Bridgestone RE002

[sapper]

Just had these fitted and the tread looks wrong to me, V points forward on one side of the car and backwards on the other. Anyone else got them fitted and are these correct?

[QBee]

If it doesn't say "Rotation ----->" on the outside, then they are fine.

[sapper]

No it doesn't say rotation, just "outside"

[Smokey Boyer]

Assuming your wheels are photographed as they came off the car with the outer part of the wheel to the outside of the photo you have them on the right way as far as I can tell by comparing them to the Bridgestone website.

Thinking about these for my 500 but can only find them in the 400/430/450 non power steering size of 205/55/15 for the fronts and 225/50/16 for the back, which is the size the car has on at the moment. There are lots of options for tyres in this size.

According to what I have read the 500 with power steering should have 225/50/15 at the front and 245/45/16 at the back, but I can only find those sizes as a Toyo T1R.

Should I go for the Toyo in the 500 size or the more commonly available 400 sized tyre and give myself some more options on tyres? Other than my existing tyres (mix of Toyo T1 Sport and T1R) are old they seem ok, but do not know how much better or worse the car might be on the larger tyres.

Edited by Smokey Boyer on Sunday 14th June 08:06

[PH430]

Those Bridgestone are superb to my Chim, but i have 17 inch all around.
They have very strong sidewalls. On my 17 rims 91 and 93 i believe.

[PH430]

sapper said:

No it doesn't say rotation, just "outside"

Always outside on the outside.

[QBee]

A lot of Chimaeras are run on T1Rs, and the drivers seem happy on them. Good all round tyre.
Just don't try to do a dry weather track day on a brand new set, it will trash them.

[Crumpet]

I've got these on my 500 and they're very good. Certainly on a par with the Toyos that I had on previously in the 'correct' size.

[JWzed]

Agree. Always been pro Bridgestone since my biking days and got them on my 400. Car seems very sure footed. Would buy them again. "Outside" is outside facing you on each wheel.

[cureton]

Yes, that's correct. Outside should be outside but the tread pattern is not bound to a direction. Looks odd only if you know. Good tyre though.

[sapper]

Thanks for all the replies Gents. I phoned Bridgestone today and spoke to the tech support section.
I explained my dilema and was told that there is no left or right tyre as long as outside is outside.
So my tyres are fitted correctly.
I did question them as to why Bridgestone would spend money on R&D the create a tread pattern and then say it doesn't matter which way it faced when on the car.

[QBee]

Will you be using them on Friday?

[sapper]

QBee said:

Will you be using them on Friday?

Yes mate, it should give them a good test. If they get trashed I'll swap for something else.

[QBee]

sapper said:

QBee said:

Will you be using them on Friday?

Yes mate, it should give them a good test. If they get trashed I'll swap for something else.

On a dry warm track it is best to run on tread no deeper than 5mm. Running new tyres is like doing an F1 race in the dry on wet weather tyres.......you risk ruining them, as the tread blocks move about too much and overheat.

[ianwayne]

sapper said:

Thanks for all the replies Gents. I phoned Bridgestone today and spoke to the tech support section.
I explained my dilema and was told that there is no left or right tyre as long as outside is outside.
So my tyres are fitted correctly.
I did question them as to why Bridgestone would spend money on R&D the create a tread pattern and then say it doesn't matter which way it faced when on the car.

Putting 'Outside' on a tyre is the same as putting a rotational arrow on it really. The tyre would have to mounted the correct way round on each side of the car.