Yokos vs S-03's

Randy Webb · 04-10-2003, 03:29 PM

Has anyone ever compared the Yokohama ES-100's with Bridgestone's SO-3's? I'm looking for a street tire that's good in the rain.

Harlan Chinn · Harlan Chinn's Garage

I'm running S0-2's now and will be getting S0-3's soon. The SO-2's have been excellent tires for the rains here in the PNW. Bridgestones are a bit more $$ but very much worth it. Just my .02

Steve W · Steve W's Garage

No, but I had Yoko A008Ps, the one that came factory on the '94 3.6 Turbos, and recently replaced the rears with S03s, and notice way more grip with them.

alf · 04-10-2003, 05:18 PM

I do not have experience with Yokos but have the SO3s on my 88. Drove in hard pouring rain for 3 hrs at 80mph (3rd click on wipers) between Seattle and Portland. Handled all but the biggest puddles with ease.

SO3s are sticky on the track as well

alf

old_skul · 04-10-2003, 07:28 PM

I don't have ES100s. I have AVS Sports. They handle any type of rain, light to heavy, with no problems. I've *never* hydroplaned on them. Then again, ES100s may act differently.

04-10-2003, 09:22 PM

I recently put the ES-100's on my '91 C2 and have just 150 miles on them. They just got over being kind of greasy and have started to hold real well. I've been in the rain just once and they seem to have lots of grip. On the other hand, I had old Pirelli P700Z's, so I don't necessarily know great wet grip. Nonetheless, they do have significant dry grip and, considering the cost, they seem great at up to about 120 so far. I'm doing an autocross weekend on May 14/15, so I'll have a better idea of their grip then...

-CKKrause

speeder · speeder's Garage

Randy, Not sure if S03s and ES100s are really a fair comparison, AVS sports would be Yoko's tire that is in SO3's class, (and for a lot less $$ than Bridgestones). Hope that helps.

chuckr · 04-11-2003, 05:21 AM

Denis has a good point... not a fair comparison.I have the ES100's on my 83SC and really love them, but if I had the money I would have went with the SO3's.The Bridgestones have a better "track" record cause they have been out for a while, the ES100's are too new,and for a performance tire you really need some long term usage to tell.

thabaer · thabaer's Garage

The AVS Sport is the right comparison and they have been out longer than the S-03. I've also driven in HEAVY rain (1" standing on the interstate) without a sign of hydroplaning at 65mph, the rain was so heavy I couldn't see if I tried to get up to the 75 speed limit.

They are noisier'an'ell on a concrete highway.

Now that Mark's getting so old

I'm supprised he didn't mention the noise!

KTL · 04-11-2003, 09:07 AM

Maybe someone with more tire knowledge than I can explain some of the price differentials between tires.

Why is it that the ES100's, Kumho 712's, Toyo SZ-1, etc. are much cheaper than S-03's, Michelin, Pirelli........???

I know rubber compound has a hand in the equation, but what other factors involved in construction of a tire cause the costs to increase?

Randy Webb · 04-11-2003, 09:21 AM

I'm not sure the AVS Sports will fit my '73 in the rear.

BTW, how noisy are the Bridgestone's??

KTL · 04-11-2003, 09:45 AM

The SO-3's are the cat's meow. I've never heard anyone complain about them.

The Bridgestone to watch out for as far as noise is the first generation RE 730. I have seen many complaints about how noisy they sound. I believe the Gen. 2 RE 730 has addressed the noise issue?

Rot 911 · 04-11-2003, 09:56 AM

Just put some SO-3's on my '86 Carrera. Quietest and stickiest road tires I have had yet. And the guy that mounted them said he was amazed at how little weight it took to balance all 4 of them.

PeteBrown · 04-11-2003, 10:02 AM

Anyone have experience with 225/45s and 245/45s SO3s on 7&9 16s. I despirately need nwe tires for the DE season and already have a little rub on the drivers side front with 205/55s when I correct for oversteer. I expect 225/50s to rub more and am thinking 225/45s may be the ticket.

Pete Brown
'87 Coupe

9XI · 9XI's Garage

I am just today getting S-03s installed on the RSA to replace my AVS Sports (one of the treads separated -- good thing no blowout occurred). I'll let you know in a week or two what my impressions are.

I must say that I am not impressed with the dry grip of the AVS Sports so far. I am looking forward to seeing if the S-03s are any better. It may just be that I am still getting used to a car that weighs 800 lbs more than the early S. It could also be that the AVS Sports are getting old and stiff. I understand that the previous owner didn't drive the car very much in 2001 and 2002.

chuckr · 04-11-2003, 11:09 AM

I had the Bridgestone RE730's on before I went to the ES100's.
I read about noise issues on the 730's, I went through two sets of the origional 730's and had no issue with noise. I liked the tire and had no complaints, I went with the ES100's just to try them out, hey... for the price, if they do better than the 730's ( which, they do !) I got a good deal, if not.... I go through two sets a year anyway and I would have gone back to the new 730's or I did consider the new Goodyear F-1.
I'm glad I went with the ES100's.

9XI · 9XI's Garage

As noted above, I just switched to S-03 Pole Positions from the Yokohama AVS Sports. Very notable improvement!

The Yoks were too soft. You could really feel the rear tires roll on corners and it made control more difficult. Just one more variable to calculate into your approach to the turn. The S-03s are exactly the responsiveness I wanted and the car is now much easier to control and drive fast on the twisties. A lot less tramlining too.

Sizes are right out of the 964 owners manual for 18s. Front -- 225/40/18. Rear -- 265/35/18.

For reference purposes, the Yoks still had a lot of tread but I decided to replace them all because one of the treads separated badly on the front. I am lucky it didn't blow out.

fat tat · 04-25-2003, 05:09 AM

Hi,

I've been following this thread with interest, because the rear Yoko AVSs on my 1989 turbo are due for replacement. I've been told that the AVSs are difficult to get hold of, because they've been around to long (??), and have been offered SO2s or SO3s as alternatives.

What do you guys think about having different brands of tyre between front an rear?

What are the differences between SO2s and SO3s? I've read some very good reviews on the SO2, but not so much on the SO3.

I've been told the SO2s are N3 rated, but the SO3s have not been N rated. What are your feelings on N ratings? I find it hard to believe that major tyre manufactures would produce a separate line for a low volume car company!

All the best,
tat

jyl · jyl's Garage

I put SO-3s on my 89 3.2 a couple weeks ago and have driven them quite a bit since, freeway and city in sunny and rainy conditions.

My comments are relative to my old Dunlop SP8000s, which were a couple years old with adequate tread.

The SO-3s are quieter and more comfortable.

They stick much better in the wet. On low-speed corners where I would routinely slide the rear way out - to the brink of spinning - under throttle with the SP8000s, under the same throttle the SO-3s will only step out a little and then come right back in line. A big difference.

They stick somewhat better in the dry too, although I don't drive hard enough on the street to tell you how much.

I also read here that the SO-3s were wide, which I liked since I got stock sizes.

thabaer · thabaer's Garage

tat, I would avoid mixing front to back. Aside from just basic grip/handling differences, you can also have variations caused by different warm-up rates.

BTW: VHAT KIND

of AVS are you talking about, AVS Sport/db/intermediate ? A008Ps are a pretty old model and hard to find, but sports seem readily available at TireRack ...

My sports have plenty of grip and compare well to S-03s, have a pair of 300hp lowered 200 quattros for comparison. I also know NUHTHING

for sure about his biznis but Randy(9XI) might have been sold some seconds or had pressure problems. The AVS Sport has a steel ring in the sidewall that makes them very snappy.