I ran S0-3's for a number of years until they were discontinued. I then went to RE050's (I think that's the model number) and noticed a little less grip but a bit more life from them. Now I am in need of rears again and see the S0-4's available, are these essentially the successor to the S0-3's? Anyone put some on yet?
Any Potenza S0-4 experiences
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For an NSX, the Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position is not a good idea. It's not available in any sizes to fit the front of an NSX. So don't buy the S-04 for the NSX rear, because you won't be able to find tires for the front to match.
That's a real bummer. I liked my S-03s.
I've got 215 40 17 S0-3's on my car currently, a few years old I believe. I recall a while back the next best size to use and I thought someone said to do 215 45 17? If that's the case, the S0-4 is available in that size or am I incorrect and it was a size like 205?
215/40-17 or 205/40-17 should be no problem at all. However, if you go either on of them with 45 then you might experience some rubbing. Best not to go there =D
Going through some older posts on when I noticed that I wasn't going to be able to get S0-3's, Osiris_x11 said that RE050A's in 205/45 17's would be the next equivalent in terms of size. Is this what others are doing in terms of their 18/17 search now days?
Otherwise, what is the closest performance to an RE050A/S0-3/S0-4? tire in a 17/18 size that you can get front and rears for?
Otherwise, what is the closest performance to an RE050A/S0-3/S0-4? tire in a 17/18 size that you can get front and rears for?
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In Europe, they sell the exact same tire as S-0001. It's true that you can't find a size needed for the front. But I'm not with Ken here as I'm pretty sure the RE050A has pretty much the same compound as the S-0001 and the RE050A is still an excellent tire. It's just a different label and a little different thread as they can't produce an GS-D3 until Congo runs out of caoutchouc. :wink:
Are you not with ken in that a 45 is not a good size as well?
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I'm not with Ken that mixing tires front/rear is a bad thing if the tires are nearly the same. I won't mount 45 in the front anyway. I would go with RE050A in the front and S-04 in the rear. You won't feel a difference. Even if one does, he should not drive that way on public roads.
Anyway, I believe that the RE050A will be sustituted by the S-04 in the future anyway. So there's a good chance that you'll find the right dimension for an NSX.
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I'm not with Ken that mixing tires front/rear is a bad thing if the tires are nearly the same. I won't mount 45 in the front anyway. I would go with RE050A in the front and S-04 in the rear. You won't feel a difference. Even if one does, he should not drive that way on public roads.
Anyway, I believe that the RE050A will be sustituted by the S-04 in the future anyway. So there's a good chance that you'll find the right dimension for an NSX.
That's the issue, the RE050A is only available in 205/45 17 size... I'm since everyone here is saying to not go 45.... what are they mounting? Basically once my old S0-3's on the front of my car wear out, I'm going to be needing to look for a something in a 40.... but what?
I mixed older SO-3 fronts with RE-050A rears and had no isses. The tread pattern is *almost* identical. I wouldn't even consider S0-4's.
We're not in disagreement. If the front and rear tires are very similar, I'm not opposed to mixing them. But it's even better if you can have the same make/model on both ends. The problem you run into is when you can't find similar tires at both ends. The RE050A Pole Position isn't available in front sizes for the NSX, either.
Huh? That's just not true. If you want a "maximum performance" tire like the S-04, there are plenty available in 215/40-17 front and 255/35-18 ('94-05) or 265/35-18 ('91-93) rear. The best of them is the Continental ExtremeContact DW; it's not shown in 215/40-17 on the Tire Rack website, but it's in Continental's specs so you ought to be able to order it.
Dunlop doesn't make a really good "maximum performance" tire in 17"/18" NSX sizes. If you want to move to an "extreme performance" tire (stickier, but won't last as long), there are various ones available, including Dunlop's excellent Star Spec.
They are not available in that size in the States.
As noted above, there are plenty of good tires available in 17"/18" sizes, including the preferable 215/40-17. 205/45-17 can be a problem with rubbing, as well as with the TCS; even though it's narrower, it's more than 2 percent larger in outer diameter than 215/40-17.
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My argument derived from my believing that the RE050A is available for the front in the US. I'm pretty astonished it isn't. The RE050A is one of the best 'street' tires available. Semis and ultra-sport tires are even better.
The RE050A Pole Position (specs) is Bridgestone's version made for many different car models (IOW not for specific models), and has been almost entirely phased out. The RE050A (specs) is still available, mostly for specific cars on which it was original equipment. As you can see from Bridgestone's specs, the 215/40-17 size is not available in North America for either version.
We're not in disagreement. If the front and rear tires are very similar, I'm not opposed to mixing them. But it's even better if you can have the same make/model on both ends. The problem you run into is when you can't find similar tires at both ends. The RE050A Pole Position isn't available in front sizes for the NSX, either.
Huh? That's just not true. If you want a "maximum performance" tire like the S-04, there are plenty available in 215/40-17 front and 255/35-18 ('94-05) or 265/35-18 ('91-93) rear. The best of them is the Continental ExtremeContact DW; it's not shown in 215/40-17 on the Tire Rack website, but it's in Continental's specs so you ought to be able to order it.
Ken,
I'm not looking necessarily for max performance tires that will wear out after 2000-3000 miles. It's been a few years since I tracked my NSX just due to not having time, so it is primarily street driven. I also have the maintenance on a GT-R that I have to consider so for a car that's street driven and not coming close to hitting the performance threshold that a max performance tire will give on the street, I just don't need something along those lines. I'm looking for a compromise between grip and tread life. I actually like the RE050's that I had as I got considerably more miles out of that rear set than I did the S0-3's I ran before. I was asking about the S0-4's b/c I would at least be open to something that appeared by name to supercede the S0-3 in hopes that maybe it would give the grip and maybe increased treadlife.... who knows unless you ask!
I appreciate your help in this matter though. I'm not rushing to get something currently, just lining up my ducks as I got married a month ago and have plenty of juggling balls in the air!
True, but as the tires wore out they got softer and grippier.
Most of the maximum performance tires will last a lot longer than that. (You're not confusing "maximum performance tires" with the fast-wearing "extreme performance tires", are you?) For example, the Continental ExtremeContact DW, which carries a treadwear rating of 340, should last as long as any other summer tire, including the S-04, treadwear 280 (and should last significantly longer than the RE050 with its 140 treadwear rating). That's the beauty of the ExtremeContact DW; they last as long as, and are priced similarly to, the "ultra high performance summer tires" (e.g. Yoko S.drive) but give much, much better performance, so they're better in every way. (I assume you're not considering all-seasons, which may last even longer but which are downright awful in warm-weather performance when compared with decent summer tires.)
That's why the ExtremeContact DW should be perfect for you. (Those who care only about grip would be better off with an "extreme performance" tire like the RE-11, Star Spec, etc.)
Discount Tire Direct's website shows the ExtremeContact DW in 215/40-17 in stock in their Ohio warehouse. They're $120 each with free shipping. 255/35-18 and 265/35-18 are $227 and $241 respectively, again with free shipping.
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I always get the ratings mixed up.... how is extreme more than maximum or maximum more than extreme?
Is there a dictionary that spells this out somewhere?Similar threads
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