Tyres for a classic Impreza
Tyres for a classic Impreza
Author
Discussion

ST170Bird

Original Poster:

502 posts

218 months

Monday 5th December 2011
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I have got Pirelli P-Zeros on at the minute (OEM), but want to try Toyo Proxes. Anyone rate these? I had them on my old car and really liked them, but do they suit the Impreza? The Pirellis are awesome in the dry, but I just don't trust them in the wet too much.
Thanks Emma.

rb5er

11,657 posts

195 months

Monday 5th December 2011
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I put toyo t1r's on mine. Great grip wet or dry, but a soft sidewall. Someone will soon be along to tell you they are the worst tyres ever made but they are well regarded in general for good reason.

anonymous-user

77 months

Monday 5th December 2011
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I had Toyo T1Rs on my MR2 and they were brilliant, but lasted absolutely no time at all.

Currently have Continental Sport Contact 3 on the Impreza and cannot find fault with them

GravelBen

16,328 posts

253 months

Monday 5th December 2011
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I'm not a fan of T1Rs due to the soft sidewall (and corresponding pressure sensitivity, vulnerability to cuts etc) - I have Bridgestone RE001 on the Legacy which are better in practically every way and were also cheaper.

That said a classic Impreza is 2-300kg lighter than the 1500kg Legacy so the sidewalls might not be quite as much of an issue.

BerksJack

1,155 posts

189 months

Monday 5th December 2011
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Another option is the Falken FK452

japgt

349 posts

187 months

Monday 5th December 2011
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got toyo t1r's on my classic impreza and cant fault them, a i went from 18 inch wheels with fede3ral 959 tyres to 17 inch rims with toyos on and the ride has been transformed due to the slightly softer tyre wall, which i like, some dont though, i like the car to move about a bit under hard driving, so the softer side walls allow for this.

ST170Bird

Original Poster:

502 posts

218 months

Monday 5th December 2011
quotequote all
I did think this would happen, some people love them and rate them - others don't. Still don't know, the car has always had Pirelli P-Zeros on it, but I want to try something different, just want an idea if they will suit it. They will only be on the front initially and I will get them filled with Nitrogen.

Nicol@

3,851 posts

259 months

Monday 5th December 2011
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I put toyos on mine, after good results on a previous car and was completely happy with them.

KB_S1

5,967 posts

252 months

Tuesday 6th December 2011
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I had real trouble getting options for my Impreza recently.

Are you on original wheels at 205/50/16? if so I don't think there is a P-Zero option.
I ended up getting Uniroyal Rainsport2s and they have been great.

BerksJack

1,155 posts

189 months

Tuesday 6th December 2011
quotequote all
ST170Bird said:
I did think this would happen, some people love them and rate them - others don't. Still don't know, the car has always had Pirelli P-Zeros on it, but I want to try something different, just want an idea if they will suit it. They will only be on the front initially and I will get them filled with Nitrogen.
Nitrogen for road Tyres is marketing nonsense that doesn't make any difference to filling them up with normal air.

ThePlanner

5,253 posts

290 months

Tuesday 6th December 2011
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BerksJack said:
ST170Bird said:
I did think this would happen, some people love them and rate them - others don't. Still don't know, the car has always had Pirelli P-Zeros on it, but I want to try something different, just want an idea if they will suit it. They will only be on the front initially and I will get them filled with Nitrogen.
Nitrogen for road Tyres is marketing nonsense that doesn't make any difference to filling them up with normal air.
Air has 78% Nitrogenanyway so why bother paying extra.

Air:
Nitrogen (N2): 78.09%
Oxygen (O2): 20.95%
Argon (Ar): 0.93%
Carbon dioxide (CO2): 0.038%
Others (less than 0.002% each): Neon (Ne), Helium (He), Krypton (Kr), Hydrogen (H2), Xenon (Xe).



ST170Bird

Original Poster:

502 posts

218 months

Tuesday 6th December 2011
quotequote all
KB_S1 said:
I had real trouble getting options for my Impreza recently.

Are you on original wheels at 205/50/16? if so I don't think there is a P-Zero option.
I ended up getting Uniroyal Rainsport2s and they have been great.
It's an RB5, so I'm on the standard 17's. I get the nitrogen from work, and I have found they keep the pressure a lot longer than air filled. Will look into the Uniroyals.

bonesX

902 posts

203 months

Sunday 11th December 2011
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My vote goes for Yokohama AD08.

Yes they're pricey, but are simply sublime on a classic Scooby. I run them on a Type R 330bhp and they seem to suit the Impreza very well indeed.

They are a high quality build, with a strong carcass and side wall which translates into the drive of them. Turn-in is precise and gives good positive confident feel. Grip levels in both dry and damp are huge. The limit comes with plenty of warning, and is quite big and easy to explore.

The AD08's replaced T1R's. Quite frankly I would never fit these tyres again, on anything. They are what they are - a budget performance tyre. The initial turn-in is vague which does not give any confidence. If you back off a little a little because of this the softness of the wall and tread blocks, the vagueness is increased.

The wall and tread blocks are soft. This is not to say the compound is super soft but the whole build of the tyre. Getting the T1R and AD08 next to each other in the fitting bay make the build differences very plain. The Toyo is easily deformed and squashed when leaning on it, whereas the Yoko resists and keeps its form.

If the Toyo is pushed on it simply rolls onto its wall. The shoulders scrub off in no time and what performance was there to start with gets worse

The Advans synergised my Scooby's handling and performance, giving very good feedback, massive confidence, and huge grip levels. Very worth the extra investment


anonymous-user

77 months

Sunday 11th December 2011
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bonesX said:
My vote goes for Yokohama AD08.
Just to add to my earlier "I had Toyo's on my MR2 - they lasted no time at all" comment; I had a set of the Yoko Advans on there at one stage too. They were by far the best tyre I ever had on the car - just HUGE grip - but they lasted less than 5,000 miles wobble But the MR2 used to eat tyres.

KB_S1

5,967 posts

252 months

Sunday 11th December 2011
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The AD08 is only available in V rating I think.
Is that ok for insurance, as the original fit and handbook spec is W Rated.

Nonsense I know as V is for up to 149mph but, insurance can be funny.

bonesX

902 posts

203 months

Sunday 11th December 2011
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Nyphur said:
Just to add to my earlier "I had Toyo's on my MR2 - they lasted no time at all" comment; I had a set of the Yoko Advans on there at one stage too. They were by far the best tyre I ever had on the car - just HUGE grip - but they lasted less than 5,000 miles wobble But the MR2 used to eat tyres.
That wear rate does sound a bit severe...

The T1R's had lost their shoulders after just 1K miles. When tyres get to this stage you can't help but look at them as if they're past their best.

The Yoko's are past the 1K mark and although there's signs of feathering (which I don't mind smile) the shoulders are as new

Folk run T1R's at higher psi to compensate for soft walls

But yes, the AD08's are by far the best tyre I've ever ran

rb5er

11,657 posts

195 months

Monday 12th December 2011
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bonesX said:
My vote goes for Yokohama AD08.
£65 per tyre more expensive than the toyos which are generally highly regarded. They must be absolutely mega for almost twice the price.

eybic

9,212 posts

197 months

Monday 12th December 2011
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BerksJack said:
Another option is the Falken FK452
Agreed, ½ the price of F1's and just as good imho. Don't last quite as long but for the price I don't think they can be beaten.

bonesX

902 posts

203 months

Monday 12th December 2011
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rb5er said:
£65 per tyre more expensive than the toyos which are generally highly regarded. They must be absolutely mega for almost twice the price.
I disagree. T1R's are not generally highly regarded. The consensus is that the Toyo's (R888's included) are 'good for the money'

I paid £119 ea fitted for my AD08's. Camskill are £88 delivered for T1R's

bonesX

902 posts

203 months

Monday 12th December 2011
quotequote all
eybic said:
Agreed, ½ the price of F1's and just as good imho. Don't last quite as long but for the price I don't think they can be beaten.
I found the Falkern's to be OK. Stronger side walls and tread blocks than the F1's with more solid on-road feedback. Dry grip levels were pretty fair, if road noise bieng a little louder, but for the money I would buy again