Help me choose tires for my forester
 

I would post this at subaruforester.org but most of the people over there are not very performance oriented.

Thanks to the delightful newbybitchslapping about XXR wheels (in this thread: https://www.miataturbo.net/wheels-tires-78/xxr-wheels-any-good-47705/) and general talk about how they are shit, I have been persuaded to buy some for my Forester XT. My FXT is my daily driver and is not my "performance" vehicle so looks and cheapness are my deciding factors. My FXT isn't that big of a slouch though, since it's on an STI suspension and soon will have a bigger turbo and exhaust and around 300whp. I will not be running fucked up mad tyte stance bullshit.

I like the look and price of these 17x8 XXR wheels: http://www.nlmotoring.com/XXR-522-Wh...p/52278142.htm

I need some tires to go with them. I drive my forester about every day all over the DC area. A lot of times I do 150+ miles a day. I drive it in the sun, the rain, the snow, on highways, on shitty baltimore and dc roads. I want the tires to be cheap, to last and also for them to be all seasons. And to handle, if possible :| I really don't know jack shit about tires except for the ones I've had on my Miata and that has only been 3 different brands/models.

What would you guys recommend?

fail. leave it stock and buy good all seasons.

Blah that's what I already have. But I want it to look more badass and my current tires won't fit.

its a DD, who gives a shit about performance tires and black wheel? They'll just get bent on DC streets and the tires will wear faster be more expensive to replace. This is why I dont want a BMW. I cant afford 19" wheels/tires that bend from all the potholes (my dad has had to repair 3 bmw wheels) and the tires last 10K at best.

Those wheels should look pretty good on a FXT. Not sure what tire to recommend you but if I were you I'd go to tirerack and do the research there. Find what size tire you'll need, then search for allseasons in that size. Find the best rated one you can afford.

Actually, I just did that for you. Took 5 minutes. Here are 6 tires, all rated above 8 on tirerack and all between $115-130 per tire.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/CompareTires.jsp

I recommend a couple $7 bottle of black spray paint, and any tire for under $100 a corner. Listen to the brain.

don't you neede 5x100? 17x8 +35 fit on a FXT? Why not a nice summer tire on your aftermarket wheels and keep your allseasons on your oem wheels for winter?

^^^ +1 on most of that.


Except: don't keep all season tires on the stockers for winter. Put snow tires on the stockers instead. All-season tires are called all-season tires for a reason: They're shitty in all-seasons.

I would definitlely put some sort of touring tire on the new wheels; something with an aqua groove or two down the middle, and broad shoulder treads for the occasional spirited corner or 3.

Conti Extreme Contact on your new wheels

I run Bridgestone Blizzaks in winter, they ain't cheap, but dont balk too much at the price; once you've run a northeast winter on snow tires, you'll understand: from all-seasons to snow tires is like god said on the 8th day "let there be more light!". A set of blizzaks should last you 3-6 winters depending on how far you drive everyday.

Toyo Extensas last forever and look decent on my Miata.

Kumho ASX if they are available in your size. I ran them on my turbo 99 for DD tires when I would swap out the 6UL/RS3's for the season or long trips. They are listed as a "high performance" all season. They do have good grip (I autocrossed them once and they did pretty good) and they have a fairly high void ratio so good for rain/snow. I'd buy them again for a high HP DD.