Got one question whos going to supply tires I hope Yokohama as thats what I have on my Olds but Toyo is alright except it seems they pick up every little thing off the road-nails metal fragments.
The AVS from Yokohama is a very good grade tire and super sticky
and superior wet traction. Just wondering if any one heared anything.

 

Don't know, except that Yoko doesn't currently offer tires in the 225/45R18 size expected to go on the RX-8. Available tires in that size are currently: Michelin - Pilot Sports; Pirelli - PZero Rosso Asimmetrico; Bridgestone - Potenza S-03 Pole Position, Potenza RE040, and Blizzak LM-22; Continental - ContiSport Contact.

In this range, my recollection is that the Pilot Sports are what most manufactureres include as OEM tires, since they have pretty good all-around performance.

 

Some peering at the photos seems to reveal Dunlop SP Sport 9000 tyres on the yellow prototype.

 

Bwaahahahaha! Yeah, I definitely hope it comes stock with those. I'll be all ready for my trip to Alaska in Feb.:p

Actually, I hope it comes with Bridgestone Potenzas, I've heard alot of good things about those tires (expensive, though).

 

SP9000s are not sold in the very odd 225/45/18 size, but aren't they 19s on the prototype anyways? Personally I'd rather have 225/45/17s which are the same profile but much cheaper and with a gazillion choices.

not too keen on spending $1000 for a set of street tires that are only 225mm wide

 

If you think thats expensive buy a full set of 295/45/18's for a Lightning $299. A piece $1200 U.S. thats before tax.

 

That's odd, because I have a pretty clear picture of just such a tyre (On the yellow prototype)... perhaps you aren't looking hard enough (to find a supplier)!

http://www.tyre4u.com/productdetails...20Sport%209000

 

perhaps, but according to www.dunloptire.com, there is no such size.

 

Well... That's confusing then... since the promo shots show a car with that tyre, in that size, on the RX-8!

 

I DESPISE Dunlop SP9000s. That tire is too hard to offer any kind of grip, and it's hard compound makes it a lousy wet surface tire. I can tell you from experience on the street and on race courses, it is a marketing type of tire that is intended to look sporty, last awhile, and cost a bit of money. It sucks when it comes down to performance.

If Mazda wants their car to actually be able to handle, they need to stay away from the SP9000s

---jps

 

What do you suggest...

TVR seem to have a love affair with the Pirelli PZero (Which is cheaper!)...

 

Never liked Pirelli's. I'm a Michelin man

 

I know you weren't asking me, but... :D

Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Positions.

My 2 cents.

 

I was... I was asking anyone with an opinion... that way everyone can see what people think... and if anything stands out as popular!

 

I've had Michelins on my Acura.. they were ok. Have you tried the Pirelli P7000Z Summer? I have them on my car right now and they are great. Other tires I've heard good things are Toyo T1-s, S-O3's, Pilot Sports.

 

I've gone through a few sets of Pirelli P7000s, and I would be quite happy if they come on the car. I've also been happy with the sets of Michelin Sports that I've had on two different cars. I want to avoid anything like a Kumho Ecsta that will get greasy when driven hard, and won't last worth spit. I'd like to try some Toyos next on my Miata, but I'm not in the business of evaluating tires, so I think I'll go with what I know is good and stick with the Michelins.

I don't have an issue with Dunflop either. A few years ago, I had great results from a set of D40s. It's just that the SP9ks are designed incorrectly for my tastes, and they cost way too much for what they don't deliver.

---jps

 

http://www.mrccfl.com/sevenstock/rx8/hires/rx82.jpg


This picture shows a Bridgestone S-03 P.P. on the prototype at Mazda in Irvine. I would "guess" the size as a 225/45R18. Bridgestone to date has not installed S-03's as an O.E. fittment on any vehicle, so the final product may be some variation designed for the RX-8.

Trent@TireRack.com

 

Woah!... I bow to your tire identification skillz! It's interesting to note that the tires on this later prototype/road test model are different to the earlier one!

Those are rated 100%, the best tyre in consumer survey at the Tyre Rack:-

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....+Pole+Position

 

Well either that, or they are those new Khumo MX look alikes. S03's are quite expensive, but I hope it comes with them. I'd probably just buy Yokohama AVS ES100s when the stock tires wear out. Can't really afford nearly a grand in tires + installation for 18" rims.

But I think that Brigestone S02's have been fitted to a fair number of sports cars as stock tires, so S03's might just be a reality.

 

Hmmm,

I'm wondering how long tyres on this sort of car are gonna last... I mean it might be a reflection on my driving, but I tend to get pretty high miles out of a set of road tyres... although not as much as my father who seems to regularly get 30,000 miles.

At that rate, I'm gonna make at least a year if not two on a set of tyres... so the cost isn't so much for a good set, especially if it can make the car handle better!

 

Yes- Honda, Ferrari, Porsche and others have worked with Bridgestone to develop special versions of the S-02 to be fitted as orginal equipment tires. O.E. tires can be different in construction, compound and/or tread pattern to meet the cost and engineering requirements of a particular vehicle manufacter.

Mazda has a strong relationship with Bridgestone, and the S-03 is a awesome product. It would be great to see them make the production car in one form or another.

Trent@TireRack.com

 

Give me any tire, im too novice a driver to notice the difference b/w cheap and expensive tires, I also dont race around everywhere. the wheels are gonna be some 18in ordeal so I hope i can find tires in that size when i need new ones. Does anyone thing the fenders are too flaired on the 8? from some angles the car looks odd, but i have to see it in person before i pass judgement.

 

If you say that, you must have only experienced one type or the other. The difference between the long-lasting Cosco-brand tire and an ultra-high performance street tire is *HUGE* even if you aren't a spirited driver. Even if it's just for the active safety, you definitely want the better tires!

 

He's right you know... the first time I put cheap tyres on a car that had really good ones on it when I bought it it was a real shock how easy it was to notice.

 

First time I swiched to better tires than the average all seasons, there was a fair change, but I didn't drive agressively enough at the time to notice a huge difference in grip. The handling however, completely changed by a good margin. Road feel went from non-existant to almost too much. Was quite a handfull on wet roads.

As you get more used to pushing a car to its limits, the more you notice tiny differences in tire quality, so if us fanatics seem crazy, well, we are. :D No matter how good a car is, all it connects to the road with are the tires. You don't want that to be your weak link in the chain.

The light weight of the RX-8 should get the tires to last a bit longer, I'm hoping. I'm certainly not going to be pampering this car after a gradual break-in. I wear out tires at about 20-30k miles on every car I've driven, most of them all season tires, of the Michelin Pilot XGT type. It's probably cause I hate them so much that I run them into the ground. Parents wonder what I do to need tires every ~1.5 years. They tend to replace tires every 4 years. :o