Tire Recommendation help

Rocket

Hi guys,

After reading through countless threads/polls on tires here, I think I'm actually more confused than when I started.

I just stored my car for the winter and am going to need new rear tires when she wakes up in the spring. I figured now might be a better time to buy since it's the off-season, at least up here anyway.

From what I've gathered, I need to suck it up and get over the fact the fronts are still perfectly usuable and buy a matching set of 4. So, I've got that figured out at least.

I drive mostly on the street with about 3-4 trips a year to the drag strip. I would like to try autocross a couple times next year with maybe more in the future. Money is a factor but not the deciding factor. A couple hundred extra isn't a big deal, but an extra grand is.

Everyone recommends the RE11 highly, but some threads say its outdated and has been surpassed. There are threads praising the S04, PSS, V12 etc. but they all say the same things (quieter, stickier etc).

For my situation, what would you recommend? Also, what sizes can I go up to on stock sport wheels and stock suspension. I think 305's stretch a bit much for me for the stock wheels.

Thanks in advance for any help!!

Shawa

Check FPEnvys Z, I think he has 305s on his sport rays and it looks good. I'm in need of new tires as well, might be getting the stock RE050 again, RE-11 or S04s. I've heard good things about the S04s but I can't see them being as sticky as the other two so I'm leaning more towards the RE-11.
V12s are quieter but I don't think they're as sticky, and the stock tires have never been too noisy for me lol idk what people mean.
Check out this post in case you missed it

Bridgestone RE11: After 12K Miles, theUndisputed KING of street tires. Review inside

ghotnit

What exactly are you looking for from your tires? If you are looking for a strictly ultimate grippy, sticky tire, then Hankook R-S3 or Toyo R888. If you want a more all-around tire then Hankook Ventus v12. These are budget-friendly options. Bridgestone and Michelin make great tires but not so budget-friendly. I personally like the R-S3s for their performance-to-cost ratio.

ROBERT1183

Re-11 are discontinued i belive. Everyone was out when i tried to get them last year. Im running the michelin pilot super sports p265/35r19 and p305/30r19 and i love them. Great traction, smooth ride, not noisey.

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ResIpsa

You will actually be fine with mismatched tires on the rear. I have run nearly every size and type of tires on my 370Z (including mismatched tires, different rim diameters, and grossly mis-sized tires) and have never had a problem with the ABS or traction control (if you run a really squishy all season or a Toyo T1-R you will have ABS kicking in a lot however).

That being said it is not ideal for any serious autocross or track days. But it sounds like you are not really that serious into autocross that it would matter.

And yes there are faster tires than the RE-11 in the hands of an experienced driver.

305's fit fine on the Sport Stock rear wheel. However, if you do it you should only do it for looks (which is fine) because that size tire is too pinched to get all the tread on the road surface and it is heavier.

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TerribleONE

Same here and love them! Great tires and seem to be lasting OK considering I have over 500whp and like to kick the back end out whenever possible!

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JARblue

No just revised. They were out of stock last year because of the switch from RE-11 to RE-11a in a number of sizes.

OP, RE-11s are awesome tires. I just put mine on. However, for a DD, I'm inclined to believe there are better value tires. I don't need high performance. I want a good combination of dry performance, wet weather performance, and tire wear. I was really happy with my Nitto Invos for the price. I'm am also considering S-04s and Continental DW Extremes. I drove the V12s at COTA and they were crappy enough that I won't consider them even for my DD (they might ride a little smoother due to the soft sidewall, but I don't really care about tire noise or smooth riding)

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ROBERT1183

yeah im just at 500whp right now. going back for a retune and 3 inch exhaust. thinking about going with the nitto nt05r drag for the back next spring

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TerribleONE

Those should hook up pretty good! I still love to hit the canyons, only reason I stay away from more of a straight line oriented tire.

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speedfreek

If you have the funds get the PSS. The S04 are a nice compromise on price while maintaining performance. The only drawback is the S04's are heavier. For a street car it is not something most would really be concerned with. I wouldn't get the RE-11's unless for the track or I just had money to burn for the street as they will not last as long as the other two. They are a great tire nonetheless. You can't go wrong with any of the three.

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FPenvy

hello fellow winter storing Z owner lol

my fronts are always alive and rears dead as well. it's just part of life but dont think of it as a waste. i have 3 sets of fronts in my shed as spares. i also ghhave 2 sets of 25-35% rears as spares as well. you never know when you will have a flat, nail, or blowout. worst case i have options to swap in until i can order a new one and have shipped since our sizes/tires arent typically stocked in normal tire shops.

now as for tire choice and size. i have ran stockers which blow donkey balls. lasted 6k miles and no traction. then again mine is a 2009 and they have swapped OEM tires now so they may be better.

i then ran PSS's in OEM sizes. loved these tires. ran my fastest 1/4 mile ET on them and got about 15k miles on my rears which actually i found out is what the warranty runs til for the PSS's are in a staggered fitment. only issue i had was i had a sidewall give a bit while running the dragon. not sure if it was a qualtiy of that tire issue or just pushed that hard. the dragon is a unforgiving bitch of a road lol

current set-up is RE-11 in wider than stock sizes. i bumped to 265/35/19 fronts and 305/30/19 rears. the fit is spectacular. tey look like it's the size the wheels were meant to have on them. no bulge just perfect. some brands and options may not fit/sit on the wheel the same but the RE-11s just seem like a dream match for the sport Rays. the tires themselves are amazing. i really was sad that the PSS's were out of stock when i was in need of tires in spring and went with RE-11s. 100 miles in i forgot how to spell "PSS". the RE-11s just stick. period. straight line launches where i would typically spin PSS's these just stick and toss you back in the seat .turns even better they just hold tight to the road. the tamed the dragon as well even in the rain. yes the rain had me not able to push like i would in the dry but still worked well.

got pics if needed of the 305 RE-11s on my Z. also i'm at about 8-9k miles and they still got decent life.

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Shawa

Envy did you upgrade the tire size before or after doing some mods to your car? I'm curious that going with bigger heavier tires slows down the acceleration? Or maybe it's not enough to notice?

FPenvy

mods were first with the OEM size tires.

havent really modded anything since my intakes/tune.

i did add my straight pipe set-up with the wider tires and no performance distance on the tire side of things.

the weight isnt really a issue. the 275 RE-11s are 29lbs per rear and the 305s are 32 a rear. the fronts are both 29lbs 245/265. so all i added were 6lbs total in the rear tires.

no where near enough to make a difference in my opinion. at least none that i can tell.

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Rocket

Thanks so far guys!

I'm looking for more of an all around tire than a strictly high performance one. I don't really ever end up driving in the rain, and if I do, it's not spirited driving.

The RS3 and R888 are probably a bit stickier than I need for street driving. I'd take a little extra mileage than the extreme grip those offer. I'm not even going to consider the RE050's again, since all the other tires mentioned here are better and cost relatively the same or even less.

Does anybody run oversize tires on the sport rims that aren't the RE11's? Would S04's that big work?

Does anyone run anything in between the 275-305 on the rear?

FP, I guess one of the benefits of winter storage is having to buy tires less often! At least that's what I'm trying to tell myself since I can't drive it right now.

tnav

I got my RE11s today 275/35 and 305/30, on stock Sport Wheels. The tires are absolutely sick and insane, the performance is far beyond any tire I have tested in the past. I got them from Tires & Wheels | Car Tires & Wheels | SUV/Truck Tires & Wheels | Discount Tire you can have them shipped to you I am sure, I got them at the local "America's Tire Co" in Huntington Beach CA.

My preference would be

4- S04
3- Invo
2- PSS
1- RE11

Unless you are really getting a lot of out of the car, I would try to stick to a budget, otherwise you are wasting money on something you won't use