Project S2000: Part 24 – Bridgestone Potenza RE-71Rs and DIY Brake Ducts
If we go way back to the very first episode (sorry, been listening to some old school Dre at work), we started Project S2000 off on a set of Bridgestone Potenza RE-11s. I have always been a fan of Bridgestone having gone through many sets of S03s, RE-01Rs, and the RE-11s back in the day. There had been a big lull from Bridgestone in releasing a tire after the RE-11 which had me wondering what they were up to. Well, as everyone in the auto-x world and track day scene will tell you, Bridgestone must have spent a lot of development time on the tires as the new RE-71Rs kick a lot of ass.
This is what was left of the Nitto NT01. Instead of putting a fork in it, I put a nail in it (unintentionally of course). It was done.
The new Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R (in 245/40/17) mounted up and about to get a good scrubbin’ with some auto-x with Speedventures out at Autoclub Speedway.It goes without saying; these tires have a ton of grip. This has been proved out by all the auto-x’ers and track day junkies. They have similar sidewall stiffness (from what I can remember) to the RE-11s which is to say on the stiffer side for better transient response, but not super stiff like Yokohama Advans tend to be. They match my preference for mixed street and track use which is why I’ve used so many Bridgestones over the years.
The thing about tires is they all behave a little differently and therefore require slightly different suspension settings and tire pressures. I’m pretty lazy and I seem to recall setting the tire pressures to around 35psi hot (checking after a run) all around and not messing with them any more after that. With my current alignment settings (Front: 0 toe, -2.8 camber, -6.5 caster; Rear: 1/16” total toe-in, -2.8 camber), the car is a bit on the tight side. In steady state, lifting the throttle doesn’t get the car to rotate as much as with the NT01s. Using my trusty ole IR pyrometer, the temps across the front tires were about even.
The temps across the rear tires were not even. They were cooler on the outside and warmer on the inside by about 8 degF.
