Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 - anyone?

[CarJunkie]

I would love to hear some 1M feedback on these tires if anyone is using them. I think I have narrowed myself down to PSS or RE11's.

My 1M is used for occasional touring, fun drives and autocross, and hopefully some track days next year.

[dlai]

I don't have a 1M, althought the RE-11's are a great street tyre.
However, there are grippy tyres out there that I recommend like:
Advan AD08
Dunlop Direzza Star Spec Z1
Hankook RS3

[brownie815]

Originally Posted by dlai

I don't have a 1M, althought the RE-11's are a great street tyre.
However, there are grippy tyres out there that I recommend like:
Advan AD08
Dunlop Direzza Star Spec Z1
Hankook RS3

If compare the above 4 tyres, RE-11 is the best!!

[dlai]

Originally Posted by brownie815

If compare the above 4 tyres, RE-11 is the best!!

I'm not sure if you are being serious or not? Have you tried these out before and compared. In my experience and my friends who drive big powered jdm cars around the track, we all suggest the 3 above tyres. With AD08's being the best, however most expensive.

[nachob]

I'm also really interested in the RE-11s and the AD-08s. According to tire rack, they liked the RE-11 slightly more than the AD-08. One thing to keep in mind is the nature of the 1M and how critical tires are. While the M3 makes more power, it comes on in a somewhat linear build up. In the 1M, there is a big torque surge that easily breaks the rear loose. So, while a tire might be great on the M3, the original poster has it right by getting 1M owners to chime in. The PS2s where excellent in my 325i and I couldn't even break them loose in the dry. In the 1M, if I sneeze, the traction light starts blinking.

I really want some more rear traction for daily use without adding a ton of road noise like the Direzza Star Spec.

I wish I could test drive tires! I would probably do the RE-11 first based on Tire Rack's review, then the AD-08. The Direzzas are usually great tires but they seem noisy from all the cars I have ridden in.

Discount Tire has a saying: If you don't like one of our tires bring them back. I might ask them if I can buy a set of RE-11s and if I don't like them, can I exchange them for Super Sports and maybe even pay a small fee to make it happen. The problem is that usually you need to break them in for a bit to get a valid opinion.

Anyone here work for Discount of Bridgestone?

[CarJunkie]

I may take a second look at the AD08's also. For the stock size, they offer the most tread width and don't look as bad as their pictures suggest (not a fan of the curvy tread pattern). I saw them mounted on a GTR and they looked OK in person.

[brownie815]

Originally Posted by dlai

I'm not sure if you are being serious or not? Have you tried these out before and compared. In my experience and my friends who drive big powered jdm cars around the track, we all suggest the 3 above tyres. With AD08's being the best, however most expensive.

Pls note that, the AD08 and RE11 are also street tryes or you can call them "semi-race tryes". Of cuz im serious, im a daily driver and i've tried the AD08 on my 330 before, and at the first half of the time period, (say may be the the first seven to eight months, AD08 has pretty good traction on the dry and wet surface) but it won't be long lasting, after eight months or so, the AD08 started to fade out, and u can feel the tryes are slippery on the wet surface and few more moths later, its even starts to loose traction while i was cornering on the dry surface!
RE11 is more durable and its a really sticky on wet and dry too.

For the Dunlop Direzza Star Spec Z1 and Hankook RS3, i never try them before, but my friends does, but they all changed to RE11 after their tryes wear and tear!

[CarJunkie]

I just ordered a set from tire rack for $890 in stock size.

The fronts are on closeout for $148 each. If anyone has been on the fence about these, now is the time!

[ozinaldo]

Originally Posted by CarJunkie

I just ordered a set from tire rack for $890 in stock size.

The fronts are on closeout for $148 each. If anyone has been on the fence about these, now is the time!

Good catch, bargain price!

Also, can it be a sign of good times ahead? Like more/larger sizes coming for the new RE-11A

[jhonson3141]

I have got a set of ad08 for bargain, but to me I didn't feel much more grip to the original tyre. a very very noisy tyre.

[CarJunkie]

Originally Posted by ozinaldo

Good catch, bargain price!

Also, can it be a sign of good times ahead? Like more/larger sizes coming for the new RE-11A

No kidding. Whether I like these or not, they won't be around to buy again. I hope to have more options in a year, especially RE-11A.

[CarJunkie]

Got them on last week. I have put about 60 miles on them and have been very impressed so far.

Steering response is slightly less crisp compared to PS2, with a larger deadspot at center. That is the only downside I can see so far.

Road noise and comfort seem to be about the same. Grip is phenomenal, and they probably aren't quite broken in yet. Straight line acceleration is no longer traction limited in 1st gear. They give good feedback through the wheel and are very stable through corners. I haven't found their limits yet and won't try to until I can be in a safe place to do it . . . I have an autocross coming up in 12 days! Hopefully these will not drop off in performance with heat cycles the way the PS2's did.

Now I will just have to hope that the RE11A line expands to include our sizes with these being discontinued. If not, I will just have to go to the Dunlop Max Sports.


They are stock size, but are noticeably wider than the PS2's.

Here are some pics:

[1&done]

Originally Posted by CarJunkie

Got them on last week. I have put about 60 miles on them and have been very impressed so far.

Steering response is slightly less crisp compared to PS2, with a larger deadspot at center. That is the only downside I can see so far.

Road noise and comfort seem to be about the same. Grip is phenomenal, and they probably aren't quite broken in yet. Straight line acceleration is no longer traction limited in 1st gear. They give good feedback through the wheel and are very stable through corners. I haven't found their limits yet and won't try to until I can be in a safe place to do it . . . I have an autocross coming up in 12 days! Hopefully these will not drop off in performance with heat cycles the way the PS2's did.

Now I will just have to hope that the RE11A line expands to include our sizes with these being discontinued. If not, I will just have to go to the Dunlop Max Sports.


They are stock size, but are noticeably wider than the PS2's.

Here are some pics:

Bumping this old thread to get your feedback on the RE-11s after 1yr. I dig the lift btw

[CarJunkie]

I am still very happy with them. 5 autocrosses and about 6000 miles, treadwear is nice and even. They have gotten noisier, but not obnoxious. I haven't seen any dropoff in grip so far.

In stock size, they rubbed on my passenger side fender liner. I just got the updated liners installed under warranty, and there is over 1/4" to spare. It looks like these are back in stock, so I don't see myself switching to something else when they wear out. I will definitely buy them again.

[1&done]

Originally Posted by CarJunkie

I am still very happy with them. 5 autocrosses and about 6000 miles, treadwear is nice and even. They have gotten noisier, but not obnoxious. I haven't seen any dropoff in grip so far.

In stock size, they rubbed on my passenger side fender liner. I just got the updated liners installed under warranty, and there is over 1/4" to spare. It looks like these are back in stock, so I don't see myself switching to something else when they wear out. I will definitely buy them again.

Thanks for the follow up, I was leaning towards GTS sizing 255/35 & 285/30 19s however, with a 1/4 to spare on the fender I might want to stick with 245s. I have had PSSs, PS2s, Advans… looking fwd to trying these. Thnx

[SpencerMH]

Originally Posted by CarJunkie

I am still very happy with them. 5 autocrosses and about 6000 miles, treadwear is nice and even. They have gotten noisier, but not obnoxious. I haven't seen any dropoff in grip so far.

In stock size, they rubbed on my passenger side fender liner. I just got the updated liners installed under warranty, and there is over 1/4" to spare. It looks like these are back in stock, so I don't see myself switching to something else when they wear out. I will definitely buy them again.

Don't mean to hijack and this subjects been around forever, but what was said to the dealer to get them to replace your wheel liners, my dealers always deny to do it saying they don't have a service bulletin(so a bulletin number would be great) and that they won't look into it due to my mods to the car?

I believe Dunlop has replaced the star specs, and after so much time, are these still the front runners? I'm going to switch to something very sticky as soon as my tires run out as I'm spinning my heavy 295's through second and get some spin in third sometimes, stickier rubber is the only cure. Anyone time their cars, especially modded cars, with such rubber, I wonder how the straight line performance is when not traction limited? I track and have put the emphasis on that, I get the cars aren't drag cars but getting an extra 100hp is quite easy with these cars, getting it down should net very strong straight line numbers.

[CarJunkie]

I told my SA that I had rubbing issues with correctly sized tires. The RE11's rubbed despite being the proper size. That was enough for my dealer. If I was using a different tire size, he may have balked at it, but I have no way to know.

I gave him the PUMA case number referenced in the main thread on this topic, but he didn't even look at that.

[SpencerMH]

Thank you, i may be SOL with my larger tires.

[Pete_vB]

Originally Posted by SpencerMH

I believe Dunlop has replaced the star specs, and after so much time, are these still the front runners? I'm going to switch to something very sticky as soon as my tires run out as I'm spinning my heavy 295's through second and get some spin in third sometimes, stickier rubber is the only cure.

Tire Rack says the new Pilot Sport Cup 2s will be available to ship in our sizes middle of next week. I'm planning to give them a shot, and I expect them to be sticky.

[ayao]

Originally Posted by Pete_vB

Tire Rack says the new Pilot Sport Cup 2s will be available to ship in our sizes middle of next week. I'm planning to give them a shot, and I expect them to be sticky.

Pete - what tires/sizes are you running on your 18" 219M wheels?

I've been looking for R-comps to fit those wheels (NT01, R888, RA1, etc) for the track, but there's slim pickings in the stock 18" tire sizes (245/40-18, 265/40-18).

I'd prefer not to spend more $ on wheels to get access to expanded tire sizes...but I want more grip than the AD08s are giving me on the track.

[Pete_vB]

Originally Posted by ayao

Pete - what tires/sizes are you running on your 18" 219M wheels?

I'm still running RS-3s in stock sizes- not as quick as R comps, unfortunately. You could try the new V2 version, but I suspect it will still be lower grip than you'd like.

NT01s would be 245/275, might be too much understeer, Hoosiers or R888 in 255/275 would probably work. That last one might be your best bet...

You might also consider swapping your 19" rims to track duty, letting you run correct sized R888s, MPSC2s, Trofeo R, etc.

[ayao]

Thank you for the advice.

I'm not even sure that I'm "ready" for R comps, but I'm sorely tempted.

Conceptually, I like the idea of 275/35/18 square on 18x10et25's (+ perceived benefit of extended tire life from being able to rotate F/R) but I'm a bit loathe to change the balance of the car -- I wonder how the car would feel with square 275 R-comps? (More overall grip, but more tail happy = tail comes out even quicker with less warning? Might not be worth the tradeoff.)
The car is tail happy enough as it is, and my hands aren't quick enough to catch it when it goes -- it seems to go very quickly with ham-fisted and ham-footed inputs.

With the stock stagger I don't perceive much understeer in the turns. I drive with EuroMDM and I also don't really want to do anything that will further lessen the safety net given that the DSC calibration was probably based on a staggered setup.

(Oh, and as an added data point, Apex suggested 18x9.5+22 → 265/35/18 in the front, and 18x10.5+27 → 285/35/18 in the rear.)

Any disadvantage in your mind to tracking the stock 19"s? That might solve the tire selection issue completely.

Originally Posted by Pete_vB

I'm still running RS-3s in stock sizes- not as quick as R comps, unfortunately. You could try the new V2 version, but I suspect it will still be lower grip than you'd like.

NT01s would be 245/275, might be too much understeer, Hoosiers or R888 in 255/275 would probably work. That last one might be your best bet...

You might also consider swapping your 19" rims to track duty, letting you run correct sized R888s, MPSC2s, Trofeo R, etc.