Tyre help - no RE001s!

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 4:05 pm

Let's cover this one more time ...

RE001s are made in Taiwan NOT Thailand. Depending on the size, some also come from Japan - though you don't get a choice.

I've had three sets of the old Aussie-made RE001s on my NA6. They're excellent in the dry and pretty good in the wet. No problem at all on Sunday's greasy roads on the Iceberg run. I've also got a set of Japanese RE001s on our Volvo V50 and they behave no differently.

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 4:22 pm

Try to pay attention, Bryan. I said the Goodyears were made in Thailand. sigh

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 4:26 pm

Was actually responding to a comment before yours, Phil.

bigdog · Postby **bigdog** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 4:47 pm

Big vote for R1R Toyos here. Fantastic wet and dry grip and reasonable mileage. I have gone over to Michelin PP2s and they are nowhere near as nice to drive on grip wise, but are more comfortable in 205/50x16 profile. I will go back to R1Rs when these are done, as they are a good compromise between street and track tyres. KU36 are hard to go past at the price though... I have a set of V700 Kumho semis too and they are fabulous, but not a streetable tyre.

OurCognitiveSurplus · Postby **OurCognitiveSurplus** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 4:48 pm

In the other thread there's extensive discussion of the KU31 rather than the KU36. They seem to be very different tyres. KU31s are run flat?

Does anyone have views on picking between them? The quote I got on the KU36 is up to $238 per corner.

deviant · Postby **deviant** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 5:18 pm

You need to talk to this guys about the KU36: http://www.option1garage.com.au/NewTyres.htm

Lots of people across lots of forums buy tyres from him.

jerrah · Postby **jerrah** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 6:12 pm

OurCognitiveSurplus wrote:KU31s are run flat?

Does anyone have views on picking between them? The quote I got on the KU36 is up to $238 per corner.

I'm pretty sure the KU31's aren't run-flats or at least the ones I've looked at aren't the run-flat variant.

KU31 is a harder compound 'sport' tyre with a treadwear in the 300's. KU36 is a semi-slick type tread with a slightly softer tread-wear rating (180) than a RE001 (220). That said the KU36 isn't a semi-slick but have a great reputation as a great value, great performing sport tyre.

$238 per tyre and you're paying way too much. It'd be cheaper (possibly) to have them shipped from Option1 at that price, and I know that's not the only place in Brisbane that can match that price.

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 9:46 pm

KU31s are not run flats. Never have been in any sizes.

KU31 and KU36 are two completely different tyres. KU31 is a ultra low wear tyre with good dry and wet performance. KU36 is a medium wear tyre with optimal dry performance.

I have KU31s on my 323. Alsmost about to put on my 3rd set. And I have KU36s as my track/motorport tyres. The remind me of the Advan Neovas. A track tyre made with street rubber. Really too hard for a straight track tyre. But excellent tyre that sits right in the middle of the two.

PeterB · Postby **PeterB** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 9:50 pm

If you are in Canberra, have you tried Carco at Belconnen for Kumho KU36 or Federal 595-R.

I am running KU36 (205x50x15) on the road on my NB and on the track on my NA (good for a 1.16.2 at WP) and found them a good road/track combination but don't know how they will wear.

Others are happy with the Federal 595-R.

OurCognitiveSurplus · Postby **OurCognitiveSurplus** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 10:07 pm

PeterB wrote:If you are in Canberra, have you tried Carco at Belconnen for Kumho KU36 or Federal 595-R.

I am running KU36 (205x50x15) on the road on my NB and on the track on my NA (good for a 1.16.2 at WP) and found them a good road/track combination but don't know how they will wear.

Others are happy with the Federal 595-R.

Hi Peter. The car is actually in with Carco tomorrow - so I might ask them about it. I didn't realise it did wheels/tyres. Thanks for the suggestion.

In related news, it's just crossed my mind that the wheel size doesn't sound right. That is, the wheel size is what the local Kmart Tyre and Auto quoted on after inspecting the car. But I really would have thought that the BBS basket mesh wheels are 15". Investigate in the morning.

Cheers
Greg

pcmx5 · Postby **pcmx5** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 11:03 pm

[quote="project.r.racing"]KU31s are not run flats. Never have been in any sizes.

Kumho Australia website list 4 (non Mx ) sizes as runflats, perhaps that's the cause of some confusion.

i put KU31 on my friends NB8A which she is selling and while I haven't done heaps of klms they are impressive for the low cost(quoted $102-$107 fitted and balanced).

May even try KU36 on the LE next time,seem to be getting great reviews.

Peter.

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Thu Aug 11, 2011 8:11 am

Peter is correct. KU31 is a normal tyre that can fit on all cars. However it is also available in some sizes as a runflat tyre. You must have a car fitted with suitable rims to be able to use the runflats - they will not go on any rim. I used to have a MINI and know about the KU31s because most of my mates used the regular version but some preferred to stick with the runflat version.

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Thu Aug 11, 2011 9:40 am

Another vote here for KU36. I have two sets I like them so much. The cheapest and bestest

tyre IMO that I have had on the MX-5. Tried original RE050A and Toyo R1R. I'll be getting Kumhos for the other car too when it needs new tyres - if the sizes I need remain available.

OurCognitiveSurplus · Postby **OurCognitiveSurplus** » Thu Aug 11, 2011 10:49 am

Thanks for your help everyone. I went into Carco Canberra this morning and talked wheels and tyres.

Seems the best solution is to scrap the 16" BBS basket-mesh wheels that are currently on the car (curtesy of the previous owner) in favour of a set of 15" wheels which Carco had available. Then put a set of the KU36 onto the new 15" wheels.

Too easy