Lots of choice to help owner of tire-eating `Saabaru'

John Mahler

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

Q: My '05 "Saabaru" 92x (Subaru WRX-based Saab hatch) toasted its OE Potenza RE-11s after only 40,000 km. I have read that unidirectional, asymmetrical tires sometimes fail prematurely on AWD cars. I'd like to move to an alternative design.

The factory tire size is P215/45R17. What are your top two choices for a quiet, durable summer tire in that size, with the right structural characteristics? Emphasize quiet please; those Potenzas just howled right from new.

A: Here are my choices for summer street tires that are quiet but still grippy: Yokohama H4S - $265; Goodyear F1 All season - $393; BFG g-Force Sport - $208; Pirelli P-Zero Nero - $370 and Bridgestone RE960 All Season Pole Position - $360. All prices above are full list – expect at least 30 per cent off.

The Yokohama is H-rated, all others are W- or Y-rated, which means a stiffer ride. The Bridgestone Pole Position compound is self-renewing: as it wears it exposes patches of new rubber that has not reacted to heat cycling until it is exposed to air. Neat concept and it works.

Pirelli P-Zero Nero all-season has a great ride, great grip and would be my first choice from this group based on your priorities.

Q: For about 10 years, I have had my tires rotated at oil changes as many shops offer this as a free service. I have been getting greater and greater resistance to rotating my tires as per the owner's manual for my car (i.e. two fronts to opposite side at back and two rears straight forward).

Shops seem to think this rotation is wrong and should be two fronts straight back and two rears straight forward. I have even had a Cosco tire centre refuse to rotate them, some ask me to sign that I have asked for this specific pattern.

Where do you come down on this issue?

A: You are right, they are wrong.

For any specific car, the company that built it knows best how its suspension will affect tire wear. That is why they each have a specific rotation pattern.

Email tire questions to John Mahler at

thetireguy_1 @hotmail.com.

Please include vehicle's make, model and year,

tire brand and size, as well as your name, address and phone number.

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