Bridgestone Adrenalin RE001 vs PP2 vs rest?

[NMX516]

Put a new set of PP2's on the 8B yesterday...

[TieNN89]

any know how much the pp2s are in 15s? 195 50

[NMX516]

At the fateful time when I bought the RE001's, I was being quoted $190 in 195/50/15. They're probably more than that now...

[manga_blue]

Their alot more now. I got these prices late december for the Michelins and Bridgestones in Perth:

195/50R15 Mich PP2 $223ea
195/50R15 B/st Adren $155ea

205/50R15 Mich PP2 $292ea
205/50R15 B/st Adren $203ea

and you can get 195/50r15 Arenalins for $115 now, just haggle with a Bridgestone dealer a bit.

[Hammer]

While we're on the subject of tyres....

...I would like to get the PP2s, but they don't make them on 14"s.

So whats the best street tyre would you recommend that has the best performance for the track that matches the size of the OEM NA8 tyres? 195/55/14

For now I want to keep tracking my Clubman in Class 1. But I wish there was a class that is for factory standard cars with the only mod being non-standard grooved tyres.

[NMX516]

Their alot more now. I got these prices late december for the Michelins and Bridgestones in Perth:

195/50R15 Mich PP2 $223ea
195/50R15 B/st Adren $155ea

205/50R15 Mich PP2 $292ea
205/50R15 B/st Adren $203ea

Hmm, I think they might have seen you coming!

The PP2's I bought this week were 205/45/16 - $275 each. I didn't really shop around, but SPy vs SPy on here got quoted the same a few weeks ago for that size, and I think he did do a bit of price hunting.

[Steampunk]

... I was left far from impressed with the RE001's, quite clearly they were letting it be well known they wanted to kill me.

As much as I like Bridgestone products, I never really felt comfortable with my Adrenalins'.
In my opinion, the superceded Grid III was a better tyre.

[Szemen]

It seems most of the high performance tyres are produced in 15"+ not 14" except Adrenalins. Anything else in regards to 14"?

[Guran]

I've just fitted a set of 185/60R14 Aussie-made RE001s on my stock NA6, despite the Bridgestone website indicating they're not available in this size! I was very happy with them on my first track day at Wakefield Park, but then I don't have much to compare with at the moment (the car came with a worn set of el cheapo Indonesian tyres, which were pretty ordinary). Cost from the local Beaurepaires was $133 per tyre plus $15.50 for fitting, balancing, valves and disposal ($148.50 total). For that sort of money, I couldn't be bothered with shopping around for a better price.

I'll echo Hammer's question, what other performance tyre options are out there (in addition to RE001) in a size to suit stock NA6?185/60R14 is standard but 195/60R14, 195/55R14 or 205/55R14 would also fit OK.

I too wish to keep within Class 1 so I'm sticking with the original 14" alloys, and avoiding R spec tyres.

[Guran]

RT615s come in 195/60R14.

Thanks for the tip. However, Falken RT615 (and RT215) is an R spec tyre and would put us into the modified class. We're trying to stick in the stock class at track days.

BTW, I've tried Falken FK452 on our family car. They stick well, but are bloody noisy. Not available in 14" though. Has anyone tried the Falken ZE329 or ZE912?

[bensale]

I got my Aus spec 14' re001's fitted and balanced for $105 each a bit over a month ago, can't complain for that money. (PM forum member Cent if in Melbourne for that price) I looked into the Falken tyres, the ZE range doesn't seem to be very highly regarded as a performance tyre, especially the ZE329.

I've found that the re001's respond to being dríven well more so than other tyres I've used. For the re001's to perform at there best you need to drive the car very smoothly, they grip extremely if the car is balanced. If the car is not balanced or you are too abrupt with your throttle imputs or throw the car into corners there grip level are lower and you'll probebly be quite dissapointed with the tyres. I have not felt a similar difference in grip to such an extent with any other tyres I've used on the car.

[PUR157]

Has anyone tried the Falken ZE329 or ZE912?

These tyres are strictly passenger car tyres... my friend got a set when he was looking for new wheels priced at $90odd ea. in 15" sizes (ZE912)
and from what I've read of the ZE329 it's largely the same story...

The interesting falkens are more the FKs? but no idea whether or not they're an appropriate size...

[wun911]

I put my enkei RPF1 / RE001 on the track today.

They are jap spec RE001, lots and lots of grip, I like the 215 rubber and 17" rim combo.

As the rubber got to operating temperature, it just becomes nice and sticky, very predictable, very happy with them.

[Charlie Brown]

RT615s come in 195/60R14.

Thanks for the tip. However, Falken RT615 (and RT215) is an R spec tyre and would put us into the modified class. We're trying to stick in the stock class at track days.

Are you sure about that? That's not what I know. They're considered street (they're not an R comp just an aggressive tread pattern).

Directly from the Falken web site:
"RT 615
Pure sports performance tyre.
Motorsport grade cap compound maintains its grip over a wide range of operating temperatures.
Enhanced wet grip and aquaplane resistance under competition conditions."

From the Club's entry form for Standard MX-5s:
NOTE: The definition of a standard car is one in the “spirit” of, as it would have
left the factory. i.e. No performance enhancing modifications including tyres.

Obviously the RT 615 is not an R Spec tyre like the Dunlop D01, D03, Toyo R888, but then MX-5s don’t leave the factory with anything like RT 615's fitted. You could try your luck with the scrutineers but don’t be surprised if they bump you up to the modified class.

I pose this question: would you feel good if you were half a second faster than the rest of the field knowing that it was really just the tyres that put you there or conversely having the tyres on and being a second slower than everyone else because even with the sticky tyres your skills weren’t up to those who were using tyres that were similar to the ones the car had as it left the factory?

The best part of the Standard class is the tight racing times. You scramble to be just 100ths of a second quicker than the next bloke and when you are up against others with near identical vehicles you find out really quickly that you need to really drive well to be in the contest. It develops you as a driver because you start to ask why is Jack quicker that me through that corner? What’s he doing differently for me? Where and how can I improve?

[Guran]

Thanks for the comment Charlie Brown. I'm no expert on tyres and just assumed the RT 615 (and RT 215) would be considered "R spec" since the tread pattern looks like a semi-slick. Similarly the Federal 595RS is probably out, even if it were available in 14" (it's not according to their website).

I also note in the CAMS regs for supersprints class 1 that "Tyre sizes must adhere to manufacturers’ original specifications in respect to width and aspect ratio or as close thereto as commercially available." I guess that means I'm stuck with 185/60R14!

I agree with your position that the unmodified class should be all about driver skill. That's why I'm so interested in it! However, there are still plenty of things you can tweak on the car in order to improve your ability to compete in this class eg alignment, timing advance, brake linings/rotors, clutch lining, 98 RON fuel.