I still have my original RE050 tires on my rear; the fronts died some time ago from track days. The rears certainly are worn, but the wear is even, and they are not worn to the wear bars. It rains a bit in Seattle, and I am just wondering if it might be prudent to change them anyway.

Should one change before the wear bars are reached, to avoid hydroplaning, or is it ok to keep them on. I am happy to change, if that's prudent, but I am not looking to waste money if changing is not particularly indicated.

Thanks.

 

Ah yeah.. thats a good idea. did you see the thread about the s2k with the worn out rears, wet road and the 80mph spinout? it made a believer out of me. replace with O.E.M. tire asap. IMHO drive safe

 

Well, yes, I saw that thread, but the driver of that car was a moron, plain and simple. It wasn't 80mph, more like 100mph, on a wet public road, to bend the car more than 90 degrees around a tree. Moron. And the pictures did not indicate that his tires were anywhere near bald. That was driver lunacy, not equipment failure, and no tires save lunatics.

I do drive safely. I don't drive aggressively on the street, only on the track, and I won't use my street tires on the track any more. I drive more carefully in the rain. My question really is: At what tread depth should tires be replaced for safety when driving legally on public roads? Is it when you reach the wear bar? sooner? If sooner, what depth?

 

Sorry. I meant no offence. How many miles on your old tires? if they are getting close to the wear bars, I would change them just to be safe. but thats justs my veiw. and at your location it does rain alot. If you know a trusted tire shop, take it in and get a professional opinion.

 

[QUOTE=124Spider,Jan 1 2005, 02:06 PM]I do drive safely.

 

My S fishtailed in heavy rain with only 2,000 miles not just on the tires but on the odometer. This was with the S-02's. I don't know about the RE050's, they may be better than the S-02's, then again, they may not be better. If the RE050's are anything like the S-02's, brand new rubber will not perform any better in extreme adverse conditions. If the water is not standing, your tires should be fine worn right down and past the wear bars. Sure, you won't be able to go as fast, but your S will have good balance and it will talk to you. It's not like you will have a considerable amount of lateral load built up, then suddenly break loose to the point of no return. If you watch your speed, the car will talk to you.

My opinion on worn down tires on dry track days is negative. The thinner the rubber gets, the less compression that takes place resulting in less adhesion. In addition, the tire is heat cycled 100 times resulting in the hardening of the rubber. Although the uni-t tires are not supposed to harden like a non uni-t tire will harden, due to a special curing process which allows the sulfer to be released only during curing, most peeps will tell you that their S-02's lose grip when worn down to the wear bars.

 

the B.S. S0-2 is a "max performance" summer tire. and is somewhat scary in the wet, if going too fast. the RE-50 may be a better wet tire, according to tirerack's review.

 

I would lean towards the side of changing tires if you can go either way and have the $$$ to change them. One wrong fishtail and the price of changing the tires would've seemed insignificant.

Try S03's if you are driving in the rain. Such a huge difference over the S02's in the rain.

 

I'm not gonna change tires every 2,000 miles

[QUOTE=mosesbotbol]Try S03's if you are driving in the rain.

 

very good advise I found this out when I was a street bike rider, that if you only have two little patches of rubber between you and eternity, you want the best you can get