Federal 595 RS-R General consensus?

[JBliss]

In the quest for more grip, The next thing on the list is better tyres.
I remember a few people on here talking about the Federal 595's. I do most of my driving on the road, in the dry and a handful of trackdays per year. Prices for the 595s are very cheap in comparison to the Michelins. What are your thoughts?

595's full set £490
Michelin £868

[mgbond]

I like them and found them fine when I was at Rockingham.
I don't drive on the limit though but they suit me. I've had them on all winter also and only had a couple of little moments.

[mrpbailey]

£490? Where's that from? I paid more like £750 last year in standard size.

I don't like them. I'm a fairly inexperienced track driver and even for my level they don't offer anywhere near enough grip. I'd say they're only slightly more grippy than the standard SO3's on track, in the dry. They do seem to have lasted quite well though.

Mine still have plenty of life in them but I'll be changing them in the next few weeks, probably for the michelin cups. So if anyone's interested in some part worn RSR's give me a shout

[Mike Tuckwood]

mrpbailey said:

£490? Where's that from? I paid more like £750 last year in standard size.

I don't like them. I'm a fairly inexperienced track driver and even for my level they don't offer anywhere near enough grip. I'd say they're only slightly more grippy than the standard SO3's on track, in the dry. They do seem to have lasted quite well though.

Mine still have plenty of life in them but I'll be changing them in the next few weeks, probably for the michelin cups. So if anyone's interested in some part worn RSR's give me a shout

In all fairness to Federal, they aren't marketed as a "Premium Brand" Tyre, despite being their top Performance product. They actually fall a couple of bands below that. They're an economy brand tyre, and that is obvious from their price point.
My son has them on his Impreza type R, different application I know but for the money, they are fantastic performers, not really close to the all out performance track day slick options though, but not that kind of money either.

Take a look at www.tyrereviews.co.uk for comparisons?



Mike.

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

mrpbailey said:

...and even for my level they don't offer anywhere near enough grip.

Compared to what is the question, or enough for what?

[mgbond]

mrpbailey said:

£490? Where's that from? I paid more like £750 last year in standard size.

I don't like them. I'm a fairly inexperienced track driver and even for my level they don't offer anywhere near enough grip. I'd say they're only slightly more grippy than the standard SO3's on track, in the dry. They do seem to have lasted quite well though.

Mine still have plenty of life in them but I'll be changing them in the next few weeks, probably for the michelin cups. So if anyone's interested in some part worn RSR's give me a shout

I only paid £550 last year from daemon tweaks. Same cost as cam skill.

I've driven a few track days in the noble and all bar one were on bridgestones RE050's. I found that the RSRs deffinatly had more grip.

[JBliss]

Can't remember exactly where i got the price for them..

I think its a case of holding out and going for the Michelins. Ive found a good cheap source for the fronts from www.lovetyres.co.uk but they dont have the rears listed. Waiting to hear back.

[arabian]

I was looking at getting federals to replace my toyos. when I spoke to a couple of tyre specialists they both said the federals wore out far quicker and lost grip and that toyo R1R's were a better compromise for track and road so I went with the toyos. I've only just put them on, they seem very sticky and I am due at brands hatch early june so can let you know then. Mine is a basic 2.5, only 325bhp so whether any tyre choice will make huge difference I don't know. when I asked the same question earlier this year everyone had different opinions so I guess you have to go with what suits your pocket and ambitions best and see what happens !

[JBliss]

thanks for that Mike.

How long do we expect the Michelin cups to last? Considering i only do a few trackdays a year, and never really drive in the wet, would it be worth going for something like the Michelin/Toyo r888 or am i just going to destroy them on the street?

[TuxMan]

One 1500 miles on mine so far , with 500 on track and so far they look great , recon I will get the seaon out of them !

Tux

[mrpbailey]

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

ompared to what is the question, or enough for what?

Enough for me to go round corners quicker!

mgbond said:

I only paid £550 last year from daemon tweaks. Same cost as cam skill.

Oops seems my £750 was wrong, I just checked my invoice and they cost me £670 from Demon Tweeks as Camskill didn't have the correct size in stock. That was in May last year.
Are you sure yours were that much cheaper, from the same place?

I agree that the Federals are not a premium tyre like the Michelins or Toyo R888's but got caught up in a lot of reviews that the RSR's were better value for money. Wish I'd just spent that extra couple of hundred quid now!

[mgbond]

mrpbailey said:

Oops seems my £750 was wrong, I just checked my invoice and they cost me £670 from Demon Tweeks as Camskill didn't have the correct size in stock. That was in May last year.
Are you sure yours were that much cheaper, from the same place?

I agree that the Federals are not a premium tyre like the Michelins or Toyo R888's but got caught up in a lot of reviews that the RSR's were better value for money. Wish I'd just spent that extra couple of hundred quid now!

Maybe it was closer to 600 can't remember?

I'm happy with and will probably use them again. For winter tyres I'm going to go for Avon ZZ3

[JBliss]

The price of £490 delivered was from Oponeo.
I might take a punt on them see what happens.

[mgbond]

JBliss said:

The price of £490 delivered was from Oponeo.
I might take a punt on them see what happens.

That's a great price just checked them out. Will remember that for next time.