Latest & greatest 195/50-15 ??

[Code4]

Yes it's been done to death ....and I've searched and found many older threads.

In an effort to reduce unsprung weight I have purchased four 15x6 OEM mag rims for my standard suspension NB.
I have spent more than a few nights researching tyres and am now utterly confused. Some aren't available here in Oz and others not in the right size.

I'm considering:

Michein Pilot Sport 3
Hankook Ventus Rs-3
Bridgestone RE003

I've read Kumho's are a bit noisey.

What are the latest and greatest for spirited dry weather street driving ?

[smy0003]

Ad08r (180tw) and rs3's (originally 140tw, now advertised as 200tw) are a step above the re003's (220tw) and ps3's (300tw?) in terms of outright dry grip.
Same with the 140tw 595rsrr and the ?tw 595rsr.

For me, the re003 bridges the gap between those sticky tyres and a normal street tyre which performs well in all weather and surfaces. They are also the cheapest when they're on sale.



Sent from my LG-H815 using Tapatalk

[Steampunk]

If you want the greatest "street" then, as mentioned, the Yokohama AD08-R, if money is no object.
But for $ value/bang-for-your-buck, then consider these two:

http://nankangtyres.com.au/tyre/ns-2r/
http://www.achillesradial.com/tire/competition/30/123S

R-S3 is several years old now, so ring around and try to get a good price. I think I've seen them around $130.

[OMY005]

RE003: Ive had the previous incarnations (001 & 002) on my NA, great tire and cheap when they are on 4 for 3 sales.

Lots of good comments below.

http://www.productreview.com.au/p/bridg ... re003.html

Hope this helps, Andrew.

[Luke]

For street driving I would have to say the RE003's.
Bought a set of 205/45/16 for my street use, training day and motorkhana tyres and they are brilliant.
Really quiet on road. Much more than any tyre I have had on my SE. This includes Original Toyos, Achilles 123S, Kumho KU36, Kumho V70A, Toyo R888, Kumho KU31, Hankook RS3 and Nitto NT01.
They don't aquaplane in the wet, I think doing 170-180km/h down SMSP main straight is proof for that. Plus I beat all my competition for once PORSHE!!!
They also have brilliant dry track grip. I was only 0.1s a lap slower on these than near end of life 225/45/15 RS3's at Marulan. Never timed my self when they were new at Marulan. But I was also only 0.1s slower than my best ever at SMSPS the week before. I'm sure I cooked the Hankooks a bit though at SMSPS before going to Marulan, it was 35C.

I have had RS3's on my SE and on a NC.
They are brilliant, but I would avoid them as a street only tyre as the tread depth on the sidewalls is very shallow and the grooves are very thin. They almost look un-road worthy the day you buy them.
If you plan to do track days the RS3 would be the go.
They literally do not loose any dry performance through the life of they tyre until the grooves start disappearing. No heat cycling issues.

Pilot Sport 3's are now sort of old technology, been out for a while. Never had them but have used other Michelins on the NC. Never the gripiest choice but they last a long time.

Regarding Kumhos being noisy.
KU31 is noisy. You get whirring sounds.
KU36 slightly less noisy than KU31 when new, more so when used.
KU39. Quiet. Been on 245/35/18 in a 86 and they are quiet.

I see people here are suggesting Yokohama AD08R's.
I wouldn't touch them for 2 reasons.
RIP OFF PRICE. Can you hear me Yokohama.
Plus I've heard to many stories of them heat cycling out when used on track.

Even saw a recommendation for Achilles 123's.
Err it they haven't change anything about them from 6-7 years ago then stay away.
Woeful wet pefromance. Most R-Spces are better.
Nosiest tyre I ever used. Noisier then proper R-Specs.
I was 2s a lap faster on Kumho KU36 vs these in the same car at Wakefield Park.
The only thing they had going for them is good tyre life = good drifting tyre.
Anyone got them now? Have they changed?

[93_Clubman]

Pilot Sport 3's are now sort of old technology, been out for a while. Never had them but have used other Michelins on the NC. Never the gripiest choice but they last a long time.

Agree, but PS3s in no way compare to other Michelins. Ran the model before the PS3 (the PP2), & they were as good as any performance Bridgestone I'd run, & I ran only performance Bridgestones on MX5 DDs for many years (17). For me it would probably come down to a choice between the Bridgestones & the PS3s, noting of course as you say the PS3s have been around for a while, so price will probably ultimately dictate.

[captaincabinets]

I'm considering:

Michein Pilot Sport 3
Hankook Ventus Rs-3
Bridgestone RE003

Check out http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/. Will likely find reviews on the majority of tyres you're looking at, from users, across a range of metrics.

Cheers

[tails]

I picked up some 205 50 KU36s and have been really happy with them. Grabbed them because they were cheap and the Bridgestones weren't available in 205 50 (only 55).

I will probably buy them again in the future.

[Code4]

Thank you all for your comprehensive replies.

When I saw the price of the Yokohama AD08R's I Immediately thought they are taking the piss ! ...
My (lack) of driving skill would never reveal any improvement, even if the tyre quality was commensurate with the price difference. Others maybe can.

[Steampunk]

Even saw a recommendation for Achilles 123's.
Err it they haven't change anything about them from 6-7 years ago then stay away....

Anyone got them now? Have they changed?

My experience has been completely opposite to yours. I was one of the first to try KU36 way-back-when and although I really liked them, they are non longer on par with their peers.

Didn't realise the 123's were on the market that long ago. I used a new set that's travelled less than a couple thousand k's in 2012, on a mildly modified NA, at a track I haven't been to for a few years, driving a friend's car which I'm unfamiliar with, I set a PB (at the time) with only having done 3 sessions and only a handful of proper flying laps (got held up by newbies).
The feedback the tyres gave was a very pleasant surprise and to say confidence inspiring is an understatement.

I was pushing harder every lap and was confident in cutting up to another 2 seconds off my time but it rained.

Taking into consideration I didn't take me brave pills and truly push it because I didn't want t bend someone else's car... in short; IMO the 123 should make "brand snobbery" a thing of the past.

Never tried driving them hard in the wet, but the OP did state "...spirited dry weather driving..."

I'm now using Nankang NS-2R (180TW) and they are fantastic. Very responsive turn-in. Wet weather performance doesn't seem to be compromised.

[samx5]

I've just put Kumho HS51's on my standard NB on Friday, previous tyres were Yokohama S-Drives that were hard and very noisy, did 40,000km on them though. The Kumho's are dirt cheap at the moment, $75 each (4 for 3 deal), they are not the most high performance tyre out there but it is one of their latest releases and for the foreseeable future my car will mostly be a commuter car so it's 'horses for courses'. Still scrubbing them in at the moment so I'll wait a week or two for a verdict. Obviously feel smoother and quieter than the Yoko's and the steering is lighter but that is expected. They are not as 'squared off' on the edges so they look less aggressive than some other options, this may translate to lower cornering grip but we'll see. They have very wide circumferencial (is that a word?) grooves that look like they would drain heaps of water, so should have good wet weather performance and not aquaplane. A side effect of the wide grooves is that the tread blocks aren't quite as wide, so from the rear the illusion is that the tyres look slightly narrower than before. Not a great choice if you think you can get a 'tough' look from your standard NB rims.... They also have next to no rim protection and they have curved sidewalls compared to some other more high performance tyres. I avoid kerbs anyway so shouldn't be an issue for me. Not many reviews around for these tyres but a couple I've read seem to think they are OK on MX-5's. Looking at some of the other options out there they have a much higher wear rating (380), this may be an obvious pointer to a reduction in dry grip but the latest in compounds may make up some of this difference compared to something that is an 8 year old design. Anyway, we'll see how it goes.

[Magpie]

AD08's - heat cycling out. Don't think so... I'm still running on the same set as WTAC2015 and after many laps on the track they are still looking good and no suggestions of being heat cycled. Plus, I'm still managing to get faster with them on.

[pcmx5]

Think Michelin are just about to release PS4's.My mate was told about 3 weeks to launch.

Peter.

[rc]

Sorry to hijack the thread I thought it would more sense to ask it here rather than opening a new one.

I'm also after tyres for my standard NB.

But I'd like to ask for recommendations for something more budget.
I live in the inner city and rarely drive this days and don't need latest and greatest.

My current tyres are RE001 and wet grip is not existent - during rain I can hardly start without spinning wheels...

What cheaper tyres are reasonable quality?

Also, any recomendations for a place to have it installed in Melbourne (ideally around inner North)?

If I do decide to go with PS3 as recomended in this thread, do you know any better deals that this:
https://www.jaxtyres.com.au/tyres/brand ... ?pid=74612

Thank you!

[Magpie]

Do you put a price on safety?

Look around for any special deals 4 for the price of 3 and buy these. Jax Tyres sell the HF805 for $89 ea (inc fitting/balancing)