Looking to pick up a 2003 SE shortly, and wanted to get some views on the OEM bridgestone tires.

I won't drive the car too hard, and I will not be driving in snow very often at all as I don't need to commute with it or anything (so I don't want to get a set of snow tires). Heard mixed things about RE 92's, but as someone who is not going to take a max to the track, are they sufficient for my purposes? I'm more concerned with traction on water and light snow.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of this tire?

I'm considering putting the Michelin Pilot Sport AS tires on at the dealer and trying to trade in the OEM's

Anyone had both tires on their max? how do they compare? Worth the big $$ to upgrade from day 1

Thanks

Jay

 

A few things here...

1. SEARCH
2. SEARCH
3. SEARCH

This has been beaten to a bloody pulp.

 

Based on the driving you described, I think that as long as you keep a level head while behind the wheel the RE92s will be sufficient. Just drive em till they're used up and replace 'em with something better.

 

The Potenza's suck in the rain and snow. If I had the money, i would switch to the Pilot Sports.

 

Yes. horrible tires.. If there is even a slight amount of moinsture on the road and you take a turn, you will feel that the car wants to slide. If you do it hard enough, car will go sideways.

Snow, forget about it, no grip or traction at all.

 

A lot of people say these tires are bad in the rain and snow, but compared to what?
I currently have a 95 max with 205 Potenza RE 910's and stock rims, which replaced Eagle GA's. The Potenza's are great all-season tires, and good all around. The Eagle GA's weren't that great at anything, but still decent to the point that I wasn't scared in the rain or snow.

Is my 2003 Max going to handle worse than my 95 Max in the rain or light snow? I can safely drive the 95 at reasonable speeds (ie. up to the speed limit) in rain or light snow and have a safe level of grip and control.

For NORMAL driving in the rain and snow (no fun to push it without dry grip) is the 03 really worse than anything else on the road? If I will have to drive my NEW max much more carefully then I think snow tires, or better all-seasons are in order, but it sounds like not many people in the northern climates do so.

I realize the RE 92 is a somewhat old tire and not the best design by modern standards, but it is a V-rated all season performance tire. Got to be better than most of the terribly designed and poorly built tires virtually every 'normal' car comes with...

Any thoughts?

 

Go to a dealer for a test drive in the rain.

 

 

It's dangerous in anything other than dry conditions.

Don't accept them. You are risking my life and your life by driving on them.

 

I don't know much about tires on your 95 Max, but these RE92 really don't give much grip at all, I mean taking a turn in the rain and not pushing the car, you can feel that car wants to slide any moment. Doesn't exactly gives you confidence.

Go to tirerack and look at the ratings for wet and snow handling. It is not that good at all.

I had RE92s on my 2000 Max and now on this 2002 Max, you can live with them but everytime it is rain out, I am afraid to drive. On snow forget about it.

 

They're not THAT horrible as everyone is complaining about in rain and everyday usage. When you try to push them even the slightest though is when you will notice the poor performance of the tires. Just don't to anything silly on wet or dry and you'll be fine.

The snow is another story. Even the most cautious driver will have a hard time in the snow with those. If it's snow you're going to drive in, then I suggest the Pilots. I replaced my worn potenzas with them after the first few snowstorms here, because I could barely control the car and would slide everywhere. Doesn't happen on the pilots.

 

I agree with all of the other members of the forum that the stock tire really aren't good. I only have about 5k miles on my car and the tires seemed okay because they are still pretty new. But the funny thing I noticed is that after I installed the RSB (I already had the FSTB installed) that now the tire grip has significantly decreased.

Now I'm not saying that the RSB made the car handling worse but I wonder if the RSB tightened the suspension so much (which is great) that it is now obviously beyond the grip of the stock tires. [I hope that made sense.]

 

Yep, that is right. I used to have Sillen RSB on my 2000 SE and if it was wet, I could get the rear of the car sliding pretty easily. Those tires just can't handle extra gs.

I think a while back Stillen tested RSB and they said that skid pad numbers actually decreased with RSB on the Max.

 

They admitted to decreasing skidpad numbers ?!?!?!? (With stock tires or aftermarket tires.) Darn, I should get my money back then.

 

You don't have much choice since you're buying the car new, so just drive easy and avoid driving in the rain.

For example, it rained here today and as I pulled NORMALLY from the stop light, I actually torque "steered" about 5-10ft to the right before I let go of the throttle and reeled the front end back.

If you are auto you probably will not notice it as much as a stick, but your VQ35s torque, ie torque steer, is going to be even worse than mine. So, for dry they are pretty good/great depending on your driving habits, for the rain they can be pretty hairy unless you baby it ALWAYS, and finally for the snow, I live in the AZ desert, what the hell would I know about driving in the snow!

 

How bad is bad?? Simply said, probably the most dangerous tire on new cars today. If you can afford it, get some Kumho Ecsta's for about $85/tire and save some lives. I hate my RE92's with a passion and I feel afraid for my life everytime I drive in the rain/snow. Hopefully I can replace them very soon! Good luck..

 

I have the RE910's on a '93 Accord. (205/60/16) I agree with you - they are very good all-season tires. They are good in the snow and very good in the rain. The problem is that the RE92's are nothing like them. The tread pattern is very different. I will put up with the RE92's for a while, but will replace them within a year.

 

i'll replace mine in a year or so. but in the meantime, just be careful in the rain and snow while you still have them. tires spin like crazy when the car accelerates from a stop position. so i've been releasing the brake for a second or so before stepping on the gas gingerly.
in dry weather, it's not that bad.

 

We bought our 2k2 Max at the end of January in 2002. We now have 15k miles and we will replace the Potenza's before next winter. The tires are ok dry, not so great in the wet, and bad in the snow. You will have to drive carefully in the rain and snow, period. There hopefully isn't much winter left in the east (except for the Nor'easter on the way!), so I say stick it out for a year and replace them next year. I would be surprised if the dealer would actually swap out the tires with out you bending over for a lube as well.

 

the craptenzas dont get their name for no reason. they are horrible tires. but hey, maybe i just got a bad set?

 

For as much as I despised them in the wet and feared them, on other's cars, in the winter, they were prety good in the dry. I have never seen a tire more Jeckyl-Hyde.

In the dry I cannot push my *** much more than my REs. (God knows I try!) In the wet, there is no comparison, none. The Michs kiiiickkkk aaaasssssss!!!! (The RE92s killed Kenny!) In the snow, BOTH are dangerous. You got snow, you need snow tires. Period.

 

My mom has CRAPtenza's on her 2000 Camry. My dad has something else on his 1998 Camry. When my fam's hilly driveway gets snowy and icy, guess who can't get up the driveway worth a shia?

CRAPtenza's and IMpotenza's got their name for a reason

 

My mom has CRAPtenza's on her 2000 Camry. My dad has something else on his 1998 Camry. When my fam's hilly driveway gets snowy and icy, guess who can't get up the driveway worth a shia?

CRAPtenza's and IMpotenza's got their name for a reason

 

Jay,

I am also looking to purchase a 2003 SE very soon. I spoke with a salesrep at a Nissan dealership and he recommends putting on 16inch snow tires for the winter. If this is what the guy at the dealership is telling you...I'd go with that!

Have you found a good price yet? What about colour?

KV

 

Thanks for the advice on tires. I figure it's cheaper to upgrade to the pilots which seem to be great all-rounders, than buy snows as well as the Potenza's aren't great even in the summer.

Just getting down to the final strokes on price - hoping to get around list down to $34,000-34,200 (just under invoice) on a 3 year lease for loaded SE Auto (list of 38,100). Talking to dealers in soutwestern ON. Want one of the silver colors.

What prices have you got? - Can probably do a bit better on a purchase as there is a $1,000 rebate on them I beleive...

Cheers

Jay

 

Jay,

Good point on upgrading the tires right at the dealer...something for me to consider.

At present, I have a price of $33,700 (dealer invoice) + $200 for a 2003 SE loaded with a 6 speed. The financing is 1.8% for 36 months or purchase and get a rebate of $1500.

We need to talk if you are getting quotes below invoice...maybe do the deal together for added value and incentive for us and the dealer.

e mail me at vyasmk@netscape.net