SVX Tires and handling
 

I was curious if I could put 205/60 16 tires on my stock svx rims. I have the original 225/50r 16 tires on there now and i have to say that the svx is not that great in the snow. My tires are decent tread all seasons now but when im driving the svx my rear end likes to kick out on me more that i think it should. I have a 93 legacy and it seems to completley outperform my svx in crappy snow. Could this be because of the sheer weight of the svx, or is it because im using the wide low pro tires still. It seems that when i go around even the slightest bend or when im turning from a stop sign. the car wants to just spin out in the rear end hard. Does anyone else experience this?

Re: SVX Tires and handling
 

Are you low on gas? My SVX is really only tail-happy when it's low on gas and that's on 225/50/R16 tires.

It could just be that your all-season tires aren't good in snow. Most aren't. Generally, people recommend having a dedicated Winter set and Summer set.

Re: SVX Tires and handling
 

My snows are 205/55/16 so 205/60/16 will work but they're 3.24% larger in diameter than the stock 225/50/16. At 60mph you'll read 58mph.
Are you sure your AWD is working. When my RWD was not engaging, the car would loop on me at a moments notice on snow, very dangerous to say the least.
I have a '97 Outback and it's superior in the snow also.

Re: SVX Tires and handling
 

Here is a handy dandy tire calculator for all your tire size needs gentlemen!!

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Re: SVX Tires and handling
 

all our spedos seem to be 2-3 mph faster than we are going at 60 so no problem there.

Re: SVX Tires and handling
 

205/55/16 would be a better match. Many threads here on snow tires. Try a search if you haven't already. Narrower is better to cut through the snow, so the 205 is good.

Re: SVX Tires and handling
 

205 good
Blizzak great

Re: SVX Tires and handling
 

The ideal size for snow tires depends on the conditions you see in your area.

If it's constantly snowing and you often have to go through loose powder, 205/55/16 is the best. The narrower width will allow you to dig through the snow down to a more solid surface, giving you more grip, where a wider tire would pack the snow down and float on it.

If you're always driving on packed, hard surfaces then a stock size 225/50/16 is fine. The additional contact patch will put more tread down on a solid surface for better grip.

Does your Legacy have a limited slip rear diff? The SVX's LSD rear does make it a bit more tail-happy, and being low on gas (light back end) and having no-season tires will just make it worse. My car with Blizzaks takes a fair shove to bring the back end out, I find I'm more prone to understeer than oversteer (Then again, I'm not running swaybars right now, so it may be a side effect of that.)

In any case, the SVX doesn't become the winter tank it is until it's got snow tires. Never forget, AWD may get you moving, but it won't help you stop.

Re: SVX Tires and handling
 

I do have some rear transfer clutch binding, but i can take off out off snow packed places no problem. Could that possible cause something wrong? My AWD does work but it seems that there is a delay in my rear for the tires to catch and by then its too late. I took out my legacy today and i was having no problem on my backroads at 45MPH but yesterday when i had the svx if i tried the same thing i would spin out with absolutley no control. This is my 3rd subaru from the early 90's and it just seems that my svx is a bit off compared to my legacy i have now and my old outback.

Re: SVX Tires and handling
 

Exactly what tires are you running on the SVX right now?

Re: SVX Tires and handling
 

Im have blizzaks the stock 225 50 16 on all 4 right now

Re: SVX Tires and handling
 

Then there's something odd happening with your car. As I said, mine takes a definite effort to get sideways. If your AWD is binding and you're on snow it will force the wheels to spin at the same speed when they should be moving at slightly different speeds. The rear has less traction that the front (less weight back there). The rear wheels also travel a shorter distance through a turn, so they should slow down. If they are forced to spin at the same speed as the front then they might slip enough to induce a loss of traction.

That's the only explanation I can think of.