US STi: Which tires to replace RE70's?

[Philip Procter]

I've got an USA '05 STi and I will soon be needing replacements for
the stock Bridgstone RE70's. I am looking for a real good performance
tire for summer use, but it should work in rain, too. No snow!

Don't mind a rough ride, noise, etc.

I was looking at the KDW's and the S03's, but I'm open to other
suggestions. I have never seen a direct comparison to the RE70's.
ANyone know how tires compare to the RE70's?

Philip

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

I've got an USA '05 STi and I will soon be needing replacements for
the stock Bridgstone RE70's. I am looking for a real good performance
tire for summer use, but it should work in rain, too. No snow!

Don't mind a rough ride, noise, etc.

I was looking at the KDW's and the S03's, but I'm open to other
suggestions. I have never seen a direct comparison to the RE70's.
ANyone know how tires compare to the RE70's?

Philip

maybe something from Kumho. You can get some good ideas from
www.tirerack.com . Sometimes a local tire shop might even be able to
match TR's price for you and you'd be supporting a local business.

carl

 

[Karl de Boois]

Hi Philip,

My WRX has the BF Goodridge G-Force Profiler and I like them a lot better
than the Bridgestone original tires.

Wear is more on the surface which is a big plus, since the BS were getting
slippery near the end of their lifes.

Karl.

 

[Michael Selin]

I've got an USA '05 STi and I will soon be needing replacements for
the stock Bridgstone RE70's. I am looking for a real good performance
tire for summer use, but it should work in rain, too. No snow!

Don't mind a rough ride, noise, etc.

I was looking at the KDW's and the S03's, but I'm open to other
suggestions. I have never seen a direct comparison to the RE70's.
ANyone know how tires compare to the RE70's?

Philip

The Yokahama Advan Neova may be the best in the world of street tires. Or
the Yokohama Advan- A-06 that comes standard on the Evo will probably make
you smile. A lot of people like the Goodyear f1, but complain about the
compromise in steering response. The incredible tires on cars like yours is
the main reason they post such supercar stats in handling and braking. Hey,
your Brembo brakes are nice in all respects, but put your wheels and tires
on a low-end impreza and it will post comparable numbers in braking.

Thing is, if you like the tires you have which are stiff and sticky which is
reflected in the harsh ride, near go kart handling, you got to pay the
bucks. I think it is worth the cost. Without great tires nothing else is
worth a good damn on a car.

I got a cheap set of tires once and had a real spare with the best of my
worn out old Pirelli cn37's on it. I got a flat on the right front and put
the Pirelli on. On the way home in the rain I went around a left hander and
the three new cheap Michelins broke loose and pivoted on the Pirelli which
kept me on the road. Right then I realized that I would rather have great
tires that cost more and wear out quicker that leave the extra few bucks to
my kids in my will.

Be Well

Michael

 

[Philip Procter]

I agree fully, Michael.

I live in the deep snow belt. Many years ago a very smart person said:
"Snow tires may only let you stop a few feet shorter than all-season
tires, but imagine how critical a few feet might be, one day!"

Oh, how true!

I was after suggestions to improve the handling, particularly in the
wet (where the stock RE70's are not at thier best). It's obvious that
I didn't make that clear enough. Sorry!

What I want is the best balance of dry and wet performance and I'm
willing to trade non-essentials like noise, wear and ride softness.
The comparisons I've seen show the KDW to be an excellent all around
tire, but these comparisons never list the RE70. I suppose only STi
owners are aware of it?

The (excellent) Tire Rack site shows owner reports that put the RE70
in the middle of the pack, but it's a heck of a solid pack between the
RE70's and the #1 tire. I know the RE70 was developed for the STi and
it may be that they work so well on that one car that even a tire that
averages better across a wide range of cars (like the KDW) can't touch
it on the STi. That's why I asked a bunch of Subie nuts.

$800 is a heck of alot of money to use to buy the wrong tire! If I get
one I hate, I'm gonna live with it until it wears out. In other words,
I'd best make the most educated choice I can, it'll be 25,000 miles
until I get another chance!

Thanks for your answer!

Philip

 

[k. ote]

I've got an USA '05 STi and I will soon be needing replacements for
the stock Bridgstone RE70's. I am looking for a real good performance
tire for summer use, but it should work in rain, too. No snow!

Don't mind a rough ride, noise, etc.

I was looking at the KDW's and the S03's, but I'm open to other
suggestions. I have never seen a direct comparison to the RE70's.
ANyone know how tires compare to the RE70's?

I got Pirelli Pzero Nero M+S.. the performance was mind-boggling, but
because the sidewalls were much mushier than I was used to with the RE070s,
I found that top-speed racing the vehicle was nerve-wracking. The PZero
Rossos are the harder sidewall summers that I haven't tried personally, but
I have heard good things about them. Plus they're slightly less expensive
than the Michelins, but still end up performing better head-to-head.

These were excellent tires in the rain as well, and had treads that
channelled water superbly. Large puddles didn't jerk the steering wheel
around at all like the RE070s did.

Pirelli in general I've found to be superior tires for my WRXen and STi.

 

[k. ote]

The Yokahama Advan Neova may be the best in the world of street tires. Or
the Yokohama Advan- A-06 that comes standard on the Evo will probably make
you smile. A lot of people like the Goodyear f1, but complain about the
compromise in steering response. The incredible tires on cars like yours
is the main reason they post such supercar stats in handling and braking.
Hey, your Brembo brakes are nice in all respects, but put your wheels and
tires on a low-end impreza and it will post comparable numbers in braking.

Way to answer questions he didn't even ask.

Plus, you're wrong re: braking numbers.