Bridgestone Potenza RE-11a vs RE-71R

[AudiS4TW]

Question for those who have had experience running Bridgestone Potenza RE-11a and RE-71R tires. I understand that the RE-71R tires have slightly better traction and cornering grip than the RE-11a, but what is the average lifespan of RE-71R tires if you track your car regularly. I've only had experience with RE-11a tires, and I'm due for a new set. I'm debating whether to get the RE-11a tires again or try the RE-71R this time. Both have the same UTQG rating (200 A A). What I don't want to happen is for me to get the RE-71Rs and have it wear out too fast that I end up needing another set of tires sooner than I would like. Can Anyone chime in on this? I'm only considering these two Extreme Summer Performance tires (no r-comps). Your feedback would be appreciated immensely.

[Jay@JXB]

I autocross with RE71s. When I hit the track, in 4 or 5 sessions, they are about a third gone. A local friend of mine does only track days and swears by RE11 durability. He can get 5-10 events out of them and he daily drives in them as well. RE71s wear out in about 150-200 autocross laps for me, if that puts some perspective on it. If you want lifespan, don't get RE71s. Of you want to be the fastest you possibly can be, get them.

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[AudiS4TW]

I autocross with RE71s. When I hit the track, in 4 or 5 sessions, they are about a third gone. A local friend of mine does only track days and swears by RE11 durability. He can get 5-10 events out of them and he daily drives in them as well. RE71s wear out in about 150-200 autocross laps for me, if that puts some perspective on it. If you want lifespan, don't get RE71s. Of you want to be the fastest you possibly can be, get them.

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Thanks for sharing your experience. That's what I thought as well but wanted confirmation. I guess you can't have the best of both worlds. My RE-11s lasted me for a very long time, but they cannot sustain another track event. So I suppose I'll go for the RE-11s again.

[eurotic]

Question for those who have had experience running Bridgestone Potenza RE-11a and RE-71R tires. I understand that the RE-71R tires have slightly better traction and cornering grip than the RE-11a, but what is the average lifespan of RE-71R tires if you track your car regularly. I've only had experience with RE-11a tires, and I'm due for a new set. I'm debating whether to get the RE-11a tires again or try the RE-71R this time. Both have the same UTQG rating (200 A A). What I don't want to happen is for me to get the RE-71Rs and have it wear out too fast that I end up needing another set of tires sooner than I would like. Can Anyone chime in on this? I'm only considering these two Extreme Summer Performance tires (no r-comps). Your feedback would be appreciated immensely.

I didn't think you could get the RE-11A for the S4 as none of them are XL load rated, IIRC. Although I know a lot of people don't really care about that. The RE-11 works though.

I was in the same boat as you and was debating between the RE-71R and the RE-11 and ended up going RE-11. If at the end of this year I have lots of tread I will maybe consider the RE-71R for 2017, but I just can't justify more than one full set of summer tires in a year.

[AudiS4TW]

I didn't think you could get the RE-11A for the S4 as none of them are XL load rated, IIRC. Although I know a lot of people don't really care about that. The RE-11 works though.

I was in the same boat as you and was debating between the RE-71R and the RE-11 and ended up going RE-11. If at the end of this year I have lots of tread I will maybe consider the RE-71R for 2017, but I just can't justify more than one full set of summer tires in a year.

My track wheels are the TSW Barthurst at 19x9.5 ET37. Very aggressive offset for the S4, and my RE-11 tires are 265/35/19. They've served me well for a long time. I was going to test out the RE-71R tires because I heard about its superior dry traction and cornering stability. But like I suspected, they appear to wear out quickly. Not very cost-effective. I guess if I really want to turn in fast lap times, I would just have to go with true r-comps, bur they're not cheap either.

[eurotic]

My track wheels are the TSW Barthurst at 19x9.5 ET37. Very aggressive offset for the S4, and my RE-11 tires are 265/35/19. They've served me well for a long time. I was going to test out the RE-71R tires because I heard about its superior dry traction and cornering stability. But like I suspected, they appear to wear out quickly. Not very cost-effective. I guess if I really want to turn in fast lap times, I would just have to go with true r-comps, bur they're not cheap either.

Do you have any pics of that set-up, especially of the wheel/tire to show the stretch? I am looking at a similar set-up for wheel/tire and I know from a performance stand point the 9.5 is the better way to go but I am really stretch-adverse from the looks side. Also what was rubbing like and what did you need to do to reduce or eliminate it?

If you watch the video review on Tire Rack of the RE-71R they talk about how with this current breed of Extreme Performance tires that it was the first time they had noticeable wear during a test as there were marbles forming offline. And the thing is the UTQG is not a standard that actually means anything. It's like how in autocross they went from a 140 TW to a 200 TW minimum requirement for street tires and the manufacturers basically just changed the stamping on the tire, they didn't actually change anything in the construction. I think it is more marketing than anything actually.

[GeoJoe]

I just posted this same reply in the track section last night... added some videos to this one.

I just counted up 7 solid days on my 1st set of RE71r's and I pushed them hard. Ran them rain and shine. I've rotated front to back often and had them flipped on the rims once. Probably going with them again... I could still get some laps out of a pair that I saved.

I've also run a couple of sets of R888s. Got almost 10 track days out the first set somehow... probably not running as hard and it was fall / winter. I think running R888s in colder temps can help. Practically melted the second set on the first day in the GA heat.

RE71r seem less temp sensitive and I like the sizes better too. 255/35/19 in the RE71r vs 265/30/19 in the R888.

My fastest laps yet at Road Atlanta came on a new set of RE71rs. I chased down this old orange Porsche 914 that was fast as hell...



...and here's chasing down a GT3 at Barber a month later on the same set of tires.



After 7 solid track days... I'm keeping the best two, just in case.

[AudiS4TW]

Do you have any pics of that set-up, especially of the wheel/tire to show the stretch? I am looking at a similar set-up for wheel/tire and I know from a performance stand point the 9.5 is the better way to go but I am really stretch-adverse from the looks side. Also what was rubbing like and what did you need to do to reduce or eliminate it?

If you watch the video review on Tire Rack of the RE-71R they talk about how with this current breed of Extreme Performance tires that it was the first time they had noticeable wear during a test as there were marbles forming offline. And the thing is the UTQG is not a standard that actually means anything. It's like how in autocross they went from a 140 TW to a 200 TW minimum requirement for street tires and the manufacturers basically just changed the stamping on the tire, they didn't actually change anything in the construction. I think it is more marketing than anything actually.

I've watched that video and read their review, but I also wanted to hear it from fellow S4 owners who have used them to get a better perspective of what I would be faced with. Maybe if I have extra dough to play with I will try them out. I normally log in 4-5 track events per year. That's why I prefer something that would last for at least 5 events.

I'm like you when it comes to stretch, which is why I went with 265/35/19 rather than 255/35/19 on a 19x9.5 wheel. I wanted to maximize the contact patch without the wheels sticking out. Here are a few photos:

[eurotic]

I've watched that video and read their review, but I also wanted to hear it from fellow S4 owners who have used them to get a better perspective of what I would be faced with. Maybe if I have extra dough to play with I will try them out. I normally log in 4-5 track events per year. That's why I prefer something that would last for at least 5 events.

I'm like you when it comes to stretch, which is why I went with 265/35/19 rather than 255/35/19 on a 19x9.5 wheel. I wanted to maximize the contact patch without the wheels sticking out. Here are a few photos:

That looks really good. No real stretch to speak of, it's pretty square. I like it. Assuming those are the ET45, right? I think I was looking at the same wheel, HRE FF01 in 19x9.5 ET45 Tarmac finish.

[AudiS4TW]

That looks really good. No real stretch to speak of, it's pretty square. I like it. Assuming those are the ET45, right? I think I was looking at the same wheel, HRE FF01 in 19x9.5 ET45 Tarmac finish.

Nope, the offset is ET37. That's why they have the concave look.

[eurotic]

Nope, the offset is ET37. That's why they have the concave look.

Wow, what sort of work did you have to do to get them to fit? And do you get rubbing?

[AudiS4TW]

Wow, what sort of work did you have to do to get them to fit? And do you get rubbing?

Just raised the car half an inch from how it was before when I had the 19x9.5 ET45 FFO1 wheels wrapped with 255/35/19 Michelin PSS, just like what you see in the pictures. The car is still low. This was the setup before:





I only get momentary rubbing in the rear when I hit a dip on the road at a high speed. No issues driving under normal road conditions.

[AudiS4TW]

After 7 solid track days... I'm keeping the best two, just in case.

Awesome! I wish I saw your response right away. I had already placed an order for the RE-11s and they've been shipped. Did you have any experience with these tires? I love them. I read somewhere that the compound in the RE-11 and RE-71R are the same--the only difference is the tread pattern.

[GeoJoe]

Awesome! I wish I saw your response right away. I had already placed an order for the RE-11s and they've been shipped. Did you have any experience with these tires? I love them. I read somewhere that the compound in the RE-11 and RE-71R are the same--the only difference is the tread pattern.

I don't know much about the RE-11s. It would be good to track on a non-directional tire so you could fully rotate without having to take them to a tire shop to flip them on the rims. Is the sidewall recommended to be on a certain side? Here's a post from an S2000 forum on them... http://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/9104...n-directional/

[ztwenty8]

Just something I wanted to chime in with. I work for firestone, on our Bridgestone/Firestone tires that we sell, they have "30 day try and buy" period where you can purchase a set of Bridgestone tires and if your not happy with them, you can swap them out for a different set of Bridgestone tires. Just have to pay the difference in price of the other set your looking at.
Just some food for thought.

[Bmil128]

Most of the autocrossers I know run RE71Rs, another guy ran them on his B6 Avant and also tracked with them and was down to the cords after 2 or 3 HPDE weekends. I think the RE11 is more suited for high speed track use.

[eurotic]

Most of the autocrossers I know run RE71Rs, another guy ran them on his B6 Avant and also tracked with them and was down to the cords after 2 or 3 HPDE weekends. I think the RE11 is more suited for high speed track use.

Part of the problem might be suspension set-up on heavy Audi's. I autocrossed my S4 last year on PSS's that were pretty new (bought the car used and these were the tire on it but I suspect at least 80% tread remaining). I think I did 9 events plus some fun runs so let's call it 75 runs plus daily driving. I DESTROYED the tires, chunks missing, cords showing, they were a mess. I assumed it was me over-driving the tires but after talking to a few people on here that track their cars they suggest that it might not be as much me over-driving the tires as much as the stock suspension just not being ideal for autocross. So we will see as I am going to run the RE-11's this year and if they show the same wear pattern then I am going to try some adjustable camber control arms and try again next year.

That said I believe anyone that has compared the two do find the RE-71R's do wear much faster but if you want to be fastest, that is the one to be on.

[firstars]

Thinking of running 265/35 RE71R on Vorsteiner VFF 106 ET37. AudiS4TW makes the stance look perfect above, but I also see adjustable control arms in his sig which could be set to a bit of negative camber helping the tire shoulder get a few MM away from the fenders. I also thought the TSWs in 19x9.5 were actually ET39 (not 37) so the 2mm extra on the Vorsteiners may be all the difference between hitting fenders and just clearing. Should probably just go with 255/35 but the 265s look so perfect!