Tyres for GB270
Author
Discussion

Dr_Rick

Original Poster:

1,711 posts

271 months

Monday 15th August 2011
quotequote all
OK, I know we're only in mid-August but I'll start the topic now. Context: I've got an Impreza GB270 and the tyres are coming to the end of useful life. I'm also about to move to the sticks up unsalted roads and the final stretch is private unsurfaced (but chippings) track. With the snow/ice/disruption ringing in my ears from last year (blocked roads, ice, -20C) I'm considering my options for this coming winter. I'll be needing some new boots on the car, but the question is what is the norm?

The extremes would be:

(1) Full winter tyres on a replacement set of wheels (in which case, do people go down a size to 17" and get a fatter profile tyre).

(2) Full winter tyres on the existing 18" wheels, currently looking at about the £100ea, but then they'll have to be swapped out in the spring.

(3) All-weather tyres on the existing 18" wheels.

(4) Sod all the above and go for standard replacement tyres.

Any thoughts?

Dr Rick

Munter

31,330 posts

264 months

Monday 15th August 2011
quotequote all
Dr_Rick said:
(1) Full winter tyres on a replacement set of wheels (in which case, do people go down a size to 17" and get a fatter profile tyre).


Any thoughts?

Dr Rick
You go for a thinner tyre to get more "cut through" with winter tyres.

I would suggest you get a standard set of tyres on the standard wheels. Then if you really are concerned about the winter get a spare set of wheels and tyres an inch smaller (rim) diameter and the same width or just narrower than standard.

RobCrezz

7,892 posts

231 months

Monday 15th August 2011
quotequote all
Cheap 2nd hand WRX wheels with some winter tyres.

paulmoonraker

2,850 posts

186 months

Monday 15th August 2011
quotequote all
... Or keep the nice GB270 safely locked up in the garage, away from bad drivers just waiting to crash into you...

Show shoes are not dear, and a bit of a laff after a few beers wink

-P

Bungleaio

6,556 posts

225 months

Monday 15th August 2011
quotequote all
I ran vredestein ultrac sessanta (225/40/18) which are listed as summer tyres on my hawk WRX last year and had no issues. I am now running Falken FK452 as the vreds only lasted 8000 miles.

I've never even considered winter tyres and I've not found a lack of grip to be a problem.