225/45R17 Pontenza RE050A $95
10-02-2006, 12:45 AM
#1
225/45R17 Pontenza RE050A $95
Just a heads up for people looking for some new tires. Tirerack is having a closeout sale on RE050A. http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....e1=yes&place=9
10-02-2006, 11:20 AM
#6
on the wrx I've run these tires:
re92, dunlop 5000 asym, pirelli pzero nero and now re050a
note: 5000 and pzero nero are m+s and both were in 205/55 and all three are on 6.5 stock size wheels.
I've only had the re050a for a few months so no wet condition to compare yet. the pzero's were amazing the wet.
after playing around with tire pressure on the re050a, I finally improved the turn in response due to the increase size (225/50 vs 205/55)
I'm not going to compare to the 5000 asym b/c they were just OK and pzero were so much better.
the re050a is better than the pzero in dry grip, road noise and comfort (though this is a bit hard to judge due to suspension changes and tire wear). I can take the same turns that I took before faster and they still feel like they have much more before squealing/breaking loose compared to the pzero.
don't let the treadwear rating scare you. look at the rating for the re92 and those last forever. I'm expecting to get 20-25k from the re050a which to me is fine.
re92, dunlop 5000 asym, pirelli pzero nero and now re050a
note: 5000 and pzero nero are m+s and both were in 205/55 and all three are on 6.5 stock size wheels.
I've only had the re050a for a few months so no wet condition to compare yet. the pzero's were amazing the wet.
after playing around with tire pressure on the re050a, I finally improved the turn in response due to the increase size (225/50 vs 205/55)
I'm not going to compare to the 5000 asym b/c they were just OK and pzero were so much better.
the re050a is better than the pzero in dry grip, road noise and comfort (though this is a bit hard to judge due to suspension changes and tire wear). I can take the same turns that I took before faster and they still feel like they have much more before squealing/breaking loose compared to the pzero.
don't let the treadwear rating scare you. look at the rating for the re92 and those last forever. I'm expecting to get 20-25k from the re050a which to me is fine.
10-02-2006, 11:22 AM
#7
I think part of the reason why these weren't very popular is b/c the original retail price. very pricey and at that price point there are a few other tires that offer better performance.
10-02-2006, 11:30 AM
#8
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Posts: 22,776
Car Info: '13 BRZ Limited / '02 WRX
I have them and like them 
I cant offer a very technical review but they seem to be gripping well. I know none of you know the road I live on, but its a very rough and twisty road and with these tires I can set CC for 45 mph and not take it off till I reach my driveway, an I get no tire squeel. Subie OCD ran these tires at a rally-x and did pretty well too. Although, from what I've heard, they wont hold up well at auto-x or on a track.
I cant offer a very technical review but they seem to be gripping well. I know none of you know the road I live on, but its a very rough and twisty road and with these tires I can set CC for 45 mph and not take it off till I reach my driveway, an I get no tire squeel. Subie OCD ran these tires at a rally-x and did pretty well too. Although, from what I've heard, they wont hold up well at auto-x or on a track.
10-03-2006, 12:23 PM
#11
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: bay area, ca
Posts: 1,094
Car Info: 2006 STi 2012 STi
S-03 is still my fave tire...but ive been thinking about trying something different on the suby. my stocks are holding up pretty well but im a lil worried about them in the rain.....so i thought about maybe trying the g009 or the 050pp.
10-03-2006, 02:23 PM
#13
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Tahoe City, CA
Posts: 4,028
Car Info: 2016 FXT
i've spent some time on the RE050 now and can give some comparison feedback. on my wrx i've had, in order:
- RE92 205-55-16
- Yoko ES100 205-55-16
- RE070 225-45-17
- RE040 225-45-17
- T1-S 225-45-17
- Kumho MX 225-50-16
- GRB FK451 225-50-16
- Hankook RS-2 225-50-16
- RE050 225-50-16
the RE050 is definitely a street bias summer tire. as with any Potenza series tire, they come very well constructed and feel like a solid tire while driving on them, something a lot of the economy competition tires (RS-2, MX) leave behind. i highly recommend this tire if you are looking for a summer tire for your commuter, i wouldnt use it at the track or autoX. it is very quiet, has very good dry grip and ride comfort, but suffers from a relativley soft sidewall and deep and small tread blocks which make it a bit squirmy. the sidewall isnt as soft as T1-S, but not as stiff as RS-2, which i just came from.
It's place among the tires i've tried? for dry grip, i would have to say the RE050 is basically a slightly better replacement to the RE040, and just shy of hankook RS-2 and kumho MX in dry grip. these and the T1-S are very similar, although im not sure how the RE050 compares to the T1-R, which i hear is on par with the MX. RE070 still offered the best dry grip, but that's more of a non-R-compound track tire. and RE050 > GRB FK451 easily.
so, for dry grip (most grip to iced over):
- RE070
- Kumho MX
- Hankook RS-2
- Toyo T1-S
- RE050
- RE040
- GRB FK451
- ES100
- RE92
sidewalls (stiffest to softest):
- RE070
- Hankook RS-2
- RE040
- RE050
- GRB FK451
- Kumho MX
- ES100
- Toyo T1-S
- RE92
- RE92 205-55-16
- Yoko ES100 205-55-16
- RE070 225-45-17
- RE040 225-45-17
- T1-S 225-45-17
- Kumho MX 225-50-16
- GRB FK451 225-50-16
- Hankook RS-2 225-50-16
- RE050 225-50-16
the RE050 is definitely a street bias summer tire. as with any Potenza series tire, they come very well constructed and feel like a solid tire while driving on them, something a lot of the economy competition tires (RS-2, MX) leave behind. i highly recommend this tire if you are looking for a summer tire for your commuter, i wouldnt use it at the track or autoX. it is very quiet, has very good dry grip and ride comfort, but suffers from a relativley soft sidewall and deep and small tread blocks which make it a bit squirmy. the sidewall isnt as soft as T1-S, but not as stiff as RS-2, which i just came from.
It's place among the tires i've tried? for dry grip, i would have to say the RE050 is basically a slightly better replacement to the RE040, and just shy of hankook RS-2 and kumho MX in dry grip. these and the T1-S are very similar, although im not sure how the RE050 compares to the T1-R, which i hear is on par with the MX. RE070 still offered the best dry grip, but that's more of a non-R-compound track tire. and RE050 > GRB FK451 easily.
so, for dry grip (most grip to iced over):
- RE070
- Kumho MX
- Hankook RS-2
- Toyo T1-S
- RE050
- RE040
- GRB FK451
- ES100
- RE92
sidewalls (stiffest to softest):
- RE070
- Hankook RS-2
- RE040
- RE050
- GRB FK451
- Kumho MX
- ES100
- Toyo T1-S
- RE92
