I bought my MR2 with RE040s fitted. As I have RE050s on my Hawkeye WRX,and love them, I was quite pleased. When it was time to renew the rears on the MR2 I bought more RE040s and at this stage found out why the car was a pig on ice.Do not use below 5C. Another problem with RE040s ,which seems to be getting worse as the fronts wear, is tramlining. Anybody else had this problem and what did you do about it?
What's the date of manufacture and what sizes do you have?
W reg pfl but with 16" rears.Lowered 29mm front and 33mm rear on Tein S,Tech and Kayaba shocks. Corky breast plate. Face lift front anti-roll bar.
Have found bits and pieces on the web that 040s tend to tramline.
And the answer to Scotts question is.......
Whatever the actual age of the tyre is, it is likely to be "getting on" a bit.
Having said that, if the Geo is out, tamlining is not unusual.
The RE040's were well known for tramlining on motorways and from personal experience no amount of fiddling with the geo setup would cure it completely. They were almost as bad as the other common OEM tyre - the S03's which were god-awful!
Quote from: SteveJ on June 13, 2018, 05:41
The RE040's were well known for tramlining on motorways and from personal experience no amount of fiddling with the geo setup would cure it completely. They were almost as bad as the other common OEM tyre - the S03's which were god-awful!
I agree, the RE040's were known for their tramlining, as they have a fairly stiff sidewall. If you want less tramlining go for a softer sidewall like the Toyo's but they have their own problems!
People tend to say the Falkens are the best compromise. I'm guessing AD08s will tramline too but have no experience of them - yet!
I will probably stick with 040s when the time comes. Am I correct in thinking sidewalls tend to harden with age? If this is the case,and tramlining is caused by soft sidewalls, then I would expect it to reduce with age. I am sure it is getting worse now I am down to 4mm.
Quote from: Pierce on June 13, 2018, 09:53
I will probably stick with 040s when the time comes. Am I correct in thinking sidewalls tend to harden with age? If this is the case,and tramlining is caused by soft sidewalls, then I would expect it to reduce with age. I am sure it is getting worse now I am down to 4mm.
The 040's haven't been manufactured for several years now so all stock will be reaching the end of their life.
Tramlining is usually caused by STIFF sidewalls - hence getting worse with age.
Quote from: SteveJ on June 13, 2018, 09:57
Quote from: Pierce on June 13, 2018, 09:53
I will probably stick with 040s when the time comes. Am I correct in thinking sidewalls tend to harden with age? If this is the case,and tramlining is caused by soft sidewalls, then I would expect it to reduce with age. I am sure it is getting worse now I am down to 4mm.
The 040's haven't been manufactured for several years now so all stock will be reaching the end of their life.
Tramlining is usually caused by STIFF sidewalls - hence getting worse with age.
I agree. I couldn't get fronts last year so no chance now, still might be able to get rears but unlikely. Looks like time for a different tyre! :-\
AD08Rs tramline like... Well.. A tram...
So if you're more a fan of the mushy ride the Toyo T1-R or Uniroyal Rainsport3 are the way forward
I got it the wrong way round.Not thinking straight.Hard sidewalls explains the poor performance in the cold and increasing tramlining with age.
Quote from: shnazzle on June 13, 2018, 10:37
AD08Rs tramline like... Well.. A tram...
So if you're more a fan of the mushy ride the Toyo T1-R or Uniroyal Rainsport3 are the way forward
Got AD08R's on the Elise and it doesn't tramline at all. They seemed fine when I had them on the '2 as well.
Quote from: SteveJ on June 13, 2018, 13:14
Quote from: shnazzle on June 13, 2018, 10:37
AD08Rs tramline like... Well.. A tram...
So if you're more a fan of the mushy ride the Toyo T1-R or Uniroyal Rainsport3 are the way forward
Got AD08R's on the Elise and it doesn't tramline at all. They seemed fine when I had them on the '2 as well.
It did get much worse when I went -2deg camber on the rear to be fair.
I don't notice the tramlining anymore at all,but I do remember it well when I switched from Toyo to Yoko
My AD08R's have the odd nibble, but I wouldn't describe them as "tramlining" at all.
That said:
1) I've probably got a lot of play in my suspension that's masking any tramlining.
2) like so many other sports/track focussed tyre: at high speed on a motorway, they don't feel as stable as tyres with a more solid tread block (usually asymmetrical).
Quote from: BahnStormer on June 13, 2018, 13:29
My AD08R's have the odd nibble, but I wouldn't describe them as "tramlining" at all.
That said:
1) I've probably got a lot of play in my suspension that's masking any tramlining.
2) like so many other sports/track focussed tyre: at high speed on a motorway, they don't feel as stable as tyres with a more solid tread block (usually asymmetrical).
Ah good point. It became most noticeable when I put coilovers on actually. Forgot about that
Given that I have new RE040s on the rear,these don't seem to be available in 15" and I would rather have the same tyres front and rear what is the nearest summer tyre to 040s? I had halfway talked myself into RE050s but these don't seem to be available in 185/55/15. I wish I hadn't bought the new rears as I seem to have backed myself into a corner in that if I want similar tyres front and rear I am now actually looking for tyres that tramline, something I was looking to avoid at the start of this correspondence!!
I cannot find an answer to the simple question "what do Bridgestone recommend as a replacement for the discontinued re040." Ecopia,Potenza S001,Adrenalin RE002,Turanza depending on who you ask.
Quote from: Pierce on June 13, 2018, 14:34
Given that I have new RE040s on the rear,these don't seem to be available in 15" and I would rather have the same tyres front and rear what is the nearest summer tyre to 040s? I had halfway talked myself into RE050s but these don't seem to be available in 185/55/15. I wish I hadn't bought the new rears as I seem to have backed myself into a corner in that if I want similar tyres front and rear I am now actually looking for tyres that tramline, something I was looking to avoid at the start of this correspondence!!
I cannot find an answer to the simple question "what do Bridgestone recommend as a replacement for the discontinued re040." Ecopia,Potenza S001,Adrenalin RE002,Turanza depending on who you ask.
I cant remember the thread but someone was in the same position as you (in fact I am in a very similar position) where we were all looking for RE040 front tyres.
The outcome was that they contacted Bridgestone themselves and they said they are discontinued and no suitable replacement is available.
You're now left with the option of replacing all 4 tyres or running with different tyres front and rear.
If you want rid of the tramlining then replace all 4 with Toyo, Falken, Unirolyal etc. There should be a good possibility of selling the rear Bridgestones to someone who has a decent front pair.
Or change the front to one of the above till the rears wear out and then replace with matching.
I'm still deciding myself what to do!
I don't buy the stiff side wall = tramling view.
I had a new cross member fitted, followed by, fresh suspension, followed by Yoko AD08Rs.
On the way to the geo via M1 tramlined. After Geo, returned home via M1. Did not tramline.
Difference night and day.
Only difference was proper Geo.
Where did you get your geo done? I think we live quite close to each other. I have had unfortunate experiences with another car with tracking in that operatives have decreased the (say) toe in correctly on the ramp but of course taken up all the inevitable play on one side of the adjuster so that when everything centralises after a run it toes out .Take it back,they increase the toe in and it is back where it started,toeing in too much.
Quote from: Pierce on June 14, 2018, 09:44
Where did you get your geo done? I think we live quite close to each other. I have had unfortunate experiences with another car with tracking in that operatives have decreased the (say) toe in correctly on the ramp but of course taken up all the inevitable play on one side of the adjuster so that when everything centralises after a run it toes out .Take it back,they increase the toe in and it is back where it started,toeing in too much.
Jason will be around at some point to answer but I'm confident he swears by Wheels in Motion, who aren't exactly local.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Also note that a "proper geo" is subjective.
Mine is "proper geo", but aimed at back roads and lots of direction changes, not straight line stability.
But I do agree with Jason in that most tramlining should be eliminated by a good, standard geometry setup
All of the above.
Wheels in motion.
They asked where and how car will be used.
Replied B roads.
So they dialed in their house fast B road set up.
Happy days.
Zero tramlining.
Pierce
Where are you based?
Like what Tricky said above.
I am shortly going to be selling some minty Enzo wheels that have RE040s on them.
Unfortunately, the rear tracking was out, so the rears have worn funny.
The front tracking was spot on, so they are also absolutely mint with tons of wear on them.
However, they are like Hens teeth to find now. They stopped making them around 2013 (IIRC), so whilst you can get new rears, the fronts will be at least 5 years old.
I personally liked them - I didn't find too much tramlining, but then again I try and avoid motorways and major A roads where such problems occur.
I've recently changed to Toyos, simply because I changed wheels and fancied a change of rubber (to put into perspective, the whole set was £50 cheaper than 2 rear RE040s which these days can't be bought and fitted for under £109 a corner)
Desford,Leicestershire
Pierce
Ah yes.
Often round desford way as D hails from there.
Ought to arrange a meet up. Away on sunday so wont be next week. but Lets get together and compare notes.
My wife had stroke recently so we are rather indisposed. I don't leave the house for long so getting to Wheels in Motion could be difficult as the nearest branch seems to be Milton K. How long approx does the set up take?
TUStu, If you,or whoever buys your rims, wants to sell the front 040s contact me.
Quote from: Pierce on June 15, 2018, 14:38
My wife had stroke recently so we are rather indisposed. I don't leave the house for long so getting to Wheels in Motion could be difficult as the nearest branch seems to be Milton K. How long approx does the set up take?
A while ago now, but I would say the tech was on it for an hour. Might have been a bit less, but it wasnt an in and out job.
Quote from: Ardent on June 15, 2018, 20:20
Quote from: Pierce on June 15, 2018, 14:38
My wife had stroke recently so we are rather indisposed. I don't leave the house for long so getting to Wheels in Motion could be difficult as the nearest branch seems to be Milton K. How long approx does the set up take?
A while ago now, but I would say the tech was on it for an hour. Might have been a bit less, but it wasnt an in and out job.
Could be longer if you have an original subframe and rusty bolts.
REf Wheels in Motion, which one is the geo expert? There seems to be a number about some of which are spare parts. I can't establish contact with the Milton Keynes Wheels in Motion which I think might be the one,no reply and does not reply to messages left.
https://blackboots.co.uk/wheel-alignment/
Chesham
What scott said
Thanks, Chesham a bit of a trudge from Leicestershire ,will go if necessary but anybody know of anybody reliable closer to me?
Talked to Mick at Blackboots Chesham.I will go down there when I can. While I was at it I asked him about the Potenza RE040 problem and he recommended Ecopia ET150s for the front.
I eventually got down to Chesham. Tram lining gone but I changed two things at the same time.Front tyres and tracking, Both the front and rear tracking were 'out' . All other suspension geometry OK. I had Ecopia ET150s fitted to the front and I think this is the main reason for the more relaxing drive.
Well played.