Crazy_Schizo

Well, after 23k miles on the odometer, I think it is about time to replace the tires on my car. I think the RE050s that came with the car have held up pretty well, and I've been rather satisfied with the performance and road noise from them.

The general consensus around these boards from what I've read are that the RE050s are a fine tire, but the RE-01R is even better from a performance standpoint. I did some quick checking on tire rack, and the pricing between the two is very comparable to the point where price is not a factor for me between the two. Also, if I understand the treadwear rating correctly too, the RE-01Rs will last a bit longer than the RE050s as well.

For those of you that have run both, I'd really like to know how the two differed. It pretty much is down to these two tires for me I think. I'm a bit wary of moving away from the OE tires, since when I did that on my Subaru a year back, I wound up with tires that were greatly inferior to the OE tires. However, if the RE-01s are a decent step up from the RE050s, I would likely pull the trigger on them.

I plan on staying with stock sizing on my 2005. 17" all around, 215s up front, and 245s in the rear.

Filthy Beast

I dont have any yet, but they are at the top on my short list. And yes, if you look at the spec's on TR they are a much better tire.

ZDan

RE050A Pole Positions are also rated much higher than OEM RE050 tires, and should give better wet performance than the RE01R's.

Jim@tirerack

ZDan is correct. The Pole Position is a better all around tire while the RE-01R is going to be the best that I have tested in the dry. The RE-01R is like a track tire for the street.
If I can help let me know.

LEE72

I just went from the stock RE050s to the RE-01Rs for my '06. I got them in 215s and 245s. I have only put a few hundred miles on them so far, so that's the extent of my perspective, but i am loving them.

In the mountains, the RE-01Rs definitely grip more, and I find the turn-in and breakaway characteristics to be superior to the RE050s. One thing that surprised me was that the ride of the RE-01Rs is surprisingly compliant and there isn't much tire noise either. Also I am finding the combination of 215s and 245s to work very well on an otherwise stock '06. Corner-entry and mid-corner understeer is reduced to the point that the car seems very neutral now. I slid the car around a couple of corners ever so slightly (entered the corner a little hot), and all four corners broke away evenly, as the tires squealed. I didn't get any understeer or oversteer, and the stability control didn't kick in.

Crazy_Schizo

Just one last question for you guys:

I noticed the treadwear rating for the RE050 is 140, and the treadwear rating for the RE-01 is 180. Does this mean the RE050 will wear faster (all other things being equal) than the RE-01?

Thanks for all the feedback so far, you've been very helpful!

Jim@tirerack

The tread life is going to be very similar on the two tires. The RE050A Pole Position will last longer. The RE050A Pole Position tread wear is going from a 180 to a 280 tread wear rating. They are not changing the tires rubber compound at all but they have found that they do last longer.
If I can help let me know.

revmatch

RE01Rs are awesome. 050's are ok, (better than ok for an OEM tire too which is nice). i say go RE01R as i have them on my car now (i barely did any driving on the worn 050's i had at first, but could still notice a difference).

else maybe u can consider the new 070 tire off the s2k CR?? they are the next gen up from the 050.

or look into Toyo R1R maybe?
or Advan Neova AD07?
both also great rubber!

SC-SUZUKA

Love my reo1r's.

ZDan

To reiterate (it seems like the point might have been missed):

The OEM "RE050" and the "RE050A Pole Position" are different tires, with VERY different performance reviews http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresult...lay.jsp?type=MP.

RE050


RE050A Pole Position

There's *also* an "RE050A", and an "RE050A Scuderia", and RFT versions of all the above (exc. Scuderia)!