Need 75k or 80k tire recommendations

[topdeadcenter]

Hello all,

I am new, (just posted my intro). I am considering buying a '10 or '11 Subaru Outback 2.5 Premium. One of the items that I am going to negotiate into any deal I make is a brand new set of quality tires that have a 75,000 - 80,000 mile warranty. I know they will only last about 60,000 miles, but I put on 38,000 to 40,000 miles per year. I know that whatever is on the cars that I look at are OEM tires with 20K miles on them, that will probably last me another 6-8 months before I need to shell out more money to get new tires. This way I get 1.5 years before I need to do that.

Anyway, looking for a tire that is quiet and can do reasonably well in snow (we get a ton up here in Wisconsin), but not leave me wishing for better dry pavement grip. I know, I know, I want it all... but who doesn't?

Looking forward to your responses.
Mike

[subiesailor]

Hey Top I doubt there is any car tire made which will give a full time AWD outback 60K of winter quality tire life period. Only tires I know of that will 100% give you that sort of life today are truck tires and those types of tires do not fit the outback.

Just a warning your expectations for tire life are way way beyond any normal use life span for subarus period.

[Looby]

If it's a fairly low mileage OB, that "tire negotiation" plan will
effectively be throwing away the remaining life of the OE tires
and adding the full price of the new tires to the selling price of
the car. Since it's highly unlikely that the used car seller can
beat TireRack or DiscountTire prices, he has no more wiggle
room on tire pricing than you do -- and by complicating the
deal with a tire swap, you're reducing the seller's motivation
to sell it to you (rather than someone just looking for a car).
Buy the car first, worry 'bout tires later.

...K.I.S.S.

Looby

[topdeadcenter]

Ok... I should clarify. I had a set of Goodyears on my Forester that gave me 60K of good life and were up for replacement when the headgasket went out. But that was a few years ago and it was a couple years prior to that when I got the tires, so I don't recall what model of tire it was. So I am looking for recommendations for the tires, not whether I should do it this way or not.

On the second point, I actually worked as a finance manager for a large dealership in my previous life. I know the game and I won't be "adding the cost to the purchase". A dealer's sole motivation is to sell the person in front of them the car that they are interested in, they will RARELY pass on a deal if it makes sense to their bottom line. The trick is to figure out how long they have been sitting on the car and be willing to move on to the next car if they don't meet your demands. By the way, I am not sure where you can buy tires at wholesale prices like the dealership can, but if you can point me that direction I would be more than happy to look. TireRack and DiscountTire are still RETAIL businesses. Therefore there is a mark-up. They wouldn't stay in business long if there wasn't.

[AWDFTW]

The Hankook 727 and new Michelin Defender both have pretty high treadlife ratings.
The Michelin Primacy MXV4 I have have a 60k mile rating.

[subiesailor]

Originally Posted by topdeadcenter

Ok... I should clarify. I had a set of Goodyears on my Forester that gave me 60K of good life and were up for replacement when the headgasket went out. But that was a few years ago and it was a couple years prior to that when I got the tires, so I don't recall what model of tire it was. So I am looking for recommendations for the tires, not whether I should do it this way or not.

On the second point, I actually worked as a finance manager for a large dealership in my previous life. I know the game and I won't be "adding the cost to the purchase". A dealer's sole motivation is to sell the person in front of them the car that they are interested in, they will RARELY pass on a deal if it makes sense to their bottom line. The trick is to figure out how long they have been sitting on the car and be willing to move on to the next car if they don't meet your demands. By the way, I am not sure where you can buy tires at wholesale prices like the dealership can, but if you can point me that direction I would be more than happy to look. TireRack and DiscountTire are still RETAIL businesses. Therefore there is a mark-up. They wouldn't stay in business long if there wasn't.

Your old forester wasn't as large nor did it have the ride height pushed higher by Marketing spin as a result it actually drove pretty nice and the tires rode square and lasted longer. The New outback is very different the suspension is pushed higher it is quite hard on tires in comparison. As for dealers I worked for one may moons ago also - things have really changed unless you have a friend who has major leverage or owns the dealership - they move so many cars today that there is little to no interest in doing anything to a car that adds time to the dealers involvement which translates to swapping tires at their discounted price if you think they get that. Heck the last few dealers I visited they didn't even detail trades before putting them out on the lot with a price sticker on them.

Todays used car market is "Absurd" I just went through it spent three months looking for a Sequoia only made one offer at a dealer because of the absolute "JUNK" they were selling at STUPID HIGH prices. I bought from a private seller original owner all records for about $8000 less than what the dealers were asking for a similar car with zero records.

It also does not help that many dealerships are now owned by large Auto Groups and they actually manipulate car prices given they can set prices for a given region if they own nearly 90% of the dealers in the region.

I'm never buying a car from a dealer again! My 2010 subaru is the last new car I will buy.

[Looby]

Originally Posted by topdeadcenter

TireRack and DiscountTire are still RETAIL businesses. Therefore there
is a mark-up. They wouldn't stay in business long if there wasn't.

Sorry, dude, I somehow got the idea you were lookin' for a good price.
I wouldn't presume to tell an old pro what to do, but if you don't mind,
pease 'splain me what's the point of trying to beat the markup on a set
of tires by handing over a few thou of extra dealer markup on the car?

Looby

[topdeadcenter]

Originally Posted by AWDFTW

The Hankook 727 and new Michelin Defender both have pretty high treadlife ratings.
The Michelin Primacy MXV4 I have have a 60k mile rating.

Thanks! I will look into those.

Originally Posted by subiesailor

The New outback is very different the suspension is pushed higher it is quite hard on tires in comparison. As for dealers I worked for one may moons ago also - things have really changed unless you have a friend who has major leverage or owns the dealership

Thanks for the insight into why the tires may not last as long instead of just questioning my motives. To your second point: Yes I have two pretty good friends that own dealerships (neither are Subaru).

Originally Posted by subiesailor

Todays used car market is "Absurd" I just went through it spent three months looking for a Sequoia only made one offer at a dealer because of the absolute "JUNK" they were selling at STUPID HIGH prices.

I agree. Cash for Clunkers really screwed up the used market around here. There is a definitely less supply than there is demand for quality used vehicles. Then tack on that unemployment is high and those people that would have traded out in the last 2 to 3 years may not be able to due to their job situations. It can be tough to find the right car at the right price. I am a patient man.

[Startiger]

Originally Posted by AWDFTW

The Michelin Primacy MXV4 I have have a 60k mile rating.

I am very disappointed on how my Primacies are wearing. I only have about 25k on them and they are already getting close to the wear indicators. At this rate, I'll be lucky to get 40K out of them.

Great tire, but I'm gonna say rather over priced for the use I am getting out of them.

[JoseSubaru]

Hi TDC,

I don't know about the newer Subies, but I had a 2006 XT and now have a 2009 Limited. From my experience, if you want really good handling, get Michelins, but be prepared to at best get 30,000 miles from them. If you can compromise a little in the handling department, and want something a little longer lasting, I'd recommend Yokohamas. (In fact, I bought a set for my 2009 at about 30,000 when the OEMs needed to be replaced.)

I honestly can say that I don't know of any tire that will truly last 80,000 miles, and I don't know any dealer that will warrant tires (a wear item) for that long.

Just my two cents,