As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.
Subaru’s WRX STI ran on max-performance summer rubber in sizes like 245/40R18, and every tire below is a genuine current-generation ultra-high-performance summer tire in that size class — not a superseded predecessor still floating around in old reviews.
| # | Product | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michelin Pilot Sport 4S | $220-$280 each | Amazon · eBay |
| 2 | Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 | $180-$240 each | Amazon · eBay |
| 3 | Bridgestone Potenza Sport | $210-$270 each | Amazon · eBay |
| 4 | Falken Azenis FK510 | $150-$200 each | Amazon · eBay |
| 5 | Falken Azenis RT660 | $160-$210 each | Amazon |
| 6 | Yokohama Advan Apex V601 | $200-$260 each | Amazon · eBay |
| 7 | Yokohama Advan Sport A/S+ | $180-$230 each | Amazon · eBay |
| 8 | Hankook Ventus V12 evo2 | $140-$190 each | Amazon · eBay |
| 9 | Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 | $190-$250 each | Amazon · eBay |
| 10 | Toyo Proxes Sport | $170-$220 each | Amazon · eBay |
| 11 | Nexen N’Fera SU1 | $120-$170 each | Amazon · eBay |
The picks, in detail
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
Michelin’s current flagship UHP summer tire, widely regarded as the benchmark for dry and wet grip in the STI’s tire class.
- Dual-compound tread technology
- Available in 245/40R18 STI-common sizing
- Michelin’s current-generation UHP flagship
- Strong wet braking performance
- Consistently rated the top all-around performer in independent tire tests
- Excellent balance of dry grip, wet grip, and reasonable tread life
- Priced at the top of this list
- Not the absolute grippiest option for dedicated track use
Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02
Continental’s current UHP summer flagship, replacing the original ExtremeContact Sport with Continental’s SportPlus technology.
- SportPlus technology tread
- Current-generation Continental UHP flagship
- Fits 245/40R18 STI sizing
- Balanced street and light track use
- Current flagship, not the superseded original ExtremeContact Sport
- Competitive dry/wet grip against the Pilot Sport 4S at a lower price
- Slightly less wet-grip margin than the Pilot Sport 4S in most tests
- Shorter tread life than a touring-oriented tire, as expected for this class
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
Bridgestone’s current flagship UHP summer tire, the direct successor to the older S-04 Pole Position that STI owners often mention from memory.
- Current-generation Bridgestone UHP flagship
- Replaces the S-04 Pole Position as the top-tier model
- Fits 245/40R18 STI sizing
- Track-capable street compound
- The actual current Bridgestone flagship, not the older S-04 Pole Position still cited in older reviews
- Strong high-speed cornering stability
- Premium pricing similar to the Pilot Sport 4S
- Firmer ride than a touring-focused tire
Falken Azenis FK510
Falken’s UHP summer tire aimed at premium sport sedans and coupes, priced below the big-three flagships while staying in the same performance tier.
- UHP summer compound
- Silica-enhanced tread for wet grip
- Fits 245/40R18 STI sizing
- Priced below the premium-brand flagships
- Noticeably cheaper than the Michelin/Continental/Bridgestone flagships
- Still delivers genuine UHP-class dry and wet grip
- Slightly behind the top three brands in outright limit grip
- Less long-term wear data than the more established flagships
Falken Azenis RT660
Falken’s track-focused UHP summer tire, sold alongside the FK510 as a sharper, lap-time-oriented option in the same current Azenis lineup.
- Rigid carcass for sharper steering response
- Motorsports-derived tread compound
- Extreme Performance Summer category
- Fits 245/40R18 STI sizing
- Faster and grippier at the limit than the street-tuned FK510
- Genuinely current, distinct model from the FK510, not a rebadge of it
- Lower hydroplane resistance than a touring or street-focused tire
- Shorter tread life than the FK510 given its track-oriented compound
Yokohama Advan Apex V601
Yokohama’s max-performance summer flagship, a distinct model from the more all-season-leaning Advan Sport A/S+ below, aimed at sports cars and performance sedans.
- Asymmetrical tread with 3+1 circumferential grooves
- Solid center rib for high-speed stability
- Fits 245/40R18 STI sizing
- 97 load index, up to 186 mph speed rating
- True max-performance summer compound, sharper than the A/S+ variant
- Strong high-speed stability rating for spirited highway and canyon driving
- Less cold-weather margin than the Advan Sport A/S+
- Positioned closer to the premium flagships on price than the budget picks here
Yokohama Advan Sport A/S+
An all-season-leaning UHP tire from Yokohama, sharing the STI’s common 245/40R18 fitment for owners who want summer-tire grip with a bit more all-weather margin.
- UHP all-season-leaning compound
- Fits 245/40R18 STI sizing
- Cross-shared fitment with several performance models
- Good balance of grip and everyday usability
- More cold-weather margin than a pure summer tire, useful for owners in mixed climates
- Good dry/wet grip for its all-season-leaning category
- Gives up some peak dry grip to a true max-performance summer tire
- Not the right choice for dedicated track days
Hankook Ventus V12 evo2
A budget-friendly UHP summer tire that still delivers genuine summer-tire handling and traction for owners on a tighter budget.
- UHP summer compound
- Tread optimized for dry and wet traction
- Fits 245/40R18 STI sizing
- Priced below most flagship competitors
- One of the cheapest genuine UHP summer tires that still performs credibly
- Good traction balance for the price point
- Tread life and outright grip trail the premium-brand flagships
- Less common OEM fitment/reputation than Michelin or Bridgestone
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
Goodyear’s current UHP summer flagship, rated among the strongest performers in independent dry-braking and dry-handling comparison tests.
- Current-generation Goodyear UHP flagship
- Strong dry braking and handling test results
- Fits 245/40R18-class STI sizing
- Balanced comfort and noise for a performance tire
- Consistently ranks near the top of independent tire-test comparisons on dry braking and handling
- Strong all-around value/price ratio for a premium-tier tire
- Less common OEM/enthusiast mindshare among STI owners specifically than Michelin or Bridgestone
- Wet grip trails the very best in its class slightly
Toyo Proxes Sport
Toyo’s flagship max-performance summer tire, using Nano Balance Technology and available across an unusually wide range of sizes including STI-common fitments.
- Nano Balance Technology tread compound
- Flagship of Toyo’s Proxes performance line
- Available in over 80 sizes including 245/40R18
- Strong wet and dry grip balance
- Wide size availability makes it easy to find for less-common STI fitments too
- Competitive pricing against the Falken and Hankook budget-flagship tier
- Less brand cachet among STI-specific enthusiast communities than Michelin or Bridgestone
- Not the outright grip leader of this list
Nexen N’Fera SU1
An entry-level UHP summer option for STI owners prioritizing price over the last few percent of grip.
- UHP summer compound
- Fits 245/40R18 STI sizing
- Budget pricing within the UHP category
- Decent dry-weather performance for the price
- The most affordable genuinely UHP-class tire on this list
- Reasonable choice for a daily-driven STI not used for track days
- Wet grip and outright limit grip trail every other tire on this list
- Shortest track record among enthusiast reviews
Buying tips
- Confirm your exact model year’s tire size before ordering — the STI ran 245/40R18 on most years but shifted sizing on some later trims, and the two are not interchangeable.
- The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02, and Bridgestone Potenza Sport are the three current premium-brand flagships — if you see an older name like the S-04 Pole Position recommended, check that it hasn’t been superseded before buying.
- Summer tires lose grip fast below roughly 40°F; if you’re in a mixed climate, the Yokohama Advan Sport A/S+ trades a little peak grip for more cold-weather usability.
As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.