Tires for the CR
 

Now that the original equipment tires, Bridgestone Potenza RE070 are no longer available (and haven't been manufactured since 2012), what tires is everybody putting on their CR? I am currently running a set of Potenza RE-71R and I loathe them. The sidewalls are way too soft and have made the handling of the car feel so sloppy and imprecise. I really really miss the RE070 tire and cannot believe that difference in character they provided. The CR used to feel so responsive, absolutely millimeter precise on the RE-070 and the RE-71R added so much play to the wheel when initiating a turn and a drastic loss of initial feedback, I honestly couldn't believe it given the reported levels of grip that the RE-71R have. If other owners out there never got to experience the CR on a fresh set of RE070 I feel like they completely missed out on what this car is all about; Shigeru Uehara would be disappointed. It also is unfortunate that Bridgestone's website still has a page for the RE070 despite the tire being discontinued.

I think I will try Michelin Sport Cup 2 next, but wanted to know if any other CR drivers have found a tire with the same handling characteristics of the OE tires? I was also pretty shocked to not find a single thread comparing the Sport Cup 2 to the RE-71R given that they are really the only 2 tires with performance close to the RE070.

Thanks,
Bruce_L337

Try this site, they appear to have them.

https://www.1010tires.com/Tires/Brid.../Potenza+RE070

I am surprised by your analysis on the RE-71R's. I am currently running them on my CR and they have been great. I have done a track day with them and they performed well.

I've been tracking on a set of RE71R's for a few years now and they are worlds better than the RE070's. They remain one of the most popular track tires out there.

I have Cup 2's on my GT4 and they are equally as impressive as the RE71R at a fraction of the cost.

Interesting, when you say worlds better do you mean grip levels? I find the feel and feedback to the area where the RE070 felt better than RE-71R. Despite the grip levels provided by the RE-71R, they do not inspire confidence when cornering, especially on initial turn in. Is it possible there is something else causing the differences in sensation? This discussion also makes me wish there was a "sidewall stiffness" rating on tires to objectively compare.

Thanks for the feedback so far everyone.

I crushed all my RE070 lap times with RE71R and the confidence the tires inspire in high speed sweepers is astounding. The RE71R evolved from the RE070 and RE11. Are you tracking? Or are you merely stating your feedback on street driving? Perhaps you were just so accustomed to the RE070 that you are finding the RE71's quite different.

Tires have improved dramatically since 2012. :)

The RE070 has rock hard sidewalls so they always "feel" better but I can guarantee you any good driver would go faster on RE71Rs. The Cup2 is a different league of tire IMO. I think their treadwear, much like the RE71R, is a lot lower than what's actually advertised.

AD08R have rock hard sidewalls and would also be a good replacement.

Try AD08R or Dunlap Z3 tires. Both have stiff sidewalls than RE71Rs if that's your main focus.