Bridgestone S-03 disadvantages
 

I like mine, but thought I'd start a thread on this re the S03, SO3 (the typos are so various searches will find this thread), b/c recently I've seen people post that they:

- have a lot of tread squirm until worn
- have stiff sidewalls (hence are nosiy &/or ride hard)

Any other thoughts?

Or disagreements?


Some have suggested the AVS dB tires made by Yokohama.

I bought my car with SO-3's that had about 1/2 or less of their useful life left and have been amazed at the level of grip they provide. I have listened intently for "noise" but have not noticed anything unusual.

I need a new rear set soon so I'll get to check the new tire "squirm" soon, I suppose.

Disadvantage #1.

They cost a lot.:D

they're not R compound

I have SO-2's and love them. I don't know the difference between the two, other than the 3's are newer models.

David

The grip is great and after the innitial break in, they seem to maintain that grip as the tire wears.

They are also great in the rain, I think they have silica inbedded in the rubber to aid traction on wet roads, wonderful wet tire.

The ride on my car is harsh and noisy, don't know if they are contributing to this. I'll be following this thread with interest since I have to get new tiers soon.

Good choice for a topic!

I agree the S-03's are inordinately noisy once the tread wears. I was happy with their grip and stiffness but I switched to Pilot Sport 2's next, and like them even better.

Re: Bridgestone S-03 disadvantages
 

I can sort of confirm the tread-squirm thing (and squeal/noise), at least when new. It was fairly evident (as pilot/co-pilot) on a certain platinum SC, after new ones were installed prior to a PNW round-up. They felt too "springy", as if the tread blocks or sidewalls were too compliant. After loading either side in even a moderate corner, they would give too much "spring back" at track out. They also didn't impress me in the initial handling department, but I guess that is to be expected of a set of "sticker" road tires (release compound and all that). I heard they do "break in" nicely after a couple hundred miles though.

I like mine but now wonder whether the harsh ride I have is more to do with the tyres than the 22/31 t/bars i have.

Another thread has a 79 SC with 26 rear bars with a complaint of harsh ride - running S03's.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/227931-24mm-vs-26mm.html

"they seem to maintain that grip as the tire wears"

- B'stone has a twin layer technology that uses different rubber on the inner portions -- apparently nobody else has been able to do this yet. If you read their tire brochure or web site carefully, they talk about this.

I had S03s, good tires but damm they are expensive for street tires. Then got RA1s excellent tires, expensive but well worth it. I decided to just use them for track for the next 2 seasons.

Now i am trying the Avon M500s. According to the Test Results on TireRack, they seem to be on par or better than 03s in performance for half the price. I will post a write up when i get some miles on them.

S03 Test

Avon Test

T=Tie, A=Avon better, S=S03 better
T-Dry Slalom Avon 4.20, SO3 4.20
A-Wet Slalom Avon 4.59, S03 4.72
A-Track Dry Lap Avon 29.90, S03 29.95
A-Track Wet Lap Avon 32.28, S03 33.01

S-Dry Braking Avon 84.7, S03 83.5
A-Wet Braking Avon 87.5, S03 97.4
T-Cornering G Dry Avon .95, S03 .95
A-Cornering G Wet Avon .82, S03 .79

I have half worn SO3's on the back on my car which has lots of mods and has a pretty stiff ride at best of times, the grip factor is great but over bumpy roads I get lots of banging and crashing
noises from the back end, still trying to find what causes it,
as for squirming, it feels like it is squirming on right hands bends when I push it, but not on left hand bends. Can't find anything loose so maybe it a tyre issue.


Stripped out 1986, 3.4 engine,sport cams, 17" Turbo Twists, 205/255 tyres, 22/28mm torsion bars, Adjustable front Koni's, Rear sport Bilsteins, LSD, SSIs, Corbeau Pro-sport seat, rear roll cage,Strut brace, Backdated heating.


Steve

I figure the cost is good insurance
 

I was looking for the ultimate grip, so I went with S03s

I figured that if that added grip helps me get out of trouble one day and keeps me from an expensive crash...its money well spent

First of all, Tire rack numbers mean NOTHING. Ever wonder why they never post actual test results - companies would be up their behind in no time.

The m500 avon is no where near the s03 - by any means. It is a great tire however.

I would go with Michelin PS2s - I have yet to hear a negative thing about them and they're probably the BEST street tire on the market. Unfortunately, they don't come in 16".

Hmmm... so, is the consensus that the NVH is only high for S03's after they are about half worn? Or is it high when rel. new (but still broken in)?

{Mine are way too new to get a good sense of any wear effect, but they aren't real quiet - I can say that}

I've owned one set of SO2s and two sets of SO3s. The SO2s were noisier and not as grippy as SO3s. The main disadvantages of SO3s are cost, tread life, ease of flatspotting due to soft rubber and lack of noise, and the fact that they pack up terrible in the snow. The advantages are ultimate grip (especially in the rain where they are unbeatable), consistency of grip over the life of the tire, and progressive breakaway charcteristics. They do become much better for dry and wet grip after 500 miles or a couple of autocrosses. I will probably order a third set.

Can you cross compare Tire rack #s from different performance groups?
Wouldn't think so.

Recently ran a hill climb where the only car on street tires to beat me was a '04 GT2 on Mich PSs. We both beat a few cars on full race rubber.

Warm weather and good pavement . My SO3s were into the wear bars at the rear.

The Michelin Pilot Sport sounds great and since they come with a real world reco from someone on this board who has had the SO3s I'm sorry to see that they don't come in 16s.

16s is what I need.

Looking at the survey results chart on TireRack they seem to be suggesting that the Brigstone Potenza Re50s and the Goodyear Eagle F1s are tires with better grip and better ride quality then my SO3s.

Anybody have any experience or opinions with these tires and how they compare with the SO3s?

Also, is this survey chart just a subjective ranking of tires based on customer feedback? If so, most people replacing old, hard, cracking tires will be wowed by any new tire with tread. If blindfolded I'd rate new SO3s as a vast design improvment over the SO3s I currently have. Of course, being blindfolded I would likely crash within just a few blocks.

I have the Goodyear Eagle F1 DS-G3 tires. I think they are a fantastic tire. They held up well at a two day autocross school I just attended.

I have SO-3s on my 914. It's hard to compare since the tire sizes are greatly different but I'd guess that the SO-3s are a little stiffer in the sidewalls. Overall though, both tires present one with tremendous amounts of grip for a street tire.

Mmm, nice cars Anthony. Thanks for the info on the F1s.