This weekend, I got rid of my 10 year-old stock tires and had a fresh pair of Michelin PSS installed. I knew Michelin PSS were good tires, as I've had them on three of my previous cars. Wow, what a difference. The new tires are much quieter, smoother and the ride quality is vastly improved. Impact harshness is greatly reduced, but the ride is not squishy. On the contrary, turn is remains very crisp. Highly recommend!! Now I just can't wait for warmer temps this spring so I can get out and really put the tires to the test.

 

Just outta curiosity, what brand/type of tires did you have on the car, before?


Thanks!
.
.
.
.

 

Based on "10 year old stock tires" he had Bridgestone RE-050

 

Yup, that's correct. I'm hesitant to judge the RE-050s as bad tires, however, because they were 10 years old. I'm pretty sure all tires would suck after 10 years.

 

Pics or this never happened

 

I was in the same boat... I went from the RE050 to the PSS and the difference was absolutely night and day. The RE050s were hilariously awful in comparison to the PSS. The new tires transformed the car more dramatically than any other modification I've done since - and that includes my Ohlins suspension.

 

You guys do know that tires aren't supposed to last 7-10 years right...

 

My RE050s were only three years old when I got rid of them. I still maintain they were shit - even at only three years old.

 

deepbluejh, your sig says you're running 18" wheels, were your RE050 tires 18"?

Bridgestone makes at least 3 versions of the RE050, the OEM version that came on the S2000. And they make a runflat "MO" version that came on BMWs etc that most consider to be horrible. And the asymmetrical RE050A is more of a normal sedan tire rather than an extreme performance summer tire.

The 17" 215/245 RE050 were designed and tuned specifically for the S2000, and are still a great tire for the street. They're just expensive and will most likely be discontinued soon, like the RE040 that came on the NSX.

 

No, I got new wheels and went from OEM size RE050 tires on OEM wheels to PSS on 18" Work Meister S1 wheels (now Volk TE-37). The PSS in the 18" size with the shorter profile rode significantly smoother than the 17" RE050. It was really staggering how much of a difference in ride quality there was. Add to the fact that the RE050 really didn't have much grip, and I just can't find any merit in the tire what so ever. The PSS feel like racing slicks in comparison.

If the tires were 8-10 years old I could completely understand the lack of performance, but when I bought my car it was only 3 years old, so even if the tires were original they should have still had useful performance left.