markjohnsonii

So my back stock Bridgestone Potenza RE050a 265/35-19 just went flat!!!

I need to replace it ASAP with a good tire. I have done about 7 hours worth of research and have not gotten very far. I have found peoples opinion, but no real tire tests that help. Most of the tire tests I've found, are either 1. more expensive than the RE050a's (over $300 a piece) or they don't make the right size for my tire.

I have had my RE050a's for 33k miles and they still have tread on them... How are people only getting like 20k outta them????


Questions:

1. What sizes are smart to put on my car, besides the stock 265/35-19? I have read that also 275/35-19's are a good choice for getting more tire selections. Is this true?

2. Is there anyone who has compared the RE050a's to another tire which is in the same price range or cheaper? ($300 or under per tire).


Here are my concerns:

One of the features I LOVE about the RE050a's is the hard side wall... IT GOT ME HOME FROM THE GYM ON FLAT HAHA!!!! I love that!

I do want to stay way from tires with soft side walls and body roll, but would like a more comfortable ride.

I do want to find a tire that is less expensive than the RE050a's

I want a tire with a wear life longer than 30k miles.

I have seen the Hankook Ventus v12 K110 and they seem awesome. Any comparisons?


2 Hankook Ventus V12 K110 275/35-19 from Sears installed with Road Hazard is only $570.87

2 Bridgestone Potenza R050a's from Firestone installed: $704.91 including a free alignment

Please take the time to help me if you can, I really appreciate it!

davidv

iTrader: (2)

Best that I can find is Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric: $568/2.

SilverFox006

iTrader: (3)

I'm actually going through the same process with my 06 z. The tread on my Potenza RE050's is getting pretty low, but they have 38K on them so no complaints here.

Based on all the reviews I've read, I'm leaning towards the Hankook Ventus V12. There was a recent article posted somewhere on the forums that provided a comparison of several tires and the Hankooks were right up there in almost every category. They seem to be a drivers tire. Match this with their price which is very decent, and I've made up my mind that this will be next tire when I pull the trigger sometime this summer.

markjohnsonii

Well, I just ordered the Hankook Ventus V12 Evo K110, 275/35-19 from Tirerack.com for $206 a piece, plus $30 shipped for a total order for (2) tires: $442 shipped 2-day. Sears was $478 JUST to purchase them and include a disposal fee they "can't remove". Sears wanted $30 per tire to put them on.

I will let everyone know how they compare to the Bridgestone Potenza RE050a's.

I am purchasing front Hankooks next week. I will put them on also.

dhays

iTrader: (10)

If you have 33k miles on the tires, I would strongly suggest that you replace all four rather than just the rear.

I'd do either:
Hankook Ventus V12 evo K110 255/40-18, 275/35-19
Hankook Ventus V12 evo K110 265/35-18, 295/30-19

I run the second size on mine in a different tire for AutoX

If you decide to replace just the rear, go with:
Hankook Ventus V12 evo K110 in 275/35-19. The problem here is that the stagger with your stock front is 3.4%, which is a bit much.

I've not driven on the Hankook but I've talked to folks that have and I think it is a great option for an economical summer performance tire.

Dave

markjohnsonii

I put the Hankook Ventus V12 evo K110 in 275/35-19 on my rear. I got a deal from Discount Tire for $25/tire to have them mounted/balanced. $54.00 out the door. I had to babysit them to make sure they did it right but they had the machine needed to balance that kind of tire right. It balances axially and radially. Tire Kingdom, Firestone, none of them even knew what that meant lol.

The comparison between my bridgestone potenza re050a 265/35/19 vs Hankook Ventus V12 evo K110 in 275/35-19:

Hankook has more grip on the road and runs smoother, quieter, and absorbs bumps better.

Bridgestone has WAY more stability, VDC is "tuned" for this type of stability so it has problems understanding what the car is doing with the softer tires.

Overall: For the price, it really isn't fair to compare these tires. With the Bridgestones, I used to be able to switch lanes or take 30 mph corners at 60 extremely easy and confidently. There was almost no body roll and the vehicle felt very planted. With the Hankooks, the body rolls significantly, and when changing lanes, i feel the rear of the car lag behind and have to catch up. From a stop, I have much better grip and thus my 0-60 has improved by over 1/2 sec (I am certainly no pro driver).

Good: longer wear, better traction, more comfortable ride, lighter tires. WAY cheaper.
Bad: Reduced Stability, increased body roll, VDC may not like it. Feels "loose" on the road, although it probably in reality it is just as safely secured to the road as with the Bridgestones.

Let me know your thoughts! I intend to purchase the front tires as well. I am still trying to decide on the size.

stradaONE8

iTrader: (2)

I have been running the v12s for some time now, ~4-5k, (255/35-19 on 19x9.5 and 275/35-19 on 19x10.5). They are a SOLID daily driver tire...good grip, relatively quiet, good in the rain and CHEAP.

But I WOULD NOT recommend these for any sort of aggressive tracking on a regular basis. Feedback is limited, sidewalls are mushy for my liking, turn-in response isn't the best, and I wonder how they would take heat cycles on track before they fell apart.

If you have a daily driver and want some added grip compared to all-seasons...this is a great compromise for a great price. If you want some serious driving tires...I would look elsewhere unless your budget dictates otherwise.