This is not a complaint ( more an observation). Like many of you I was not impressed by the OEM Potenza's wear. At 8k I was wondering if they would make it to 15k. But now I'm over 20k and there appears to be enough tread left to make it till next summer. They are definitely not as sticky as they once were but I have to say I'm suprised with how well they held up over this last summer. My next set of tires however will not be RE040s not because of wear but road noise. As these have worn the amount road noise seems like it has doubled.

 

We have the same experience...a few thousand miles ago I thought I was getting close to getting a new set of tires. You can even find a thread asking about Yokohamas started by me, thinking that I was getting close. Now, I am well over 17K miles....I KNOW my Potenzas still have another 5K miles left on them.

Like you said, ride and handling is far from what they used to be, but its expected.

 

Are you guys past the wear bars? I bought new tires when I hit the wear bars (22k total miles, about 15k on the stock tires), but I know someone who kept driving way past the wear bars, and it appears the rubber is much harder (wears slower) past the wear bars, and he has not complained about lack of wet traction, which was the reason I changed when I did.

 

Nope, I still have a hair and a half left before hitting them. I am going to try an post up a few pics, although, I doubt anyone will be able to tell from them.

 

11000 here and they still look like new.. then again.. one of them was replaced at 2500 :b

 

they start to wear more slowly because the soft rubber in performance tires heat cycles quickly becoming harder and harder. it also means there is less and less traction.

really soft race compound tires start with lots more grip than street tires, but after a small number of heat cycles (100) are actually harder than the same street tires that might last thousands of heat cycles.

getting harder is also a big reason they get noisier too.

james

 

15,594 miles and I have about 1/8" till I hit the wear bars. I'm looking at BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW 2's. Hey, I know, why don't you buy them first and tell me how you like them?

PS: I love road noise! Makes me turn off the radio and drive faster...

 

i still have 80% left after 12,000 miles... or so my dealer says

 

Same here DosDog, I'm at 19k and counting. I may eventually go with the Dunlops, they're rated at 280 or so treadwear vs. 140 for the 040s.

 

Well, DosDog, if you can afford to live in Napa, you don't need to be worrying about having to get new tires. :D Just make a few more stops at the wine tasting rooms and you will not care about your tire wear. :p Ex native of the Napa Valley. I hope we get more than 25K but I think it is directly proportional to the number of twisties you drive. Keep us up to date on your mileage.

 

TheDosDog has some pockets... Come on dig in and get the KDW2's!! 245/40/18's!!

 

I think james has it right. The tires do feel harder / less sticky, and that would account for the increased noise levels too. I was looking at KDW2s but was told recently they too can be quite loud.

 

On my stock tires i had them replaced at 18,000 miles with BF goodridge KDW2 245 40 18. I love the new tires

On the stock tires the metal spokes were showing which was pretty dangerous i know but damm was it fun in an empty parking lot when it was wet out. once i was driving home and i took a turn and the rear end will slide out and i would power out of the turn wow that was fun. well Around 15,000 miles i noticed how bad they were getting and while i was driving home i hit a big puddle and did about 720 aross 4 lanes at 2:00 am in the morning from the day i would not drive unless it was drive out.

But now with my new tires i have done about 10 burnouts, and an hour of drifting and 360s and i have at least another 20,000 or more miles left..... did i say how much i love thease tires. :D


p.s they are not noisy

 

One of the guys in the Australian Forum reckons their original Potenzas will last over 44000kms (27000 miles).

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...626#post573626

 

I'm getting rid of these expensive a$$ bridgestones as soon as possible--my rear tires need to be replaced and I have 17,000miles on em. Going for cheaper Yokohama or Nittos

 

That's exactly what I got, the KDW 245/40/18 new tread design, and am happy with them. They are not too loud. I think they are quiter than the stock potenzas.

 

red_rx8_red_int ,

How many miles do you have on the KDW2s?

 

i have about 8000 milles on my KDWs and i have alot of tire life left

 

Did you read the post about the supercharged 8 that has 245/35/19's on the front & 275/30/19's on the rear! That would look extreme...

I'm going with the KDW2's, but at the modest 245/40/18 size on all four corners.

 

I think about 6k miles and 2-3 autox's, with no appreciable wear. They look brand new, unlike the stock potenzas.

 

don't be decieved by these ratings, as they're not really transferrable numbers from manufacturer to manufacturer. there aren't established proceedures or really anything that i know of which outlines regulations to follow, or what these mysterious unitless numbers mean.

 

[QUOTE=nojooc]One of the guys in the Australian Forum reckons their original Potenzas will last over 44000kms (27000 miles).

I must be doing something wrong - I have 31000 miles on my oem Potenza's AND plenty of tread left!
Road noise is loud but so is my music.

 

My OEM re040's lasted me 7,000 miles. That is extremtely aggressive and happy driving on the streets and the track once before I got my track wheels.