The Official OEM Potenza life thread.

[tranceformer]

Just replaced my rear potenzas this morning, about 14.8k miles. One of them had a nice big hole in it but probably only had a few hundred miles left anyway.

140 treadlife rating FTL.

[ChrisSlicks]

Originally Posted by tranceformer

Just replaced my rear potenzas this morning, about 14.8k miles. One of them had a nice big hole in it but probably only had a few hundred miles left anyway.

140 treadlife rating FTL.

Yep, anything with a 140 - 200 TW rating gets suck for mileage, but that's how you get the 1G corner grip.

Harder compounds = more miles = less grip

It's a trade off unfortunately, you can't have your cake and eat it.

[semtex]

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

Yep, anything with a 140 - 200 TW rating gets suck for mileage, but that's how you get the 1G corner grip.

Harder compounds = more miles = less grip

It's a trade off unfortunately, you can't have your cake and eat it.

Not sure I agree it's that simple, Chris. Michelin PS2s provide more grip and they have a treadwear rating of 220. Not that there isn't a catch, mind you -- they're freakin' expensive! But it is possible to increase both grip and treadwear at the same time. To be honest, I think the OEM tires are utter junk. For such a soft tire, the level of grip is simply pitiful. I've never driven a set of Bridgestones I didn't think were crap. Just my personal experience. I hear the RE-11s are good though. But even there the treadwear is only 180. I put PS2s on my S2000, I put them on my 350, and now I'm putting them on my 370.

[ChrisSlicks]

Originally Posted by semtex

Not sure I agree it's that simple, Chris. Michelin PS2s provide more grip and they have a treadwear rating of 220. Not that there isn't a catch, mind you -- they're freakin' expensive! But it is possible to increase both grip and treadwear at the same time. To be honest, I think the OEM tires are utter junk. For such a soft tire, the level of grip is simply pitiful. I've never driven a set of Bridgestones I didn't think were crap. Just my personal experience. I hear the RE-11s are good though. But even there the treadwear is only 180. I put PS2s on my S2000, I put them on my 350, and now I'm putting them on my 370.

Can't really comment much on the RE-50A's as I took them off right after I got the car and installed RE-11's. The RE-11's have fantastic grip but only if road temperatures are above 60 degrees, below that they can be downright dangerous.

Don't know what treadwear is really like with the RE-11's considering I beat the crap out of these tires with auto-x. I have 5500 miles on the tires and the fronts are shot on the outside, the rears have even wear but are going to be reaching the wear bars soon. PS2's are a good tire but can't really compete against the RE-11 in terms of outright grip, definitely a better all round performer though.

[semtex]

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

Can't really comment much on the RE-50A's as I took them off right after I got the car and installed RE-11's. The RE-11's have fantastic grip but only if road temperatures are above 60 degrees, below that they can be downright dangerous.

Don't know what treadwear is really like with the RE-11's considering I beat the crap out of these tires with auto-x. I have 5500 miles on the tires and the fronts are shot on the outside, the rears have even wear but are going to be reaching the wear bars soon. PS2's are a good tire but can't really compete against the RE-11 in terms of outright grip, definitely a better all round performer though.

Yeah I considered getting a set of RE-11s, actually, because I know the grip is superior to the PS2. But I ended up going with the PS2 on account of its higher TW.