Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Wheels & Tires Potenzas?

I have them on my E1, and wanted to know everone elses opinions on them?
experiences? pros/cons?
Thanks
Ray

Which Potenzas?

John

Hi Ray,
-I have had Bridgestone Potenza RE730 tires on my 1998 SVT Contour for well under 20,000 miles. I will replace these RE730s with KDWS this week. With every mile wet performance diminishes and noise increases. Terrible in slush, bad in snow.
-I may be in a minority about the original SVT tires, GSC. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the original Gsc tires more than the Re730s. The GSC tires functioned with consistency as it aged: drove fairly well in the winter, gave many miles, good on dry roads and OK on wet turns. The GSCs, in comparison to the RE730s, were only weaker on wet roads during initial strong straight line acceleration. The GSC's were more predictable in performance and allowed my "little lady" (ah, yes she is 4'11")to drive with more confidence.
-Happy and safe driving. It is hard to find tires that allow both...Regards, RJ

Pretty much every tire will lose wet performance ability as they wear. I remember my stock GS-C's were pretty scary in rain when they were getting old. I would have bought another set, but they weren't made in 205/55R16 by that time. I got about 30k out of them.

That said, I like my RE730s enough to buy them again to replace my worn ones. Best bang for the buck as far as I can tell. I'm getting much worse life on them, but that isn't the tire's fault in this case.

Hey... Yeah.. I have the 205/55/ZR16's.. RE730's..

I like them.. but I was wondering if it was just me, or if the performance was wearing out rather quickly... I have had well UNDER 15K on them, and they aren't holding up well... (Of course that isn't entirely because of the tire, but, still...)

As long as there are no Firestone-type recalls on them, they are okay.. I like the performance they have when new... but mine are NOISY, like you said, now that they have a little age on them.

I think I will wrap some KDWS, too.. I had been considering those, anyway... Let me know if they are doing okay, for you... please email me
srh@texas.net, okay? Thanks..

Thank you, PA... I agree.. the stock GSC's were a good tire.. I think I agree with you.. BTW: My "little lady" is 4'11, too.. lol... I can certainly understand the predicability being a big factor... although she doesn't drive the SVT (no, I don't keep her from it... she is afraid of it..lol)

Thanks, guys..

Ray

I don't know how you can beat the wet handling of the Firestone SZ 50 EP, even down near end of tread life. Great cornering ability in wet and dry. If you can use a dedicated summer (read no snow) year round, this is it! Got about 18k miles on them and soon to order another set.

Re730's are junk. They were noisy, gripped like chalk, and wore out prematurely. Mine cupped as well. I was so mad that I just burned them off even quicker so I could justify getting new ones. Talk about unpredictable? These things broke loose and scared me, not controlled at all.

I purchased S03's after. I put 13k HARD miles on them in the summer hear of South Florida before I sold the car and they still had tread left! Grip was incredible, almost TOO grippy! Unbeleivable in the wet, also quiet and comfortable(relatively speaking). These tires actually got BETTER with age. Highly recommended

Ray and others:
Before I had a chance to act on intention to replace the Bridgestones, I had a blow out with the a RE730 tire when the tread quickly wore to the metal due to a damaged/bent trailing arm and more in the rear suspension!!! This all happened shockingly fast and I am not sure how or when.
After repair, I replaced the Re730s (previously had GSC that I liked) with a set of Dunlap SP 5000 tires when the KDWS were back ordered for 6 to 7 weeks! I just returned from a 350 drive with the new Dunlaps that were quiet, fine in heavy rain and easy to drive/live with in real world situations. At first drive, the Dunlaps only seem slightly less responsive on the most aggressive turns, not too bad, however. Lets see what happens after a few thousand miles.
PS. I drove with the CD off and enjoyed the quiet!
RJ
1998 SVT Black, too stock.

I have to jump in, just got my 215/45/17's potenza SO3 pole position. Oh my these tires are amazing. I had dunlop sp5000's (Do not buy them) and the way the potenza's handle in the wet is like what the dunlops handled in the dry. The comparison is absolutely pathetic.

There is a good difference between the different potenza models, the SO3's are rated the best, and my expirience only backs that up. They are very quiet, and have excellent traction, both wet and dry. I will never buy a different tire again!

James (Very happy)

I agree...I really like my S-03's.