Geolandar mileage

I'm at 33.5K and it's time to replace them. I would have gotten maybe another 4-5K except that apparently my alignment is a bit off and they have premature wear on the inside edges. The rest of the tread is also getting too thin for winter driving, though, so it would have been time for new rubber anyway.

 

Almost everybody reports problems with edge wear on stock Geos, though sometimes it's the inner edge and sometimes the outer! And then, without any changes in alignment, the replacement tires generally do fine.

 

I never set any sort of high expectations for any tires that come OEM on any of my cars. They usually are dictated by the bean counters and pretty much suck.

That makes me think of the Turanzas that come on the Legacies now. Lord they suck

 

I'm at 40k and I it's about time for me get some new tires. I'm thinking Michelin X-Ice.

 

If you got 40k out of them I'd say you did good.

The X-Ice's will definitely be good but I wouldn't put them on til mid-November, and take them off by spring time. I apologize if that was the plan, your wording made me think they were going to be your year-round tires. Sometimes people do that, I saw an Audi the other day with Blizzaks on it in 90 degree weather and that's a horrible idea in many ways.

 

That was my plan, but after further thought, I may just consider to buy the Michelin Hydroedge with Green X (all season). I was considering some winter tires for winter and some all season for the rest of the seasons. But cost wise, it's not worth it in my case. Our roads are always clean and if I'm ever in any snow it's mostly light. Plus, I'd have to change the tires and balance them every winter season, since I only have my original wheels. Kind of sucks cause I would have loved to have the option to switch between tires.

 

coop923
Mine had wear on both sides (alignment proper, speeds going into corners not always proper), and were at the legal minimum tread when replaced at just over 60,000...there are quite a few others here on this forum reporting similar mileage.
Despite many snivellers, the Geolanders were not selected by 'beancounters' they were selected to meet the extroardinary wide array of anticipated uses the tires would be expected to encounter...have to do a sustained 127 mph, have to do off-road surfaces, have to take on Porsches in the corners, etc. The Geolanders selected were one of the very few that them all...as is the nature with any one product, there have to be compromises, especially as versatile as the Forester is.
What you see in this forum is off-road folks going to an off-road high profile tire, the auto-crossers going for soft rubbered, low profile tire, folks wanting to run through the twisties in rain or shine going to high performance all seasons, etc.
Choose your poison...but most won't go 60,000
I see by your location, that you have need for a good cornering tire, one that takes on pavement, gravel, sand, rain, slush, snow, and occasional ice, sometimes in the same day. Good luck!
-Quick

 

Despite many snivellers, the Geolanders were not selected by 'beancounters' they were selected to meet the extroardinary wide array of anticipated uses the tires would be expected to encounter...

Ahem. I know full well what type of tire the GeolandAr is. I was referring to the specific variant of the Geolandar that comes on the Forester.

You paint quite the romantic picture of how these tires were selected by Subaru, but in reality it probably came down to "who has the cheapest bid for a highway all-season SUV tire".

With the move from the Yokohama Advans to the Bridgestone Turanzas on the Legacies, that could not have been motivated by anything other than the bottom line, because the version of the Turanza on the Legacy is terrible, more so than the crappy version of the Advan that the last gen Legacy had.

But I digress.

 

I got sick of the dismal winter performance of the OE tires on my 2009 after 1 winter and 14k miles. The only thing that saved the car was the AWD. The OE tires were hurting traction. My biggest issue was on the steep hills in Duluth, Minnesota in the winter. The car would go up the hills fine, but coming down the OE tires had so little lateral traction that I would have the car get sideways and almost toboggan down the hill. Snowy, icy hills are a challenge to descend when your tires are a mileage/summer compromise. So, I sold the OE tires on Craigslist and put General Grabber AT2 tires on. Now I have traction year round, although not as good winter traction as I'd get from a dedicated snow and ice tire. But still a big improvement from the OE tires.

I did the same thing on my Dodge Cummins, 18k miles and the OE Michelins had to go (again dismal winter traction). Sold them and put on Cooper Discoverer S/T rubber. Now at 98k miles I'm running 19.5" rims and Toyo M608Z tires.

OEM tires represent a big compromise in my opinion. The manufacturer chooses them based on low cost, low tread noise, smooth ride, etc. They make the vehicle seem real nice on the test drive and do OK for what most people demand from a tire. But I feel that in climates that get annual snowfall measured in feet, not inches, and with altitude changes and varying conditions to deal with, OEM tires are for summer only at best.

In both cases, the tread on my OE tires were fine when I took them off. I just got sick of having no traction.

 

Geolandars G95 versus G900

Ah, it's all in the details.
In 2004, and for several years thereafter, Yokohama Geolandar G900s were the SOA OEM tire, lov'em or leav'em. The G95 followed and essentially carried the same speed, etc. ratings, but was a slightly bigger tire, both in circumference, tread width, rim width variation, Revs per mile, Section width and maximum load rating. Both tires have the same tread design, and from what I could find, the same tire compound.
Oh, one significant difference...the G95 is listed as having just one size...a 225-55-r-17 versus the G900s 215-60-r-16...probably a compromise aimed at the more 'streeted' recent Forester.
-Quick

 

I have 41K+ on my G95s. I usually get better than average tire life. These MIGHT be able to make 50K but I wouldn't risk it. I have .240 to .260 tread depth on all four tires. I will have to change soon. Nokian G2s don't come in 255-55-17 nor does the Continental DWS. I try to avoid Goodyear, Michelin, and Bridgestone. General Exclaim looks good in 255-55-17 H. Anyone using Nokian G2 as an all season?

 

I try to avoid Goodyear, Michelin, and Bridgestone.

Why? In this market they are the premium brands along with Yokohama and Dunlop. They are the only brands I would consider. There is so much cheap rubbish out there that underperform bigtime in comparison.

 

The selection of tires for a Japanese car would also be influenced by JIT delivery, corporate relationships amd even rolling resistance/fuel economy standards. Japanese corporations have a "Hui" or a gang. These function to protect pricing, restrict availability to competitors, and to pay corporate debts. In the US this is a felony called price fixing. Example, Honda and Isuzu at one time produced cars for each other. A hui shares parts suppliers, fixes retail prices in a given market, and restricts availability in a given market. All illegal in the US. It might be said that Yokohama and Fuji Heavy Industries have a relationship extending back several years. These business relationships are highly prized in Japan.
The JIT delivery system is mandatory for tire suppliers. If Bstone cannot get Just In Time delivery for a tire made by a Thai subsidiary due to labor problems the contract for tires will go to another company.
I don't know where you found the info that rubber compounds were the same on Yoko 900s and Yoko 95s. Most companies don't publish their tread compounds at all.

 

Is it lost on everybody that the G95 comes only in one size, and that size is precisely the size recommended for the new Forester model?
-Quick

 

Nope.

:icon_frown:
Jim / crewzer

 

Geo Blues

I am glad I am not the only one who struggles withthe stock GEO's. I have 44k on mine - been through winter in Cincinnati, Ohio and Denver , CO and always perform like a sled in winter! I was afraid that was just how it is. I have been eyeballing some new tires for awhile but I didnt think it seemed right to replace tires at 25K. I get a discount on Bridgestones so I am considering the Turanza Serenity Plus Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus. Thoughts?

 

If you live anywhere it snows, do yourself a favor/service and buy SNOW TIRES...

On the note of the factory tires, the manufacture installs the cheapest thing they can get by with, it's a wonder you want to replace them at 25k... They're garbage...

I can't stress summer/winter tires enough to people... A/S tires are a compromise between decent summer and usually horrible winter traction... sure they'll get you through...

HOWEVER, once you get in a Subie with snow tires (or any car for that matter really) you'll wonder how you made it this far in life without... seriously...

A Subaru with snow tires, in the snow, is practially unstoppable... I've personally been in 24+" of snow in my RS, stopped, got out to try and help someone, got back in and took off... THAT good...

Summer tires, not overly important to the "avarage joe", a decent set of A/S tires will get you by fine... However, come winter, winter tires are CHEAP INSURANCE.. (what's your deductable, should you get in a bender?)

 

I can't stress summer/winter tires enough to people... A/S tires are a compromise between decent summer and usually horrible winter traction...

I really hate bashing allseasons because winter and summer tires are just as much of a compromise in those six months of the year we call spring and fall.

 

tire wear

My 2009 Foz tires lasted about the same as number three rod bearing big end: 100,000 miles plus. Hi-way miles and city miles will vary. New turbo short block on the way. louisiana jim

 

My 2009 Foz tires lasted about the same as number three rod bearing big end: 100,000 miles plus. Hi-way miles and city miles will vary. New turbo short block on the way. louisiana jim

Milage is but ONE factor in the OP's equation...

His tires will go further, he's just question weather or not they SHOULD...

 

bought my 2011 w 18K miles. they looked like original tires at the time. I now have 80K miles and they are still legal, amazingly even wear. I'm shopping for tires cuz I know I want more meat but I might be trading the car out before I exhaust my 100K warranty. I spend about $250 a yr on oil between oil changes. car gets 32mpg on extended highway trips w cruise set to 70mph. yes they stink for winter so I have another set of wheels and tires for winter