I have stock wheels on my R. What is the best replacement tire to buy for both performance / looks / $$? Are the RE-010's as good as they get?

 

Welcome to the board...

I've got Kumho Ecsta Supra 712s, super tire for the price (about $67). The sidewall is a bit soft so a higher psi needs to be run. They get grippier (is that a word...) after about 2,000 miles and are superb in the wet. I have been very happy with them.

Lots of people here raving about the Falken Azenis, and I'm sure somebody with more experience than me with those will jump in here...

 

Well, most folks opt for a 205/50R15.

Bridgestone Potenza RE-730s are a good lower cost option.

Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Positions are also a good choice, if not a bit more expensive.

Bridgestone Potenza RE-010s in this size aren't recommended (although they are cheaper than the 195/55R15 - go figure) since they are "made for the NSX" with some sort of "built-in toe". YMMV

I like Bridgestones...

Dunlop and Falken have their devotees... as do Pirelli... Personally, I think all Michelin tires squeal and talk far too much.

Cheers!

 

Here is my advice from experience. DO NOT GET LOWER PERFOMANCE TIRES!! I got some higher treadwear tires thinking that it wouldn't make that much of a difference. It does and I will go back as soon as I can. The R was designed for max perfomance. Putting lower grade tires on it does not do it justice, unless you have another set to swap out on track days. For all out street tires RE010's and S0-3's are awesome. The SO-3's right now are only $100, not a bad deal at all.

 

i have avs i and i like them, but i think i'm going to go with the 195/55 again cause i think the 205/50 makes the wheel gap look bigger. i'm going to try the falkens this time around. there at a good price too.

 

Why go 195 when you can have 205? If you're not concerned about performance and more concerned with wheel gap, do whatever you want or get whatever tire you want as well. If you take performance into consideration, 205 offers significantly more grip than 195. The overall diameter difference is very small. Other brands of 205/50 may have slightly different over diameter too.

 

Thanks for the tips. I think I'll stick with some of the new Bridgestones since the car was designed to use that brand.

 

the car wasnt "designed" to use bridgestones.. its not like the car will flip over if you use something else... they just happened to ship with bridgestones.

The Pole Positions S03s are excellent. However Ive found they make no noise, so you cant hear when they reach their traction limit, nor can u make a scene

Actually tirerack is still having a sale on the S03s for under $90ea. - only in 195/50/15 size tho.


[Modified by Muckman, 10:34 AM 11/6/2001]

 

The BFG KD's are now offered in 205/50/15's and allegedly are one of the best street tires out there, even better than the falken azenis (sp?) They pricey however at ~$150 ea, so there may be more economical options!

 

I think that I'll change wheels to. What do you think about Kosei K1s in 16 x 7 and Bridgestone RE010 215 45 X 16 tires?

 

Please do not buy falkens. Ive had the old grb's and the zeix 502 they both sucked after break in. I havent experienced their new tire but. I totally recommend the dunlop sp-w10. They are inexpensive and perform better as they wear in the dry of course. I dont like to explore the limits when its wet out. What ive noticed in these tires are they cost half as much as the re010's and perform about the same after break in and lasts a little longer. I have bought 2 sets of these already. I hope they dont get discontinued. $70 a piece for a 195/55/15 is cool with me. Tires need to be broken in. Im really wanting to try the khumo's. I havent heard anything negative about the khumos but I rather try them myself then to comment on them.

 

Falken Azenis for sure , the cheapest and perform the best( out of street compound tires).

 

Bridgestone Potenza S-03's in 205/50/15.

 

u know... acutually, a 225/40 16 is closer size to the stock diameter... and a hell lot wider... but of course u prob will lose some speed cuz of the higher contack path... (great for AX tho...)

 

The Bridgestone RE010 on a seven inch rim is only .85" wider than the stock tire on the stock wheel according to the Tire Rack. I was looking through one of the autopedia articles on the Type R from 1997 and it said that the suspension was tuned for the Bridgestone RE010 compound tires. Other cars like the Corvettes have suspensions designed around the tires they come equipped with. All I'm trying to do is perhaps add a little width, keep the same height for the speedometer accuracy, and improve the already good looks of the car and oh yeah, get some fresh rubber.

 

the Azenis are OK, good for 3 laps then they dont stick no more. I prefered my RE711......

 

How about A032 or A038, where can I get it. Currently, I have 205/50/15 RE 730 on my R and I will tell you that they sucks!! I turn in at least 10 mile slower in a 60 miles uphill road. I almost lost on it, it all happened on last Sat, nice North CA weather, temp around 70 degree, dry road, I am very familiar with that road because it is the road I go winding since I have my R in 1997. To all R owner, don't buy RE 703 unless you want to downgrade your handling by 20%. I will just keep it for the winter in CA and I am already looking for a set of summer tire, maybe A038?? Anyone know how comparable is Falkens to 010? Falken is so afforadable that I am afraid it is another 730.

 

Thanks to all for the advice.

 

I agree, but heck at least they stuck for 3 laps For the price though, it's worth it.

 

If you want to go extreme consider Toyo RA-1's. They are R-compound tires originally intended for autocrossing and road racing. However they are street legal: have DOT certification.
I have my doubts whether any dedicated "street tire" would outperform them. http://www.toyo.com

Here is a press message:

Toyo Tires® Expands Proxes RA-1 Sizing for the Track

CYPRESS, CALIFORNIA – Toyo Tires announces the addition of a variety of new tire sizes to their race-proven line of Proxes RA-1 radials. Highly popular with road
racing, autocross and touring cars, these DOT-approved competition tires are now available in the following new 17-inch sizes: 205/40ZR17, 235/40ZR17, 255/40ZR17
and 275/40ZR17. Two new 18-inch diameter tires have also been produced for the demands of today’s high-powered machines, a 225/40ZR18 and 275/35ZR18.

The Proxes RA-1 features a free-floating steel cord side ply for improved cornering stability and transient response. Its superior thermal stability ensures a more
consistent, longer-lasting tire for repeated use on the track. As a result, race drivers can rely on consistent aggregate times during a race, rather than experiencing a
brief improvement in lap times followed by degraded handling. Chassis setups are much easier as well, thanks to the consistency of the Proxes RA-1. The tread is
molded with an 8/32" tread depth for superior wet traction, while it can be shaved to 4/32" to generate extreme dry cornering force.

Proxes RA-1 tires feature “V” or “Z” ratings (depending on size), and are also available in 13-, 14-, 15-,16-, 17- and 18-inch. All Proxes RA-1 tires are labeled with the
following ratings: Tread Wear 40, Traction A and Temperature A. For more information, contact your local Toyo retailer, or browse the Performance Tire section of the
Toyo website at toyo.com or teamtoyo.com.

 

I agree with ITR 98-0652,

S-03's are good tires. I took my 1 month old set to autoX, preformed pretty good IMO., but too pricey.

 

"Bridgestone Potenza RE-010s in this size aren't recommended (although they are cheaper than the 195/55R15 - go figure) since they are "made for the NSX" with some sort of "built-in toe". "

this statement is only half correct... the Potenza RE-010s in 205/50/15 sizes are made in two configurations designated by a letter code on the tire(I forget the damn letter code though). One for the older NSX application and one for non-NSX cars. I've spoken with several tire distrubuting companies that know the difference... I think I had to bring it to the attention of the last Tire Rack employee I talked to, but it was sorted out with a key stroke...

 

ps I've heard enough good about the Azenis that I'm going to give them a try for street tires... hell, for the money, what do you have to lose? I can't complain about the Kumho 712's considering the investment... after I put about 40psi in them that is...

 

I just bought a set of Bridgestone SO-3 Pole Positions for my ITR (205/50/15)
They are awesome tires...
I was trying to decide between the T1-S and the SO-3's...
The T1-S have a harder compound so they last longer, they are silicone based so they are more for street use.....
The SO-3's are softer and are better for track use that the T1-S...

 

I've been very happy with the RE010s. That's what I plan to get another set of. If you're not worried about cost or wet traction (don't drive the car in the rain), what tires would you recommend that are street legal?