First of all, I know there are better tires, but I want opinions of the following 2 tires:

Bridgestone Potenza RE010
215/45/R16, Z rated, 140 tread wear, 23.5 overall diameter (same as 15 inch OEM tire)overall width 8.3 inches, tread width 7.3 inches

Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Position with UNI-T AQII
225/45/R16, Y rated, 2201 tread wear, 23.9 overall diameter, overall width 9 inches, tread width 8.4 inches

 

What do you want opinions for? Street usage? All conditions? Need more info.

Personsally, I love the RE-010. Great tire. The S-03 was better in lower temps (RE-010 were not happy on the mid/low 40 degree or colder days when they were still on, however S-03 do NOT like temps near/below freezing... even a slight uphill will cause a serious problem with any moisture at those temps. then gagain, who uses these tires in the winter? ) and GREAT in the rain, but the RE-010 is a fantastic spring/summer/fall tire. I don't think you can go wrong with either, actually.

 

I have the potenza S03's on my car right now and love them for the most part, great traction in dry weather. But if it gets cold like it is right now in KC (about 35 deg.) the tires feel like they're frozen and just wheelhop even if going up a hill. My friend has the same tires on his BMW M3 and has the same problem. Haven't had them in the snow yet, but i would consider getting some snow tires if ur planning on driving the car all year round. Just my .02

 

If you had to choose between the 2 which would you go with?

No need for winter tires here in Socal

 

What size rim do you have?

I'd get RE-010. They'll have a shorter life than the S-03, but they are a pretty awesome tire IMO.

 

16x7 ...98 spec wheels

I remember how my RE010's were on the 15's back on my first R, and they were nice, but wore out very quickly.


Modified by Spunkster at 4:05 PM 11/16/2004

 

The only thing I don't like about the S-03s is the weight....

Compare the weight of those two mentioned tires...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DutchITR1689 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The only thing I don't like about the S-03s is the weight....

Compare the weight of those two mentioned tires...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Good point! Forgot about that. I'm fairly certain the RE-010 is a few pounds lighter, but cannot confirm.

 

This was my review of the 195/50R15 S-03 and the 195/55R15 RE-010:

"
RE-010
Pros:
- Very good dry grip and traction (just a little bit better than S-03)
- stiff sidewall (not extremely stiff)
- lightweight (20 lbs/ 9kg for 195/55)
- sharp steering response (a little bit less than to S-03 because the S-03 is 195/50)

Cons:
- Expensive
- Wears fast
- not so good on wet
- Very bad in cold weather
- Chunking at high temp. on the track (sometimes).

S-03
Pros:
- Razor sharp steering (195/50R15) -&gt; stiff sidewall
- Very good dry grip and traction
- Extremely good on wet (even when it was almost worn out to 1mm, I was truly amazed)
- No chunking on the track (Not for me at least). The rubber appears to be "tough".
- Very quiet
- Cheap (195/50)
- Last a long time compared to others

Cons:
- Little bit heavy (21 lbs/ 9.5kg for 195/50R15)
- Not available in stock size 195/55
- 195/50 is kinda small for the ITR -&gt; affects speedo, odo, and wheel geometry (scrub radius, I could feel it on the steering wheel)

 

RE010 in 16 is 22lbs

S-o3 is 24lbs

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Spunkster &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Bridgestone Potenza RE010
215/45/R16</TD></TR></TABLE>

Not recommended. That size RE010 is designed to be used as front tires on the NSX. In fact, each tire is designed to be used as a front left tire or a front right tire (you have to order a left tire or a right tire). The tire's design includes directional biasing of the belts to work with the NSX's alignment. The compound itself is even slightly different from the compound used for the corresponding rear size (245/40-17).

The RE010 that is designed to be used for the ITR is the one in the 195/55-15 size. It's a great handling tire and is designed to be used on all four corners of the car. Highly recommended for 15" wheels (such as the OEM wheels) for the ITR.

If you're looking for a tire for 16" wheels for the ITR, then go with the S-03. The S-03 is a general-application tire, meaning that its sizes are designed to be used on a wide variety of vehicles. It is one of the best high-performance general-application tires around.

 

Hrm... i did not know that about the RE-010.

 

98spec jdm ITR comes standard with 215/45/16 RE-010 in Japan

not sure if its the same 215/45/16 RE-010 that Bridgestone sells here in America


Modified by BlueR at 8:38 PM 11/16/2004

 

Both tires are very simular performance wise. I think the RE010 would be my choise, as they seems to have better dry traction.

For the price, I run azenis though.

 

did you consider the Potenza S-02? at least they come in size 205/45/16...the S-03 don't...and IMO they're better than the S-03 in dry condition...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Not recommended. That size RE010 is designed to be used as front tires on the NSX. In fact, each tire is designed to be used as a front left tire or a front right tire (you have to order a left tire or a right tire). The tire's design includes directional biasing of the belts to work with the NSX's alignment. The compound itself is even slightly different from the compound used for the corresponding rear size (245/40-17).

The RE010 that is designed to be used for the ITR is the one in the 195/55-15 size. It's a great handling tire and is designed to be used on all four corners of the car. Highly recommended for 15" wheels (such as the OEM wheels) for the ITR.

If you're looking for a tire for 16" wheels for the ITR, then go with the S-03. The S-03 is a general-application tire, meaning that its sizes are designed to be used on a wide variety of vehicles. It is one of the best high-performance general-application tires around.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

The 215/45/16 is what the ITR gets in Japan with teh RE010

 

Bridgestone sells a different version of the 215/45-16 RE010 in Japan for the JDM ITR. It is not the same as the version sold here.

The 215/45-16 version sold in Japan for the ITR is a symmetric, directional tire (meaning that it can be used on either side of the car; sidewalls are marked with a direction of rotation, but WITHOUT anything saying "side facing outwards"). This is just like the 195/55-15 version sold in the States for the ITR, which is also symmetric and directional.

The 215/45-16 version sold in the States for the NSX is an asymmetric (i.e. NOT symmetric) directional tire, which can only be used on one side of the car. The sidewall has notations for both direction of rotation AND for side facing outwards/inwards. Bridgestone USA's part numbers for this size are 019-887 for a left front NSX tire, and 019-879 for a right front NSX tire.



Modified by nsxtasy at 11:57 PM 11/16/2004

 

Um, the OEM tires on the R were directional as well.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Spunkster &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Um, the OEM tires on the R were directional as well.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, I already said that. They are DIRECTIONAL but they are SYMMETRIC. This allows them to be used on either side of the car (by flipping them on the rim).

The NSX tires are DIRECTIONAL but they are ASYMMETRIC (because the bias in the belts runs in different directions depending on whether it is a left tire or a right tire). This means that each tire is designed to be used only as a left front tire, or as a right front tire. When you order tires, you specify different part numbers for a left tire or a right tire.

 

The OEM RE010's on a 98 USDM ITR were ASYMMETRIC as well. There were Right and Left tires.

You used to be able to buy a right a left one on Tirerack as well.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Spunkster &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The OEM RE010's on a 98 USDM ITR were ASYMMETRIC as well. There were Right and Left tires.

You used to be able to buy a right a left one on Tirerack as well.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's not true now and that has never been true. There is only one OEM RE010 for all years of the US market ITR, and that is Bridgestone part number 058-947 for the 195/55-15 size tire. Same as it's always been.

Any OEM tire (the RE010 in the 195/55-15 size) can be mounted as a left tire or as a right tire, because the sidewall shows the direction of rotation. If you mount it as a left tire, you can take it off the rim and flip it before re-mounting, and it becomes a right tire.

There's no such thing as a left or right tire in this size. This size is symmetric, and does not have a sidewall marking for "side facing outwards" (or inwards). This has been true ever since this tire was introduced on the 1997 ITR.