Should I get Bridgestone RE-11's or Nitto NT-05's?
 

Time to replace my tires. Have been studying a lot of posts on this forum and checking prices. Priority is grip. I live in southern Nevada and it hardly ever rains and never gets cold. Plan to auto-x a few times a year with 1-2 track days/year. Gets driven to work maybe half the time, freeway commute. I would love NT-01's but they don't make them in 19" size (I have the Sport pkg). So considering RE-11's in either 285/35/19 all around or 265/35/19 fronts with 285/35/19 rears. Still haven't heard definitively if either of these setups will work on stock Sport wheels with stock suspension and no spacers (I don't really want to add spacers). Other option is NT-05's in stock sizes (they don't make a 265 or 285 or 295). I am leaning towards the RE-11's, but would still like to know for sure if the larger sizes will fit without using spacers. Are there any better choices?

:icon14:

should I get a nice juicy delicious ribeye or popcorn?

Go RE11 for sure.

Toyos are another option Proxie 1's or R888's



Just a thought




DAN

That's funny.
Thx, I was under the impression that the RE11 and the NT05 were pretty comparable. Sounds like that may not be the case.

I looked at the Toyo's, but neither the RA1 or the R888 are available in a proper size for my 19" wheels. The Proxes 1 is available in the same 285/35/19 though; is it pretty comparable to the RE11?

atropine- ive tried nittos in the past and i speak from experience they dont make predictable tires. they frikken break free suddenly near the limit where most name-brand (quality) tires provide adequate warnings before tires break loose.

i hate nitto tires, im just sayin. :)

Not even close to an apples to apples comparison.

The two aren't even in the same ballpark.

The RE-11 and Nitto NT-05 seem to wear at about the same rate but the RE-11 is a far superior tire grip wise.

The RA-1 and R888 aren't really recommended for street driving and may be classed as an r-comp by some auto-x clubs.

Not sure how the Proxes 1's compare they are a new tire for 2011 so I would think not to many people have tried them yet.....




DAN

i believe grassroot did another test on the tires you mentioned. nt05s are good tires too, but very limited size options.

i have 4 re 11 in 285 35 19 on my car and it is stock, it seems to work fine

I dont think many have ran NT05's and there opinion on them is based off of what others say... I loved my Nitto NT05's best nitto tire I have had to date... they were great tires... initial off the line grip could of been better but corners and stability at all speeds was way above my stock re50as or my current hankook ventus evo's ...

I have never had re-11's and I believe they will be my next tires since everyone speaks so highly of them...

but I would say its a fair compairson considering the nittos are 2-300 cheaper... I loved my nitto nt05's , thats the only thing I could say as I never ran re-11's but many have and havent heard any complaints.

Thx everyone, i appreciate the input. Looks like I will prob be getting RE11s in 285/35/19 all around.

Cossie- how is your front tire wear pattern and do you track your car?
thx again

For RE-11's My plan is to get 265/35 front and 285/35 rear I have the 19inch Rays

There is definitely some funny wear pattern due to the track days and autox with the car. It also has a lot to do with the lack of camber on the 370. It is definitely better than the 350, but don't expect an even wear across the tire. Still, the tires aren't really going to last long enough for you to care about the wear pattern anyway. These are really 10K-18K tires at best. I took off my 265/285 from last year with 9000 miles on it with the front having been bald on the outside and 2/32nd on the inside while the back has about 3/32nd all the way around. I did 5 track days and 200 autox runs on them. I have no problem with the wear rate, I am just pissed over the replacement cost ($300+). I am expecting slightly better wear on the 285/285 since I won't push my fronts as hard to get rid of the plow with the 265/285. I will most likely ride out these as long as I can, swap the back tire to the front and use last year's 285 in the back for next season. I don't know if my wife will let me buy another new set next year. I do expect even more funny wear on the 285 front due to the stretching of the tire.

Wat

Advan Neova AD08's FTW........

OP, listen to reviews from actual members who have experience with tires and who have driven on both models :tiphat: The RE-11 and NT05 are both great extreme performance summer tires. If money isn't a factor in your decision then I would go with the RE-11 (Expect to pay ~$250 more for the set of four). That doesn't mean the NT05 is a bad choice though.. They both have comparable dry grip but the RE-11 has the advantage in wet grip and comfort (smoother, less road noise, etc..).

Your "review" of the Nitto NT05 is based off your previous experience with other Nitto tires from a few years ago :rolleyes: That's like me saying don't get the RE-11's because the Bridgestone RE92 tires that came on my Subaru WRX were some of the worst tires I've ever drove on.. :ugh2: Typical response on forums though, people shedding light on products they have no experience with :bowrofl:

^please stick around

i didnt say the nt05 is bad, i just dont think they offer good sizes for the z. 370z runs a fairly large tire, you need to look for diameter over 26 if you can. 275 30 is too small, 275 35 is not bad i guess

I plan to do the 265F and 285R for the RE-11s on my car in a few days. Where are you getting them from for I am looking for a good deal. I had talked to Cossie about this on a thread of mine a while back and he said what I want to get should be fine. I do take it to the track from time to time but only 1/4 mile. Since we got the 19 Rays is it just 19 for rim? I can't remember if they are like 19 1/2 in the rear.

19x9 in the front and 19x10 in the back. you cant go wrong with either 265/285 or 285 all around. i always say if your track your car, get 285 all around. 265 if you dont plan to drive at track or autox speed.

Well if that is the case I might just do 285/35 all around then. Will that be okay even though this is my daily driver?

Well if that is the case I might just do 285/35 all around then. Will that be okay even though this is my daily driver? I do track when I can but I worry about rubbing or do I not have to worry about that?

Okay I don't know why it posted like that...

265 in front=fits wheel better (lessen the chance of a blowout/more safe), less road noise, safer drive as the car has more understeer, better rain traction

285 in front=require stretching the wheel, more road noise, car is more tail happy, more road noise

O.K. Two questions:

1. Which are a better option RE11's or the S04 Pole Positions?? The S04s seem to have slightly less dry traction, but better wet traction, be quieter, and more comfortable. Thoughts???

2. I am lowered on Stance Coilovers and will have sways on soon (conservative setting). If I run 265s up front and 285s out back, will I have too much understeer or any other issues??

My car is a sparingly used daily with very occasional track fun....

Help me out!!

Stretch?

i mean stretching the tires in a little bit

you can tune your car to the way you like with some of the suspension pieces. on stock car, changing tires are the best way to get your balance changed. the 20mm on the front made a huge difference in the way my car drives.

s04s are great tires, but they dont have as much grip as the re11. they will last longer though

What's the down side of having 305's at the rear? I want to go 265/305 RE11, but I am more concerned with handling than I am looks. I mostly do highway driving and most likely won't ever goto the track. Pardon my thread jacking.

What do you mean by 20mm in front? Were you running 265 fronts prior to stepping up to 285 fronts? You can tell a significant difference in understeer/grip going from 265s to 285s? Also, do 285s on stock wheels with no spacers look funny on the front end?

Thx again everyone.

Why do you care about handling if you do mostly highway driving and don't track?

305/265 will have more understeer than a 265/285 setup.

Yes I ran 265 in the front last year, 285 now. The car drives like a completely different car. I was expecting a small difference, but the car just turns and sticks so much better in the front end. Gone is the plow (it gets worse once your tires get old), now I am actually greet with the rear end stepping out from time to time, being able to rotate with the throttle and overall a much more balance car.

If you don't track, just get the 265 for safety reason. It does fit the front wheels better.

The 265/285 f/r setup is excellent for tracking the car on road courses. I do not understeer on road courses. It's also an improvement over the stock sizes for autoX. As cossie has said, 285 square may be best for autocross for minimizing understeer, but I wouldn't recommend it on a daily driver. Also, you could have 400 width tires in the front and you'll still understeer if you don't slow enough for a turn. Driving technique is a key player here.

It's an improvement on and off the track. The only reason why I would stick with the 265 is because 265 is a safer fit than the 285 on the 9" rim. It is also quieter and provides better rain traction. For drivers who are not as experienced, it would also be a safer drive too.

285 all around is better than the 265/285, track or autox, car is a lot more neutral and it turns in so much nicer. The plow is only going to get worse as the front tires wear out.

I assume all of your comments on 265 up front still apply if the wheels are 9.5 inches??

If the wheel was 9.5, I would feel a lot better doing it since the tire wouldn't be pinched like the way they would on a 9". Other than that, it really is for safety and maybe road noise. I am not joking when I say this. It was easier for me to get my Prius sideways last year than the Z. With the new tires, the car drives more like a Miata than a Corvette. For those who owned a C6, you will know they tend to plow unless you force the issue with the gas pedal. THat's what the car felt like last year.

Not sure if they help, but I just took these pictures

http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/4559/dscf2310.th.jpg

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/3...cf2309s.th.jpg

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/5...f2308ve.th.jpg

for sale!!

http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/4...c4865gb.th.jpg

the way my 265 wore and what they look like after about 9000 miles

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/1...00421qo.th.jpg

http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/5...00407zq.th.jpg

what 265 looked like on the front

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/2200/imag0049b.th.jpg

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/6320/dsc2887.th.jpg

Cossie,

I gotta say man your knowledge with the tires based on your exp. is good to go man. From all the information you have displayed you helped me make my decision on 265F/285R RE-11s on my 19" Rays. I do the drag strip once and a while but it's mostly my dd when I am in country. You get some rep. from me bud:tup:

No problem. These tires or any tires in this size cost way too much, I wish there is a revolt and people can just tell them to shove it

cossie1600 is great with this stuff. Ive been talking to him for a while about setting my car up for the track. I have 285/30/18 all around for the track and the 285 up front really wakes up the handling of the car.


Oo cossie1600 btw those tires and rims worked out great. I put them on the car the other day and the tires are actually in ok shape. they handle much better then the stockers the way they are. only thing is they gota little shake to them. think they have to be balanced. Thanks again!

Thx Cossie! I think I will be doing 265 up front and 285 in rear (RE11s). Good stuff!

you feel how the balance has changed right? the car no longer wants to plow constantly with the square setup. i am glad you like the wheels. you might not be able to get rid of the shake completely as they are a little feathered. did u try the juice on the tires or u waiting till the track day?