Bridgestone RE55's

[djr81]

Just bought some new Tyres (Bridgestone RE55's) for my R32. The bloke from the tyre shop rang & said they had fitted the wrong type of RE55. I asked him what the fcuk was going on and by way of an answer he said that there are apparently two compounds available.

Can anyone confirm this?

[Downforce]

Yes there are two compounds for RE55's. The "TT" compound is softer than the "SR" compound... more sticky around corners but wont last as long..

Which one did you get? I'd recommend SR if you want an a bit better life out of the tyres.

[djr81]

Will be getting the SR compound because from home it is a 300kms to Wanneroo & 70ish kms up to Collie. Hence the track tyres still need to travel a bit. So the harder of the two compounds gets a guernsey.

I am getting sorted for spare rims & road tyres, but a set of rims & tyres won't fit in the boot of the Skyline for getting to track days.

Thanks for the info. Any tips on using the RE55's, pressures, roading them, warming them up etc?

[Sydneykid]

Hi, my 20 cents worth...

Remove rear seat, 4 X 17 X 8 with 245's fit easily.

Target pressure hot is 34 to 36 psi.

We run them for 3 to 4 laps and then let them cool. Then get into it.

Watch the pressure, they don't like it too high, blisters will happen.

I have done over 5,000 k's on the road using "R" tyres, so don't stress over 300 k's.

[djr81]

Thanks SK.

What sort of pressure do you start with? I was led to believe 20 - 22 psi.

From what I gather, in terms of wear, punishment handed out at the track is much worse than tooling around the suburbs. Certainly proved so for my last set of road tyres.

It is 300kms to get there by the way. Another 300kms home. The joys of living in country WA I suppose. Maybe one day Pimm will come good on their promise & built the circuit in Bunbury. There again, maybe cops will fly.

[Sydneykid]

Start at 28 psi, check after your first run, probably a bit high, but it is easier to let down than pump up. We wear out a set of "R's" in a weekend. That's 1 practise (15 minutes), one qualifying (15 minutes) and 4 races (20 minutes each). That's around 200 k's. A nice quiet drive in the country for 600 k's is nothing compared to that sort of wear.

In NSW, we have a guy that supersprints an MR2 and he carries his "R's" on specially made roof racks. An MR2 looks quite strange with rood racks, let alone 4 race one them. He simply takes the racks off and swaps the tyre while racing. You shouldn't have to do that though, one in the spare tyre spot, one in the boot itself and two in the back seat. Hang onto the plastic bags that the "R's" come in and stick them back into them to keep the car clean. It also helps the tyres from aging while sitting around in the garage.

[Roy]

...It also helps the tyres from aging while sitting around in the garage.

Ive got a spare set of rims sitting on my porch with some DO1Js on them. They are covered with clear plastic and in are in the shade. I give them the occassional squirt with Meguirs tyre black to try and stop them from hardening...is there a propper recognised way to to stop them from hardening?

LOL. they should be dead by now from track work, but it seems i was harder on engines last year then i was on tyres:(

[Craved]

if they do go hard, there are treatments out there that will restore the tyres to their original softness..

i can find out what the stuff is called if anyone interested.