please read this:

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=28702

and this

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=52764

now if i remember right, the majority of 8's come from the factory with bridgstone potenza s03's. i know that the m3 and the 8 have totally different tire sizes, but this could be a potential problem that i wanted you guys to know about.

 

has anybody in here had that problem on their 8?

 

Wow!! I think he may have needed an alignment. There is without a doubt a problem. However, interesting to hear/see nobody else was having that issue. The '05 8's are coming standard w/ Goodyears.

- Irish

 

we got potenza re040's, and mine went the distance, 25k miles.

 

Curious, what Goodyear tires are stock on the 05 8s?

 

[QUOTE=irish8]Wow!! I think he may have needed an alignment. There is without a doubt a problem. However, interesting to hear/see nobody else was having that issue. The '05 8's are coming standard w/ Goodyears./QUOTE]

Mine came with Dunlop Sport 8090s.
Maybe it's a Canadian thing.

 

Not just a Canadian thing--many of the later 2004 models here in the U.S. have the Dunlops, which I have. Much better in the rain that we're enduring in Southern California right now.

I had a problem similar to the one shown on the M3 forum with my last car--with B.F. Goodrich tires. My problems stemmed from the tires being old before they went on my car. The M3's tires could have a factory defect, but I also wonder how old the tires were before they went on the car. Tires do not have an infinite shelf-life.

 

My 05 came with Potenza RE040s. Maybe it is a regional thing or just whichever brand is available when the car is made.

 

Are you sure about Goodyears on the '05s? I didn't think Goodyear even made a tire in our stock size. I've seen Dunlops on the late '04s. You would think that this would carry over into the next MY. Does anyone know why they made the switch to Dunlops in the first place? The Dunlop treads look a lot less aggressive than the RE040's.

 

You remember wrong. The original batch of RX-8s were equipped with Bridgestone Potenza RE-040 (same tire, different size, to the OEM tire on the 350Z). Since December 03, RX-8s have had either the RE-040 or the Dunlop SP-8090.

Regards,
Gordon

 

Crap... i just put some S-03's on about 1000 miles ago.. they have so far been really good tires.. i sure don't this doesn't happen to me..don't think i got the insurance on them from the tire place.

 

damn, those really did look like re-treads. Bridgestone really doesn't have a great reputation, especially with the whole Ford Explorer fiasco, but this just reinforces what I always thought. The RE040 is a decent tire, but as soon as they wear out I will be going to 245/40/18 either a Goodyear GS-D3 or Michelin Pilot Sport 2.

 

Good find, both people seem to have the same issue in the same place in the INSIDE of the tire where you can't see it unless the tire is off, definitely something to check.

 

You still have the manufacturers warranty for defects.

 

My Potenzas lasted 24000 miles. Ive got KDW2s coming in atthe end of this week

 

Sorry...i meant Dunlops!! It was late lastnite when I posted!! However, not all '05's, some are delivered with Potenza's (I guess to move through the last of the potenza stock).

- Irish

 

gawd - if we could be so LUCKY to have S03s from the factory...geesh..they are AWESOME tires

 

Just over 20,000 miles on my RE 040's now and all is well. Very Very thin but no defective damage. I'm probably going to get ne Kumo 245/40 18's this week. Wider and less expensive.

 

k..i feel obliged (sp?) to defend these tires a bit.. as of about 2000 miles they have been nothing but EXCELLENT tires.. superb grip, noise, ride, everthing. and they work really good in the rain. now i don't know if my tires will do this or not..and i'll def. keep a check on them.. but i'm thinkin there is something goin on that might be because of installation error or some other unknown factor as of right now. (maybe aftermarket tire cleaners weakinging the rubber compound causing pre-mature dry rot??) my tires show no signs of this thank god..and again..so far have been the best tire purchase i have made yet as far as overall handling.....these things grip like a pregnant woman in labor...lol. u get the idea. hope this isolated couple of events doesn't keep you guys from considering a really good tire..maybe the most advanced tire on the market right now.

 

I find it interesting that the problem was the inside bead on both and only one had aftermarket wheels. I don't know how common it is if this is only a sample of the actual number of problems. I can say that I have had mine previously checked before a road-trip and mine are fine after 10,350 miles. I would have kept the tire and sent pics to Bridgestone to see if they wanted to study the tire to see what went wrong with it.

 

I know two friends who have the exact same tires in the exact same size on the exact same car. One set of these tires are in perfect shape after 7000 mi. No complains whatsoever other than a bit of nroad noise. The other friend was not as fortunate after 3000 mi. His blown in a similar manner as those pics and caused an accident. What this all means to SO3 owners? Check your tires often.