spec-cie

My RE070 235/45/R17's are reaching the ends of their lives. Which is a real shame as I absolutely love them. They are reasonable in the wet and astonishing in the dry (not tried them in snow but wouldn't expect them to be particularly good) which is the right combination for me. I tend to take things relatively easy in the winter and enjoy fast road and track driving in the summer.

Bridgestone don't seem to make mine any more so the choices I have are:

Stick with the RE070s in the smaller 225/45/R17 size? Will the loss of 10mm width make much of a difference?

Go for something new? Goodyear F1s get good reviews on here but don't look very track-oriented. Pirelli P Zero Rossos look much more like the 70s in terms of tread pattern but I've not seen much on here about them.

Thoughts?

LitchfieldImports

We got 235/45 17" RE070 Tyres if you want them? S203 Runs 18" Pirellis

Give me a call, you could have them fitted when your in next.

Regards

Iain

Mo

I just had the very same issue; No RE070s available in 235 and didn't want to settle for a more road orientated tyre ala F1, T1-R, due to the softer side walls. I managed to get over 11k outta mine with 2 days at Bedford and 28 laps of the ring although many were wet laps.

Spoke with newara imports and a couple of others who wanted over £230 per tyre to supply only , you just gotta love the greed of these people.

Not having tried them but I spoke at length with a technical guy from Toyo yesterday and if I hadn't located a set of new BBS wheels and 235 RE070s from Autotek Motorsport I'd have gone for their R888 offering. I'd be interested to hear from anyone running these.

zappa

Stick with the RE070 235's. I did my front ones after the first 10,000 miles and main dealer couldn't supply. Got mine from Powerstation (God love 'um) They posted them to me next day delivery and I managed to embarrass the main dealer to the extent that they fitted them for free!

Coming up to 20,000 mile service and got a feeling I will need four new ones next!!

Buckrogers

I found the F1's to be excellent, that includes 39 laps of the Ring in one w/e. Reasonable wear rate, high grip.

JTaylor

Had a set of R888s, brilliant dry track tyres - but don't expect to stay in contact with the tarmac if you breach 70mph in standing water!

Mo

Interesting Buck, how do you find turn-in with the F1s in comparison?
You mention high grip but they are nowhere near the Bridgestones on track and on dry roads you'd struggle to reach the limits of the chassis anyway. In the cold and damp they no doubt prove their worth but along with spec-cie I tend to take it easy in these conditions.

warrenm2

Can recomend Pilot Sport Cups, but the closest size is 235/40/18 so new wheel time there. Also dunno about wet use, but in the dry theyre better than the re070s

davedipster

Stick with the RE070's m8, best tyres I've ever had and very sticky.
Must be a pig to fit cos the walls are dam stuff, but real good steering feel and cornering.
Not very sticky when it's -10 outside, but hey what summer tyres are?

dipster

davedipster

Mine are 225 45 17 (03sti), what scoob takes these 235 tyres?

Dipster

DeltaBravo 9

yes i found the re070s did quite well in torrential rain today , quite surprised me i must say !!

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Dont know about them being better than RE070's but these are dry weather tyres only (as fitted to the M3 CSL).

Stick with the RE070's, im on my second set and loving them

Tony

C8 DHC 04WRX

iTrader: (13)

mine are 225/45/17 too (factory fit) are 235 jdm then?

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

on the MY05 cars they are 235/45/17, MY03/04 cars they are 225/45/17.

Tony

Mo

Yes 235 are JDM only as Tony mentions.

warrenm2

other alternative is yokahama a048 - micheldever do them for same price as PS do the re070

spec-cie

Woo hoo, got another set of 235 RE070s from Mr Litchfield. I love these tyres: great drive home in the rain and even hit a couple of large pools of standing water at 70-ish without much drama. Shame Bridgestone don't seem to make them any more ... was tempted to buy a spare set but already spent far too much on tyres/service/mods/remap ...

Mo

Would you mind telling us how much you paid for the tyres so we have something to work with?

spec-cie

Mo, I think you should talk to Iain. He only has a few left and I don't want to put him in a difficult position by telling you exactly how much I paid. I bought my car new from Iain last year and was replacing all four tires at once so he did me what I considered to be a good deal; significantly less than RRP although not as cheap as I could have bought the 225s.

Sorry to be a bit vague ... I'm sure Iain can sort you out at a decent price.

Trap2Terrorist

iTrader: (3)

Sounds like you live in that place???

BS

What tyres does Iain recommend when the 235 Bridgestones disappear.Are they to be not available in Japan too?

spec-cie

Dunno if you can still get them in Japan but my local Bridgestone dealer (who seems pretty clued up) says that Bridgestone just don't make them any more. Talking to Iain, he reckons the Pirelli P-Zero Rossos are the way to go: that's what the S203 came with on 18" wheel. The Rossos have a similar 'sectioned' tread pattern to the RE070s unlike the Goodyear F1 Eagles which have a uniform tread pattern (check out pictures of the tyres to see what I mean). I'll try the Rossos as and when I can't get 235 Re070s any more.

But come on Bridgestone; why stop making such a great tyre?

spec-cie

Only visit once a year ... but then spend all year saving up for the next visit!

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

Bridgestone seem to have a habit of discontinuing great tyres; the best I've used by far was the S-02 Pole Position on my MY00 a few years ago.

My 235/45/17 RE070s are nearing the end of their life and I'll probably be replacing them with a tyre that has softer sidewalls and less of a difference between wet and dry grip - Eagle F1's, probably. Unlike many people I don't really rate the RE070 except on smooth, dry roads; I find they tramline a lot on worn surfaces and don't inspire much confidence in the wet.

I also have a spare set of wheels with 225 RE070s on them. These tramline rather less which makes them a better tyre IMHO. I'll probably put them on the car next summer, or maybe keep them for track days.

Mo

They haven't stopped making them they are only produced for the JDM hence the difficulty in locating them. Not sure how anyone can offer a n RRP on them unless it's in Yen

Back to prices why would you be putting Iain in a position? Isn't this what a bbs is all about; sharing information?

I too purchased a new car from Iain last year yet I didn't feel he offered them to me at the right price, I told him that AutoTek were advertising them for less and he suggested that they wouldn't be the same? Needless to say I went to AutoTek and yes they are the very same. I was a little dissapointed that after spending £26k with Litchfields less than 12 months ago they couldn't even match the price, heck they weren't even cheap from AutoTek!

LitchfieldImports

Sorry your disapointed but Autotek were selling un-needed parts from a Spec C group N car we can't compete with everyones prices.

Iain