newbie forester owner

[skiing elkhunter]

Just signed up. Found a very low milage 2004 forester on Craigs list so I bought it. Had blowout with the original geolander tires while 40 miles out on a gravel road, so when I got back to civilization i put on a siped set of Les schwabs toyo z800's. Now i am considering getting 4 snow tires as I ski 2-3 days a week. Problen is i live in seattle where it rains more than snows. 45 minutes to the snow. Trying to decide on new studless winter tires or conventional studs. Very experienced snow driver and loved the extra traction of studs on older cars while living in eastern WA., where its snowier on a day to day basis.

What is is the proper -tire sizing from my 215/60/16 tires.?

Any opinions on studs or studess?

Thanks- Skiing elkhunter.

[Subie Gal]

i'm in seattle too

 

never needed studded tires here in WA

 

i've found i'm more comfortable on the studless anyway

 

the roads up in the passes are kept pretty tidy

 

i'd say you dont need em.

 

i have a dedicated set of Hakka's for snow trips

 

all - seasons for the rest of the year

 

works just fine for this side of the mountains

 

Jamie

[skiing elkhunter]

Thanks for your input.

i'm in seattle too

 

never needed studded tires here in WA

 

i've found i'm more comfortable on the studless anyway

 

the roads up in the passes are kept pretty tidy

 

i'd say you dont need em.

 

i have a dedicated set of Hakka's for snow trips

 

all - seasons for the rest of the year

 

works just fine for this side of the mountains

 

Jamie

[zyewdall]

Never had studless before. I'm trying them this year for the first time -- we'll see. My dad put them on his '96 outback last year for the first time (because he wasn't sure if Olympia was going to outlaw the studs), and he's pretty impressed with them. Here in CO the roads are much easier winter driving than eastern Washington -- we see mostly bare and dry roads in the winter, except for the occasional storm, so studs wear off pretty fast -- one season often. Not the packed ice we always got up north of Spokane, which I think was easier on the tires.

 

Zeke