So I switched from RE-11 to RS3

Originally Posted by cossie1600

I went from 285 35 19 RE11 to 285 35 18 RS3. I have only driven them on the street. To be honest, there is really no dramatic difference between the two. If you tell me the RS3 is a little faster, I would not argue with you. Yet I don't think it is leaps and bounds over the RE11. As a street tire, I can say new to new, the RS3 is noisier and bumpier due to the stiffer sidewall. It also seems to me the RS3 is a heavier tire too. Still, everything seems to be meeting my expectation so far. I will have to get on the track/autox next month to get more definite result.

There is one thing I am going to warn you. If you are going to run 18s, prepare to scrap everything on the road. With the RS3 being smaller, I am now scraping every speed bump here. It is beyond annoying to have to slow down for every bump. I scraped over ten times today because of the lowered height. I did forget to check the speedo. With the 285 35 19, the speedo was nearly dead on accurate. I would assume the small tire will make it off 3mph or so. I will have to find that out when I am not in rush hour traffic

Originally Posted by clintfocus

after a good warm up lap or two on track. RE11's "turn on" sooner for sure. Also, and i may be mistaken, but i though the MPH reading was based off the transmission, so tire diameter shouldnt effect it, but like i said i could be wrong

Originally Posted by clintfocus

in actuality the Re11 has stiffer construction over the RS3. RS3s are known for their softer sidewall compared to RE11 and AD08.

you will not see the added performance benifit from the RS3 putting around on the street. they have a higher optimum heat range then a RE11, so they wont really shine until after a good warm up lap or two on track. RE11's "turn on" sooner for sure. Also, and i may be mistaken, but i though the MPH reading was based off the transmission, so tire diameter shouldnt effect it, but like i said i could be wrong

Originally Posted by DEpointfive0

So... I'm in this same dilemma, cheap àss RS3's or RE-11's.
I know you're a track guy, but Tire Rack's reviews disagree with you. Where the RE-11's get 8.2 on ride comfort, the RS3s get 7.5. RE-11's get 8.2 on noise level, RS3's get 7.1. RE-11's get 7.8 for tread wear, RS3's get 7.3. Dry taction is 9.5 for the RE-11's and 9.3 for the RS3's
Weight is the same for the sizes I'm interested in (305/30, 245/40)


I know the reviews are customer based, but are they just all wrong?

Originally Posted by threeseventy

Yes

Originally Posted by threeseventy

RE-11 is imperceptibly quieter with exhaust and stereo. RS3 is softer compound with less tread depth. You putting these on the Z or a C-Class?