1993 Legacy L Wagon tire questions

[bridorf]

Need new tires for my Legacy Wagon and was looking at Costco, specifically at the Michelin X Radial DT, due to a good deal on them currently. However, they are an "S" rated tire and the boys at Costco are reluctant to sell them to me - I don't really think it will be an issue, but thought I would ask around.

 

My second question - When looking up tires on most sites it lists for 1993 and 1994 Legacy L models an "H" rated tire, which is per my owners manual correct for the 1993 - but 1995 and later it shows an "S" rated tire as being perfectly fine for the Legacy L model - Why? What is the big difference?

[Blue Whale]

This makes little sense to me, as the '93 Legacy isn't any faster than the '95, and doesn't make any special demands of its tires. I have had one of each since 1993 and 1995; a few years ago, Costco refused to sell me any tires that didn't have an H speed rating for the '93, even though the preceding two sets of similar tires had come from Costco. I didn't care about "H" but did want "M+S" so I had to find another tire store, since Costco had no "H" all-weather offerings at the time. I think those Michelins will serve you well--if you can get them.

[Kilroy]

I am Canadian, but I always use http://www.tirerack.com to check stats on tires as well as comparisons to other tires in their class. You can check what other people think of each tire as well, I typically try to find feedback from people who drive a vehicle with the closest handling characteristics to the vehicle I need tires for.

[bridorf]

Just curious if anyone had any more ideas about my second question?

[jamal]

90-94 cars didn't have a speed limiter. Downhill with the wind an L can hit 120+ mph. I think the 95+ cars are limited to 110 or so, which would explain the S rating (112mph), which is pretty low. Tires with higher ratings are stronger and can withstand higher loads and temperatures.

 

To determine the speed rating, they put it on a roller and increase the speed by 10kph every 10 minutes until it fails.

 

So slower and lighter cars use tires with lower speed and load ratings. The load rating is something else you need to think about. It's possible the S-rated tires you're looking at also have a lower load rating, but I think that's mostly related to the size.

 

Either way, an S rated tire will be operating closer to it's limit than an H rated tire, and I wouldn't put them on my car. They're the last thing you want to cheap out on.

[Blue Whale]

I never thought of trying for 120 MPH with the old brown wagon...on the other hand, it didn't LOOK fast, so who would have noticed? Maybe some people have the opportunity and the desire to drive like that, but I don't have either. I can't say I would worry about the S or T speed rating there too much--and speed ratings don't have anything to do with load capacity, either. Those Michelins from Costco are plenty good for people who don't race their 14-year-old Legacys.

[montana105]

Think back to the Ford Explorer fiasco and you'll have your answer as to why Costco won't deviate from recommended tires,they don't want anything to do with liability in this sue happy greedy society we've become.It may not even be Costco so much as Michelin or Goodyear dictating what they will assume in legalities.

[ericem]

90-94 cars didn't have a speed limiter. Downhill with the wind an L can hit 120+ mph. I think the 95+ cars are limited to 110 or so, which would explain the S rating (112mph), which is pretty low. Tires with higher ratings are stronger and can withstand higher loads and temperatures.

 

To determine the speed rating, they put it on a roller and increase the speed by 10kph every 10 minutes until it fails.

 

So slower and lighter cars use tires with lower speed and load ratings. The load rating is something else you need to think about. It's possible the S-rated tires you're looking at also have a lower load rating, but I think that's mostly related to the size.

 

Either way, an S rated tire will be operating closer to it's limit than an H rated tire, and I wouldn't put them on my car. They're the last thing you want to cheap out on.

 

i can do 130mph on flat ground without wind :-\ Maybe the auto has better top speed!

[northgeorgiaroo]

i can do 130mph on flat ground without wind :-\ Maybe the auto has better top speed!

 

 

:headbang: :headbang:

 

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Subaru Wagons Rule!!!!!!!!!!

[Gloyale]

I ran into the same problem on my 86 GL-10 turbo wagon. This car was rusted to swiss cheese, and had terrible compression. I was beating it into the ground as a pizza delivery vehicle. There was no way in hell this car could reach 90 mph, let alone 120. But the turbo models had been speced from Subaru with H-rated tires.

 

The store tried to give me some crap about suspension geometry being different, and needing the stiffer sidewalls and such. But knowing Subarus I know that aside form a small spring rate difference the car is identical to the non-turbos. They just saw a chance to strong arm me into buying $85 a piece tires. They used the Ford/Firestone thing as reason.

 

I went home and put the car on Jack stands and took in just the wheels to a different store. I told them it was for a non turbo car and had them mount up my new $38 tires