sw4rml0gic

Hi there,

First time posting I have a 2006 Hawkeye WRX which I'm getting a set of 18s for with 225/40/18 tyres.

Searching through the posts, I see a lot about Toyo Proxes TR1s and Sports, but more conflicting information that they're no good more recently.

Can you advise what you'd recommend for this car and wheel? Thank you very much for your advice!

JdmSti2006

f1 supersports
michelin ps4S is ok to but approx 40 quid more per tyre
or f1 asymmetric 5, Potenza Sport, ultrac vorti,rainsport 5 etc

adam.pah

Is this purely a road car and is it a daily driver? If so, then you can't go wrong with the Pilot Sport 4, best road tyre I've had.
If it's a weekend toy or will see track time then I'd go for the NS2R or AD08 or 595.

sw4rml0gic

Thanks for both of your advice - it's a daily driver (thought not being used much at the minute!)

Would both of your suggestions be okay with regards to reasonable performance without massively sacrificing fuel economy and roadnoise?

NOSSY_89

When you work it out there isn't much in the way of fuel economy from the highest to the lowest. Not on an impreza any way lol. I'd look at wet rating because lets face it the roads are damp most of the year. The suggestions given by the guys are spot on. But let me throw in Falkens.

RRP1STI

I have just put Goodyear asymmetric 5 on mine (2005 STi),happy so far,,I did have Rainsport 5 for a (very short) while…I know lots rate them,I .got to be honest,I thought they were terrible,very,very soft,got rid after 2 months,..felt like they were twisting all the time..just my opinion

adam.pah

Have to agree with this assessment of rainsports. I had them on my Clio and hated them. They seem to be tyre of choice for wet track days both on Clios and Scoobies but they just felt really soft and sloppy to me. I had the same feeling with Toyo Proxies, just didn't have enough grip.

RRP1STI

I did use Toyo Proxes for a good while,T1R iirc..they were ok for the money,I think they have changed now though to TR1,the last set I had I wasn’t impressed with at all,..I guess tyre technology moves on like everything else?.can’t fault the Eagle F1 assy 5s upto now though

JdmSti2006

40 quid cheaper in 225 40 18 and better

JdmSti2006

never better🤭
my rusty one eats Ms for breakfast ,throw them up then🤮
Yours are proper with 0.5kg balance weights

ST-X

I think the majority of people who rate Rainsports are those who would normally stick ditchfinders on. I had a set on mine as they came with some STI wheels and found them to be utterly terrible, it was a mercy when one got a puncture and it 'forced' me to go back to F1's. The Rainsports are made from chewing gum so have zero feel, willowy ride, poor steering response and I didn't even find them that good in the wet compared to a decent UHP tyre! Sidewalls are paper thin too so very susceptible to damage. On one drive I thought I'd melted the pads but it turned out to just be the tyres overheating after about ten minutes of brisk (okay, relatively hard) driving. The AS5's are great on the scoob and the Michelin PS4S's I've got on the 335d touring are good too. Different cars etc but I really think they're pretty close tyres if you read the reviews, and my personal experience is that both are great whether dry or wet.

sw4rml0gic

Thanks so much for all of the advice guys!

Decided to go down the Goodyear route and I'm definitely not disappointed. Drives like a different car, no more wandering, and it sticks in corners. Sits a little high but that's a job for another day

Really appreciate you all taking the time to help.