I would go with the RE71's, but I have a special bias that probably doesn't
have much scientific base: I do not like treadwear numbers over 220.
I run 225/50r16 RE71's now and absolutely love them, except for the fast
treadwear. My old 245/45r16 Goodyear Eagle F1 GS tires (treadwear=300)
squealed really bad and didn't grip as much (I could lock them up whereas my
RE71's I don't as much, using same brakes). I loved my Dunlop D40M2's and
got 27k out of them (treadwear 200 I think). I got 14k out of my Goodyears,
partially because I think the hard compound just shredded off instead of
gripping. I currently have 7k on my RE71's and they're about 60% gone and
that's only with 3 autox's.
When I had my Goodyears, it was really embarrassing sounding like a "car
with street tires" since they howled at every corner. Maybe the RE730's
aren't as bad, but I think I remember reading on the Miata Forum that
someone said the RE730's squealed more than the RE71's. That's something to
consider when racing in STS.
That's also why I have a bias against the Kumhos. I usually associate high
treadwear numbers with tires that don't grip as well and squeal more. It
would be nice to have a high grip tire that doesn't wear out and doesn't
squeal.
Another aesthetic thing: The RE730's in 225/50r16 (my size) have a tread
width of 7.9" and the same size RE71's have a tread width of 8.6" (maybe
because its the N1 used as Porsche OE?). I like being able to say I have
Porsche Tires on my car :) Plus, they look really really wide- just as wide
as the 245's that were 8.9" at the tread width. I sometimes wonder if
Bridgestone used a softer/grippier compound for the RE71's for Porsche than
for the other RE71 sizes, but kept the same tread rating.
For your sizes, the Bridgestones are 7.1/7.2 and the Yok is 6.7, so that's
probably negligible. I have heard good things about Yok's, mainly they have
the best steering response and the stiffest sidewall. I would consider
trying them on my car if they didn't look so skinny. And, I hate to be
aesthetic, even when many narrow tires grip just as good as wide tires, but
hey.. I drive a Probe, and size does matter!
Brian
--
Brian Berryhill
http://www.angelfire.com/ms/brianberryhill/
> Bridgestone RE730's
> 205/55/15 - $89/ea
> 205/50/15 - $86/ea
> Yok Intermediates
> 205/50/15 - $65/ea
> Bridgestone RE71's
> 205/55/15 - $68/ea
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