New Tyre Choice

[NSXGB]

Hi,

I need some new rear tires for my NSX, my P-Zero's have lasted not much over 3k (if you believe the previous owner).
I have read the FAQ on this subject and from what I read, I thought the Yokohamas were for me. However, my internet searches are not returning any dealers selling the A-022H....have they been discontinued, or are they special order?

Assuming that I can't get any A-022's, my choices seem to be:

Dunlop SP9000
Bridgestone Potenza S-03
Bridgestone Potenza RE-050
Yokohama AVS Sport
Pirelli P-Zero

I'm running Michelin Pilot SX's on the front - previous owners choice.

What would be a good choice from your experiences?


Any feedback greatfully received....

 

[nsxtasy]

my internet searches are not returning any dealers selling the A-022H....have they been discontinued, or are they special order?

The Yokohama A022H is still available, and is carried by the larger tire dealers in North America, such as the Tire Rack. Any Yokohama Tire dealer (including those in the UK) should be able to get them for you.

They may not show up on Internet searches because they are made specifically for the NSX, and websites often only show tires with a wide variety of applications. Even the Tire Rack website doesn't show them if you list all the Yokohama tire models, but it shows them if you enter an Acura NSX with the year for the sizes you want.

Just pick up the phone and call your Yokohama tire dealer. They can get them.

However, keep in mind that it's not a good idea to mix tires (different tires on the front vs the rear). Either replace the rear tires with the same Michelin tires as the front, or buy a set of four matched tires.

 

[NSXGB]

...thanks, I can't call a dealer as they don't work this late on a Sunday!...but I will call tomorrow...

I suspect a premium price will be charged for these if they are NSX specific, how much extra should I expect to pay?

 

[NSXGB]

....don't worry, I got the info from your link....thanks.

 

[Lazarus]

Were you running P-Zeros on the stock rims? Just wondering...

 

[NSXGB]

....yes, stock 17" rims.

I have noticed some understeer ever since I have owned the car....reading the FAQ on tires, I think that the choice of tires on my car may not be helping the situation.
I'm not sure whether the car originally had the earlier 5 spoke 15 & 16" combination rims, I presume the rolling diameter etc. are consistant and this would not cause any discrepancies?

I'm waiting for price and availability for the Yokohama's, but before I make a final decision, any feedback on the Dunlop SP9000's would be appreciated, as the wet wet/dry performance tradeoff may suit the climate better her in the UK?

 

[nsxtasy]

I'm not sure whether the car originally had the earlier 5 spoke 15 & 16" combination rims

Yes, if it was originally sold prior to 1994.

I presume the rolling diameter etc. are consistant and this would not cause any discrepancies?

That depends on the tire sizes (although tire sizes being off will more typically cause problems with the TCS than with understeer).

I'm waiting for price and availability for the Yokohama's, but before I make a final decision, any feedback on the Dunlop SP9000's would be appreciated, as the wet wet/dry performance tradeoff may suit the climate better her in the UK?

I've used both these tires. I would grade the A022H an A for performance on dry pavement, a B for performance on wet pavement when they have a decent amount of tread, declining to a C or a D when they wear out close to the treadwear indicator bars. I would grade the SP9000 a C for performance on dry pavement, and a B+ for performance on wet pavement. The SP9000 also lasts a lot longer.

If wet performance is a major priority - such as if you are going to be driving your NSX every day, rain or shine - then you might choose the SP9000 and live with their mediocre dry performance. Otherwise, the A022H is much much better, particularly if you like to occasionally take advantage of the handling of which the NSX is capable.

 

[NSXGB]

...thanks, that's exactly the answer I was looking for.

That depends on the tire sizes (although tire sizes being off will more typically cause problems with the TCS than with understeer).

The car is a '93, so would have been 5 spoke's originally. The rear tires are now 245x45x17.

 

[nsxtasy]

The car is a '93, so would have been 5 spoke's originally. The rear tires are now 245x45x17.

Those tires are 3.3 percent larger in outer diameter than stock. That should be fine for TCS, assuming you are using the '94-01 stock size of 215/45-16 in the front, which is 2.4 percent larger than '91-93 stock.

However, if you're going with the Yokohama A022H front and rear, then you're probably going to use the '94-01 stock size at both ends (rear is 245/40-17), which is also fine.

Did your Yokohama dealer tell you he can get the A022H?

 

[NSXGB]

Yes I am using 215/45/16 on the front.

The tyres currently on the rear are 245/45/17 which I presume are even further over the recommended size.
If the rolling diameter is greater than it should be, this means that the speedometer reading will be slightly lower, right? And will affect the TCS.

I have just looked up the correct sizes on their website & found the Yoko's to be available. The 40 series tires are acually cheaper than the 45's, strange why the wrong size was used before.

 

[nsxtasy]

The tyres currently on the rear are 245/45/17 which I presume are even further over the recommended size.

Correct.

If the rolling diameter is greater than it should be, this means that the speedometer reading will be slightly lower, right?

Correct - by approximately the same percentage.

And will affect the TCS.

Not necessarily.

TCS works fine as long as the ratio of the outer diameter of the front tires to that of the rear varies by less than 5 percent of stock (although 3 percent is a better figure, to account for variations in tread depth). For example, your 215/45-16 front tire size is 2.4 percent larger than the stock size of 205/50-15. If the rear tire size is also 2.4 percent larger, the ratio remains the same; when you allow for 4 percent variation, the rear tire size can vary from 0.6 percent less than stock, to 5.4 percent greater than stock, and you shouldn't have any TCS problems.

strange why the wrong size was used before.

Probably because the 245/40-17 size wasn't available in the P Zero.

 

[NSXGB]

Many thanks for the info again.

 

[NSXGB]

TCS works fine as long as the ratio of the outer diameter of the front tires to that of the rear varies by less than 5 percent of stock (although 3 percent is a better figure, to account for variations in tread depth). For example, your 215/45-16 front tire size is 2.4 percent larger than the stock size of 205/50-15. If the rear tire size is also 2.4 percent larger, the ratio remains the same; when you allow for 4 percent variation, the rear tire size can vary from 0.6 percent less than stock, to 5.4 percent greater than stock, and you shouldn't have any TCS problems.

On closer inspection, I found that the front tires are 205x45x16...I make that over 10% difference....is my math correct?

Got my new RE010 rears ready to fit (correct size!), just waiting for stocks of the front tires to come to the UK.

 

[nsxtasy]

On closer inspection, I found that the front tires are 205x45x16...I make that over 10% difference....is my math correct?

No. The outer diameter of a 205/45-16 is 0.84 percent larger than that of a 205/50-15.

It may be easier to use a tire calculator like the one on this website.