RE11A vs Pilot Super Sport vs. Rival
08-09-2013 | 05:30 PM
#22
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,319
Likes: 1
From: Pleasanton / Chico
We are talking small differences between the two. 215/245 if you value a little quicker turn in and slightly better feel/sharper response. 225/255 if you value slightly more ultimate grip and a tiny bit better braking ability. FWIW my favorite setup to date is 245/40 RE-11 on a 17x9 because of the feel.
08-09-2013 | 08:04 PM
#24
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,319
Likes: 1
From: Pleasanton / Chico
. Yes, you could run non staggered on stock suspension with stock sways (I used to do it). It is not "optimal" but it works even though most people on this forum will tell you that you will need a huge front sway bar or else you will spin uncontrollably and explode haha. Depending on offset you can do it on stock fenders (17x9 +60-63). However, my point was that a wider tire for a given wheel width isn't always better and that maximum outright grip is just one piece of the puzzle to driving fast.
08-09-2013 | 10:18 PM
#25
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 5,650
Likes: 100
From: Mt. ________
Yeah definitely agree that 215/245 is probably optimal on the OEM wheels. But the differences between 215/245 is minor in both directions if that makes sense. The feel with 215/245 is definitely better, but not drastically so. And the overall grip with 225/255 is definitely better, but again not drastically different. For many people the improvement in feel might actually make them quicker than the setup that has more theoretical grip. If I only drover lower speed roads and auto-x I would probably stick to 215/245 on the OEM wheels. But I love the high speed stuff and diving in hard under braking, so the 225/255 setup suits me better. I plan on moving to a staggered wheel setup in the future with the standard 17x7.5F 17x9 rear with 225/255 to regain that little bit of feel that is lost. That said, the car still feels excellent with 225/255. The other nice benefit of the 215/245 setup is the slightly lower cost as well I suppose.
Can't go wrong with either though! But my preference would defintiely be 215/245 for the slower twisty stuff where the car needs to change direction very quickly, and 225/255 for the higher speed stuff where that extra bit of grip makes those flat out corners even more fun.
Can't go wrong with either though! But my preference would defintiely be 215/245 for the slower twisty stuff where the car needs to change direction very quickly, and 225/255 for the higher speed stuff where that extra bit of grip makes those flat out corners even more fun.
08-09-2013 | 10:20 PM
#26
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 5,650
Likes: 100
From: Mt. ________
Originally Posted by s2ka' timestamp='1376063839' post='22715510
[quote name='psychoazn' timestamp='1376062494' post='22715476']
The RE11A will be superior to the PSS in EVERY performance metric, except hydroplaning resistance.
The RE11A will be superior to the PSS in EVERY performance metric, except hydroplaning resistance.
[/quote]
Having put 6000+ miles on my RE-11A I can definitely confirm they last just as long as the RE-11.
What many people seem to forget about UTGQ ratings is that they are bast on a very standard boring testing procedure that doesn't involve any form of aggressive driving.
08-14-2013 | 09:58 AM
#27
Community Organizer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 10,590
Likes: 77
From: The 604
I've had the RE050, PSS, and RE11. I haven't tried the RE11A but it seems to me the biggest change was a huge reduction in price, so I'd be surprised if there was a significant improvement considering the tread pattern is virtually identical and it's just a revision version of the RE11. I currently have two sets of identical 17x7.5 +50 and 17x9 +63 CE28 wheels, one with RE050, one with RE11. I had a set of PSS on the exact same wheels. All tires in OEM sizes, 215/245.
Anyway, here's my take on them.
The RE11 has more grip but it's not a huge leap for street driving. In the old days you could go from a Goodyear Eagle to a Yokohoma A008R and be blown away by how much more grip you got from sticky tires. Now, it's more about the trade-offs because the performance gain is miniscule for the street. The downside to the RE11 is that they're not very good until they warm up, the fronts are wide so they rub a little on my 1" lowered car. The sidewalls feel pretty stiff but not harsh. The steering response feels a little slow and muted, even though the grip is high. Life of the rears should be around 10k miles for street driving. It's a good looking tire, if that matters.
The PSS were not very impressive to me. It's an ok tire that's probably better suited for a BMW sedan. On and S it kind of skates around like a Falken RT-615. The rears look a little too narrow for the spec size, for the stock wheels it should be fine, I'm on 17x9. The ride is decent, the grip is decent. The warranty says 30k miles, but that's just for non-staggered sizes, for the OEM S2000 sizes you don't get a mileage warranty. They just didn't do much for me, and I'm a big Michelin fan.
And now the RE050. Honda and Bridgestone designed these just for the S2000. The rears are wide, the fronts are narrow. Good rear grip, crisp steering response, no fender rubbing. They work good as soon as you fire up the car, no warm up needed. In the corners they break away with consistency so you know what the car is going to do at all times. They're overpriced and not extreme performance, so people bag on them. But after trying almost a dozen different tires on my S I still think they're the best all around street tire if you exclude price, which isn't a big factor for me. I just want the best feeling tire for the car, and that's the RE050 for me.
Anyway, here's my take on them.
The RE11 has more grip but it's not a huge leap for street driving. In the old days you could go from a Goodyear Eagle to a Yokohoma A008R and be blown away by how much more grip you got from sticky tires. Now, it's more about the trade-offs because the performance gain is miniscule for the street. The downside to the RE11 is that they're not very good until they warm up, the fronts are wide so they rub a little on my 1" lowered car. The sidewalls feel pretty stiff but not harsh. The steering response feels a little slow and muted, even though the grip is high. Life of the rears should be around 10k miles for street driving. It's a good looking tire, if that matters.
The PSS were not very impressive to me. It's an ok tire that's probably better suited for a BMW sedan. On and S it kind of skates around like a Falken RT-615. The rears look a little too narrow for the spec size, for the stock wheels it should be fine, I'm on 17x9. The ride is decent, the grip is decent. The warranty says 30k miles, but that's just for non-staggered sizes, for the OEM S2000 sizes you don't get a mileage warranty. They just didn't do much for me, and I'm a big Michelin fan.
And now the RE050. Honda and Bridgestone designed these just for the S2000. The rears are wide, the fronts are narrow. Good rear grip, crisp steering response, no fender rubbing. They work good as soon as you fire up the car, no warm up needed. In the corners they break away with consistency so you know what the car is going to do at all times. They're overpriced and not extreme performance, so people bag on them. But after trying almost a dozen different tires on my S I still think they're the best all around street tire if you exclude price, which isn't a big factor for me. I just want the best feeling tire for the car, and that's the RE050 for me.
To the op, I haven't driven the PSS before, but based on my experience with the RE11a's I don't think you would be disappointed with these. Also, go for the 225/255 combo if you like to corner hard!
08-16-2013 | 11:10 AM
#28
Former Sponsor
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,319
Likes: 7
From: South Bend
Here is a link to the Extreme Performance tire test that we did here. While the Super Sport is the best Max Performance tire we tested the RE-11A and the other Extreme Performance tires are going to be better at the limits. The Extreme tires are not going to have as good a ride or wet traction as the Super Sport.
If I can help with the tires let me know.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...&affiliate=GH9
If I can help with the tires let me know.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...&affiliate=GH9
08-16-2013 | 11:25 AM
#29
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,953
Likes: 51
Originally Posted by s2ka' timestamp='1376061365' post='22715442
I've had the RE050, PSS, and RE11. I haven't tried the RE11A but it seems to me the biggest change was a huge reduction in price, so I'd be surprised if there was a significant improvement considering the tread pattern is virtually identical and it's just a revision version of the RE11. I currently have two sets of identical 17x7.5 +50 and 17x9 +63 CE28 wheels, one with RE050, one with RE11. I had a set of PSS on the exact same wheels. All tires in OEM sizes, 215/245.
Anyway, here's my take on them.
The RE11 has more grip but it's not a huge leap for street driving. In the old days you could go from a Goodyear Eagle to a Yokohoma A008R and be blown away by how much more grip you got from sticky tires. Now, it's more about the trade-offs because the performance gain is miniscule for the street. The downside to the RE11 is that they're not very good until they warm up, the fronts are wide so they rub a little on my 1" lowered car. The sidewalls feel pretty stiff but not harsh. The steering response feels a little slow and muted, even though the grip is high. Life of the rears should be around 10k miles for street driving. It's a good looking tire, if that matters.
The PSS were not very impressive to me. It's an ok tire that's probably better suited for a BMW sedan. On and S it kind of skates around like a Falken RT-615. The rears look a little too narrow for the spec size, for the stock wheels it should be fine, I'm on 17x9. The ride is decent, the grip is decent. The warranty says 30k miles, but that's just for non-staggered sizes, for the OEM S2000 sizes you don't get a mileage warranty. They just didn't do much for me, and I'm a big Michelin fan.
And now the RE050. Honda and Bridgestone designed these just for the S2000. The rears are wide, the fronts are narrow. Good rear grip, crisp steering response, no fender rubbing. They work good as soon as you fire up the car, no warm up needed. In the corners they break away with consistency so you know what the car is going to do at all times. They're overpriced and not extreme performance, so people bag on them. But after trying almost a dozen different tires on my S I still think they're the best all around street tire if you exclude price, which isn't a big factor for me. I just want the best feeling tire for the car, and that's the RE050 for me.
Anyway, here's my take on them.
The RE11 has more grip but it's not a huge leap for street driving. In the old days you could go from a Goodyear Eagle to a Yokohoma A008R and be blown away by how much more grip you got from sticky tires. Now, it's more about the trade-offs because the performance gain is miniscule for the street. The downside to the RE11 is that they're not very good until they warm up, the fronts are wide so they rub a little on my 1" lowered car. The sidewalls feel pretty stiff but not harsh. The steering response feels a little slow and muted, even though the grip is high. Life of the rears should be around 10k miles for street driving. It's a good looking tire, if that matters.
The PSS were not very impressive to me. It's an ok tire that's probably better suited for a BMW sedan. On and S it kind of skates around like a Falken RT-615. The rears look a little too narrow for the spec size, for the stock wheels it should be fine, I'm on 17x9. The ride is decent, the grip is decent. The warranty says 30k miles, but that's just for non-staggered sizes, for the OEM S2000 sizes you don't get a mileage warranty. They just didn't do much for me, and I'm a big Michelin fan.
And now the RE050. Honda and Bridgestone designed these just for the S2000. The rears are wide, the fronts are narrow. Good rear grip, crisp steering response, no fender rubbing. They work good as soon as you fire up the car, no warm up needed. In the corners they break away with consistency so you know what the car is going to do at all times. They're overpriced and not extreme performance, so people bag on them. But after trying almost a dozen different tires on my S I still think they're the best all around street tire if you exclude price, which isn't a big factor for me. I just want the best feeling tire for the car, and that's the RE050 for me.
To the op, I haven't driven the PSS before, but based on my experience with the RE11a's I don't think you would be disappointed with these. Also, go for the 225/255 combo if you like to corner hard!
Here is a link to the Extreme Performance tire test that we did here. While the Super Sport is the best Max Performance tire we tested the RE-11A and the other Extreme Performance tires are going to be better at the limits. The Extreme tires are not going to have as good a ride or wet traction as the Super Sport.
If I can help with the tires let me know.
http://www.tirerack....2&affiliate=GH9
If I can help with the tires let me know.
http://www.tirerack....2&affiliate=GH9
08-16-2013 | 11:49 AM
#30
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,224
Likes: 4
From: Orange County, CA
225/255 gives more tire width and still is within the rim width spec for the tire.
The vote seems to unanimously be RE-11A. That should tell you something.