RE-01Rs in the Rain

[SentraWV]

It's tire time for the MS3. If I can squeeze a set of 225s on the stock wheels (215s are OEM), I can get a set of the spiffy new sticky Bridgestone STx tires. Anybody who has these - what are the like in the rain? These will have to do double duty as real street tires and autox tires. So scary in the rain means find another option.

Thanks!

[ShortysTRM]

Hankooks FTW lol

They were great rain tires, IMO. They stuck like the Azenis and had a AA traction rating (aka wet surface braking)

[SeanB]

Full tread they are fine
Shaved they are slippery but fine for race use

Heck you saw Roy and I only really slid a couple of times today.

[SentraWV]

Been doing some research - what about the Dunlop Z-1s? They seem to be popping up as a B'stone alternative.

[SeanB]

Dunlops, Toyo R1R, RE-01Rs - they are pretty much on the same level. Its a matter of personal preference IMHO.

[johnnytavo]

Hankook C50s do pretty well in the rain, and they would also be quite a fun street tire lol

On the other hand, I would say the REs do pretty dang well in the rain looking at the STS and STS2 times posted running on that tire today

[SentraWV]

The Dunlops are about $50 cheaper per corner. Hmm . . .

[SentraWV]

Went ahead a pulled the trigger on a set of the Dunlops (224/45/18) from TireRack. About $200 cheaper than the B'stones = sold. Should be here by Wed/Thurs and mounted up in time for Sunday's event. Woot!

NP: The Tangent, Not as Good as the Book

[administerturbo]

wow, where'd you find 224's ; P

i need to place an order at the tirerack as well. but i don't think i'll make it this month again (this is getting really really old). no reason to order if i can't run : (

[crobin4]

It's tire time for the MS3. If I can squeeze a set of 225s on the stock wheels (215s are OEM), I can get a set of the spiffy new sticky Bridgestone STx tires. Anybody who has these - what are the like in the rain? These will have to do double duty as real street tires and autox tires. So scary in the rain means find another option.

Thanks!

Mine are GREAT for the rain. I got them unshaved. You can go STUPID fast on the street with them.

[SeanB]

wow, where'd you find 224's ; P



Yeah JonB, you are supposed to shave the top of the tires not the side walls. :biggrin:

[crobin4]

Went ahead a pulled the trigger on a set of the Dunlops (224/45/18) from TireRack. About $200 cheaper than the B'stones = sold. Should be here by Wed/Thurs and mounted up in time for Sunday's event. Woot!

NP: The Tangent, Not as Good as the Book

I don't think those were released when I got my 'stones. If I'd seen them, I might have picked them. If they were out i didn't see them. They were only about $100 dollars cheaper for my size though. My 'stones were on sale, too.
I don't regret the purchase at all, they VERY good.

[SentraWV]

wow, where'd you find 224's ; P
Yeah, well, my Mom always said I was special! http://doom3.planet-multiplayer.de/forum/html/emoticons/uglygaga.gif

[DennisBlevins]

My favorite Miata rain tire is the Goodyear Eagle F1. Huge V-grooves and a soft compound. They're now impossible to find in a 195/50/15. I opted for Toyo T1R's with similar grooves. Seems like the sidewalls are softer. Not as great of road feel as the F1. I wish I could find another set.

[mordant80]

Hey Jon, is there any reason you didn't go with 225/40's instead of 225/45's? I was under the impression that the 225/45's would be a little taller than stock. Is there concern with the 225/40's fitting on the stock wheel? I know looking at tirerack and edgeracing there are alot more options available with the shorter size.

[SentraWV]

I talked with the TireRack guy about that, because if look at the tire spec sheets, the 225/40's minimum rim width is 7.5 inches, while the 225/45 is 7 inches. He told me that the shorter sidewall on the 225/40s will mess with the ABS and have problems with bumps and such on the street. If it was just for autocross purposes, he would recommend the 225/40s, but for dual use, the 225/45s. We'll see.

NP: Green Day, American Idiot

[mordant80]

Ah, thats good to know. I'm having trouble understanding how it might affect the ABS system as long as all 4 tires are the same height but who knows. When I do actually need new tires I'm thinking i'll give the 225/40 a try. I saw on mazdas247.com that there's been a few do it with no problems. The other thing that gives me some confidence with running the 225/40 is the fact that I ran 225's on the old sentra and that was on a 6.5 inch wide wheel, that came with 195's stock. Those tires on the sentra seem like more of a stretch even though the sidewalls are shorter on the MS3. Anyhow, let us know what you think of the Dunlops.

Correction: The sentra had 6 inch wide wheels. Looking back, wow, I can't beleive I ran that, lol. Now I really think it won't be a problem on the MS3.

[SentraWV]

I should have added, the TireRack guy said that the problem with the 225/40s was that the sidewall couldn't effectively handle the weight that the car would put on it. Dunno if that's true, but there you go.

[mordant80]

Hmmm.. time for more research.

[SentraWV]

Dunlops are mounted up and ready for Sunday. I gotta' say, they're quite meaty compared to the OEM Bridestones. The 'stones are supposedly softer, so it'll be interesting to compare and contrast.

NP: Green Day, American Idiot