Hey guys, ive owned my '02 subaru wrx sti for less than a week now and i need some advise. I have driven high powered 4 wheel drive cars before but the subaru seems tail happy. The slightest throttle on a bend or roundabout results in the back end coming out, especially in wet. Is this normal???? My tyres are Bridgestone potenza(directional) on front and Bridgestone turanza on back (non directional) PLEASE HELP.............

 

You have found the problem, 2 different tyres with different levels of grip.
Change these and i think you may find your problems are solved

Tony

 

Cheers for that. Its lucky that 225/45/17 are so bloody cheap(NOT)! Do you think swapping the front to back may help?

 

yep same on the classic n all paying for decent rubber on all 4 tyres is a cunning & safe & IMO essential plan!!!
i wan't even stick old wheels back on car b4 selling as i'd feel guilty letting sum1 have it on shyte rubber!
Si

 

woodnt recoomend different tyres in any combo & may not be cheap but certainly cheaper than damage repair!
Si

 

Do not swap them front to back.

Common sense must prevail here and as Tony pointed out...you have identified the problem already.

You have 2 different sets of tyres with different levels of grip therefore .... One set will let go before the other set do

Match all 4 and be safe

 

I've got the same car, but with PPP - Waahay!!!

Mine is very neutral, no probs with throttle application, in fact it tends to understeer (springs on order). If you plant the throttle mid-bend, even before the apex, mine actually digs in to the corner and pulls you through. It is fantastic fun, so there must be something amiss with your car.
As well as mis-matched tyres, have you considered a proper geometry check, as it may be way out, the factory have very wide tolerances. It makes a massive difference, the best £80-100 you could spend.

Steve Wardle

 

hmmm... my MY98 scoob has matched all the way around and I'm having a similar issue, the back end seems quite happy to flick out. geometry?

 

Mines the same MY97. Same all the way round but still tail happy in the wet. More fun if you ask me lol. Quite a few of my m8s are the same as well.

 

The first point is, what tyres do you run for the tail to flick out?
My MY00 runs Bridgestone SO2 PP's (215/40/17) which have lots of grip in the dry and wet (and around 6mm left on the lot )
Driving styles could also be a cause of the tail wanting to flick out, ie, braking on the roundabout whilst going a little too quickly will transfer the weight to the front of the car making the rear lighter and thus less grip, this will provoke the tail to slide out whilst turning so it could be down to that (those with the MY98&97).
Tyre types also have something to do with it (ie i wouldnt put Avon ZZ1's on my car in a million years ) and tyre pressures can also cause you problems if your under/over inflated).

Tony

 

I have an MY98 and have michelin pilots all round. Whilst driving around Wales yesterday became aware of an unstable feeling (as though the car was aquaplaning i.e no grip) around tight corners and felt like the back was about to step out one minute and the front to understeer the next. This could simply be due to crap driving with too much speed into corners but I do not have same problems in dry and the feckin renault clio sport I was following had much more grip. Could this be the tyres or geometry? (no crap driving jokes pls.)

 

I have different makes of tyres front to rear at the moment.. This will be rectified at the next purchase but I'm not rich enough to ditch two perfectly good tyres.. I find the handling of the Subaru to be very dependent on the tyre pressures.. experiment and find a setting you like and stick to it..

 

Just got back from the tyre garage after fitting another 2 x bridgstone 040's to match the front. Its transformed the handling completely. Loads of grip now. Just need to test in the wet but i can already tell the difference. Thanks for help guys, i feel happy now, just wish the bank manager was.....

 

For someone like myself who drives the welsh roads daily ( i know I am lucky)and gets paid for it (very lucky) and has a heavy right foot. What tyre pressures do you recommend?

G

 

I'm running 36 front 34 rear.. don't know about anyone else.. use a proper tyre gauge though the forecourt ones are poor..

 

Sounds good for starters. Thanks.

 

ScoobyPugh - watch the Pilots in the wet IMHO - can get very squirelly. Good life, but not much grip IMHO...don't ask Pete Croney what he thinks about them

 

Can't comment about a 02 but i've had a few classics (now a my00) and never had a prob with a twitchy rear end (except after 8 pints and a curry!). I find the reverse and that understeer is the only prob and you will plough your way through a corner. this is stopped by entering slower and powering out, which should cause the tail to lose it but never had a snag..... except in the snow where it was a bit more rear wheel drive like!

I'm running Toyo Proxes TS1s on stanard 16s

Carlos

 

AJ,

I know what you mean!!!!

Excuse the ignorance and stupidity but what does IMHO stand for?

What are the best tyres for wet roads? Anybody?

G

 

In
My
Humble
Opinion

 

"Best tyres" is subjective, but cost/performance I have to rate the Toyo T1-S proxes. Absolute bottom is Pirelli Pzeros. Loathe them in the wet.

 

Interesting thread as I keep reading about this "losing the back end"

Could always buy a wagon.

I can't adjust my eyes quick enough to the speed and pin point precision my wagon changes direction, wet or dry.

I can switch direction and tighten my turn dramatically with full adhesion on wot.

Maybe with a lot more power things would be different but I've been told that watching it from behind it sure does look like a kart.

I believe that say up to 300bhp mated to the Scooby is what makes it a very balanced car, as said above, anymore power might, just might, put it close to Cossie handling, i'd be interested to know.

 

Difficult to beat Eagle FI's in the wet and dry, they wear well too.

Les

 

Thanks for the advice chaps.

Once again Scoobynet users win through!

One more point- why have scooby drivers in the Midlands stopped waving or flashing lights when seeing fellow scoob? Especially the 00 shape onwards!!!!!! I thought and still think it is a novelty not many other car drivers share!

Thanks


G

 

Agree with above comment on PZeros - I had on my old MY98 and whenever it rained it was like driving on ice. They were alright in the dry however. My vote goes to F1 for best wet tyre.

D.

 

& scoobypugh is it kuz they dont recognise u from the Cov are meet u will have to kum 2 da next un then u may get recognised lol.
Si (only dont wave &/or flash when i dont c scoobs till alongside but usual spot em froma mile off)