mx5cartalk.com

When in October last year I bought my 2006 NC she still had the original tyres on. As part of the deal the seller put new tyres on but I was not smart enough to tell him which ones so he went ahead and put Chinese ElCrappos or ElSkiddos on. From the outset I just hated the feel of these things but thought what the hell let's see how they go. Everything just got worse, they "squirmed" and spun and did not grip. Anyway this week Bridgestone has their "4 for the price of 3" deal in play so rushed down this morning and had them put on a set of RE003's along with a wheel alignment. Welcome to my brand new MX5!
Every aspect of cornering and steering is improved. What a transformation! This is how I expected her to be. Lesson learnt - Don't buy or even use cheap tyres other than on a trailer.

Had the same results after an alignment and new RE003's on an 02'NB.

71coast79 wrote:...Don't buy or even use cheap tyres other than on a trailer.

Not even on a trailer! Especially if that trailer is towing my MX5.

Yes, they really are fantastic. Especially considering you can pay around $400 for set of 15's when the deal is on.

A lovely tyre, good initially compliance (so they ride properly) and progressive. My thing had Bridgestone MY2 'Sportystyles' which were wretched things, reasonable laterally grip with no sidewall strength so any time you were properly up them it felt like they were going to roll themselves off the rims. Spun up a bit in the wet. The RE003's were a revelation.

They're not as fast on track as Federal RSR-R's or AD08R's, but a damn good road tyre.

Vat wrote:
They're not as fast on track as Federal RSR-R's or AD08R's, but a damn good road tyre.

Thank you...tha'ts a very helpful statement.

StanTheMan wrote:

Vat wrote:
They're not as fast on track as Federal RSR-R's or AD08R's, but a damn good road tyre.

Thank you...tha'ts a very helpful statement.

I should counsel that my set up on my RE003's is on the stock NB8A 15 x 6 wheels (195 width) with an offset of 40 or , whilst the Federals/Advans are on 15 x 7 Rota (205 width) with a 20 or so offset so the track's wider. This is based on running the RE003's at Morgan Park vs the knackered Federals the following event there - the Advans would be quite a bit faster than the Federals

Have these on my Forester XT. Best bang for your buck tyre. Super sticky.

I have these on my ford wagon and the 5.
For the grip/safety they provide at the cost with the 4 for 3 deal, hard to find a better street tyre.
60000km on my current set on the ford wagon, so they can get good mileage too.

I have them on my WRX. Great in the wet. I'm going to put them on the Mini while the current 4 for 3 sale is on. Wish they had them in 14" for the X.

What a suprise. You've got from the worst available tyre to the (arguably) best standard street tyre and it handles great.
Bit like saying my MX5 handles alot better than a cheap Kia.

The surprise for me was great handling, suspension feel, fast straight line steering ease and they are quiet, for four hundred bucks, I was surprised. Coming off RE001s

I got these on my NB and can't fault them. However, I recently heard that Bridgestone has changed the compound to extend tyre life and the effect has been negative on tyre performance (grip, cornering etc). Has anyone bought the RE003 in the last couple of months after previously running them? Any difference?