Which Tyres! Help! :)

[GTRKat]

Ok I know similar questions have been asked before, I've searched and yes I've been going through page after page of http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/topic/72923-tyres-you-used-and-how-u-would-rate-them/

I'm still not sure which direction to go in.

So long story short, my front brakes are in a shabby state so I decided to upgrade them to an AP racing 6 piston big brake upgrade etc. I knew it was going to be close but unfortunately they don't fit under my current rims (there was a bees dick in it, very unlucky!).

So I've had to source some wheels, I have a set that are in an 18x9.5 that have big caliper clearance. Anyways the tyres on them are looking a bit poo for my liking. For a start they have 255/35R18 and they are stretched.

So I'm thinking the best thing to do is to put a 265/35R18 on them. But now brings me to the question.. Which ones. As you can see I've outlaid some cash recently and while I know skimping out on tyres isn't ideal, I just need something to get me out of trouble for now.

I was tossing up between a Federal 595RS-R and a Kumho KU36. Seems to be a lot of people on both sides of the fence. I am particularly interested in which one people think runs better when cold. For example, if I run at the drags I don't want to f**k around doing burnouts and shit that's not my thing. So far my RE001s are coping well with the job but they're too expensive for right now.

Please let me know what people think, and if there's something else in that price bracket that I'm not thinking of. Thanks

[GTRKat]

Should add this is for a GTR putting out around 385awkw.

[Duncan]

Unfortunately you are going to need to be careful with the throttle with any road tyre if you have 400kw.

The club member price on federal 595rs is very good, and they are a good tyre. In fact, about as good as yuo can get without going to a full semi slick tyre.

Having said that, you could also consider cheap semi slicks if grip is currently a problem like federal fs201 or toyo 888. About 1500 a set and should last around 15,000klm depending how you treat them (ie how much track work among the road driving)

And yes, get rid of the stretch. That is an old, dangerous fad that does nothing for grip or handling. 365 is much more like it on a 9.5" rim.

[GTRKat]

Yeah everything I do in terms of tyres, suspension and braking requires considerable thought now

Option 1 Garage do a very good deal on the RS-Rs too.

Grip isn't currently a problem on my RE001s, just now that I'm looking at a bigger tyre and given current circumstances they're a little expensive when people seem to be getting good results on these types of tyres.

Just trying to make sure that they aren't going to be a death trap without warming them up first.

[Brandon]

Tire Rack? I just got my Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 for around 1500 landed. Thats 265/35/18.

If you CBF ordering online, just go with RS-R I reckon.

[R31Nismoid]

tirerack.com

My two choices would be:

Yokohama AD08

or

Bridgestone RE-11

RE001's will last longer than any of the tyres mentioned thus far, including the 595's and the KU36's.

They are nowhere near as soft being the point to note.

[GTRKat]

Thanks guys appreciate it!

Very interested in those Bridgestone RE-11s. If I don't go those next time they're certainly a shoe in for the next lot.

[Lonewolf1983]

i was im a similar postion, wanting tyres that would be ok on the street, and short laps at the track, but dont do a lot of KM's (weekend car only).

ended up choosing the federal RS-R's, cheap and symmetrical so I can swap them to the other side when they camber wear.

[Touge Kyousou]

To me, it sounds like you should get the adrenalines again...you'll pay more now but over long run you'd probably pay the least by getting them again.

S compounds wear pretty quick with most being rated at 140-180 whereas adrenalines are 220 iirc. Also another thing to note is most if not all s compound tires come with a fair bit less tread than a normal road tire like an adrenaline would have so suddenly you have this tire that is quite low in treadwear rating and didn't have much tread to begin with (i'm referring to the s compounds).

The s stuff tends to age as well if kept too long e.g. they'll take longer and longer to get sticky which can be annoying depending on how you drive your car and oh yeah, they do need a little warm up time though the ku36's in my experience warm up to more than acceptable grip levels quite quickly (around 5 minutes of normal driving should get you to a good road tires grip levels). Whether it is day or not/winter/summer also affects how fast they heat up.. i've had 15 minutes of normal driving on a very cold night and the grip level was still kinda below a UHP road tire.

Also there's a test on tire rack comparing the ku36 against the re11 and there really wasn't much in it... the re11 is a better all rounder but the ku36 was very strong in lateral grip (tire rack's first test tire to break 1g cornering forces in their tests). I went with ku36's because they're pretty dam cheap considering how good they are (for my intents) and local availability as in i phoned, drove in and got them put on and went home in same day.

edit - ku36's are a fair bit cheaper than 595rsrs even.

Edited January 28, 2011 by Touge Kyousou

[GTR-N1]

To me, it sounds like you should get the adrenalines again...you'll pay more now but over long run you'd probably pay the least by getting them again.

Price last week at "Tempe" was $500/corner on RE001 265/35/18

How much are they at tirerack?

Sorry to hijack, but I need 10.5" LMGT4s shod.Might check on AD08 too

[GTRKat]

Haha yep the $500 a corner is what I don't have right now

I believe they aren't on tirerack because they're not available in the US.

I'll be honest, if I fork out for the Federals now (same price as the KU36's right now from Option 1 Garage) I don't give a shit if they wear out in 6-12 months. I don't even care much what costs me more in the long run, I just have other priorities and right now I need tyres that will get me by. I should add, the GTR isn't my daily, mostly gets driven on weekends.

I should also add that hopefully in coming months I'll also have 10.5" TE37s to be putting rubber on as well so bit more thought will go into that.

[Brandon]

Price last week at "Tempe" was $500/corner on RE001 265/35/18

How much are they at tirerack?

Sorry to hijack, but I need 10.5" LMGT4s shod.Might check on AD08 too

Just go on the website and check. The search and filters are very user friendly.

As Kat mentioned, RE001 isnt available in the states. Delivery is around 270USD for all 4 of mine. Be mindful when ordering, make sure your purchase is less than 1000AUD or else you will get hit by import duty. If it is over, try to find someone to share shipping with you (splitting the exp and cheap tires up). Thats what I did. My mate ordered 4 Yokohama S-Drive which are like 600USD and mine are 1200USD. We split them into 2x PS2 2x S-Drive per delivery to make the purchase less than 1000AUD.

For 500AUD/tyre, you will get a much better tyre there. I sort of filtered my options down to Bridgestone RE11, Continental CSC3, Yokohama ADVAN AD08 and Michelin PS2.

PS: They have Yokohama ADVAN AD08 too.

[GTR-N1]

Ta.

[R31Nismoid]

Or just get them to send them through at 2x2, avoid all taxes that way.

Use a mates address and you are set.

A mate recently got tyres and the Fed-EX guy said that's all he is basically delivering at the moment.

So gives you an idea of just how many people are doing the same thing.

Screw Aussie rip off pricing IMO. There is no way something is $1000-$1500 more expensive on a $1200 (US) item.

[Nanogrip]

How about Ventus V12 evo K110?  Car and Driver Magazine did a test on several tires a while back, and the Hankook Ventus V12 evo K110 came out in second but the price is excellent for the performance you get.

[Deano 1]

im running RSRs atm, im very happy with them and there wear. they seamed to go well at the drags, i did alil burnout but just to get the water off the tyres

[GTRKat]

I was worried they'd be too sticky at the drags once they warmed up. I think I'm going to go the way of the RSR's.

[GTRKat]

I did this last time I looked at tyres, I can't decide. Every time I think I've made up my mind I see something else.

I have also heard that the Hankook Ventus R-S3 are a good tyre... With our dollar looking so good still maybe Tirerack is a goer.....