Just called Bridgestone Australia OE department. Told them they have (or soon will have) a supply problem and the Oz RX8 owners will go elsewhere if they don't fix it .

They are now ordering lots more for NSW and VIC. So supply should be good in the next month or so.

And just in case you want to change sizes (or brands if you can find any other 225/45 18s in Oz) on stock rims this is worth considering:

"However, what got my attention on this particular point was a recent article by Jim Mederer of Racing Beat. He said in their testing of different tires on the RX-8 (5 brands) that the factory Bridgestone RE040 showed the best balance of cornering, steering response, ride and tread life. His quote was "Be careful if you choose to change tires - you may end up going slower, not faster."

Definitely something for the less sophisticated of us to consider before making a change based on generic tire testing or (even worse) tirerack.com surveys."

Cheers

 

Hmmm, well, for what it's worth, I think the RE040s aren't worth squat... a mate's got them on his 03 STi as well, 225/45/R17s, reckon's they're utter dogs bollocks too... very unlikely I'll be going for them as replacements, unless they drop the price substantially.

 

Where did you get this article? And which 5 other brand did they tested?

Did they really get 5 brands with size 225/45-18? Unbelievable

 

Taka

These brands have tyres in Aus in 225/45R18

Bridgestone
Michelin
Pirelli
Falken
Continental

Dunlop, Kumho and Yokohama also have tyres in this size, but I can't find anywhere that sells them yet.

 

Am much pissed off with Bridgestone. :angry: They have known about a supply problem with RE040s since late June when I rang them. They said they'd get on to it then, but to try their new G3s. The G3s are lower spec again than the 040s. I'm not touching them.

My apologies to Jim Mederer, but all the comparison tests I have seen rate the 040s stone motherless last. Same for the comparison data on tirerack.

 

Toyo are apparently going to be bringing something in for 225/45R18s... but right now, choice seems to be limited to (in order of cost, least to most)

Bridgestone G3
Falken ZE-512
Bridgeston RE040
Pirelli Pzero Rosso
Michelin Pilot Sport

Dunlop, Kumho, Yokohama, Toyo and Continental all have tyres in this size but don't sell them in Australia.

 

Easy choice out of the lot Michellun Pilot Sport. Other not even have 1/2 the grip of the Pilot Sport, taken full account that RX-8 is developed with RE040.

Tire size has been debate long and hard. I agree wider not necessary wiser but 245 will open the world to tyre choices.

IMO, Mazda stuff it up big time in the first place.

 

Easy?
Gee, you must be loaded Taka!
Those things wear out quick and are bloody expensive.
IMO not worthwhile "over-spending" on replacement tyres especially if you drive like a hoon and will change them again within 6 months.

 

well i am no bridegestone fan but I am up for a challenge if someone thinks they will out corner the RE040s on something else (stock rims)...

I got a headache looking around for other tyres and yes I looked at all the research and tyre rack stuff etc. I tore the RE040s tyres to shreds after 15000kms with no track days or burn outs/clutch drops). All the reviews I have seen are making comments after double or more that mileage so how hard are they driving to make a judgement (i wonder).

As an example the bridgestone guy reckons I would go through S03s in 5000 - 7000km - so if someone has a better idea for tyres I am happy to hear about it.
Aside from the Michelin PS2 which cost a fortune and would wear just as quick I can't see any others being better. 235s or 245s are right on the edge of our stock 8" rim size which I think is a bit of a problem - not for cruising but when you are going hard laterally do they perform better or buckle up???

In the end I gave up on alternative tyres and respect Jim's opinion cause Racing Beat tend not to bullshit and their products are top notch.

That's my 2 cents. Just trying to help out but if no-one wants the RE 040s then I will call the guy back and let him know ;-)

 

Z88M are you sure they are not saying S-02!?S-03 will last 3x as long as the S-02. Slam me if I am not right. Nojooc I am baised. Coz RX-8 is my weekend car and I have 90% freeway on weekends.

If you want someone wear good then use BF Goodrich. I had 4 years 60000km on them and not seeing any sign of wearing. I used to have RE010 too. Last 10000km. S03 I suspect about 30-40000km. Fair?

Expensive? RE040 225 is $400 per tire. That is expensive for the rubber that you get! and Z88M chew it up in 15000K

 

The wear rating is higher on Bridgestone S03 than RE040 so it can't last longer mate.

Overall my point is does anyone think they need more grip than they have with the RE040s. EVO mag was getting .89 lateral G on the RE040s so does anyone want more than that???

Taka if you think the Michelin Pilot Sports will really have twice the grip that means you are pulling 1.78G in the corners with them??????? Hmmmmm maybe not. In fact the highest I have seen the Michelin PS2 rated is not above .89 lateral G.

Interesting subject ;-)

 

hehe getting technical.

Suspension has something to do with lateral G too.
Tyre choices are as hard as chosing the car. I will stick with Potenzas but likely will be a S-03 rather than 040. It is all depends where and which tyre is on sale at that particular time.
Oh I am going to put whatever I can find cheap and drive around. Quiet thread pattern is the key to day to day driving. I will end up having a rim and tire combo for street and track anyway

 

I don't read people review or use the buyer review rating but I am interested in the road test in tirerack.

S-03/Pilot Sport/P0 Rosso
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...+Pole+Position

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...nextGen_c.html

BF Goodrich
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/max_perf.jsp

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/max_perf_charts.jsp

I like their write up and ignore whatever the customer survey in tirerack says. Is it a good write up for the s-03 vs Pilot Sport vs P0?

 

Outright lateral grip is but one factor in comparing tyres. This also has a wet/dry component. But equally important factors (and each driver will apply a subjective weighting) are ride quality, wear and noise.

IMHO, the 040s are noisy and have a harsh ride. This seems to be supported by tirerack opinions.

I'd be interested in SO3s -- if there was any chance Bridgestone in Australia was capable of maintaining any supply of them. Let's face it -- we're starved of good tyre choice here!!

 

S-03 no problem with supply if the HSV still have the contract with them. All the HSV still uses them right? In 18 and now 19?? FPV uses Dunlop, I saw in the GT-Ps.

There will be stack of supply for S-03 in 18 inch, I hope! There is why I am so interested in S-03s.

 

er... only 225/40, 235/40 or 265/40 in 18". As we've discussed before, none of these is legal!

 

if $400 per tyres i would go for RE55S they also is around $400 mark.......

 

I'm a little amazed at some of the tyre mileages you guys have been getting. I don't abuse my cars ( "spirited" driving only!) but I've never got more than 22,000km out of any of the tyres I've run in my last 3 cars. These have included S02's, S03's, Toyo T-1S, Goodyear F1, Dunlop SS01. I've done 12,000 in my 8 so far, and it's clear the OEM Bridegstones won't make it past 20,000.

One thing I have noticed though: the better a car's intinsic chassis, the less reliant on top end tyres it is to achieve decent grip and handling. I think the fact that the rather average RE040's do pretty well on the 8 is largely because the car simply doesn't demand as much from them. The decent suspension geometry, low centre of gravity, and even weight balance are all contributing here....

 

Good news is that AAMI has no issues with 245/40R18s being fitted instead of 225/45R18s... as long as it's legal, they don't give a stuff! :D Just call them and tell them you've done it is all they need.

 

well said on the other bits, NickG

Why chew your tyres so fast Nick? Tyre pressure? Prob not... But anyone pump up their tyres over 36 psi. I have it at 40psi when tracking and 38 when driving - that is what Murcott and other racer told me to do.

S-03 comes in 245/40 does it? but why 235/40 is not legal...? when did we talk about it before? Was I sleeping? 235 is not sticking out in stock rim, does n't it? Timbo? ?

 

Tks Taka. Actually I think my main tyre wear culprit is acceleration. :D You can't legally drive 120km/hr+ in an 80km/hr zone, but so far there's no rule that says you can't accelerate as fast as you want, as often as you want - as long as your vehicle remains under control ( read no burnouts) and you are not street racing of course! Rapid acceleration up to moderate speeds may well be the last bastion of legally sanctioned vehicle enjoyment on public roads anywhere in Australia- excluding the Northern Territory!

When I first read about tyre prices for the RX-8 I was pretty upset, as I realised I could never justify paying that sort of money for the top level performance tyres I am used to driving on, when they will only last me a year. However now that I really know what the 8 is capable of with its average OEM rubber, I don't feel quite so compelled to search out these ultimate, exotic tyres. In your situation however, I'd be sorely tempted by the outstanding Michelins - by most accounts it's their best performance tyre in years....

 

Actually taka, we did talk about this before link It's not the "sticking out" issue, it's the diameter requirement ... cannot be >10mm than original spec tyre

I must admit I am confused on the 245/40 issue in SO3's. The Bridgestone site says they exist; the Bridgestone dealer here in Canberra says they don't (probably means don't have and never will have stock )

 

Is this just the ACT thing? Do you want me to search some for you? I am sure there is one as I check the price last time was in 245/40-18 and they are in stock.

The 10mm size thing is ACT thing too? Sounds very unjust and silly to me - sounds like the law has been there in the last 30 years when they used to have 135mm tyres.

 

Perhaps being 55 is good for tyre economy: I have 42000km on the originals (including 6 hours at Wakefield trying to rip them off their rims) and they look like they might see 50.

80% of our driving is country at high (read almost legal) speeds, and most of my cornering is as the car was designed for. Admittedly, She Who Must Be Obeyed and daughter 1 on green plus daughter 2 on red P's give the tyres a bit of peace and quiet.

Maybe city bitumen is more abrasive, 'cos we got over 50 out of the RE040's on our sti.

jack

 

Jack, highway miles are good for tyres. My sedan are over 100000km per set and so as all my bosses 4WD and sedans.

Timbo. I search in the last 1/2 hour in the VicRoad site and found some roadworthy details and in that they said they based RWC on the Australian Design Rules. In the section of wheels - they did mention the sticking out thing. But in the tyre they mention size as per tyre association?! No more info on that. I interpreted that as they might not be as strict as long as it is recommanded by the tyre company for that specific size

Link = http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/vrne/...4A171BCD2A5F8F