Yet another tyre post

Tigger · Postby **Tigger** » Sun Nov 27, 2016 1:05 pm

Ok. First let me say that I've already done a lot of reading, and still can't decide.

Ive been running ku39s on my nb8c since the ku31s stopped being produced (in my size at least 205/45/16).
Loved the 31s, and do like the 39s, but I seem to chew through the 39s. I probably only get 20k out of them if I'm lucky.

So now it's time to change the fronts.
I don't really like the idea of changing them every 1.5 years.

So, what are my alternatives?
Are t1rs really as bad as I read?
Thempe tyres have ku39s for $125 a corner, so is it even worth changing to something else for that kind of price?

pepejesus · Postby **pepejesus** » Sun Nov 27, 2016 9:33 pm

What do you use the car for?

Code4 · Postby **Code4** » Mon Nov 28, 2016 7:30 am

Can never have enough tyre threads.

Regie · Postby **Regie** » Mon Nov 28, 2016 9:25 am

if you don't like the tyre wear on the ku39's don't go for the t1r's.

re003 come in your size, they are far superior to the ku39 and wont cost too much more

Tigger · Postby **Tigger** » Mon Nov 28, 2016 6:12 pm

I was leaning towards them, thanks heaps for the input.

Suspense · Postby **Suspense** » Mon Nov 28, 2016 7:28 pm

Cutting it fine but Bridgestone have a 4 for 3 offer until the end of November that includes the RE003.

I got a set for $179 per corner in 205/45/16 a couple of weeks ago, works out $134 per corner.

Tigger · Postby **Tigger** » Mon Nov 28, 2016 9:10 pm

Yeah I saw that. Sadly I only need two :-(

kalt · Postby **kalt** » Tue Nov 29, 2016 2:19 pm

Suspense wrote:Cutting it fine but Bridgestone have a 4 for 3 offer until the end of November that includes the RE003.

Relax, the offer is valid until 24th December 2016 as per Bridgestone website. Need to check that they have stock, or at least put a deposit down and order them before the offer ends. Costco also offer RE003 in 205/45/16 size but they don't stock them. $165 per wheel fitted and balanced last time I checked.

I have had KU39 in 17" before on the roadster, quiet ride and confident grip level, a grand tourer tyre rather than a performance tyre. Come to think of it, I think I got 20,000kms out of a set as well so it is a fairly soft rubber.

Tigger if you want something lasting, maybe a Goodyear Eagle F1 Directional 5 would suit, it has good dry and wet grip, and has higher wear rate.

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Tue Nov 29, 2016 3:56 pm

kalt wrote:Tigger if you want something lasting, maybe a Goodyear Eagle F1 Directional 5 would suit, it has good dry and wet grip, and has higher wear rate.

You need to be careful withthe Goodyears. I had two sets of their predecessor, the Eagle GS D3, which both came free with sets of wheels. Both sets had zero grip. If you leant on the car while it was parked it would slide out from under you. The GSD3s that got all the rave reviews on tirerack etc were made in Germany. The ones sold in Australia were made in somewhere like West Dodgistan from compressed turnip compost.

It looks the same with the F1D5s. The reviews are for German made tyres. The ones on sale here are made in China.

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Tue Nov 29, 2016 5:07 pm

The old advice was that sticky tyres often wear out quicker than harder mixes. Informed tyre suppliers will be able to give a balanced opinion on what tyres are suitable for the intended purpose.Go and talk to a few tyre suppliers and you will definitely get useful advice. Wearing tyres out quickly also can relate to how the vehicle is dríven or what it's used for. A mate bought a soft mix tyre however he only does low kms i.e. < 5000 per year - if you do 15000 its a different equation.

smy0003 · Postby **smy0003** » Tue Nov 29, 2016 5:45 pm

Good advice from morlock. I'm very quick to recommend the RE003 but I don't know if they are the go considering that 20,000km isn't long lasting enough for your needs.

Sent from my LG-H815

Cus · Postby **Cus** » Tue Nov 29, 2016 9:46 pm

Without an answer for "what do you use the car for" I'd say also get a functional/rational/not-a-camber-stance-bro wheel alignment, and make sure your pressures are in the correct range before you drive the wheels off it.

I managed 47,000km in 12 months out of a set of AD08Rs on a fairly sensible alignment and miles and miles of the hume freeway. Pressure and alignment permitting, the faster the tyres wear out, the more fun you've been having ;)

manga_blue wrote:West Dodgistan.

haha got myself a chuckle out of that one!

smy0003 · Postby **smy0003** » Tue Nov 29, 2016 9:57 pm

That's mighty impressive, Cus!

Sent from my LG-H815

kalt · Postby **kalt** » Wed Nov 30, 2016 1:32 pm

manga_blue wrote:
kalt wrote:The reviews are for German made tyres. The ones on sale here are made in China.

Huh?? o.O

The Eagle GS D3 bear no resemblence to the Directional 5's to me, since the D5 have 4 distinct grooves/water channels.

Directional 5

GS D3

The D5's are closer to KU39s in design, with the exception of D5 being directional. I still have a set of D5's, they perform admirably in the wet and dry.

I can confirm they aren't from Germany; Designed in Germany but Made in Thailand (that's about 1550 miles from West Dogistan, just outside the border of Freetradetown and Deregulationia).