[Shotimes] Re: Tires...tires....tires...

[George Fourchy]

On Fri, 15 Aug 2003 15:21:53 -0700 (PDT), Neno Albert wrote:

>I'm not very fond of the 750 Bridgestones, though. I've test driven several of cars       >with that specific model tire and haven't really been impressed with them yet. For   > $125 a tire, though, they definitely aren't the worst, but I would pay the extra $25 a  >tire without thinking twice for the GS-D3s. I just felt the 750s aren't responsive                   >enough in turns and wet pavement braking has proved to be somewhat a handful of >feedback. Nothing extreme, but definitely somethign I'd get picky about esp. when >they are priced as they are.

I didn't see any other posts with this subject, so I don't know what the original
question was, but I have to say I have had a definitely positive reaction to a track
session with RE730s.  Now, I understand, they are replaced by RE750s, which I
haven't seen yet.  I have had RE730s on the Lowrider since the spring of 2002.  They
have a tendency to cup on the insides if there is too much negative camber, which it
did have until I replaced the LCAs 10 or 15 thousand miles after they went on.  They
are a bit loud, even when not cupped.  But I'm here to tell you they are the
absolute best tires I have ever driven with on the track.  Inflated to about 50
pounds, they just went where I pointed it at Summit Point, during the Maryland
convention of 2002.  I couldn't be happier with their performance.   When the car
comes back on line they'll still be on it, and I hope to get about 55K miles.  I
have a new set of RE730Bs on the black 'Nunnally Special'.  They may or may not stay
on it...the wheels are the chrome slicers ultimately destined for the 'Luxo-Barge'. 
Michelin Pilot Sport A/Ss are the last set to be gotten for this fleet.

In the rain here on I-80, during my commutes, they are excellent as well.  I am able
to go 10 or 15 mph faster than anyone else in heavy rain, with no hint of
hydroplaining.  Above about 70 mph on newly shaved (very smooth) concrete, is when
they come the closest to losing traction occasionally, but if I slow down a couple
of mph, the problem disappears.  On unshaved concrete, or any other pavement, there
is no problem at all.  

I had RE030s on the Lexus IS300 I had at Blackhawk.  They were brand new, and so a
bit flexible, even when inflated to 45 pounds.  But that car was as fast as any
(stock) SHO, except for one red Gen 2 that ran away from me (and all the other cars)
as if we were going backwards.  He had to have something special in his car.  If the
tires were half worn, so that they were less squirmy, I bet I could have given him a
run for his money.  They are also excellent in the rain...we drove through a BIG
(midwest type) thunderstorm near Mt. Shasta coming home from Madison, and no slowing
down from the 75 mph cruise was necessary.  (This was during the night, and you
shoulda seen Eva....she was cowering under the seat every time the lightning would
flash....it was hilarious!!)

George