CHEERS944

Buying new tires isn't supposed to be this hard!
I've had the car for a year, the tires were almost new when I bought it, and they've been great. Unfortunately, they're great tires that are no longer made (215/60VR15 Bridestone Potenza RE71), and I now need a new set of tires. As I've come to realize, this size/speed rating combo is VERY difficult to find anymore.
What have others done, short of buying bigger wheels, which isn't in the budget?
Can you put a slightly different size tire on the same rim? (slightly wider/shorter profile)
Any thoughts on the Yokohama AVS ES100 and how it would compare to the Bridgestones? These seem to be the only ones I found consistently (at different places w/my specs).
Any other recommendations?

I could really use some advice from all the experience here on Rennlist!

TIA,

Matt H

There are very few V rated 215/60R15 left on the market. The RE71 was a great tire but they have been discontinued for a LONG time. If you are just driving the car to and from the ES100 will be a fine replacement.
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mnypit944

Funny, I remember when they introduced the RE71. I had them on a weekend racer Triumph Spitfire. I was working at a Firestone at the time.

zoltan944

try Hanooks at pepboys (pretty popular tire in UK and Aus, made in Korea) or go to a Goodyear place and check out thier small stuff for that size. It won't be goodyear, or at least say it, but it will be made by goodyear and be a good tire. I had this same problem with older Z cars and miatas. sorry i can't remeber the name of the other goodyears.

Matt H

Of all the brands out there, Goodyear is the only one I wouldnt buy.
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KuHL 951

Man those tires must me old! I had RE-71's on my 95 Miata. I'm getting new tires tomorrow for the 83 in 215-60/15. I have the ES-100's on there now and got less than stellar mileage from them (80% worn @9K miles) but they did handle and look nice. The car is now going to be used more for my son to log many freeway miles so I'm going with the Fuzion HRi. I don't expect them to perform or be as sticky as the Yoko's but I'm going for $/mile on this set. I'll keep the Yoko's on the phone dials and put the Fuzions on the cookie cutters. Hope you find a good tire.

zoltan944

or call BigO and get a tire that falls in their 'lifetime warranty' propgram.

CHEERS944

Yeah, I guess they're pretty old...PO had several sets of wheels/tires for street, autox, DE, etc. & so none of them wore down quickly.
Hankook Ventus HRII H405 is another one I had come up with, but it wasn't a name I was familiar with...like Yokohama. I had looked on Goodyear's website, but didn't find anything V-rated in that size. I'd like to stay w/the V-rating, as I do as many DE's & autoXs as I can afford in a year (which isn't too many, but enough).
Any thoughts on the changing-sizes side of the coin, or is that not something I should even be considering?

Thanks again, guys!


What is BigO??

Matt H

The dont have many/any Big-O's in Florida and you dont want any of their lifetime warranty tires (which is not really true BTW) on your car.

You can change the size, most people go to a 225/50R15, it is much shorter than stock but the selection in the V rating is much better, the price is also much higher.

If money is not an issue, ditch the 15" wheels
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devious944

im running falkens 205/55-15 front. and 225/50-15 rear

i wish they were a bit wider in the rear.

zoltan944

to further mess your handling up than it already is?

devious944

it only handles as good as you drive it.

Matt H

Huh?
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zoltan944

staggering your tires moves your handling balace, unless you compensate on suspensions and sway bar size

devious944

stagger like how? wider or taller?