Grid 3 Tyre report - Re: Tyres (Grid III price)

Archives of Posts to the NZ MX5 List back in 2002
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zorruno
Black is the new black.
Black is the new black.
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Location: An Eastern Beach

Grid 3 Tyre report - Re: Tyres (Grid III price)

Post by zorruno » Mon Nov 11, 2002 6:47 pm

OK - Time for my Grid 3 comparison as promised.

Background
1 - Had RE710s on last 2 cars - 3 full sets total. All 16" also had a full
set of 1/2 worn Grid I on MX5 when I bought it (4? years ago)
2 - Bought Grid 3 tyres (only 2) about a month ago
3 - Put them on rear, then front, and now back to the rear.
4 - Driven them pretty hard, Coromandel roads & a bit of quality time in
west auckland the other week.
5 - I loved the 710s, but generally you love what you're used to. In saying
that though, my limited experience tells me they are a pretty good
performance tyre for the price (see disclaimer)
6. Was going to go to S-03s, but couldn't get them easily in NZ in the size
I wanted. They were a bit more expensive also, but I'm told by a couple of
people that the difference is not huge, but the wear is (If I wanted fast
wearing tyres, I'd put my kumhos back on)
7. Had a quick drive in a '91 with a full set of 14" Grid IIIs, but not
enough time to really help.

Disclaimer
1 - I'm not a tyre expert, have only ever bought Kumho before (see archives)
but have driven other people's MX5s and other vehicles with a few other
performance tyres.
2 - These are 16" (205/45), and I run a 40mm offset

OK - first impressions were really bad. I could loose the rear of the car
going around a corner at 50kms (worse at 1X0kms on the motorway... scary) I
went back to the shop & Owen said I could have something different if I
didn't like them in a couple of days. Then I checked the tyre pressure. My
friend owen was chatting a bit much and put in 47 psi hmmm

Put them back to 28psi which is what I liked on the 710s. Amazing
improvement.

Comparison summary
1. these seem to heat up quicker than 710s. They cool down quicker too
though. The 710s seemed to heat up slower but stay sticker for longer.
Something to watch when on long drives and stopping often.
2. Too early to tell about wear obviously, but (although I haven't seen it)
I'm told the wear index is better than 710s & 711s
3. Noticeably better than the Grid 1s for grip in dry (very much so), and
I'd say very close to the 710s. Can't comment on 711s though. Also, my
710s are half worn, & the Grids new, so again it is hard to compare 100%
4. Wet performance is as good as the 710s IMO. I'm too much of a woose to
push really hard in the wet though. Also, my MX sits too low, as a good bit
of -ve camber in front, and has too much tyre surface area for lots of
surface water - it aquaplanes. Scarily.
5. Reasonably predictable, makes it easier to drive fast when you can feel
grip loss coming. Happens pretty quickly though, but you have to be pushing
pretty hard when the tyres are hot.
6. No noticeable road noise - if that concerns you (I couldn't care one way
or 't'other)
4. I'm happy. YMMV

Finally, I think that Bridgestone have committed to making their Grid
Performance set in the same league as the 71X series. Otherwise I don't
think they would have discontinued the 71Xs. It seems that way from first
(1 month) impressions anyway.

h+c+z
(z)

lou Girardin

Grid 3 Tyre report - Re: Tyres (Grid III price)

Post by lou Girardin » Tue Nov 12, 2002 8:10 am

I.vet always found new tyres vaguely disappointing until they've done about a
1000km. Must be a combination of responsive steering and susp, and a fair bit
of neg camber. It takes a while for the tyres to wear in.
Lou

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