So I switched from RE-11 to RS3
 

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

Thanks for the review. Looking forward to your track impressions. I love my RE-11s, and when it's time to switch, these might be my next set.

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

My average speed was 30mph in rush hour, so I don't get to feel that much other than noticeable increase in ride stiffness. The tire also felt heavier as I was changing them. I also have my track equipment in my car, so I wasn't in any condition to turn the car fast. Oh yeah, forgot I only had quarter of a tank too. I don't want to be stranded either.

I am debating if I should head to Buttonwillow this Sunday. It seems to be a small turn out, but it is 200 miles from here and Sears Point and Laguna seems more appealing (they are not really available this month)

road course duty is where the RS3s show their strength. so where ever you go to try them out at those three, you will notice the difference, feel was and most likely lap time also. they are surprisingly good in the wet on track(then again so are the RE11's)

btw on a side not, what width wheel are you running in 18 front and rear?

the reading is based off the transmission speed thats correct. but remember the transmission doesnt touch the road, its the tires. for example if the transmission is spinning at 2000 rpm, you can have a 14" wheel or a 22" wheel, the speedometer wont know the difference, but you'll be traveling at WAY different speeds

Both are pretty solid tires, for sure. I found the RS3 would become stickier at temp in comparison to the RE-11, but the RE-11 was more directionally nimble. I would be interested to experience the new Direzza 2 and RE-11A and compare them.

The scraping is the exact reason why I went with a 275/40-r18 setup when I was looking for track rims and tires. Unfortunately there are limited tires in this size but it does keep the stock diameter/height as close as possibly to the 275/35-r19. Haven't had any issues bottoming out other than in the usual spots. The RE-11, toyo r888 (which I bought, LOVED them on the track), and nitto NT01 come in this size.

thank you for the clarification

RS3's suck as a single driver AX tire in our area most of the season at cool events. They work great as warmer temp tire or when you have a co-driver. If you have an opportunity to do Marina they will be slip sliding. Decent track tire.

Michelin and Dunlop compounds usually do a little better with cool stuff

rs3 wasnt meant to be a low temp auto x tire

On hot California tracks, I am glad I have them on. The more you push them, the better they get it seems. I wish my suspension and brakes were the same lol.

<3 rs3.

thanks for the review

maybe it's just me but the review was worthless.

Not saying I was done, will write about it after my day today. I can tell you the other posters are right in that these tires can handle the heat much better. I am able to run several hot laps before I feel the effect like I did in the re11. Since I didn't run the re11 at the same track, I cant say for sure how much faster it is. I can say they like lower tire pressure than the re11

Start at around 33 PSI front and 31 PSI rear imo. Seems to like about 1-2 psi difference between front and rear. I usually end up bringing them down to about 31F/29R cold-on a not hot day, hot day I bring them down further. They like to run around 35F/33 R hot it seems. Any more than that and they start to feel like balloons. If track is hot and you are hitting 38/39 psi then don't be afraid to drop them to 30/29 or so.

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?

Yes

LMAO!!!

Which is actually quieter to DD? And which will last longer to DD then?

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?

Close your eyes flip a coin, head = RE11, tail = RS3, bam!

I have RE11 coming in...but then again, I drive it so little they can wear out in 5k miles for all I care.

The Z, why do you mention C-class?

RS3's are a hell of a lot cheaper

The RE11 is way quieter new, but they will be louder than a RS3 when worn down near the wear bars. As far as comfort, the RE11 is less bumpy. I feel that the RS3 is a little grippier, but I can't confirm in times because I never ran them back to back on the same track. I think the RS3 is a better track tire like the other guys say, I used to overheat my tires every 2-3 laps in the RE11, the RS3 got me 2 or 3 extra laps

So you've actually had both and worn both down to the bars?


My current tires are Yokohama S.Drives (not my choice), and by all reviews, they are "loud". Yeah, they are, there's one road in TX where I couldn't hear my stereo on FULL blast. And I've been in other 370Zs, I guess I just don't pay attention for road noise, or I don't look for the tires and their tread.

If either the RS3 or RE-11's are even a tenth the loudness of the Yokohama's, and if they last 90% of the Yokohama's, I'd be thoroughly satisfied

I wore the RE11 down to wear bars, RS3 only has a few hundred miles on it.

New RE-11 is quieter than the stock OEM tires new and RS3 new.

Bald RE11 is noisier than the OEM RE050 new and the RS3 new. I am not sure if their noise will go up at an equal rate.

And just to make sure. The track guys don't use PSSs because they really don't grip as well as the RS3/RE11's, and/or they get hot easily and lose grip... Right(?)

Sorry to ask

Yes yes and yes. To make it worse, they can chunk if you over heat them badly enough

^thanks brother. You've been awesome in answering my questions

I REALLY want to get RS3's because they're cheap as hell, and I probably will tomorrow.
Going to order 4 rears and 2 fronts.

If they're deafening for me... I'll sell a rear set and do donuts until the rears are gone, lol
Then I'll get PSSs, lol

If you care about noise, you might want to bring this with you.

I partially got a Leaf because I couldn't stand the noise in the Z anymore. The RS3 is better than my bald RE-11, but not that much haha

Amazon.com: Phiaton PS 210 BTNC Bluetooth 3.0 Active Noise Cancelling Stereo Earphones with Mic: Electronics

http://imageshack.us/a/img33/5578/prp8.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img854/5863/yn1n.jpg

Isn't RS3 $280 and Bridgestone $300?

Lol, I care, but to an extent, the Yokohama's are loud, can I do louder, sure, can I do twice as loud, NO.
I almost want to buy your RE-11s to se how bad they are. Or if I come to NorCal, maybe I'll pay you a visit

I have RE11s. They're not loud IMO. Definitely don't need noise canceling headphones that's for sure.

... YOU LIVE CLOSE TO ME!!! PLEASE let me sit in your car! Lol

I was just about to pull the trigger on tires, lol



(No BS, I'm not a murderer, I'll meet you in a public place? Lol)

Cuz murders ONLY happen in private locations :tup:



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;-(





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I think if anyone can have a group of 50+ people vouch for him... It's probably me, lol. I think I've conducted business with 50+ members let alone the 50+ I've met or know :p

U can't go wrong with either or

When I drive back from track on RS3's it sounds like a wailing banshee is under my car.

... So many conflicting reports... Dammit...

Have you had RE-11's?

The RE-11's are as quiet as anything to me.... then again the exhaust drowns most minor noises out. So no noise cancelling headphones needed, just get a louder exhaust!