In the summer I have zero problem with the S03 Pole Positions. But for winter use I need a harder compound than a conventional winter tire. We just don't get enough snow to justify the constant use of winter tires. I drive a lot of highway miles about 25K miles a year and believe me the winter tires don't last. All seasons suck but they last a bit longer. My next car will have to be something a bit different unless I can cut out all the highway mileage. I used to modify my cars and really get them nice and tight. Just like your son does but nowadays I end up driving so many boring highway miles that I just might buy a Diesel VW Golf. All the nice back roads around here have cops sitting on them because they know that's where you're going to open it up. Can't wait to move!
It works OK in ideal conditions, that being smooth dry pavement. It is horrible (and terrifying, even at low speed; "klunk-slide-klunk-slide-klunk") on ice or hard pack, and not of much use on dirt/gravel either; bumps or washboards have it activating way too soon. I _do_ drive aggressively, and long ago learned to modulate my brakes as needed with my right foot. I disable the ABS in my WRX for autocross/rally-cross, on snowy/icy days, and for spirited driving offroad. The Ms. drives very conservatively, but asked me to install an ABS switch in her Forester too, after trying my WRX on ice (at an ice rally-cross event) with it turned off ("It _stopped_!!!"). To disable, either pull the fuse, or install a switch to open the circuit as needed. The "ABS" light on your dash will illuminate to remind you that it's off. I know Tony disagrees here; all I can suggest is that you try it with/without the next time you encounter slickness, and _then_ decide for yourself. FWIW, the Michelin Alpin Pilots exhibit very good wear characteristics on dry roads, even with my fondness for slideways travel. Alas, they are pricy little beggars. The Arctic Alpins or Hakkis will not fare as well, but are probably a bit grippier.
ByeBye! S.
Steve Jernigan KG0MB Laboratory Manager Microelectronics Research University of Colorado (719) 262-3101
I feel your pain regarding the ABS. It's downright scary at times. The ABS in my 1993 Nissan Altima was damn near flawless, and it's pretty lame that a
10 year newer sporty car has a worse system.
Anyhow, you might check into Nokian WR tires, sounds like what your after. At the very least, check out an "ice tire" vs. a "snow tire". Mine stayed on the car for a fair bit this summer while I was dithering about what to do for summer tires, and showed some extra wear, but really weren't all that bad. Basically anything with at least an S speed rating should be better.
Yeah on nice flat dry clean pavement it works great. Unfortunately I live in a city with plenty of potholes and bumps and the road rippls when it freezes. Lots of hills and when you hit a bump going down a small hill even in the dry it activates and it takes longer to stop.
I will probably have to do this this coming winter. ABS is just too dangerous in the snow around here and when it slicks up with ice combined with bumps and potholes, forget it, you could get killed.
I'll try pulling the fuse when we have snow and find a parking lot to blast around in and see if it helps and hopefully that will solve the problem. I have many people tell me this isn't the case, but aftre riding around the city they change their minds quickly and tell me I should get it fixed. They can't believe this is normal for ABS. Snow and Ice change everything about ABS in a hurry.
I'll take a look at the Alpin Pilots on Tire Rack. The tire rack guy basically said no all season tire would work and to buy winter tires. But that's not an option for me.
Thanks Andy, if you actually listen to the ABS system itself it continues long afte the car has stopped. Subaru really has a poor ABS system. Otherwise the car is great. I still have 2-3 years before I buy another car but maybe by then Subaru will have fixed their ABS, if not then I will have to find another make to buy.
Yep except for dry conditions in which they are marginal. I've had Nokian Hakka Q's but they really don't like the dry weather but they do last. I'm thinking of selling my summer rims and tires I have the OZ Superleggara Rims with the S03 Pole Postion tires but for mainly highway driving it's a waste. I might just throw on cheap all seasons and drive with only those. Thanks again....
They have a dealer locater. I bought mine locally (sort of) and I was very happy with the prices and service.
30 minute ride away is tax free for me. Tire Rack refuses to carry Nokians. But they are a great tire. You have to buy them from a local dealer and they aren't cheap but there are a couple of places that sell them online.
Just as a side note, a friend of mine w. a pontiac sunfire had his ABS system fail after which they reverted back to operating like normal brakes. He has not had them 'fixed' since he prefers to have control over the braking. Don't know how well this will work in the long run but he feels he has more control. If you find rolling stops a big winter issue it might be worth investigating disabling the ABS for the season. Means you will not have the benefits in other situations though which could be a liability issue though.
I've been driving without ABS most of my life, likewise rear wheel drive vehicles so neither has ever been an issue for me. But when I mash the brake pedal and hold it it's because I want to stop NOW! This happens all the time in the winter. Also if you have the know how to drive in the snow you can usually brake hard skid turn teh wheel and release the brake and now you are heading say 90 degrees from before. I haven't been able to try this out in the WRX yet but with the ABS fuse pulled I will. Rolling stops are a big problem here esp on side streets when you are crawling and the brakes still do not stop the car. Only liability I can see is that I might be able to actually stop for intersections this winter. I'll put the fuse back in when i go to the dealer for oil changes and when the summer gets here.
Just take the fuse and hook it up to the battery to blow it and put it back. You can always say "Gee, I didn't know the fuse was blown". A lot more believeable in court than "Gee, I didn't know the fuse was missing".
I've only driven ABS vehicles a few times, but have had the experience of going thru a stop because of it. I found the pulses too hard, and not as rapid as I would have expected -basically jerky braking so it was no wonder it would break traction. Just getting a '01 legacy, so it will be interesting to see what it is like with ABS on canadian snow and ice.
Well, the ability to continue steering is a definite advantage of the ABS, but in snow, you get better stopping distances by locking the wheels. In light snow, the ABS will stop you just as quickly as without ABS, plus you maintain steering. In heavy snow, you'd probably prefer to keep the ABS off.
I had no problem driving around in Quebec City with my Miata. It had 4 Nokian Hakka Q's on it and I was driving up some very steep streets in the snow. No ABS and no problems, although when the plows are going they leave almost 2 feet of snow across the road so you really have to Mat it to get across, got some air a couple of times. :) I'd be too nervous driving the WRX with the ABS active to have fun. Their ABS system is crap, sad to say.
Or even just go to WalMart with the other set of four tires in the back, and have them do a 4 wheel rotation - 4 on, 4 off. $10 Terry - '03 Silver Legacy SE sedan - 36 miles! '02 Regatta-Red GT wagon 5spd - 23k miles Yakima / TandeMover / Rockymount rack To reply, get rid of the "nonsense"
Terry - '03 Silver Legacy SE sedan - 36 miles! '02 Regatta-Red GT wagon 5spd - 23k miles Yakima / TandeMover / Rockymount rack To reply, get rid of the "nonsense"
Sorry about that last non-post. SOB, I hate when that happens! lol Anyway - on with the show:
June, On our Legacy-based Subies, I think Blizzaks will be worth 3 winters, but it depends on how far you travel, how many months they are on the car, how hard one drives (espec. accelerates), how clean, dry, warm the road surface becomes... (Scooby_Don't must be using a good dose of the fun-pedal in his Rex! only acceleration could be eating up Bliazzaks *that* fast! ;-) ...and I know how nasty 495 and US-20 can be -my G'ma is in Stow, MA - exit 26 or 27). Twice, I've had Blizzaks for 3 snow seasons on a fwd car, and will most likely get three seasons with them on my LegacyGT. This yr will be season #2 for them, and I can see them lasting one more winter after this one, unless they get left on too long, or the roads are unusually clear & dry, or it is unseasonably warm. I drive 5000-5500 miles in those 4½ months. They go on the car ~Nov.20th, come off during first week in April; unless a storm is on the way - then it's a last play time in a big wet snow! I will likely go for Nokians next time around, but right now the closest dealer is 55 minutes away. Maybe in two yrs there will be a closer one. (This yr, my wife will use the new RE92s in her first season in an awd car, unless she dislikes them enough to buy a set of wheels and snows too.) Terry - '03 Silver Legacy SE sedan - 36 miles! '02 Regatta-Red GT wagon 5spd - 23k miles Yakima / TandeMover / Rockymount rack To reply, get rid of the "nonsense"
And the RE92s are barely that! I am savin' my pennies for some real summer tires (Mich Pilot Sport) and my RE92s only have 26+k miles on them. Ooops, no, subtract 5300 for the mileage the snows were on last winter. Terry - '03 Silver Legacy SE sedan - 36 miles! '02 Regatta-Red GT wagon 5spd - 23k miles Yakima / TandeMover / Rockymount rack To reply, get rid of the "nonsense"
I just got my WRX and have a set of summer wheels/tires for them. I was going to use the brand new stock RE-92's for this upcoming winter. Are they that bad that I should replace them with winter tires? Don't know what i would do with the RE-92's then... don't think there is a market out there for them.
Carlet>And the RE92s are barely that! I am savin' my pennies for some real summer
I'm going to try the Nokian Hakka Qs. I appreciate the dates as I = probably would've chosen just about the same dates but hadn't put much = thought into it. Now I don't have to. :)
June
Sorry about that last non-post. SOB, I hate when that happens! lol Anyway - on with the show:
June, On our Legacy-based Subies, I think Blizzaks will be worth 3 winters, = but it depends on how far you travel, how many months they are on the car, how = hard one drives (espec. accelerates), how clean, dry, warm the road surface becomes... (Scooby_Don't must be using a good dose of the fun-pedal in = his Rex! only acceleration could be eating up Bliazzaks *that* fast! ;-) ...and = I know how nasty 495 and US-20 can be -my G'ma is in Stow, MA - exit 26 or 27). = Twice, I've had Blizzaks for 3 snow seasons on a fwd car, and will most likely = get three seasons with them on my LegacyGT. This yr will be season #2 for = them, and I can see them lasting one more winter after this one, unless they get = left on too long, or the roads are unusually clear & dry, or it is unseasonably = warm. I drive 5000-5500 miles in those 4=BD months. They go on the car = ~Nov.20th, come off during first week in April; unless a storm is on the way - then it's = a last play time in a big wet snow! I will likely go for Nokians next time = around, but right now the closest dealer is 55 minutes away. Maybe in two yrs = there will be a closer one. (This yr, my wife will use the new RE92s in her first season in an awd = car, unless she dislikes them enough to buy a set of wheels and snows too.) Terry - '03 Silver Legacy SE sedan - 36 miles! '02 Regatta-Red GT wagon 5spd - 23k miles Yakima / TandeMover / Rockymount rack=20 To reply, get rid of the "nonsense"
They are less than stellar. They are not dangerous - as long as you know how to drive. I've driven on worse tires, and I've driven on FAR better tires. My next set won't be RE-92s, but I'm not tossing the ones I have.
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