Bridgestone tyres in Oz

[Matty P]

Guys,

Does anyone know whether Bridgestone Potenza S-03's are available in Australia yet? I have heard that they are REALLY good and want to try them on the Celica. I rang a Bridgestone guy in Canberra and he had never heard of them!

Also, I got a quote on Potenza S-02's in standard 205/50 ZR16 and the guy wanted $400 per tyre. Does this sound reasonable?

Any suggestions for other tyres?

Thanks

Matt

[MattZR]

$400 for a 16inch tyre!!! you have got to be kidding??? I paid $320 for my 18inch, Kumho Ecsta 712, and they do a good job and I was spewing at the price. But at least it handles a heap better than those ****ty yokohamas that toyota gave us! Bridgestone are great tyres, but at that price you would want them to be. Whats the wear like on them, as our toyotas chews the front tyres out badly.

[M SPEC]

$400 for a 205/50 16ZR tyre is way over priced. First thing is the S-02 is a superceded tyre, that means that tyre is starting to get phased out so you should be getting it for a better price. Most of the S-02/S-03 tyre range is aimed at HSV and Tickford vehicles and also the majority of the Australina built family cars on the road. The S-03 should be released this month from what I heard from my local Bridgestone tyre dealer.

I could buy a Yokohama AVS Sport in 215/45 ZR 17 tyre size for the price you were qouted. This is there flagship model for sports performance tyres.

I'd call somewhere esle to get a comparable qoute. Maybe because 16's in that size are'nt that much of a volume seller so thats why its more expensive. I know these series of tyres have always recieved rave reviews and are highly recommended. I'm so disapointed they don't have them in the size I want.

Jason

[Matty P]

Yeah, I thought that $400 was a bit rich. The guy was making out that it was a good deal too. He also tried to tell me that they are the best tyre in the world, but my laughing probably convinced him that I didn't believe it.

I thought the Yokos were pretty good - plenty of grip at least. Do you reckon that the Kumho's grip better than the Yokos?

Apparently the S-02's don't wear very well, but they should last as long at the Yokos did. This doesn't worry me because I intend to replace my tyres every 12 months (25,000km) anyway.

I've heard good things about the Kumho's but I am REALLY keen to get a good set of rubber this time (better than the Falken Ziex rubbish I am using at the moment)

Matty P

[Matty P]

Hey M SPEC,

Have you tried the Yokohama AVS Sport? Are they good?

The reason I am interested in the S-03's is because so many of the yanks with Celicas have raved about them and magazines like sport compact car rate them really highly too.

If they are much more than $400, then I will give them a miss.

So..... anyone know if the S-03's are available in Oz yet?

Matt

[M SPEC]

I've also heard good things about the Kumho's Estca 712's. Seen them on quite a few cars recently, must be flavour of the month. Others to maybe consider are Dunlop FM901's, Goodyear Eagle F1's.

Just remember to get them rotated every 5000km for good wear and grip.

Jason

[oopy]

Hey Matt

The Potenza S-03's have been here for some time but only available in certain sizes (17" and 18" sizes if I remember correctly but those were intended for HSV's as they came OEM)
Other sizes not available here yet .....?

The S-02's and S-03's are very decent tyres (very pricey though) the only other performance tyres bridgestone have over here are the Potenza RE711 and the Grid II's

Problem is you wont find the RE711's here in a 205/50 16 size
The 711's are briliant tyres if you can handle the harsh ride (ultra stiff sidewalls) and relatively low mileage :p
Not too sure how fast they would wear on a celica but had them on my bro's old FTO and they only lasted about 2/3 of a year (was a 205/50 16 size from Japan :p )
Havent had any experience with the Grid II's but a mate said they werent that good especially in the wet (after sliding into a curb)
Also tried Toyo Proxies T1-S in a 205/50 16 size and I would have to say they pretty much sucked! However they were relatively quiet, the ride was softer due to the HUGE amount of sidewall flex. Wear was quite good for a performance tyre.

Tired Dunlop LM701's as well in a 215/45 17 size; was pretty mediocre, grip still couldnt match the RE711's and even though it was a 45 profile tyre the RE711's in a 50 profile still had a stiffer side wall. I heard the FM901's are meant to be as good as/if not better than the RE711 however they dont last long at all! But it essentially comes down to how you drive your car.

Was at the Bridgestone tyre center the other day getting a set of tyres changed on a landcruiser and enquired about some tire prices and the guy said to wait for a few months cause the new G-III is arriving which is the replacement for the the Grid II's but he also said that the G-III is going to replace both the RE711 and Grid II, which probably means the replacement for the RE711 isnt going to come to oz ? (Potenza RE-01, Bridgestone's ultimate road going tyre that isnt a semi-slick)

More info here http://www2.bridgestone.co.jp/potenza/

Pricing :
RE711 205/50 16 : not too sure they came with the car
T1-S 205/50 16 : ~$200 each
LM701 215/45 17 : actual price not known, was purchased as a tire/wheel package (prices were manipulated for some strange reason)

Hope this helps! :)

[morton]

i've got 711's in 215/45/17. they cost me $305 each. they are really good in the wet and only about a million times better than the original crap that came on the sx's - some $hit from toyo. i don't think the ride is harsh. but i do think they're over-priced.

[Maestro]

hahaha the TOYO's on the SX were a joke....

[oopy]

Originally posted by morton
i've got 711's in 215/45/17. they cost me $305 each. they are really good in the wet and only about a million times better than the original crap that came on the sx's - some $hit from toyo. i don't think the ride is harsh. but i do think they're over-priced.

what kind of pressures are u running in those tires ?
I recall having them at around 40+ psi on the FTO in a 205/50 16
size

[morton]

32 - i haven't really played around with them much - been meaning to do the chalk test for a while!