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Factory Bridgestones Suck

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Old 09-20-2004, 08:59 AM
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Factory Bridgestones Suck

hi, i was wondering if everybodys bridgestones potenza re040 where cupping. all 4 of mine are ( cuped) sounds like truck tires with the windows up going down the interstate. do i bitch at dealer or bridgestone or chit out of luck.
any input would be good thanks
Old 09-20-2004, 09:07 AM
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Tire warentee is strictly with the manufacturer. So your dealer won't care.
Old 09-20-2004, 09:13 AM
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Nope, 15,000 miles on mine and they look like they have 5,000 + more miles to go. How many miles on yours? How many times have you rotated them? Do you check the air pressure?( don't trust the TPMS). Has your 8 been in an accident?
Old 09-20-2004, 09:24 AM
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11,000 miles and rotated at about 5000 when put the the factory chromes on.and no to the accidents.started to make noise at 5000.
Old 09-20-2004, 09:27 AM
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Noise started about the same time you put on the chromes (5,000) I would check the balance of the chromes.
Old 09-20-2004, 09:41 AM
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I knew they sucks hence I sold them right after I got my new car. Now am using Pilot Sports 2 (245/40/18), am a very happy man.
Old 09-20-2004, 03:02 PM
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Originally Posted by expo1
....( don't trust the TPMS). .....
What do you mean?

rx8cited
Old 09-20-2004, 03:51 PM
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Originally Posted by rx8cited
What do you mean?

rx8cited
Don't think you can skip checking TP because you have TPMS. People have reported being around 25 lbs and no TPMS light and mine have been up to 44 on a track with no lights.
Old 09-20-2004, 03:55 PM
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Originally Posted by expo1
Don't think you can skip checking TP because you have TPMS. People have reported being around 25 lbs and no TPMS light and mine have been up to 44 on a track with no lights.
I was under the impression that the warning light only illuminates when tire pressure drops to 10 psi or below.
Old 09-20-2004, 04:02 PM
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Originally Posted by expo1
Don't think you can skip checking TP because you have TPMS. People have reported being around 25 lbs and no TPMS light and mine have been up to 44 on a track with no lights.
Everyone should know that the TPMS light is supposed to turn on if the pressure is below 26 PSI or above 49 PSI. Way too far below or above when I want to know about it - so it's not to be relied upon as a susbtitute for check tire pressure frequently.

If people are finding 25 PSI or 44 PSI in their tires, it sounds like they're not checking often enough or not ensuring that they are 32 PSI cold. I try and check mine at least once every two weeks.

rx8cited
Old 09-20-2004, 06:05 PM
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^^try nitrogen then you don't need to worry about it anymore...

no changing in tire pressure, even if you check once a day or once a month. I even had a nail in my rear tire and pressure didn't drop at all...
Old 09-20-2004, 08:54 PM
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I dunno, I think the stock Bridgestones are a good tire. Perhaps not what worth what they charge in terms of replacement costs, but .9 Gs, great turn in, good comfort, and reasonable life (for a performance tire). I think back to the Bridgestones that came on my '94 Miata - now there was a car in need of an tire upgrade. But my .02 is that the Potenzas that come on the '8 are worth driving on until they are down to the wear bars, unless you want to compete in a autocross street tire class or are heavily modding the suspension and want the absolute best to go along with those coilovers.

FWIW, Racing Beat has basically stated the same thing in RX Tuner.

As for the original poster, I agree, it sounds like a pressure issue. RXMAN04, have you checked your pressures?

George
Old 09-20-2004, 09:52 PM
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Originally Posted by GeorgeH
I dunno, I think the stock Bridgestones are a good tire. Perhaps not what worth what they charge in terms of replacement costs, but .9 Gs, great turn in, good comfort, and reasonable life (for a performance tire). I think back to the Bridgestones that came on my '94 Miata - now there was a car in need of an tire upgrade. But my .02 is that the Potenzas that come on the '8 are worth driving on until they are down to the wear bars, unless you want to compete in a autocross street tire class or are heavily modding the suspension and want the absolute best to go along with those coilovers.

FWIW, Racing Beat has basically stated the same thing in RX Tuner.

As for the original poster, I agree, it sounds like a pressure issue. RXMAN04, have you checked your pressures?

George
A agree with the above. The Bridgestones are good are far as traction goes. They just don't last as long. I got about 15k out of them and that includes racing. I replaced them with g-force kdw and either these tires are less grippier or my engine has opened up at 2something k miles, because I now chirp where I used to not chirp. Yea, chirping is kinda of kool, your hp overwhelms your tire's grip, so most peeps think you have a lot of hp. But the truth be told, you're not getting enough hp to the ground and you're losing speed in a race. My 2 cents.
Old 09-20-2004, 10:24 PM
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Anyone read what RB said about the stock tires in their article at rxtuner? They suggest you keep your stock tires.
Old 09-20-2004, 10:25 PM
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I've got 20K on mine, they look good for another 5K. No racing. Stock rims.
Old 09-20-2004, 10:41 PM
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I think the new Gforce tire is better, i haven't looked at a spec sheet yet, but based on user ratings on tirerack the threadware is better as well as the wet and dry handling.

I woudn't complain about the PE40's i mean the Enzo Ferrari has them on it... so that either means A) their great tires or B) Bridgestone was the lowest bidder.

10,900 on mine, rotated, should last till 20-22 assuming i stop going to the strip.
Old 09-21-2004, 12:34 AM
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If you read the whole Racing Beat article, they state that they have only tested 4 or 5 different tires. It is not like an air intake where you have K&N & Rotary Extreme, or an exhaust where you have basically Borla, MS, & Greddy. You have literally dozens of tire choices. The Bridgestones are not that good of a tire. I have had Continental Sport Contact, and Pirelli P Zero Rossos on my last car and they were both better than the RE040.
Racing Beat had Toyo T1s's on their RX8. Nice tire for the price, but not the best tire out there. If you are truly looking for the best tire I would suggest the Michelin Pilot Sport 2's or the BF Goodrich Comp TA KD's. The best overall tire might just be the Goodyear GS-D3's.

Also I think the Ferrari has the RE050A's not the RE040's.
Old 09-21-2004, 02:42 AM
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Agree with Fanman. F1 -D3s would be my next set of tires.

Personally, i think RE40s are great as OEM. Tracked em once and i have 30K KMs clocked. Still surviving... -_-)V
Old 09-23-2004, 11:00 AM
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If you want a real tire... try the Bridgestone Potenza S-03s. I have yet to find anything that sticks to dry pavement as well.

Slavearm


ER... check that, I have not found anything outside of hoosier rubber that sticks better.
Old 09-23-2004, 11:04 AM
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Two words: Falken Azenis.

Probably not available in RX-8 sizes, tho.
Old 09-23-2004, 12:01 PM
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I just saw a post in the SCCA Forums where Falken says they have a replacement for the current Azenis comming out in November. Now if they will only give us a 255/35-18......

Quote: " am sure you guys will all be glad to hear that we will be introducing a new line of Azenis Sport. It is slated to be debuted at the SEMA show in Las Vegas in Nov. and then will be available 1st quarter 2005. The designation will be Azenis Sport RT-615 and it will be a very aggressive maximum grip tire that is sure to make all you guys happy! Stay Tuned. "
Old 09-23-2004, 12:26 PM
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i see the kumho mx is available in 245/40/18. $137 versus $212 the the KD's, which is also an awesome tire. i think the mx is a just a small step down from the azeni's in dry traction for a 140+ treadwear tire.

james

ps in DOT rubber, the new kumho V710 is pretty incredible, even compared to the new hoosiers. i recall the hoosiers used to have a treadwear rating of 0 (zero).
Old 09-23-2004, 08:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Ophitoxaemia
i recall the hoosiers used to have a treadwear rating of 0 (zero).
Zero. Hmmm. So you put them on the car and they wear out before you can let the jack down? :p Both the SO3 and SO4 Hoosiers have a 40 treadwear rating.
Old 09-24-2004, 09:47 AM
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Yes, the MX is an incredible deal. It's probably what I'll buy when the Bridgestones wear out.

710s and Hoosiers don't wear out due to tread wear - they quickly harden to the point of non-competitiveness due to heat cycling (or so I'm told).
Old 09-24-2004, 12:11 PM
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all of the DOT race tires will get slower as they heat cycle, but when the hoosiers heat cycle out they are useless. street tires will do the same thing, although much more gradually.

my 710's were recalled before i had three events on them, so we have yet to see how gracefully they age. ive got a new set sitting in the garage now.

if i am spending $4,000 a year on depreciation on this car, i can afford to spend $500/year for tires so it performs at its maximum.

james


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