Tires for 2016 WRX

Status
Not open for further replies.
john_pifer

john_pifer

Joined
Jul 8, 2012
Messages
5,687
Location
Dickson, TN.
I've actually been surprised how long the OEM Dunlop Sportmaxx RT tires on my WRX have lasted. They have about 41,000 miles now, and they're almost to the wear bars, and all 4 are showing cord on the inside edges.

Lots of highway miles, but also quite a few miles having fun out on the crooked backroads of Tennessee. The shoulders wore down first.

I just drove out to Deal's Gap/Cherohala Skyway Area a couple of weeks ago, and grip is still very good, at least on tighter roads like 129, where corner speeds don't get too high.

These stock Dunlops are summer tires, but I've never noticed any degradation of grip when it's cold, and they've been OK in rain (obviously they hydroplane a bit now due to wear).

Anyway, just trying to decide between another set of high-perf. summer tires, vs. a set of high-perf. A/S tires.

Anybody else gone through this decision before? So many tire choices out there.
 
It's cold enough in Nashville that I think you would probably see some benefit from a dedicated winter tire. Not necessarily a snow tire, but something that is good in the cold and wet.

EDIT: I have Toyo Garit KX and I would run a performance winter tire like that in the winter on your car.
 
Last edited:
What is your tire size?
smile.gif


First, decide whether you want summer or all-season. The wear at the shoulders sound like under-inflation. Use a higher tire pressure with your new tires.

If you want all-season tires, and you're not going to buy a separate set of winter tires, consider an all-season with the 3-peak symbol sometimes called "all weather" tires. The Michelin CrossClimate+ is a good choice if it is available in your size.

And the obligatory if you can afford a new WRX, you can afford a second set of tires for the winter. You might like the "performance winter" tires that emphasize wet and dry traction in the cold. You might even be able to get away with using one of those all-weather tires as winter tires

That will allow you to keep using summer tires, which are otherwise better in every way than any all-season.
 
Originally Posted by slacktide_bitog
What is your tire size?
smile.gif


First, decide whether you want summer or all-season. The wear at the shoulders sound like under-inflation. Use a higher tire pressure with your new tires.

If you want all-season tires, and you're not going to buy a separate set of winter tires, consider an all-season with the 3-peak symbol sometimes called "all weather" tires. The Michelin CrossClimate+ is a good choice if it is available in your size.

And the obligatory if you can afford a new WRX, you can afford a second set of tires for the winter. You might like the "performance winter" tires that emphasize wet and dry traction in the cold. You might even be able to get away with using one of those all-weather tires as winter tires

That will allow you to keep using summer tires, which are otherwise better in every way than any all-season.


Actually I've kept the tires inflated properly. The shoulder wear is likely due to hard cornering on roads like Deal's Gap (Tail of the Dragon).

This isn't my daily driver. It stays in the garage except for on the weekends when the weather is good. Sometimes (as is the case this weekend), I'm on a trip out of town and I run into bad weather. That's really the only time it'll see rain or snow.

So, since most of my driving is in good weather, maybe I should just stick with summer tires.
 
MP4S, best tire in its class. Imo if you liked the OEM tires just get them again.

If its a weekend car definitely go with summers. A/S do not last much longer if you drive em fast in the corners and will suck in the mountain roads.
 
I second the michelins. Excellent grip in wet and dry. Have-not determined treadwear or cold weather performance though.
 
I liked these on my 08 Mustang
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=g-Force+Sport+COMP-2

They didn't like being cold though, but not many performance tires too. They have a slightly higher tread life rating compared to the PS4s. I liked the wet performance as well. I'm sure your AWD will help with wet traction. For an all season sporty tire I always recommend the Continental DWS06. I've had those on several vehicles now. They play alot nicer in cold conditions.

The Dragon is a pretty fun road - https://i.imgur.com/6mi3Ys2.jpg . When I drove down there on the Sport Comp 2 tires... It rained the entire time. The did handled the trip very well.
 
Originally Posted by john_pifer

Thanks for that link. They make an awfully good case for that Michelin Pilot Sport AS3 (high-perf. all season).


I have a set on my Club Sport and so far I have been extremely impressed.
 
do you drive it all year round? if so something that is all season should be much better when its cold/snow

Continential DWS06 or michelin pilot sport a/s3+ come to mind.
 
Originally Posted by Rand
do you drive it all year round? if so something that is all season should be much better when its cold/snow

Continential DWS06 or michelin pilot sport a/s3+ come to mind.


I do drive it year-round, but 8/10 trips will be good weather, so, now that I think about it, just sticking with summer tires is going to be best, I think.

As I said in my intro, I've been pretty impressed with the tread life on these stock Dunlops. I do a lot of interstate highway miles, so I wonder if the Michelin PS4S will be its equal for treadlife.
 
Originally Posted by john_pifer
Actually I've kept the tires inflated properly. The shoulder wear is likely due to hard cornering on roads like Deal's Gap (Tail of the Dragon).

This isn't my daily driver. It stays in the garage except for on the weekends when the weather is good. Sometimes (as is the case this weekend), I'm on a trip out of town and I run into bad weather. That's really the only time it'll see rain or snow.

So, since most of my driving is in good weather, maybe I should just stick with summer tires.


Cool
thumbsup2.gif


Then get one of the top-tier Max Performance summer tires, like:
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
ContiSportContact [3/5/6]
Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position

If treadlife is a concern, perhaps the Michelin Primacy HP or the Vredestein Ultrac Satin or the ContiPremiumContact would be a better choice
smile.gif
 
Originally Posted by slacktide_bitog
Originally Posted by john_pifer
Actually I've kept the tires inflated properly. The shoulder wear is likely due to hard cornering on roads like Deal's Gap (Tail of the Dragon).

This isn't my daily driver. It stays in the garage except for on the weekends when the weather is good. Sometimes (as is the case this weekend), I'm on a trip out of town and I run into bad weather. That's really the only time it'll see rain or snow.

So, since most of my driving is in good weather, maybe I should just stick with summer tires.


Cool
thumbsup2.gif


Then get one of the top-tier Max Performance summer tires, like:
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
ContiSportContact [3/5/6]
Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position

If treadlife is a concern, perhaps the Michelin Primacy HP or the Vredestein Ultrac Satin or the ContiPremiumContact would be a better choice
smile.gif



^^^^^
This.
If you are driving that WRX as it should be, then only max performance summer tires are option.
I would just get Michelin Xi3 on some cheap wheels for few month of cold weather there.
 
Ended up ordering a set of Continental Extreme Contact Sport from the Tire Rack. $530 after mail-in rebate. They'll be delivered tomorrow, so I'll just have to figure out who to have to do the mount/balance. Don't want my wheels scratched.

These are ranked pretty much, #3 in the so-called "max performance summer tire" category, behind the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S and the Bridgestone S04 Pole Position. But they're significantly less money. I figured it wasn't worth the extra money to get maybe 10% more performance, and, probably, less treadlife.

The Continentals also have a 6-year, 30,000 mile treadlife warranty.

In any case, they should at least equal the OEM Dunlop Sportmaxx RTs, and will probably be better. They're also much cheaper than the Dunlops.

Anybody else used these?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Nick1994
Front Tires Wearing on Edges - More Air?
2
Replies
28
Views
2K
Nick1994
N
Falken SN250 A/S louder on freeway than cheap tires - need quieter tires
2 3
Replies
45
Views
3K
Nukeman7
D
Help me decide on a winter tire for our 2011 BMW 328i
4 5 6
Replies
106
Views
1K
slacktide_bitog
john_pifer
Drive to Deal's Gap (Tail of the Dragon - Highway 129) in East Tennessee Tomorrow (March 11, 2025)
Replies
9
Views
447
02SE
P
Hankook Kinergy PT Review
2
Replies
38
Views
24K
mbaker
Back
Top Bottom