing, and it had the snow tires on. He had let me keep the car a couple days more until my new car got here, but we met him in a snow covered parking lot close to the freeway to do the exchange. My wife followed me in her Mazda3 and we had X-ices on it too, but the difference of the Subie to the Mazda was so wildly apparent the moment I put my foot on the gas. My first thought was, "Oh no! What have I done selling that car!?" It was really that same feeling that brought me back to a WRX again.

If you're willing to pay more for wheels, I'd personally get a set of 17s to put the snow tires on, so you still get the feeling of control, especially if you're going up and down Parley's Canyon every day (depending on if you actually work in Park City as well or not). I couldn't quite fit it into my budget to get wheels and tires at this time, but I may get a set of 18s in the summer and have my stockers be the snow wheels. Just a thought.

**Update: It's gotten cold, and I won't say I love the Dunlops in the snow yet. They're decent, but I felt more confident with the X-Ices. The only reason I didn't get the X-Ice is because I was told they don't have a sidewall stiffness rating suitable for the WRX. The Dunlops have stiffened enough to feel confidence inspiring, just not the best I've experienced. If I had it to do over again, I'd search other options once again. I'll keep you posted on any new developments.