New tires: help me choose

[Nix]

Ok so I need new tires. I've got it narrowed down to 3 different ones. Just need to finally choose. Input welcome.

1) Hankook RS-3

2) Bridgestone Potenza RE-11A

3) Dunlop Direzza Z2 star specs

Long 16pg review: (the last couple pages have info from 2012 & 2013)
http://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/839178-rs-3-vs-z1ss-vs-595-rs-r-vs-re-11-vs-z2-vs-rivals/


I am a big Dunlop fan so those are usually my first choice. However, had some less than stellar performance in the wet from my latest set. I'm leaning towards the RE-11 as I read its a decent compromise as a DD and has better wet performance than the others. I also read a pretty good comparison between these tires and that the RE has the best audible and tactile feedback to help beginners learn the limits of grip. Basically they said the RE11 gets louder and higher pitched from 85% on until it loses grip while the Dunlops only make noise when they lose grip completely.

Also I cant seem to get the tires from my usual place so I'm thinking of buying direct through tire rack. Will the place I have them sent to honor the stated mount and balance rate posted on tire racks website? Its different on TR.com than thier website. I havent purchased through TR before. Just curious if anyone else has had good luck or used this method before. I'd like to have them mounted at Sears since I have the 3 year alignment deal. They are listed on TR as an installer.

My concern is that sears tells me $30/tire mount and balance.

TR States $15/tire on the sears-installer page.

Ordering through TR and the $15MB will save me enough to bump up from a basic UHP to one of the tires I listed.

 

[Monk]

I'm a Michelin fan myself, with a 2nd for conti's............

 

[Dar-Dar]

Im also having a dilemma. Mine will either be the Z2 or RE-11. It's a very tough choice to make between the two. Lol.

 

[KennyGS]

It's a toss up between the Potenza and Direzza. I've had both, with my latest experience being the Potenza, which I am leaning towards as superior. You wouldn't go wrong with either.

Can you still get RE-11? I thought they were discontinued and redesigned as RE-11A, which I've not had yet.

 

[Nix]

Yeah it's the RE11-A. I'll change the first post. This particular review makes me lean towards the new Z2 Dunlops.... but I do kind of want the better wet performance as my current Dunlops were a little scary.

Cost wise they are $4 apart. So no big factor there.


RE-11A compared to the older plain RE-11;

Compared with other tires in Re-11A category:
+: Incredible wet grip, manageable and when breaking away.
+: Easy to modulate braking, and short braking distance
+: Audible feedback! (kinda loud actually)
+: Very comfortable
+: Heats up very very quickly
+: Stiff outer sidewall (predictable control when in a steady slide)
+: Quiet
+: Very good cold weather tire. even at 0~5deg celcius.
=: OK tread life (not as good as the original Re-11. 25-40% shorter life than the original Re-11), Still better than RS-3. Slightly better or equivalent to Z1 Star Specs.
-: Low ultimate grip. Probably even lower than Pilot Super Sports that wears much better than this tire. I wouldn't count this tire as belonging to the "extreme summer" group. The ultimate grip avaialble isn't necessarily better than the original Re-11. Its operating temperature is broader than Re-11, however.
-: Worse tread life than Re-11.
-: Steering response when full-tread depth. Not much improvement even at 4/32nd.
-: Overheats much quickly compared to other tires.
-: Takes a while to catch slides with this tire.

Verdict: Very good street tires that you can take to the track. But don't expect any lap records. At thin tread depth (2~3/32nd), if not heat cycled out, it may prove to be very capable tire.

 

[KennyGS]

Yeah, based on those reviews , I'd go with the Star Specs.

The RE-11 were amazing at the track last summer. The best tire I've ever driven. I'm guessing they weren't getting a broad enough audience with them.

Since they mentioned the Michelin PSS, I'm running those as my DD tires now, and they're merely "ok" compared to the RE-11.

 

[Nix]

Apparently Bridgestone has a new EPT that they are holding back on to see what Hankook comes out with to follow the RS-3. There is rumor of a new RS-4 in the works.