Tyre selection fun

[Manaz]

As I'm changing wheels, I went to look at tyre prices today.

For the standard 18x7" wheels, prices were as follows:

Bridgestone S001s in 225/40/R18 (they don't have them in 215/40R18) were $370 a corner.
Bridgestone RE002 in 225/40R18 (same deal as the S001s for size options) were $330 a corner.
Sumitomo HTR ZIII (the tyre shop recommended them over RE002s, but under the S001) were $230 a corner (this is the shop's preferred brand).
RE050A in the stock 215/40R18 size: $390 a corner

For 235/45R17 (the size I'd put on a 17x7.5" rim):

Bridgestone S001s: $220 a corner
Bridgestone RE002: $220 a corner
Sumitomo HTR ZIII: $190 a corner
The shop couldn't get a price on the RE050A on a 17" rim
The shop also mentioned that I may want to consider the new Continental ContactSport 5.

At this stage, I'm seriously considering the S001 on the 17" rims after the Dunlop Sport SP1s that come on them wear out, but I'm not 100% sold yet. As you can tell from the prices above, I don't go for cheap tyres. The shop also refused to sell tyres to a guy today who had a Camry and wanted to pay less than $90 a tyre - they outright told him that tyres any cheaper would just be shit, and he didn't accept that and left, so I do respect their judgement (nothing shits me more than people who put crap tyres on cars - 1.5tonnes of metal moving at 60km/h or more, and you want to skimp on tyres, and then drive on the same streets as my family???).

I used to be a fan of Pirelli, but have gone off them of late. That said, I've been more impressed with the P-Zero Nero tyres that are on the car at present than I thought I would be. The tyre shop also said they'd quote me on a P-Zero Rosso, but said that although they're very sticky, I'd be lucky to get 10,000km out of a set.

So, with all that said and done, are there any tyres I'm doing myself a disservice by not considering them?

[Kekotic]

I don't know if people still use it but have you checked www.tirerack.com?

[satogixxer]

Maybe consider & price some:

Michelin Pilot Super Sport (or perhaps PS2/PS3)
Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08R

As a side note, I bought my Michelin's from Tire Rack. But I heard some time later that with some brands they will no longer export from the US (although you could probably still use a forwarding service).

[Kekotic]

Ric rates the S001's which are the RE050A Replacement which was discontinued in 2012/13. Ric had been using RE050A since he purchased the car in 2006, and said the S001 are as good / better than the RE050A.

[Manaz]

Ric rates the S001's which are the RE050A Replacement which was discontinued in 2012/13. Ric had been using RE050A since he purchased the car in 2006, and said the S001 are as good / better than the RE050A.

Yeah, the sizes that the RE050A is available in are shrinking, I suspect as they run out of stock.

It's looking good for the S001.

I've considered Tire Rack, but as already noted, they don't ship many brands to Australia because of pressure from the manufacturers.

[Kekotic]

I've considered Tire Rack, but as already noted, they don't ship many brands to Australia because of pressure from the manufacturers.

That is fucking stupid lol.

I wouldn't buy the RE050A anymore just because of the manufacture date, they would be less grippy being 2 years old.

[Adrian2627]

Are you looking for ultimate grip or a good all round tyre? The AD08R will stick like baby shit to a blanket and are great on the track, good in the wet, but you won't see much wear out of them. They are essentially a road going semi-slick and the control tyres for one of the time-attack series here in Japan...sponsored by Yokohama. I'm just about to put a set of Yoko S-Drives on my car as while they sacrifice a tiny bit of grip they wear much better and have more even characteristics all round. They can be tracked, although not as well as the AD08s, and apparently handle the heat quite well. They were also recommended by our local Subie dealer as a replacement to the RE050 if we didn't want to stay with Bridgestone.

[Manaz]

Are you looking for ultimate grip or a good all round tyre? The AD08R will stick like baby shit to a blanket and are great on the track, good in the wet, but you won't see much wear out of them. They are essentially a road going semi-slick and the control tyres for one of the time-attack series here in Japan...sponsored by Yokohama. I'm just about to put a set of Yoko S-Drives on my car as while they sacrifice a tiny bit of grip they wear much better and have more even characteristics all round. They can be tracked, although not as well as the AD08s, and apparently handle the heat quite well. They were also recommended by our local Subie dealer as a replacement to the RE050 if we didn't want to stay with Bridgestone.

At this stage, a road tyre. I'll run separate tyres if I do any track days or motorsport of any kind.

I'll take a look at the Yokohoma S-Drives. I had a set Yokis on a car a while back that stuck like shit to a blanket AND seemed to wear quite well.

[Adrian2627]

Some do some don't. When I first bought my old Outback it had Geolanders on it which wore out very quickly for an all-weather tyre. I rotated them religiously and only got 25k kms out of them. Other than those I've had a few different sets of Yokies over the years from the old 352 A-treads on my old Capri, A-509s on my Turbo AWD Laser, a set of can't remember what AT 4WD tyres on my old Navara and the Geolanders on the Outback. Of all of them the Geolanders were the only ones that I had any issue with and that was wear not handling. Now I even live near Yokohama I'm such a fan-boy

[kiwigene]

Manaz,

The stock size for GTB is actually 215/45-R18 (not 215/40-R18 as in your first post)

Kmart has Bridgestone S001 for $283, but you can get Kumho KU31 for $242.

I got the KU31 in 225/45R18 (still ok on 7" rim) for under $200 a corner through G88...

[Manaz]

Manaz,

The stock size for GTB is actually 215/45-R18 (not 215/40-R18 as in your first post)

Kmart has Bridgestone S001 for $283, but you can get Kumho KU31 for $242.

I got the KU31 in 225/45R18 (still ok on 7" rim) for under $200 a corner through G88...

Sorry, yes, you're right on the stock tyre size, that's my bad.

I've had Kumho KU31s in the past - they're not a bad tyre to start with, but they went off quickly on me - plenty of tread, but noisy and slippery. I much prefered the RE001s to them.

[Kekotic]

Bridgestone have a buy 3 get 1 free promotion going right now until the 12th of April.

This includes the Potenza range, and the promotion is at all tyre places.

[Manaz]

Bridgestone have a buy 3 get 1 free promotion going right now until the 12th of April.

This includes the Potenza range, and the promotion is at all tyre places.

Yeah, I'm seriously considering this...

[Kekotic]

Bridgestone have a buy 3 get 1 free promotion going right now until the 12th of April.

This includes the Potenza range, and the promotion is at all tyre places.

Yeah, I'm seriously considering this...

Sorry slight correction. It's at all places that are Bridgestone select retailers.

Found out today Costco doesn't have it. $270 per tyre for S001 fitted and balanced but have to buy 4.

[Manaz]

Found out today Costco doesn't have it. $270 per tyre for S001 fitted and balanced but have to buy 4.

Yeah, it's only at Bridgestone Select at present. Alternatively, my local tyre place can get them for $220 a corner - I'd use that as ammunition against whatever price Bridgestone Select try.