New WRX questions
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New WRX questions
Hi Folks
My GF is buying a new WRX Sport Wagon and I'm helping here with a couple questions.
First - after the test drive, both of us were seriously unimpressed with the tires on the vehicle. Given the driving conditions described below, what tires should she have on the vehicle and would it be best to just get the dealer to swap them out at sale?
Second - again, given the driving conditions described below, are there any other changes that should be considered vital and immediate (skid plate, wheels, etc.)?
We live in the high desert and she will be using it for work for the most part. The breakdown of miles will be about 50% dry highways, 25% dry streets, 10% fast to washboarded dirt roads, 10% wet highways and roads and 5% snow covered highways and roads.
She's a moderately aggresive driver, grew up driving in bad conditions in New England and currently drives a beefed up old Bronco.
Thanks in advance.
My GF is buying a new WRX Sport Wagon and I'm helping here with a couple questions.
First - after the test drive, both of us were seriously unimpressed with the tires on the vehicle. Given the driving conditions described below, what tires should she have on the vehicle and would it be best to just get the dealer to swap them out at sale?
Second - again, given the driving conditions described below, are there any other changes that should be considered vital and immediate (skid plate, wheels, etc.)?
We live in the high desert and she will be using it for work for the most part. The breakdown of miles will be about 50% dry highways, 25% dry streets, 10% fast to washboarded dirt roads, 10% wet highways and roads and 5% snow covered highways and roads.
She's a moderately aggresive driver, grew up driving in bad conditions in New England and currently drives a beefed up old Bronco.
Thanks in advance.
Sounds like a perfect question for the Tires & Wheels forum. Dexter from Tirerack is really good and should be able to help you out. Perhaps a kind mod can move this thread. 
As for tires, you should probably consider some all-weather tires that lean more towards dry pavement performance. If you go to tirerack.com, they have an automated process that is helpful. You can also see how other customers have rated various tires in certian conditions. Like, if snow performance isn't too high up on the list (but you still need the tire to perform in the snow), you can sacrafice that rating a bit for better performance on dry pavement, etc, etc.
As for tires, you should probably consider some all-weather tires that lean more towards dry pavement performance. If you go to tirerack.com, they have an automated process that is helpful. You can also see how other customers have rated various tires in certian conditions. Like, if snow performance isn't too high up on the list (but you still need the tire to perform in the snow), you can sacrafice that rating a bit for better performance on dry pavement, etc, etc.
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Car Info: A limousine with a chauffer
I have the Dunlop SP Sport FM901 tires on my WRX sedan. They're great tires - I have driven them in about equal wet/dry conditions and they are great. They don't hydroplane and they disperse water very well. They grip very well in the dry also. The only thing I dislike about these tires is that it seems to take a little effort to get them warmed up, but they grip great before that and they grip like crazy when they are at a good temp. They're very reasonably priced as well. I have them in 225/40/17 and they ride great, even on stiffer springs.
As far as other things to upgrade, you might go with the cabin filter since you'll be driving in dirty areas. Not vital, but a looks thing for me, maybe get the painted side skirts.
Good luck with your new car! I love my WRX.
As far as other things to upgrade, you might go with the cabin filter since you'll be driving in dirty areas. Not vital, but a looks thing for me, maybe get the painted side skirts.
Good luck with your new car! I love my WRX.
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I thought about posting in the Tire section, but given that there are two questions and both are about buying a new Subaru, it seemed like this was the better option.
I went through the Tire Rack site before I posted the question, but everything is geared towards 100% paved road driving. Given that the vehicle is going to be driven once or twice a week at least on dirt (though for a short distance each time) and that the dirt roads range from good, fast roads to washboarded ones (sometimes with small amounts of exposed rock and/or roughish terrain) I was hoping to find some advice that actually does take this situation into account.
We don't have wet pavement much at all (we're in the desert), so wet performance is much less of an issue except when driving outside of our home area (which will, of course, happen now and then).
Side-skirts look great, but on the dirt roads around here would last a short time indeed.
Anyone have suggestions? Tires that are appropriate? Given the terrain, should she get a real skid plate or undercarriage armor? Is the air filter a good option given the dirt and desert? Anything else I should suggest to her?
Thanks in advance.
I went through the Tire Rack site before I posted the question, but everything is geared towards 100% paved road driving. Given that the vehicle is going to be driven once or twice a week at least on dirt (though for a short distance each time) and that the dirt roads range from good, fast roads to washboarded ones (sometimes with small amounts of exposed rock and/or roughish terrain) I was hoping to find some advice that actually does take this situation into account.
We don't have wet pavement much at all (we're in the desert), so wet performance is much less of an issue except when driving outside of our home area (which will, of course, happen now and then).
Side-skirts look great, but on the dirt roads around here would last a short time indeed.
Anyone have suggestions? Tires that are appropriate? Given the terrain, should she get a real skid plate or undercarriage armor? Is the air filter a good option given the dirt and desert? Anything else I should suggest to her?
Thanks in advance.
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