Bridgestone RE01-R

[ace10]

Originally Posted by AdamT

Oh man, I was about ready to order the Toyos that we've been talking about over the past two weeks on various other threads here, and now another option comes along! I love all the competition, but I'm still utterly clueless when it comes to what makes for good rubber. Somebody give me the low-down on the Bridgestones vs. Toyos vs. Yokos (and anything else that fits). Perhaps someone should start a mega-thread on tire options??

(As I've said before, I'm actually quite happy with Yokos, and have run them before on several other cars, but I'm always happy to switch and try new things. The Kuhmos I have on my M3 right now, for example, are a great tire for the money and I couldn't be happier for giving them a shot. So I'm willing to experiment.)

bridgestone re01-r is not a comparable tire to the toyo r888. they're for different purposes. the re01-r, as read in this thread, is a street tire, that could possibly be used on the dry track, while the r888 is a track tire (R compound) that can be used on the street.

[AdamT]

I really need to replace my tires soon and I think I've settled on these. Just wanted to bump this thread and see if anyone else had any input on them versus other options before I pull the trigger. Also, who has the best price on them (in LSS sizes)?

[borat]

Just got the RE01-R's from Tire Rack mounted on the TR Motorsport wheels. Seemed like a very good price but more importantly they came within two days and the service from Tire Rack has always been first rate. With not many miles I can only say they are quieter and the turn in/rotation seems quicker than my ad07s.

[tvacc]

Are these Bridgestones still available for the LSS wheels?

[tvacc]

How are these sizes for the LSS rims? Prices from Tire Rack

Bridgestone Potenza RE-01R (Extreme Performance Summer)

Sidewall Style: Blackwall
205/45-16
ZR Speed Rated
Price: $150.00 (each)

Estimated Availability: In Stock
Optional Road Hazard Program: additional $18.00 per tire
Qty: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Bridgestone Potenza RE-01R (Extreme Performance Summer)

Sidewall Style: Blackwall
245/40-17
ZR Speed Rated
Price: $205.00 (each)

Estimated Availability: In Stock
Optional Road Hazard Program: additional $24.60 per tire

[ITA66]

I have had RE01R's on the rear of my standard suspension car for a year now. Half the price of the Yokes, better ride, quieter ride, more traction, at least half the wear rate. My Yokes were worn flat in 7500 miles of street driving. The RE01R's have tons of tread left after 5000 miles of driving with 5 track days included.

Initially the balance with the stock Yoke tires up front was fine. A little more understeer but quickly solved by pulling shims in the front. By the end of last summer, the balance was horrible because the Yokes heat cycle more quickly than the RE01R's and my Yokes are now hard as stone. I bought track tires/wheels to rectify the problem and will keep the stock setup for the street where it doesnt matter that the fronts are heat cycled.

Cant say if the RE01R's will be as sticky as the sport suspension Yokes, but I guarantee they will ride better and last longer and be cheaper. For the price difference, you can buy a track setup so that the traction difference (if there even is one) is irrelevant because you can use RE01R's on the street and real track tires on the track.

If I had a sport suspension car, I wouldnt think twice about these tires, just buy them.

And yes, I do work for the company but that isnt why I am recommending them.

[Charles Rozier]

I don't know if this just my setup, but when I put a set of RE-01R's on, my Elise developed a severe case of the so-called ABS "ice mode" on track that clears up when I switch back to the 048's. I have the RE-01R 235 rears, LSS wheels, track pack, pagid blues front and rear.

Otherwise the RE-01Rs are very grippy when cornering on the track, at least on cool days, and are fairly comfortable on the street. But on track my ABS comes in MUCH earlier with them than with the 048's. I guess there may be a small size differential that is aggravating the ABS, though the spec sheets show pretty similar sizes.

I wonder if anyone else has had this problem. May be different with the 245 rears, or may be related to camber setting...

[Baysailor]

Originally Posted by Charles Rozier

I don't know if this just my setup, but when I put a set of RE-01R's on, my Elise developed a severe case of the so-called ABS "ice mode" on track that clears up when I switch back to the 048's. I have the RE-01R 235 rears, LSS wheels, track pack, pagid blues front and rear.

Did you go with 235/40-17 or 235/45-17?

[Charles Rozier]

Originally Posted by Baysailor

Did you go with 235/40-17 or 235/45-17?

Oops. 235/45. Maybe a little too small, now that I read the chart again. Should be 235/40. Maybe that's the problem.

[Baysailor]

Originally Posted by Charles Rozier

Oops. 235/45. Maybe a little too small, now that I read the chart again. Should be 235/40. Maybe that's the problem.

Actually the 45 profile would be a little taller and thus less revolutions per mile.

Here are some specifics: width, sidewall ratio, rim diameter, overall diameter, revolutions per mile and rear revs/mile divided by front revs/mile

Yokohama AD07
175 55 16 23.5 882
225 45 17 25.1 828 0.9388

Yokohama A048
195 50 16 23.6 879
225 45 17 24.9 833 0.9477
245 40 17 24.8 839 0.9544

Bridgestone RE01-R
205 45 16 23.2 898
225 45 17 25.0 833 0.9276
235 45 17 25.4 817 0.9098
235 40 17 24.4 854 0.9510
245 40 17 24.7 843 0.9388

As you can see your ratio of 0.9098 would be the furthest from "normal" of 0.9477 for A048's or 0.9388 for AD07's. I am not sure how much if any this would throw off the ABS (or traction control for that matter), but it was just a thought. I run 195/50-16, 245/40-17 with my A048's and 205/45-16, 245/40-17 with my RE01-R's and haven't noticed a problem.

[Charles Rozier]

Originally Posted by Baysailor

Actually the 45 profile would be a little taller and thus less revolutions per mile.

Oops again, brain fade. But I did mean that 40 was more optimal, as your chart shows. Am ordering them now.

I am not sure how much if any this would throw off the ABS (or traction control for that matter), but it was just a thought.

I will find out for sure when I change the rear size, but I'm pretty sure it's a big effect on my car. I compared the tires on different days but under fairly similar conditions and the ABS difference was very dramatic even though the cornering grip was similar.

BTW my lap times (50 degrees temp) on RE0-01Rs were within 1/2 sec of fresh 048's, even with the ABS disadvantage. Pretty impressive given the better ride. Not sure this would be the same at higher temps though.

[usofrob]

Why not just go with the 245/40/17 rears? That's what I'm using, and they seem to fit fine.

Also, I did a little test this weekend to see if my odometer was correct with the smaller tires. And, to my surprise, with full tread the odometer and the freeway mile signs lined up with less than 0.5% error.

Does anyone know which wheels the odometer reads from?

[ChrisH]

Originally Posted by usofrob

...Does anyone know which wheels the odometer reads from?

left rear

[yellowlotus]

does anybody have experience as to how long the Re-01r will last on an Elise normal street driving?
0-10kmile
10-15k miles
15k-20k miles
or more???

[usofrob]

My guess would be 15k in the rear, and over 20k in the front. The base stock Yokohama tires lasted 13k rear and 17+k front, and I autocrossed a number of times on them. I suspect the RE-01R's will have similar wear.

[yellowlotus]

i just put 205 in front 245's in rear in the sport package,and i'm starting to regret it.the yoko' that came with the car originally ad 48 are much stickier and driving is more precise.the B's just dont seem to have the grip the car now has body roll and brakes late,and slower acceleration.but comfort has improved alot along with less road noise.i'd switch back to Yoko's but cant afford it now.

[tvacc]

I was litteraly just getting ready to pull the trigger on the Bridgestones RE01's.
This gives me pause....

What do some of you others think about this last post...

[ZJChaser]

These tires are NOT as grippy as the A048s. They are not intended to be. They are a much better street tire though.

[alexandertg4]

I have them on my Exige. I like them for street. I have used them on the track but it is obvious that they are not as sticky.

[OriginalBlackCi]

These are great street tires but they are certainly not A048 partial R comp tires. They don't heat cycle as bad as the AD07s or 48s and wear very well. It's a comprimise. Do you want better wear on a street tire or do you want better handling with heat cycling issues that come with the A048? Depends what you use the car for, mostly.