new wheels & or tyres: help needed

[Tigga1]

Ok, guys, this is my plea...

want to change my tyre/wheel combo, but am asking for advice on possibilities...

Current situation:
16" with Pirelli Scorpio 215/65
changes to these shortly after purchase...and, while they're ok, I find them lacking in wet weather and general "faster" driving...

would like:
17" or 18"

or perphaps should get different tyres (at prohibitive cost)!

Question:
what have people changed to and with what tyres...
I could go to 18"s with ecsta's, even thought I would prefer 17"s, just becuase I thiunk ride comfort would be better...

perhaps I could keep 16"s and have winter/wet set with appropriate tyres for differnet circumstances.

any comments...and pictures of new combo's...?

[mikinoz]

It is going to probably do you some favors by looking at say www.gtrydaz.com for an insight into the Subaru Forester crowd on the topic of tyres for AWD's - unless there are some people on here that have experience with the SUV, as the handling characteristics required in the tyre will be much less similar to a car with lower centre of gravity.

I hope I make sense.

[clip]

IMO you're completely wasting your money going to 17" wheels. Stick with the 16" and change tyres if you really don't like what you've got. Otherwise go to 18" and your choice of tyres. 18" will not compromise your ride and will make a bit of improvement to your handling.

[Tigga1]

IMO you're completely wasting your money going to 17" wheels. Stick with the 16" and change tyres if you really don't like what you've got. Otherwise go to 18" and your choice of tyres. 18" will not compromise your ride and will make a bit of improvement to your handling.

again, tonight driving in the rain, the Pirelli Scorpions just don't cut it going up the range, but, it may be due to too much work being done by front wheels...
so...is the Haldex aftermarket kit worth it...to make it a 60:40 split when working...just like Audi Q5 or others...?

I could get P6s, or go 18" with Kumho Ecstas...

at the end of the day, I like the idea of better looking wheel/tyre combo, but ride quality/ handling should not be compromised too much.

on another topic, do the sidesteps stop mud splashing on the bottom of the doors/sills...?

thanks guys!