Looks like bonuses go out at the end of the week so I'll finally be ordering the wider rubber to mount on the 18x9's that have been sitting in my shop for a year. Of the two tires mentioned in the title, any personal experiences that would sway you?
These will be in 275/40r18 on all four corners on my DD Mustang. It will see at least one trackday in the spring and maybe some autocross, but my drive to work is short so I generally replace tires because they've gotten hard before I actually wear them out.
I'm leaning toward the Bridgestones because Tire Rack testing says they were slightly less aggressive on turn in and slightly better on noise and highway manners while having slightly faster lap times. The Stang is already a little twitchy on the interstate so moving up from 255 to 275 won't help. I am planning on lowering it 1" and getting a good alignment as well, so that should minimize issues too.
I've been running the Comp Sport2 on my E36 M3 and have been very pleased. They hold their own on track, or autocross, but they are really a street tire---not a track tire. After 20 or so laps at Road America I did notice some chunking.
They might be the best tires I've ever driven in the rain---- and we get lots of rain in FL! I've also found them quiet on the street, with good grip, and with nice gradual breakaway characteristics.
If you are mostly on the street, I'd recommend them. If you are pounding the car a bunch on track--- I'd get a dedicated set of race tires.
In reply to ultraclyde:
Can't comment on the 'Stones, but I've had the BFGs now on 2 different vehicles, my E36 in the past in size 225/45r16 at all four corners and currently on the front of my Camaro in size 275/40r17 (they don't make them in a 295/35r18 for the rear.)
I like the way they handle, crispest turn in of any tire I've personally driven and pretty easy to drive at the limit. They are however quite noisy and have a tendency to tramline quite a bit. The Camaro is lowered on Strano springs (claimed drop is 1.25" I think) with Konis and is set up with zero toe-in on the front and requires a pretty firm grip on the wheel over certain surfaces to keep it pointed where you want. The Bimmer was on stock suspension with stock alignment and wasn't much better, despite way skinnier tires and having more caster, IIRC. That being said, its something you get used to and don't think much about after a few days.
I think I got about 25-30k miles out of the set on the BMW, but that's really a guesstimate more than anything at this point. The pair on the Camaro came already mounted on the set of wheels I bought and were cupped pretty badly on the inside shoulder when I bought them this spring, so not a good indicator of wear life. After yesterday's auto x they're now showing cord in a few spots on the inside shoulders(I know, not good)and will be coming off tonight for my crappy winter storage wheels. Not sure yet what I'm going to replace them with, might go to something more hardcore if the budget allows next spring (Nitto NT05?), otherwise I've heard good things about the Conti ExtremeContact DW and might give those a shot.
Aspen
Reader
10/26/15 10:27 a.m.
I have the 760s on my MINI. I like them a lot, buy have not tracked with them. They are quiet on the highway, have good grip and no squealing or aggressive cornering. No complaints really and would buy them again.
Furious_E wrote:
In reply to ultraclyde:
... have a tendency to tramline quite a bit. ... is set up with zero toe-in on the front and requires a pretty firm grip on the wheel over certain surfaces to keep it pointed where you want. The Bimmer was on stock suspension with stock alignment and wasn't much better, despite way skinnier tires and having more caster, IIRC.
See, that's what I'm trying to avoid. The Stang already tramlines and requires constant attention on the highway. I know part of it is the fact I probably need an alignment, but the cars are notorious for tramlining on wide tires anyway. I find it very fatiguing on long drives. I don't spend much time on the track (none at all on the current set of tires, actually) so I'm thinking I'd be happy trading that slight bit of extra crispness for a slightly easier-to-live-with demeanor.
I've had the Comp2s on a MINI R53 and they were great tires on that coupe, but they were sharp.
Another vote for the BFGs. I'm running them on my MS3, they're a massive improvement over the Bridgestones I had on there before. I haven't tracked them but they handle well and are quiet enough for daily driving.
Joe Gearin
Associate Publisher
10/26/15 11:06 a.m.
With my E36 I haven't noticed any problems with tramlining. (with the BFGs) It goes down the road straight as an arrow. Not sure how they would perform on a Mustang though-- especially with more aggressive alignment settings.
The0retical wrote:
Another vote for the BFGs. I'm running them on my MS3, they're a massive improvement over the Bridgestones I had on there before. I haven't tracked them but they handle well and are quiet enough for daily driving.
Which Bridgestones did you have?
Snrub
Reader
10/26/15 2:09 p.m.
Serious question - In today's marketplace, what is the point of UHP tires when Max performance tires exist? They seem to offer lower performance with little to no price and longevity benefit?
I have the B-Stone 760's on my G35 coupe (245-45-18). They were on it when I bought it. I need new ones now for next spring. Very quiet and smooth, decent grip, more than enough for a fun street tire and they seem to have fairly good wear although having not got them new I'm not really sure. Not a real autocross or track tire I wouldn't think but I'm definitely ordering a new set. I don't contend with significant rainfall so I can't comment there.
I have no experience with the BFG's in question.
I've got the BFGs on two cars right now, and I've been quite pleased with them. FWIW, Skip Barber uses them on their school Formula cars (at least at Lime Rock); I found them fine on the track in that application, though truth be told there was too much going on for me to make a careful evaluation.
In reply to ultraclyde:
I believe that they were S-04s. Keep in mind that this probably isn't an apples to apples comparison as I only had them for about 5k miles as they were mostly worn out from the previous owner. The BFGs had consistently good reviews so I ended up going that route since I run them year round, but I only put maybe 6k to 8k a year on them.
I have the RE760s on my WRX and have nothing bad to say about them after almost a year. No noticeable tread wear so far (300+hp, AWD, and I have a heavy foot and like corners), they're silent, great in rain, great in dry, no tread squirm even though they have deep treads, track straight/no tramlining. And fairly inexpensive.
I haven't used the BFGs, but next time I need tires I'll get 760s again.
Vigo
PowerDork
10/26/15 7:34 p.m.
I have some Sport Comp 2s on my miata, they seem good.
This may not be a popular opinion but if enough people told me the 760s were comparable to Sport Comp 2s, i would buy them over the BFG's just because of the more attractive tread design.
Im actually considering putting a staggered set of 760s on my Lexus GS.