i ordered the HTR-Z III from Jim yesterday and hopefully i can have them installed by Thursday to give you guys my impression.

why the sumitomo's? two things, tireracks review and the treadwear. i was lucky enough to have the oem last me a year and half with 28k on the odometer, but i felt the price for the oem plus tire life equaled not worth the money for me. if sumitomo's 300 treadwear is true the tires should last me twice as long as the oem and based on tirerack's review should equal if not best it in the perfomance category.

before i made the decision i wanted to make sure that tires specs matched as close to the car and wouldn't affect it in a negative way especially after reading the "correct tire size" sticky for the AP2. if it weren't for the S2000 CR coming out it would've made it even more difficult buying the HTR-Z III.

17x7.0 / 17x8.5
Bridgestone Potenza RE050 Tires (front/rear) 215/45R17 87W / 245/40R17 91W

17x7.0 / 17x8.5
Bridgestone Potenza RE070 Tires (front/rear) 215/45R17 87W / 255/40R17 94W


215/45-17 RE070 HTR-Z III RE050
Treadwear: 140 300 140
Tire Weight: 24lbs 22lbs 22lbs
Tread Width: 7.4" 7.6" 6.7"
RPM: 847 848 840
Tire Diameter: 24.6" 24.5" 24.8"
Sectional Width: 8.3" 8.5" 8.3"
Approved Rims: 7-8.0" 7-8.0" 7-8.0"
Measuring Rim: 7.0" 7.0" 7.0"

255/40-17
Treadwear: 140 300 140
Tire Weight: 28lbs 25lbs 27lbs
Tread Width: 9.1" 9.1" 9.1"
RPM: 833 834 847
Tire Diameter: 25.0" 25.0" 24.6"
Sectional Width: 9.8" 10.3" 9.6"
Approved Rims: 8.5-10" 8.5-10" 8-9.5"
Measuring Rim: 9.0" 9.0" 8.5"

for the most part a lot of the specs are identical or close to, the only spec that worries me is the rear sectional width of 9.8" vs. 10.3".


14K 1 year later:


46.9K 2yrs and 10mos later:


New 2nd Set:

 

I really want to hear about these tires...but I'm afraid since you managed to get 28k out of the RE050's, I wouldn't get the information I'm looking for.

 

i wouldn't say that...

the RE050 should've been replaced over 10k ago but i've been putting it off because of the weather here in san diego. i guarantee you if you saw my RE050 that you would think they were race slicks. there are no vertical lines or center block patches from both rear tires, but i'm lucky that both are wearing out evenly. the front still has about 20% left and you can still see lines and block patches.

i don't do solo2 or track days at streets of willow anymore but i still do mountain runs one sunday a month. and if we were both running at streets with equal set ups i'll put money on myself to have the best lap times.

 

Well in that case...waiting for the review.

 

Treadwear ratings can always very depending on the manufacturer. A 200 Treadwear tire X may not wear the same as a treadwear rating on a 200 treadwear tire Y.

 

as stated in other threads .. i have these tires mounted on my LE37s and love em .. havent gotten to really push em as ive only put a few hundred miles on em and it is winter after all .. so the S rarely gets driven ... but from the little time ive had with em .. they are great tires

I went with OEM sizes .. 215 45 17 and 245 40 17 .. the price was great and the treadwear is a huge plus since i drive alot.

good choice man!!

 

Is your car lowered? Are you going with the Sumos in 215 or 225 for the front? I was all set to get 225/255 but after dropping my car w/Espelir coils I think it may be too low for the 225's in front! I like the look of a little more meat on the rim, but I don't want to be rolling the fenders if I don't have to.

 

I ordered mine from Jim as well, had them put on the car on monday. So far... lets just say, im in love with the car again...

handles like a dream!

as for treadwear... so far (all 3 days) fine! lol but time will tell...

 

only thing i noticed that i didnt like, was when i was accelerating out of a turn, and there was a very slight dip in the road made the car bounce a bit, and the rear rubbed...

 

my car is not lowered and i'm going 215 and 255...

i would've love to stay with 215/245 combo but after reading the 04 correct tire sticky it made me a little wary. it did help that the CR has the same setup of 215/255...