Need new stock 17" rear tires

**tosugrad** · 09-29-2008, 06:06

On my 2005. My RE040s are almost done.

My fronts (also RE040s) have 1 season (maybe more) left on them.

What do you guys suggest? I just looked at TireRack and I thought these were pretty good tires but they are almost DEAD LAST on the list of 50+ tires for Ultra High Performance Summer.

I would like to get more than 5000 miles out of them but not looking for 20,000 miles.

Potenza RE750s ??

Thanks!

**Ray05NSX** · 09-29-2008, 07:51

I recently purchased Continental ContiSportContact3 tires for my 05 at Tire Rack....215/40ZR17 fronts ( $172. ) and 255/40ZR17 rears ( $182. ) and they perform great! I tracked with them two weeks ago at Putnam Park, IN at a Porsche drivers education session, and they worked well. I have the ContiSportContact2 on my 911 C4S which lead me to purchasing for my NSX. I had a 96 NSX and purchased the recommended Bridgetones which also performed good, but I only had a couple of years and 3K miles, without being tracked. Please note that they are now discontinued, although Tire Rack had them in stock!

Ray

**tosugrad** · 10-01-2008, 07:46

NO ONE ELSE has replaced their OEM tires on 17" rims???

**RPM217** · 10-01-2008, 15:09

My tire distributor was able to get me 2 new rear OEM Goodyears about 2 months ago, don't know what I'll do for the next set!

**CL65 Captain** · 10-01-2008, 15:37

I have Goodyear F1GSDs on my street wheels. Good street tire, lousy track tire.

I will second Ray's Continentals as they did pretty well on the track.

Take a look at the Falkin 615s. Yes, they don't last long but they are also cheap to replace. And you won't find anything that sticks better for the price. People have bitched about their poor performance in the wet, but I have run them at Mid Ohio in rain and they did OK. So they should be fine on the street too.

**Osiris_x11** · 10-01-2008, 16:44

Go w/ a pair of Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Pole Position (not just the regular RE50A). They are aren't corner-specific like the previous OEM RE10 & RE40, but their dry-grip & cornering/sidewall-stiffness is just as good as the discontinued OEM tires.

Regarding the RE040's rating on Tirerack.com, take that w/ a grain of salt as people at times have ridiculous expectations for a tire & it's longevity. And when their desires aren't fulfilled, their poison quill, namely the keyboard/mouse take-over on the inter-webz. The RE040 is one the best tires for the NSX anywhere/anytime, period.

Regarding the RE050A Pole Position... IMHO, it's a noticeably better dry-weather handling tire than the Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3, as I've actually had multiple sets of both (GSD3 & RE050A PP) in the OEM 17x7/17x9 sizes. The Goodyear F1 GSD3 is however clearly better in rain. Tread-wear & tread-life are comparable for both (8.5k-10k/rears w/o any track/auto-X, OEM Zanardi suspension, '93+ alignment specs', enthusiastic/spirited driving locally/country-side).

If you seek longer tread-life, after you're done w/ your front RE040 & rear RE50A Pole Positions (should be right around the same-time, this round), go w/ a less high/max' performance summer tire, instead something more GT-oriented but still a performance-oriented tire.

However, don't put an @ss make/model on your rear when you have usable RE040's on your front. Trust me on this. I did. I paid for it. And then some.

I have an unused/brand-new extra set of the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Pole Positions (front & rear) that I'm gonna place for-sale on 'Prime this week, as I intend to sample one of the following: Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec, Bridgestone Potenza RE-01R, or the Falken Azenis RT-615.

Potenza RE750s ??

Is that a joke to see if we're paying attention? I believe they are being discontinued, as we speak.

On a sporty-luxury coupe/sedan... yes.

On an NSX... no.

**tosugrad** · 10-01-2008, 16:54

Originally Posted by Osiris_x11

as I intend to sample one of the following: Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec

Thats what I was thinking about....

**Osiris_x11** · 10-01-2008, 17:05

Originally Posted by osugrad97

Thats what I was thinking about....

Keep in mind that these (Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec) may have much greater grip than your RE040, as well as a shorter tread-life & more aggressive tread-wear due to the softer compound (compared to the Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 & Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Pole Position).

I personally say go w/ a complete set of the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec, once you burn through your RE040 fronts.

The (3) ultra-high performance summer tires I listed in the previous post would offer 5k miles at most in terms of tread-life.

**tosugrad** · 10-01-2008, 17:38

So would those Dunlops last 5k on the rears? 10k on the front? I do street driving on OEM alignment.

Thanks for the help.

**Osiris_x11** · 10-01-2008, 18:15

Originally Posted by osugrad97

So would those Dunlops last 5k on the rears? 10k on the front?

I believe the jury is still out on that, in terms of NSX-only OEM-sized applications.

I wouldn't wholeheartedly trust non-NSX data on Tirerack in terms of tread-life/longevity as there are individuals w/ a 240SX stating 10k+ miles '70%+ remaining', Saturn SC2 w/ 6k+ miles, Civic Si w/ 5.5k+ miles & 'treadwear hardly noticeable', etc'. There's a Yaris review as well, but it's even too silly to reiterate what was stated in it.

Makes you wonder if this tire is really all that, or just some novices having fun w/ the keyboard/mouse...(?)

The price-point that it's at really makes it attractive to a whole motley assortment of vehicles...