Based on my current mileage (19,900) and rate of tire wear, I expect to get new tires for Christmas. The replacements will need to be a lot grippier than the stock Bridgestones, and I plan to increase tire size (probably to a 275/35-18) to run STU class in SCCA autocrosses.

Who has replaced tires with similar goals in mind? What tires did you buy and do you like them?

Thanks!

 

I don't autox, but my new Goodyear Eagle F1's kick much butt. It rains here in FL all the time during the summer and the grip is amazing.

 

I've heard the F1's were great tires. Did you stay with the stock size? How much grippier would say they are than the stock tires?

 

I went with 245/35/19

Since I haven't pushed the car to it's limits, I would be the wrong person to answer if the tires perform better in dry weather. I can tell you however, that the F1's beat the living daylights out of the stock tires in wet weather. I can drive around like the ground is dry. Look at the tred pattern! The F1's also seem to be slightly smoother on the ride, as hitting reflectors that are embedded in the road don't make as much of a bump or noise as the stock tires do.

The F1's have a much higher tire hardness than the stocks, yet rank (on tirerack) with much higher numbers for performance.... go figure.

 

Thanks for the input Jason!

 

I've been running on 225x40x18 Bridgestone Potenza SO-3's for the last 10K. They have a much better grip than the stock RE040's. In the dry they don't lose traction at all, like I was finding with the stock tyres.

In the wet, they have much better grip too, i've not lost grip pulling away from lights or junctions, whereas I did a lot with the stock wheels.

It was a toss up between them and the F1's - they both have similar properties from an independant review I looked at.

For information, (I know its in the UK so you won't be ordering from them - but they have summary reports on most makes) check out www.mytyres.co.uk

 

dropping the sidewall to 40 from 45 you now run on smaller wheels overall. this must've messed up your speedometer, right? have you noticed any differences in the pseedo and performance??

 

For STU I recommend Kumho MX 275/35 18s if you keep the stock wheels.

They are the best bang for the buck for that application. I would recommend them even if they weren't cheap.

I switched to 17's to run STU and I drive with them to and from the AutoXs and everywhere in between.

https://www.rx8club.com/vbgarage.php?do=view&id=5323

pay no attention to my alignment. It is my third and worse one. I will be changing it... again...

 

275/35 sounds really wide, and thin.

 

that size keeps the rolling diameter very close to stock. The smaller sidewall will help with turn in.

275 is the maximum size allowed in the class for F/RWD cars.


https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ighlight=wheel

 

Yeah the speedo overreads by 3% so at 60mph you are actually doing 57. Quite handy for speed cameras etc!

I probably will go with 245x40 next time as this will be much closer to stock.

As for performance, not really noticed any difference.

 

Thanks Alex! From all the research I've done, the Kumho MX in the 275/35-18 was where I was leaning (at least until I find out if Falken is going to make an Azenis in that size).

I did the Kumho Challenge autocross at Road Atlanta during the Walter Mitty weekend, and was impressed with the grip they had on the Mini Coopers. I won myself a jacket that says Kumho Motorsports, so that would work out nicely.

 

19,900 with the same tires????

this is incredible!!! I have to change at 15,000kms (9,300 milles aprox.)

I think with 275 you will lose performances.. very big tire...

 

for autocross, a 275 will be faster than a 245, even on a marginally narrow 8" rim. it will be faster yet on a wider rim. the 275 will affect the acceleration and top speed slightly.

ive seen the MX in use at an autocross- fast for a street tire.

james

 

Zascar,

You must be into "drifting"!!! - only getting 9,000 miles on your tires. I will probably get about 28,000 -30,000 miles on mine (about what I'd expect for this type of tire). I realize I will not get that mileage with a stickier tire. I'll be sacrificing tire wear for the dual purpose nature of the tires.

In racing, the wider the tire the better (within reason). An increase in unsprung weight is really the main penalty for having a larger tire.

 

I had 22300 miles on the car when I put new summer tires on 2 days ago. I estimate that the tires had between 15k to 17k. I didn't write mileage down when I switched the winters on/off. I went with BF goodrich g-force T/A KDW in 245/40 18 and am very happy. Noise is good, that was my main concern, I KNEW the grip was good. And the grip is good. I haven't raced yet but will post again after the next autox 8/15/04. If Falken made Azinis in 18 I probably would have gotten them.

 

Thanks Red! It's good to hear that the KDW's are grippy.

I had a discussion with the Falken rep at the Rev It Up, and he said the Azenis in our size should be launched later this year.

 

28,000 miles!!! = 45,061 kms oh my god!!! this is impossible, at least in Spain... you can drive 45,000kms only with a small diesel car...

maybe, in USA you have very slow speed limits, or the police is very hard, because always going over 160km/h an high speeds in the mountains the mileage will be those 9,000 miles

at what's speed do you usually drive?

 

The average speed I drive is usually about 70 mph (112km/h) most days. A lot of highway on smooth roads. However, I have done some "track days" at the race track where I get to about 200km/h on the straights.

If I did more driving on curvy mountain roads, the tires wouldn't last as long!

 

Hankook K104s are very good tires(Rated as good as the S03s...), the widest I would go for on the stock rims is a 245/40-18... I can get the K104s very cheap...

 

ok,

that's the reason

 

I went with the Bridgestone Potenza S-03 .

 

I had S03s on my 996, good tires; but they wear very fast and are expensive... The Hankooks are as good but wear better and are about 300-400 les for a set...

 

the oe tires only lasted 15,000 miles with mainly eazy driving on them
i replaced them with nito 555 they are better in the corners but not as good
at anythin over 110 mph. 'O' and there cheeper too!

 

Same here, putting them on tomorrow. I put 16k on my Potenzas and abused the crap out of them

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-wheels-tires-brakes-suspension-55/pics-245-40-18-vs-stock-ps-36430/