What do you guys think about using a stiff sidewall winter tire for limited 2-track or off-roading? My Forester will run 2-3 RallyX a year and I also like to hit the ORV trails and public sand dunes here in Michigan. I don't think the 225/70R16 BFG's are necessary and I don't want a super tall sidewall since it throws my speedo off. I'd like to go 225/65R16 (stock size is 215/60R16).
The tire I have my eye on is the Cooper Wintermaster S/T2. They have a really rigid sidewall & seems to do well at the local rallyX events. Should I just go with the nice white lettered BFG's? I have the budget for either one.
Opinions or suggestions are welcome.
NONACK
Reader
5/21/14 8:52 a.m.
What about these? Closer to your stock size and still have offroad capability.
Good topic. i kinda of like these, Weather-Master
apparently an improvement from the Cooper Wintermaster S/T2.
I have Cooper light truck Weathermasters size 235/75 r15 on my Nissan pickup. They are great in the sand dunes and on two tracks. They are ok in gooey clay based mud
I've been considering this same question.
Yokohama makes a multi-track tire in the stock size.
Geolandar A/T-S
Finding a tire that will fit a Forester that also has really square shoulders and an agressive off-road tire pattern is hard with a 16" rim, but if you drop to 15 many more sizes open up. I think some Legacy wheels in 15" size will fit fairly well, then it is just a matter of playing with the tire size to get proper fitment.
Be wary: it's rumored stock 15" Subaru wheels won't clear the front calipers on '03+ Foresters. You may also need mild spacers to clear the struts with a 225 on the rear.
I had great luck with 205/75/15 Dueler ATs on a stock '01 Forester L, absolute hoot in the bush.
The Geolandar A/T-S also comes in 215/60R17 and 225/60R17. I'm wondering if the 225s would work (I have 225/50s on there now) but I'm pretty sure these will be my next rallcross tire.
I am just hoping they don't bump me into the rally tire class we use here.
The General Grabber linked would be a solid option.
The general at2 should work well for what you are wanting to do. When I was looking at outbacks there was a guy on the forums that had a set of bfg ATs that worked well offroad.
The nice thing about the bfgs is that they wear like iron, and they usually dry rot before they wear out.
Edit: the 215/70-16 grabber should be the same 27.5" height as the 225/65-16 you wanted.
