RXE16T

I agree, they're pretty crap (had them on my S14).

If you feel up to the challenge, maybe try out the Falken Azenis range next time...... supposedly better according to a mate.

Lock & Load

Steve

Heres some history for you they have been manufacturing tyres since 1940 .

http://www.nankangtyres.com.au/aboutus.php

If the RX8 was manufactured by Porsche instead of Mazda imagine the price variation .

Same product different badge and price .

cheers
michael

Gomez

Hmmm, I admit to having placed a reliance on the annual tyre test carried out by Motor Magazine in the past. Can't say that the Nankang has featured prominantly to the best of my recollection.....

I see they've been doing this for a while, but performance tyres appear to be a new thing for them.

RRS

I had Nankang NS-2's on my old corolla a few years back now.. same tread pattern as Hymee has shown... They lasted < 5000 km of hard driving with 40 hp (yes 40 hp!). They are grippy enough for 40 hp and 900 kg , but I don't think they'll be great with 240hp , and 400 kg more mass. I switched to Goodyear Eagle F1's after that and well there was on comparison. I only did about 2000 km on the F1's though, but the wear was negligable.

'mez.. I have Kumho Ecstas on my ute in 225/50/16 and they are rock hard, but have no grip at all.. they have lasted 40,000 km, of hard driving, with plenty of wheelspin, including a motorkhana where I left at least 150 metres of rubber on the competition surface...

Rowds

timbo

Just to get the thread back on topic -- yes -- I discovered NO Bridgestones in Oz when I looked to replace last year. I know my dealer took it up with MA, but am not sure if it went any further (obviously not). It's absolutely f#%king annoying that there is bugger all choice in 225/45's. National scandal. The motor magazines should be headlining it!

Anyway, pepe and I, along with many others, have opted for the Yokos 245/40's -- very happy with them. But that doesn't excuse Mazda, Bridgestone and whoever else pops up in my face on this

RXE16T

Gee, the bloody OEM Bridgestones seem harder to track down than the Mazda Rotary Oil! :D

takahashi

350Z front tyre is also 225/45-18.

I wonder why with 2 OEM car tyre size being 225/45-18, there is still not a lot of tyre choices available. Let alone the Australian tyre co idiot not bringing in those "common" sizes.

Hymee

iTrader: (1)

And I know a bloke (truly) who got an SS ute brand new, and the rear OEM Bridgestones were gone by 900km. Yes - I said nine hundred. But I wouldn't say it was typical. Except it might be typical for the way he drove!

Cheers,
Hymee.

Hymee

iTrader: (1)

I really hope Wildcard goes for Guru status and gives the Nankangs a go :D

Cheers,
Hymee.

RRS

Hymee, I drove even harder on the F1's and all they got was feathered..(OK so they were twice the price, but heaps heaps better)...

God knows our '8 will be sold before we do in a set of tyres ( it only does 9000 km a year)

Rowds

labrat

I reckon I have approximately another 7000km on my originals. I'll be interested to hear Hymee's experiences with the Nankang's on his wife's car. Perhaps some tread depth monitoring on front and rears with a vernier caliper?

timbo

:D Surely worth a warranty claim! And in the run-in period for the car, too

Hymee

iTrader: (1)

Hehehe. Perhaps it might have come under driveline abuse

Plus he was a V8 Supercar engine builder, so re-building it was never an issue.

Cheers,
Hymee.

tonym

Timbo, I did complain to MA and they rang me back and indicated that while it was out of their control they would take up the lack of supply with Bridgestone. I also said that I would probably be changing tyre brands when these are done - the Yokos look good to me. They did mention that this had happened a few times in the last couple of months and that they were annoyed with Bridgestone over this. I wil be following up to them via email detailing my issues.

After 5 days of searching, I did finally find a tyre on Wednesday through the local Bridgestone dealer who pointed me to an independant in Ryde that had only one, maybe the last one in Sydney untill the next shipment comes in about a month or so. Apparently Birdgestone lose visibility of stock which goes to independants so they only see whats in their warehouse or the franchise stores, so maybe there are a few hidden one still out their besideds the 3 that Bridgestone have in Perth. They also base their ordering on demand and as the RX8 is a relatively new model they had ordered initial stock and then waited for that to run down before forcasting demand to renew the Aus stocks. Pity that they didn't factor in the lead time from Japan and order earlier!

Cheers,

Tonym.

takahashi

There are a lot of brandnew RE040 in 225/40 hidden in the tyre shop when the people who own 350Z or RX-8 change their wheel when the car is pretty much brand new.

Anyway, there are plenty of choices if you are willing to go up 235/40 or 245/40 sizes, which are the sizes of the HSV and the FPVs.

Lock & Load

Taka
You are right i have just concluded negotiations with rotarenvy and as of sunday i will be the proud owner of a near new set of RE040 225/40 Brigstones , i was shopping for a new set when this suitable deal came up .

cheers
michael

takahashi

I am sure you meant 225/45...

There must be heaps of those hidding in Sydney since some people in Sydney like Bling Bling wheels

Hymee

iTrader: (1)

I'm sure you did as well in you ealier post! :p

Cheers,
Hymee.

takahashi

heheh....

They are all typo I am sure :p

timbo

In my experience, people generally don't hide stuff they make money out of selling...

takahashi

I just saw the 2nd hand tyre... it is the Michellin sport cup PS2. 235/40-18.

It is a weird size I have to admit. I am doing less than 6000km this year so it is big deal. Increasing speed reading will actually slow me down ( as my wife will say "you are speeding" when the speedo is 101km/h)

$160 is good for the condition. It is like about 2000km on the tyre and some stud can still be seen.

So I get this 2 for the front and get a new set for the rear. 235/40 all round....

What do you think? --- mind you I may not do much spirited driving on that and it is just a daily driver tyre.

Also found a cheapy brand new Enkei for much less than $3000/set - I have given up that and I will put 225/45 Potenza semislick on the stock one for racing.

rotarenvy

on a 235/40/18 my speedo was only 1-2km/h slower than indicated at 60km/h.
yes the difference will be more at 100km/h. I still need to check as the last GPS wasn't that acurate so I need to take a better one with me.
1-2km/h isn't going to make a difference in getting you anywhere faster.

timbo

Isn't the 235/40 18 techically illegal under the ADRs, as it reduces the overall diameter by more than 10mm??

rotarenvy

not in QLD we can lower our overall diameter by up to 26mm