I aquired a set of these a while back and was waiting for a good track day to use them. Anyone else have experience/input about them?

 

can you get them in the U.S.?

 

are those still soft? they are looking a little old...

 

I don't know if they're available in the US. How soft should they be? I can press my fingernail into them and leave an impression without too much force.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ITR 98 1162 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I don't know if they're available in the US. How soft should they be? I can press my fingernail into them and leave an impression without too much force. </TD></TR></TABLE>

sounds good. You could always throw some of that VHT compound on too soften them up if they too hard. Just make sure they're not dry rotted...

 

How would I know if they're dry rotted?

 

I have a set of those. I havent tracked the car or anything, so I couldnt tell you how good it is. Though, I can tell you from street driving, they are better than Advan AO32Rs. They are noisy too.

 

I think these are the same tires and this person is a member here. "extrah" I think is his name. Maybe he can give some insight.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dave-ROR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">are those still soft? they are looking a little old...</TD></TR></TABLE>

No **** they look scorched.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1GreyTeg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

No **** they look scorched.</TD></TR></TABLE>

n00bz.

They look fine to me, assuming they've been stored properly. All that crap will clean off in the first session. VHT treatment wont do much for them except make them wear faster initially, all the benefit is gone in the first few laps.

 

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

n00bz.

They look fine to me, assuming they've been stored properly. All that crap will clean off in the first session. VHT treatment wont do much for them except make them wear faster initially, all the benefit is gone in the first few laps.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes RJ, ASSUMING they've been stored correctly. Do you really want to assume that though? Otherwise, they look old and will likely perform like ***. I agree that VHT will be gone quite quickly.

 

If you think those are bad, you should see some of the tires i've run.....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you think those are bad, you should see some of the tires i've run.....

</TD></TR></TABLE>

I've run worse too. They just look like they are discoloring, but it could be the pic. Everything else about them looks normal. **** I've run olf BFG R1's that looked perfectly fine, were "soft" for the fingernail test and gripped worse than all season $19.99 specials.

 

Hi. Yes, I got those on my R.
I bought them late 2004, so i havent had the chance to try them on track yet.

A buddy from Norway got lots of track experience with them. I bought mine after he recomended them to me.
His screen-name is Pompiuses, and im sure he`ll post a small review here when he sees this thread.

Eirik.

 

They've been stored in the back of my garage dry and cool for a while now. What's the proper way to store them and how would I know if there is this "tire rot"?

 

They look fine to me. Thats how my set looks too. They are so sticky, they get all gummy from driving when heated up.

 

Anybody figure out if they are possible to get in the US? I sent them an e-mail but they havesn't responded. Thanks

 

As far as I know they are now available in the US. The reason being it is not DOT approved. You could import a set in, but I dont know how easy that would be. You would need a hook up I think.

 

IMO the RE540S was the best R compound tire -- like 3 yrs ago. Now the A048 seems to out perform it.

Anyway, they are still very very good tires, stickier than RA1.

 

The tread design looks like the tire from the "tire buying" section under tuning parts in GT3 lol.

Isn't this tire discontinued now though? I believe it was replaced by the RE55S?

http://ms.bridgestone.co.jp/index_re55s.html

 

Yeah the RE55 is the newer model. Im not sure if they did away with the 540 though. I think I still see them in the Option mags.

 

Joey, dont run em. Two different sizes.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by migs &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Joey, dont run em. Two different sizes. </TD></TR></TABLE>
What's the worst thing that can happen having 2 205 and 2 195?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dave-ROR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I've run worse too.</TD></TR></TABLE>

and unfortunately to say so have I. And I mean ALOT worse.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dave-ROR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">They just look like they are discoloring, but it could be the pic.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I think it might be and or paddock dirt and whatnot.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dave-ROR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Everything else about them looks normal.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yep, the rubber will clear off by the second warm up lap or by the first turn/braking zone if RJ was using them.

I always rotate between days and events to even them out and so they don't get too much buildup on the rears

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dave-ROR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">**** I've run olf BFG R1's that looked perfectly fine, were "soft" for the fingernail test and gripped worse than all season $19.99 specials.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Did the same thing with Hoosier R3203's. But I used that tire treatment stuff to get them sticky again, oohh boy what a no no. Once the 1/16th of a sticky inch wore off, it was like ice skating in dress shoes.