Almost lost it in the wet Turanza ER592

[taminga16]

Anyone know of someone selling a good set of 14" RE001s

Your local Bridgestone store, second hand tyres might provide you with the same problems that you have now.
Greg.

[rpost77]

I have Turanza ER592's on my 1991 NA6.

Hate them.

Only put these ones on (admittedly quite some time ago now) when I needed to replace the tyres and the Bridgestones the car originally were supplied with were no longer available (can't remember now what they were now).

Was told by the tyre guy at the time they were direct replacement for the no longer made factory MX5 tyres I was trying to replace. Don't think so.

Dry handling is close - not so much in the wet. I always feel trepidation in the wet (didn't have any issues with the original Bridgestones - they always felt good in the wet).

Also, they are definitely noisier - they are a bit hard now from age and the noise is worse.

Bought a Mazda3 as 2nd, daily car 2 years ago. They come with Turanza ER32's - seriously scary in the wet. Even in the dry they don't feel too great, especially as they wear.

I am going to replace the MX5's tyres soon and they definitely wont be Turanzas - thinking of trying Kumho's.

Also wont be going near them for the Mazda3 either - will actually be replacing them before I need to (tread wise) because they freak me out too much especially as they wear. Not sure what I will be replacing these ones with (maybe Kumhos too?)

Just my observations for what they're worth.

[ZR]

I didnt want to start a new thread, I too have the same dilemma..
I'm after some recommendation for tyres for my NA8 wheels.
I after something grippy for streets and spirited drives (I dont go to tracks)
Is RE001 still a good tyres for this or has anyone else got any suggestions?

Thanks

[93_Clubman]

I'm after some recommendation for tyres for my NA8 wheels.
I after something grippy for streets and spirited drives (I dont go to tracks)
Is RE001 still a good tyres for this or has anyone else got any suggestions?

From readings the Japanese manufactured Bridgestone RE001 are well thought of, but the previously Australian manufactured & current Taiwanese or Thai manufactured RE001 are not as good in the wet as the Japanese version. That said, the Taiwanese or Thai version is very well priced. Personally, used Bridgestone Potenzas for many years & was very happy with them, but they cost more than the lower priced RE001. Currently use Michelin PP2 (now PS3) & am also happy with them, but they also cost more. There are certainly other recommendations out there as this thread shows:
viewtopic.php?f=30&t=45901

[hks_kansei]

just bear in mind, the thread posted above is asking about cheaper tyres (more middle range)

so my list there isn't the best out there, just what I considered the best within my budget.

[snshami]

An update:

I got a wheel alignment done today Ray at Tyrepower in Reservoir. Ray came highly recommended.

Before the alignment one of the rear tyres had -0.1mm (toe out0 and the other was +1.5 toe in. They were changed to +1 mm.

The fronts both had +2.4mm of toe in and now they are at 0. The rear camber was not changed significantly but the front camber only now limited to -0.2 degrees on the left side. Apparently it cannot be adjusted to be more without me getting the top arm bushes changed. Ray did say it was not going to affect performance on the road but for the track the car would not have enough grip.

He increased the castor on the left hand side from 3.89 to 4.44. He left the right at 4.16.

The whole driving experience is now hugely improved. Its amazing that such small adjustments made such a difference. I owe this to the feedback and information provided by members of this community. The value of being a member of this great community was very clear to me today

I have also inquired about buying a set of RE001s. Ray promised to get me a quote. Has anyone bought some in 185/60-14 recently (last month) and what price did you get?

[Guran]

If you want RE001s, go to a Bridgestone dealer not Tyrepower. I bought a set of Aussie RE001s in 185/60R14 a month ago for $119 each plus a $50 Caltex fuel card as a bonus offer from Bridgestone dealers. You can get them cheaper if you really want and shop around more than I did. And show your NRMA member card for an extra $5 per tyre discount. If there are no Aussie-made left, you will probably get Taiwanese (not Thai).

Camber on stock NA? You can definitely get at least 1 degree front and 2 degrees rear with stock suspension and bushes. If your aligner doesn't know how, take it to a better aligner! Most tyre places will only adjust toe. I have been using Pedders - they're a bit more expensive but suspension is their specialty and you get want you pay for.

[snshami]

Camber on stock NA? You can definitely get at least 1 degree front and 2 degrees rear with stock suspension and bushes. If your aligner doesn't know how, take it to a better aligner! Most tyre places will only adjust toe. I have been using Pedders - they're a bit more expensive but suspension is their specialty and you get want you pay for.

They were trying to adjust it by loosening the inboard lower control arm bolts and moving the control arm as far outwards as the slot in the allowed. There was no more movement possible. He told me that the only way of improving on that was to adjust the upper control arm inwards.

[gslender]

I just got a set of RE001's installed on my NA and had the wheel alignment done too. Gave them my spec of camber -1.3 front and -1.7 rear etc and they came back with no big problems doing it.

I'd follow the advice of others and try another suspension place - the tyre shops are hit-n-miss when it comes to their capabilities on doing alignment work. The main issue is time - doing a good job sometimes takes a few goes, and if they are rushed for time, or don't feel they should be redoing their work, they'll just stop their and state that is all that can be done.

Even with the tyre shop doing mine, and me being happy with the results, I'll still go to a suspension place (like Pedders or Fulcrum) to get the job done correctly.

G

[de Bounce]

My car came off Rays alignment machine minutes before snshami's went on, I think Ray knows what to do and how to adjust the suspension.

As a Toyo Motor Sport dealer, his own race car in the shop and a letter of appreciation from the MX5 Club of Victoria in the shop front.
I believe you would struggle to find anyone as good or better this side of Centreline Suspension.

[Entice]

umm.. yep, big plus for Reservoir TP, Essendon TP (Russel), and TruTrack (N Melb) - Ralph.

what is it with suspension places and their principals' names begining with R???

all 3 have an active role in not only prepping serious race cars, but participating also...

and all 3 have vast MX5 experience...

[ZR]

Thanks guys
RE001 and PP2 it is

[93_Clubman]

Thanks guys
RE001 and PP2 it is

If going for the RE001, then ideally get the Japanese made RE001 if your budget allows.

[manga_blue]

Just picked up a new set of RE001s for the other car from Tyrepower. Made in Japan in Oct 2010.

I'm beginning to develop a theory about why people have such mixed opinions with these tyres. On my car they must be kept soft. Grip starts to fall off rapidly when I go past 28psi. 32psi seems to be about the absolute limit of driveability for public roads (though track pressures can be higher if you get them hot and sticky). Above 32psi they're pretty average in the dry and scary in the wet. In other words they work best at placarded rates of 26-28psi.

From an earlier topic here about what tyre pressures do you run there seems to be a trend that those who liked higher tyre pressures had bad experiences with RE001s. Maybe they just put too much air in them???

[snshami]

Just picked up a new set of RE001s for the other car from Tyrepower. Made in Japan in Oct 2010.

I'm beginning to develop a theory about why people have such mixed opinions with these tyres. On my car they must be kept soft. Grip starts to fall off rapidly when I go past 28psi. 32psi seems to be about the absolute limit of driveability for public roads (though track pressures can be higher if you get them hot and sticky). Above 32psi they're pretty average in the dry and scary in the wet. In other words they work best at placarded rates of 26-28psi.

From an earlier topic here about what tyre pressures do you run there seems to be a trend that those who liked higher tyre pressures had bad experiences with RE001s. Maybe they just put too much air in them???

Really the only purpose of having high tyre pressures is keeping the tyre tread open and in contact with the road and for resisting the tyre rolling off the wheel during side loading. As long as those requirements are met AFAIK there is no benefit in going further. What does everyone else say.