GeneB

The Bridgestone OEM rear tires wearing out quickly is a well discussed topic. I guess I was lucky to get 11,000 mi. from mine.
When I replaced them with the new Yokohama AVS ES-100s, I expected to get better mileage, but it doesn't seem to be happening. I didn't mind giving up a little dry road traction from the OEMs for the better wet wx performance, but I'd hoped for better longevity. At about 6,000 mi the ES 100s appear to have less rubber left than the original OEMs on the front at 17,000+ mis. I'd hoped the fronts would wear out first, so I could replace them 2 at a time. Looks like I'll be lucky if the rears last as long as the original front Bridgestones. I'm already beginning to pick up nails in the rear tires. Had two nails today, with a huge one in the center of a rear tread.
Anyone having any luck with rear tread life??

Texas25RS

Not that it is much of a comparison, but I have logged over 5K on my ES100s and they hardly look used.... but then again, I don't use them for any track driving.

And this is also on my Suby.... so not that any of it counts...

Gernby

I am now on my 4th pair of rear tires, and my 2nd pair of front tires with about 25K street miles. I did a few autocrosses on my 1st set of street tires, but have been using R compounds ever since. I don't really seem to get much more mileage out of my Kumho 712s than I did with the OEM S02s, but they are a lot cheaper.

Elistan

My experience:

First set of OEM S02s worn out by 15k miles (even from front to rear.)
Second set of Porsche spec S02s worn out by 30k miles (again, even wear front and rear.) (Didn't know about S2000 specific S02s at this point.)
Third set of OEM S02s worn out by 45k miles (same...)
First set of Kumho Ecsta 712s - rears completely bald by 59k miles, still plenty of tread left on fronts. Hypothesis: 712s are definitely longer lasting than S02s, however since they aren't quite as grippy it's a lot easier to slide them around. After innumerable powerslides in the 712s, the extra abrasion caused them to wear out just as fast as the less-sliding S02s. The fronts, which don't get this abuse, look good for another 15k miles. I don't mind since they're nearly half the price of the S02s.

Gernby

Elistan,

How much of your driving is done on the highway? Do you drive on many concrete city streets? Most of my driving is on Plano's concrete roads, which I am sure wear my tires faster.

Elistan

Not a lot of highway driving - almost entirely North Dallas/Plano type city streets.

aggie

I've had the same experience with the ES100 track wear and the nails (2 already). They still grip well and don't hydroplane with 2 or 3/32 left.

skybolt

I'd be careful before going with other rubber, especially less sticky rubber. There's a story around these parts of an s2k driver that went with more standard rubbera after the shelf-life of the stock Bridgestones wasn't what he was expecting, but the car had a definite tendency to spin, as the sticky rubber wasn't enough in the back.

That said, I like the look and feel of the 'stones, but I think I'm going to go with something stickier, like the S03s? I hear I can expect them to last at LEAST 8k miles ....

I had Goodrich Comp TAs on my Civic Coupe, I really really liked that tire. Anyone use Comp TAs on their 2k?

Gernby

The S03s are not as "sticky" as S02s. They are probably more in line with ES100s.

With regards to the danger of other tires, I think the 712s are much more predictable than the S02s, even though they don't grip quite as well. I haven't ever spun my car with the 712s.

Elistan

If this unknown S2000 driver's car had a tendancy to spin after switching tires, he most likely didn't pick the correct sizes. Even though the OEM S02 rears come in 225/50/16, if you choose something different you must pick a 245/45/16 size.