Can anyone comment on this new BS tire? This is the OEM tire for 2004 S2000 as well as Enzo! So it's gotta be good...but how good?

 

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/...RE050

Only has two reviews. Both very favorable. Looking for a combo street/track tire?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ponyboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">http://www.tirerack.com/tires/...RE050

Only has two reviews. Both very favorable. Looking for a combo street/track tire? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yep....debating between that and GY Eagle GS-D3 which are significantly cheaper...

 

The Potenza RE050 is an Ultra High Performance Summer tire designed to complement the performance of sports cars, sports coupes and sport sedans. While the Potenza RE050 is used as Original Equipment on the supercharged Mercedes-Benz S55 AMG sedan, a Potenza RE050 Scuderia version is used on the 12-cylinder Enzo Ferrari supercar, and a Run Flat version is used on the BMW Z4 sports cars and 5-Series sedans. The Potenza RE050 was developed to provide good traction along with responsive and predictable dry and wet road handling. It is not intended to be driven in the snow.

On the outside, the Potenza RE050 features a high grip tread compound molded into a directional tread design. A continuous center rib, large tread blocks and stable shoulder elements provide responsive handling, high-speed stability and traction on dry roads, while circumferential and lateral tread grooves are aimed to pump water out from under the tire's footprint to minimize hydroplaning and aid wet traction. Internally, the Potenza RE050 features twin steel belts reinforced by spiral wrapped nylon to stabilize the tread area and enhance handling, high-speed capability and ride quality while minimizing weight. The fabric cord body and hard rubber sidewall filler help blend uniform ride quality with steering response and lateral stability.

Bridgestone Potenza RE050 tires feature black sidewall styling with subtle black letters. They are V-, Z, W- and Y-speed rated depending upon their application and available in selected 50-, 45-, 40- and 35-series sizes for 16" through 19" wheel diameters.

Plus it uses their :

"The Bridgestone Potenza RE050 features our exclusive UNI-T(R) technology for outstanding performance and handling"

Here is another review:

Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) introduces the latest addition to its performance tire family: the Bridgestone(R) Potenza(TM) RE050. The tire is on display this week in the Bridgestone booth (#41917) at the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show.

With a tread design that combines racing-inspired technology with a rain tire, the new W- and Y-speed rated Potenza RE050 delivers excellent dry and wet handling, sporty responsiveness and a comfortable, quiet ride.

In developing the Potenza RE050, Bridgestone turned to its motorsports heritage: six consecutive World Championships in Formula One racing have been claimed by Bridgestone equipped teams. By combining technology derived from the grooved tread design of the Potenza Formula One dry tire and the renowned Potenza F1 rain tire, the Potenza RE050 delivers both excellent grip on dry roads and surefooted traction in the wet.

The tire will be available in February 2004, and has been selected as original equipment for such premium vehicles including the BMW 5- and 6- Series, the BMW Z4; the Porsche 997; the Mercedes Benz C-, E- and S-Class; the Audi C6 and the super-high performance Enzo Ferrari.

"The Bridgestone Potenza RE050 features our exclusive UNI-T(R) technology for outstanding performance and handling, and follows in the sure-footed steps of the Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Position," said Phil Pacsi, executive director, North American Consumer Tire Brand Marketing, BFNT.

The new tire line carries a UTQG rating of 140 for treadwear, 'A' for traction, and 'A' for temperature. It will be available in 25 popular 17-, 18- and 19-inch sizes. The company also is offering a companion Potenza RE050 run flat tire in 8 popular 16- through 18-inch sizes for vehicles specifically designed to use run flat tires.

Bridgestone also is introducing a companion Potenza RE050A, with an asymmetrical tread pattern, which combines large, outside elements for improved handling with smaller, inside elements for water evacuation. The asymmetric tread also allows for easy tire rotation, to help prevent irregular wear.

UNI-T(R) is an acronym for "Ultimate Network of Intelligent Tire Technology" found only in Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton and select associate brand tires. One of its core technologies is a Computer Optimized Component System, COA[cedilla]CS(R), which uses a super computer to help determine an ideal combination of tread design, casing shape, materials and construction for a particular application.

Tires with UNI-T(R) have an O-Bead(R) that eliminates overlapped joints in the bead assembly, improving the way a tire interacts with the rim, and providing a rounder assembly for improved stability.

The use of L.L. Carbon(R), or Long Link Carbon, an advanced form of carbon black, produces a stronger tire, better able to resist cracking, chipping, tearing and excessive wear.

Nashville-based Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. BFNT develops, manufactures, and markets Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton and associate and private brand tires. The company is focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off-road, agricultural and other tires to its customers in North America.

For a listing of available sizes, as well as features and benefits of this tire and other Bridgestone and Firestone tires, please visit http://www.bridgestonetire.com/ or http://www.firestonetire.com/. Visit http://www.tiresafety.com/ for news and information about the importance of proper tire inflation and maintenance.

http://forums.s2ki.com/search/threadview/179898

http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/...79898

 

I'm using the S0-3s right now. If they come in your size, I'll let you know what I think when I get them on the track.

 

I wonder whether the sizes typically used on the NSX (215/40-17 front, 255/35-18 or 265/35-18 rear) might be hard to find in stock and might be difficult to order for the RE050...? I say this because I see from Bridgestone's specs that they do come in these sizes (in the RE050A tread pattern), but these sizes are not shown on the Tire Rack website.

EDIT: Never mind, they are indeed shown on the Tire Rack website; see below.




Modified by nsxtasy at 8:11 PM 3/6/2004

 

I'm not sure what RE050A tread look like compared to regular RE050...but tirerack does list RE050A in those sizes.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ak &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm not sure what RE050A tread look like compared to regular RE050...but tirerack does list RE050A in those sizes. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Aha! You are correct.

If you do what I did - display tires by brand, and click on Bridgestone - it shows the RE050, but does not show the RE050A separately - and if you click on sizes for the RE050, those sizes are not listed. HOWEVER... if you display all tires for each of those sizes, the RE050A does indeed appear. I apologize for the error; it was based on this discrepancy.