I loved my S-03s, but after they wore out in fewer than 12,000 miles I decided they were not a practical choice for me. I replaced them with Yokohama AVS ES100s. The ES100s have been on my car for about five months now, and I figured I'd share a few of my observations about them.

Tire Wear: The good news is these tires seem to be holding up quite well. There is very little wear on the front tires, and almost no appreciable wear on the rears. So far, so good. In this respect I could not be more satisfied.

Dry Traction: Not bad. It seems the ES100s are made from a harder compound than the S-03s, though, and while dry traction is still good it's not quite up to par with the S-03s. Cold weather seems to affect them more than it did the S-03s.

Wet Performance: This is where I'm least satisfied with the ES100s. Water displacement is very good, perhaps as good as the S-03s. However, they have less grip in the wet than the S-03s. I've noticed my ABS engaging at times when it wouldn't have with the S-03s, even when they had significant wear, and I have to be more careful with clutch engagement from a dead stop. To be fair, the S-03s' wet performance was nothing short of amazing, and it is a tall order indeed to expect another tire to equal them. Still, I don't like driving in rain and want the largest margain of safety possible here.

Steering Feel: Steering effort and feedback both decreased noticeably with the installation of the ES100s. I must point out that the S-03s I had were 195/50-15s while the ES100s are 205/50-15s, so that may be part of the difference. I wish I had measured the actual difference in width, though. Turn-in response is not noticably degraded, just effort and feedback.

Ride Quality and Noise: The ES100s feel slightly stiffer when encountering small, sharp bumps like Botts Dots. Other than that there's not much difference. Both tires are reasonably quiet.

 

Nice overall review

 

Botts Dots?


Thanks for the great review

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Eluder200K &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Botts Dots? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Those are the reflective markers that divide the lanes.

 

good info - thanks for posting...

 

quality review.

 

Nice review.

However, in all fairness, the ES100 (DNA GP) is not positioned in the same category as the S-03; Yokohama does have a comparable tire - it is called the Advan AD-07

 

These tires are considered to be in two entirely different categories. The ES100 is intended to be a value-oriented performance tire, remarkable not for its overall abilities as much as for how much performance it offers for the money. It costs only about 60 percent as much as the S-03. And, at $58/tire in the stock 195/55-15 size, it's a real bargain. The S-03, OTOH, is Bridgestone's top-of-the-line tire, with top notch performance. Given the disparity in price, you would expect it to be better in every way; what's remarkable about the ES100 is that it's as good as it is at that price.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kengs &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">However, in all fairness, the ES100 (DNA GP) is not positioned in the same category as the S-03; Yokohama does have a comparable tire - it is called the Advan AD-07 </TD></TR></TABLE>

The Advan AD-07 is not available in North America. Yokohama's top-of-the-line tire is the AVS Sport, although that tire is not available in 15" sizes.

 

the S-03 does not come in either 205/45/16 or 215/45/16, does it?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EVOL &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the S-03 does not come in either 205/45/16 or 215/45/16, does it?</TD></TR></TABLE>

No.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kengs &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">However, in all fairness, the ES100 (DNA GP) is not positioned in the same category as the S-03; Yokohama does have a comparable tire - it is called the Advan AD-07 </TD></TR></TABLE>

You're absolutely right.

I didn't intend for this to be a formal product review, only a collection of my own observations regarding the differences between the two products. However, I believe it is somewhat relevant because like many other members, I purchased my S-03s when they were on sale for a very attractive price. I think there are other members who liked the S-03s but perhaps aren't willing to pay the current price for them and are looking into lower-priced alternatives just like I was.

And I should have summerised my overall impression of the ES100s as positive. The S-03s were awesome, but I'd say the ES100s are about 90 percent as good for about half the price. The S-03s are great tires. The ES100s are great tires for the money.

 

good review.... my so3's R buRned out to so I have like maybe 6,000 more miles on them then its time to replace them... as far as the es100's I have heard reviews such as yours about them,,,

then I have heard nothing but good about them, from just what I hear I will go with them anything beats the michellen xgtv's hahha there like crayons in wet and dry conditions big

 

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

However, in all fairness, the ES100 (DNA GP) is not positioned in the same category as the S-03; Yokohama does have a comparable tire - it is called the Advan AD-07 </TD></TR></TABLE>

Just because you own them doesn't make them the best, maybe just really really good...lol

You are too JDM Bling Bling..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by doosu &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">And I should have summerised my overall impression of the ES100s as positive. The S-03s were awesome, but I'd say the ES100s are about 90 percent as good for about half the price. The S-03s are great tires. The ES100s are great tires for the money.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Funny, when reading your opening post the only good thing you'd said about the ES 100's was that they were cheaper than the s-03's and had a longer treadlife.

On the down side you'd said they had 1) poorer dry traction 2) inferior wet traction 3) and possibly poorer steering feel.

I find it hard to believe that in view of the above negative comments one would infer that the "ES100s are about 90 percent as good for about half the price."

JMHO Ed

 

Only in relation to the S-03. By that yardstick, yes they are somewhat inferior. But you'll notice I said dry traction wasn't bad, and that water displacement is very good. I also said turn-in response wasn't noticably degraded. So I don't think my observations were overwhelmingly negative.

I wish I could compare them fairly to the AVSi's I had before the S-03s, but it's been so long since I've had a set of those I don't feel I could do that argument justice.

 

I just ordered a set of ES100's, I hope to be satisfied with them.

 

thanks for nice review. i was thinking about getting the es100s next.

 

I had the es100's for a while and was very happy with them, until i picked up my azenis. Now i am very happy

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ITR Demon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I had the es100's for a while and was very happy with them, until i picked up my azenis. Now i am very happy </TD></TR></TABLE>

Azenis own except in rain where they may own you

 

Which is why I wouldn't even consider them for street use.