Need better tires on 2004 Forester XT

I am one of the lucky ones to own a new 2004 Turbo Forester, It is great except the tires.

The Forester's tires are Yokohama Geolander G900 P215/60 R16 94H.

In normal driving the steering response and cornering are poor. The sidewalls are weak and the tread is soft. They feel like driving on jello. [I have heard that they only last about 25,000 miles too].

I'm considering changing to Bridgestone Turanza LS-V 225/50R16 92V - this is a V rate tire so the sidewall is stiffer and at a 50 or 55 ratio it is shorter. This is the V rated version of the tire that some other Forester owners have [LS-H]. The tread should also be a harder sports car like compound.

Some of these tires are rated and discussed on

. It seems that Steering response and cornering stability are good expressions of my issue. On tirerack there are a mass of good comments on the Turanza tire. As far as I can tell everyone on "tirerack" hates the geolander 900 like on mine.

Has anyone had good luck switching to a beter handling, cornering tire? Such as a lower profile or V rated one?

Also what model Geolanders were put on earlier model Foresters?

[I do not need snow capable tires]

Chris