stock bridgestones
 

So I've got about 3K on my car and the tires are cupped out already on the outside... bad. I've called bridgestone and we got in contact with a local shop and they said they needed to check them out etc. but wanted me not to come in until they had the tires in stock.

the tires are loud and ride like crap.

anyone else had problems with them to the point where they had them adjusted or replaced like this?

it's been a week and so far no work from the shop to tell me the tires are in...

yup. those are the stock potenzas. although excessive wear on the outside of the tire sounds like an alignment problem.

i say ditch the potenzas. there are better tires for less money than the stock potenzas.

take a look through this thread:
best replacement tires

yea sounds like an alignment problem.... dealer should be able to align it for you for free under the 12000 mile 'adjustment' period...

I am with Glyphon, ditch those tires IMO they suck. I am very happy with my BFG G-Force Sports.

Gives you an excuse to go up to a 245/40/18 too :)

to you do some pretty aggresive cornering because i have found that I have started to get the same wear from taking corners hard

well here's the kicker, I checked the alignment, everything is in spec. I know that toe being out in the front will cause outside choppy wear and on the rear it will cause uneven swipes across the tire.

yeah i do some pretty hard cornering, but who here doesn't?

what did you do?

I've only got 3K on the tires and don't really want to spend 500-800 on a new set to replace new tires

the stock bridgestones have horrific treadlife, although i think you might take the cake on wearing them out the quickest.

if you drive/corner hard, tire wear is the price you pay.

Ok, so I'm completely ignorant about tires. Everyone says the stock tires suck, but nobody says much about *why*-- they just go off into long discussions about potential replacements. Glyphon here just said they have horrific treadlife. And I know they're rotten in the snow (but they're supposed to be). What else (if anything) is wrong with them? If I replaced them with something better (for the summer), what difference would I notice?

what's wrong with them?

1. expensive as all hell for what you get. there are equal (if not better) tires for much less, and for the same amount there are far superior tires (bridgestone s-02/s-03).
2. in my experience with the stock potenzas, they have decent performance in the dry and less than mediocre in the wet. the wrx used to come with the same model tire and in general, the scoobie owners hated the tire as well. (this example is meant as support for my claim, not justification)
3. they are LOUD. before i couldn't hear the buzzer at any speed, and if i was going over ~40mph i couldn't hear the engine unless i was accelerating hard. new tires, i can hear the buzzer with the radio on and the windows down, and can hear the engine over the road noise.
4. i didn't notice this one until after i switched tires, but the stock potenzas don't have a smooth ride at all. after switching, i was floored by how much smoother the new tires were.

If you replace the Potenzas.
You would be able to hear your radio and engine over the howl.
You should get better wet grip depending on what you get.

But if you get 245 40 18 then you will lose some of the steering snap due to the sidewalls not being stretched on the 8" rims.

I am looking at the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 245 40 18 when my Potenzas wear out. They should last twice as long.

Edit: Glyphon, you beat me. Good answer.

Good answers, guys, thanks!

what tires are you running now?

cupping is caused by misaligned suspension or unevenly balanced tires or or incorrect tire/wheel mounting

it sounds like it could be tire feathering. if its a loud wistle kind of sound.

kumho ecsta spt.

Newb questions here. Would you have to change your alignment if you have different tire size? For example: 245/40/18 compared to stock.

THANKS!

nope, i think you just need a balance. not positive though, as i'm running them as stock size.

It seems like everyone is going to 245/40/18. Do this fit our rims or do you need a new set of rims too?

245/40/18s will fit on the stock rims.

From what I read here, this size fits the stock rims, gives a footprint about 3/4 inch wider, and matches the stock circumference (and speedometer accuracy) very well. It would also seem that a larger footprint with lower sidewall profile ought to increase cornering stability with a slight trade-off in steering response. Is that right?

Am I missing anything?

I would say you are right RotrDoc.

You know the Potenzas are bad when the snow tires (Ice Bears) are quieter, smoother and have better wet grip.

Glyphon, how are the SPTs?

after 5k miles, love em.

Damn, I get 8 free tires from my dealer. I hope they're the Dunlops instead of the Stock Potenzas because I don't want to spend another 500+ on new tires. I don't know how the Bridgestones are $230 a piece though...