Tyre advice

[DXROLLA]

I know there has been a tyre thread before but i cant seem to find it.
Im getting new tyres for my subbie this week, so far i have my eye set on a set of bridgestone potenza re002s, the guy im buying them off has recomended falken ZIEX ZE-912, i have read a few reviews about the falkens and they sound rubbish. Has anyone had any experience with the above tyres or recommend something else? price not really worried just want a really good tyre for all seasons, as i like to drive my car pritty hard so want the best performance, they will also see a few track days until i get a second set of rims for some semi slicks.

[1I1]

Ran RE001 and now have the RE002. They are much much better in the rain compared to the 001's and handling is really nice and seems predicable (did 4 or so laps on track one @Taupo).

[siren676]

I have those falken tyres on my mx5. Have only driven on them twice so cant give you a proper review on them.
Main reason i got them is because they allow more stretch(legally) than any other model of tyre so i can get a cert.

[Bling]

Have RE002, do the trick on the road. Haven't tried on the track.

[DXROLLA]

Cheers for the help, ive only ever herd good things about the re002s so id say ill be going for them, a lot of other brands there seems to be a lot of for and againts so makes it hard on which advice to take

[dnalunchie]

RE002 +1

My flatmate just put a set on his 99 V6 RA wrx. Absolutely loves them. Used to have hancook ventus and he reckons the new ones are just perfect, previously I have used GSD3's and Dunlop direzza DZ101's and I would have to agree the new 002's are the business.

Remember most tire shops have contracts with only SOME of the tire companies so they will always push their closest partners product more than others depending on whichever company is giving them the best deal at the time.

Get the 002's

He is able to floor it in the rain in 1st and 2nd with virtually 0 wheel spin which even in a 4wd car seems pretty decent.

[XSVWGN]

Put potenzas on my turbo corolla on Saturday and love them. It's like driving a brand new car!

Matt

[sergei]

I haven't run RE002 yet.
But I have done a few (3 sets I think) of RE001.
RE001 is awesome road tyre (I rate it higher than GSD3). For road tyre it is best value for money.

Although, if you are serious about track, get a set of Toyo R888 (or Nitto equivalent). As with RE002 (as it is a minor update to RE001) it will be great disappointment after about 5 laps it will turn into mush.

[DXROLLA]

yeah ive been recomended the Nitto NT555, im assuming the r888 is a semi slick? I dont realy want to go that extreme for a general road tyre, will maybe look at getting a second set of semis for track duty when i can afford to. By the sounds of things the bridgestone is the best by far

[Heylin]

I used to run Falken FK452 all round on the Mr2 (running 205 rwkw). My experience with the Silica based compound they use is

- great grip...amazing grip

Side walls were stiff for good turn in at the expense of a harder ride.

They did wear out pretty quick though. 10,000kms on the rear, but hey 205 rwkw + aggressive driving will do that.

[Girvs]

Only have RE002's on the rear at the moment, will upgrade the fronts when I can be bothered getting the car a warrant. But fantastic tyres. Only thing I noticed was I aquaplaned a bit more in the wet... but I suppose you get that when you go from 225's to 265's

[sergei]

Regarding track usage, it is worth the money to invest in a set of semislicks (eg R888), while using good road tyres (eg RE002) for daily driving.

[Girvs]

Regarding track usage, it is worth the money to invest in a set of semislicks (eg R888), while using good road tyres (eg RE002) for daily driving.

Yes. I have semi-slicks for track use and won't use my road tyres on the track. Firstly it means you're not going to tear the hell out of your road tyres. Secondly the R888's will grip better on the track if you're trying to get your times down due to the softer compound.
Though I do have a second set of wheels for my semi's.

[dnalunchie]

At the moment there simply isn't a tire that is able to provide grip levels that are comparable with a proper racing slick while at the same time being able to give good levels of grip in the wet and durability on the road.

RE002 (or whatever your prefer) for the road and a slick for the track, just the way it has to be atm.

[Bling]

Until roads become smooth like race tracks that's not going to ever change....

[2jayzgte]

I used to run Falken FK452 all round on the Mr2 (running 205 rwkw). My experience with the Silica based compound they use is

- great grip...amazing grip

Side walls were stiff for good turn in at the expense of a harder ride.

They did wear out pretty quick though. 10,000kms on the rear, but hey 205 rwkw + aggressive driving will do that.

Agree with the above also will say they are very quiet on the road aswell.

Seem to have alot of grip on the road aswell.

Wet weather performance look to be above average also.

[dnalunchie]

I don't know of any tire that is considered great in the dry and the wet. I mean they are two completely different surfaces, would be like saying anyone good at sleeping should be good at having sex because they both happen on a bed lol

[touge_ae101]

If you want an awesome tyre and money not really an issue get some nitto invo's. the tread pattern has never ending prisms of grip which make them awesome. comparable to pirellis etc for European cars but for normal performance tyre money..

[DXROLLA]

yeah the nitto invos look nice but dont do them in the size im after, which is either 215/45/17 or 215/40/17, i can get a nitto nt555, anyone had experience with them?

[touge_ae101]

yeah the nitto invos look nice but dont do them in the size im after, which is either 215/45/17 or 215/40/17, i can get a nitto nt555, anyone had experience with them?

yeah I had them on my car/still have some 17" tyres kicking around. awesome tyre made me fall in love with Nitto's. 215/40 is a bit of a weird size - perhaps try a 205/45 or 50 even? sometimes going down a tyre size but up in sidewall can end up being fitting about the same.

managed to fit a 205/45 on a 16x8 rim so should be fine..