howards11 Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 Since I a new Subaru owner, how about some tire and battery suggestions ? The 2000 Forester L takes 205/70 R 15 tires. The battery is a series 35. I have been thinking about a Diehard Silver battery and Yokahoma Avid T4 tires. Thanks ! ~Howard :nospam: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 there are many possibilities here. For my Forester I am running Michellins since they came on it and I have been pretty happy with them. I run Interstate batteries in all my cars because they tned to be at least as powerful as stock and are easily available and inexpensive. I run the largest battery I can get in the battery tray. If you lose an alternator you can often still get home if you have enough battery. Starting in poor conditions is also improved. I bet we will have a lot of tire opinions here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99obw Posted September 13, 2003 Share Posted September 13, 2003 We got about 40k out of the original XW4 Michelins. They were terrible in the snow so we bought some Blizzaks. Replaced the XW4's with a set of Michelin Symetry's, and they wore out even quicker. I ran the Blizzaks this summer until they were done and then bought four yokohama avid touring tires. A great three season tire. A little noisy and a bit rougher riding than the michelins, but a much better value. Rated pretty well by consumer reports by the way. Tread life of 620, compared to the XW4's 400. Your AWD vehicle will really shine with some snow tires. Paying more for an AWD vehicle and then running it in the snow with all season tires doesn't make sense IMHO. Many of my friends here locally own subarus, but I am the only one who runs snow tires, so take it for what it's worth. I bought inexpensive three season tires to save some money for 4 new winter tires. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howards11 Posted September 13, 2003 Author Share Posted September 13, 2003 Does anyone know if the new SUV battery from Diehard will fit the Forester ? ~Howard :wave: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commuter Posted September 13, 2003 Share Posted September 13, 2003 I'm not familiar with that battery, sorry. I know from my own research some time ago, that the Group 34 battery size is very common. It's a little bit bigger, mainly slightly longer. There are dimension charts on the web that you should be able to easily find. I've looked at my car and it appears that it would not be a problem to fit it in. You might want to do a search. There was a battery thread not long ago. As I recall, several people said that the DieHard batteries were not all that great. No experience with them myself. Commuter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crashton Posted September 13, 2003 Share Posted September 13, 2003 I bought a set of Yokohama Advid Touring tires for my 2000 Forester L. I went up one size to 215/65/15. They are about the same height & 10mm wider than the stock tires. The fit is great with no clearance issues. Very nice tires IMHO. Can't comment on their snow performance, I use Blizzak's when the snow flies. I'm still on my original battery, but when it goes I'm buying a red top Optima. It will fit, but you will need to replace the positive cable with a slightly longer one. At least that's what I read on NASIOC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howards11 Posted September 14, 2003 Author Share Posted September 14, 2003 Crashton: What size Optima battery are you using ? The last time I checked the web site for them, they were not making one in a series 35 which the Forester uses. ~Howard :wave: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crashton Posted September 14, 2003 Share Posted September 14, 2003 I don't have the Optima in there yet. I'm waiting for the oem Panasonic to die first. The Optima 75/35 & the 34/78 both should fit just fine. You will need to get a longer positive battery cable. The dimensions of the oem Panasonic are L 9" x W 6 3/4" x H 8". I just measured it. Chuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subyroo Posted September 15, 2003 Share Posted September 15, 2003 Originally posted by howards11 Crashton: What size Optima battery are you using ? The last time I checked the web site for them, they were not making one in a series 35 which the Forester uses. ~Howard :wave: I have an Aussie MY03 XS Forester with a 75/35 - 925 Red Top Optima fitted, it was originally fitted in my MY01 RX Liberty (aka Legacy)........Howard is right on the money though you will have to get a longer + lead made up, mine cost $19.00AUD back in May 2001. I can post a pic tomorrow (my time, it's 7:20pm at the moment) if you want to see it fitted With my MY01 Liberty I also had to change the Hold Down Bracket and that was about $10.00AUD. Optima is the way to go in my opinion it boots the Subee's where it counts. :eek: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howards11 Posted September 18, 2003 Author Share Posted September 18, 2003 Wouldn't the larger size tires put more wear and tear on the differentials? What tire pressure are you using on the upgraded size ? ~Howard Originally posted by Crashton I bought a set of Yokohama Advid Touring tires for my 2000 Forester L. I went up one size to 215/65/15. They are about the same height & 10mm wider than the stock tires. The fit is great with no clearance issues. Very nice tires IMHO. Can't comment on their snow performance, I use Blizzak's when the snow flies. I'm still on my original battery, but when it goes I'm buying a red top Optima. It will fit, but you will need to replace the positive cable with a slightly longer one. At least that's what I read on NASIOC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crashton Posted September 20, 2003 Share Posted September 20, 2003 I don't believe they put any more stress on the diffs. All 4 tires are the same size, if they weren't then yes they'd stress the diffs. I am running 34 pounds pressure in them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subyroo Posted September 20, 2003 Share Posted September 20, 2003 howards11....... the Ausssie XS Forester comes standard with 215/60 R16 Yokohama Geolanders if that helps you at all, I am not up to date with the new fang dangled tyre sizes. :o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howards11 Posted September 20, 2003 Author Share Posted September 20, 2003 My Forester is a 2000 L. That year the standard tire was a Bridgestone Dueler 205/70 R15. The S model that year got the 16 inch tires. ~Howard :wave: Originally posted by subyroo howards11....... the Ausssie XS Forester comes standard with 215/60 R16 Yokohama Geolanders if that helps you at all, I am not up to date with the new fang dangled tyre sizes. :o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crashton Posted September 21, 2003 Share Posted September 21, 2003 You can put 215/65/15 tires on. They are about the same circumference as the 205/70/15. You gain a bit wider tread without any drawbacks as far as I can see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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