RE 720 v Yokohama A539

[tvrmark]

I know there's been a lot of threads regarding tyre choice but I've not seen one relating to A539. Currently I'm running A520's which I am happy with. When I come to relpace them which will be soon, do I go for the A520's replacements A539's or do I go for RE 720.

I want to retain the original size of tyre. Any views?

Mark

[Paceracing]

I used to run A520's on my S2 and found that grip in the dry was pretty good, but in the wet was awful. I switched to SO2 Potenza's in 55 profile, which were fantastic in all conditions.
I have never used RE720's or A539's on the TVR, but I have used the A539's and A520's on my race Fiesta as a 'control' tyre and found that in a back to back test the A539's are slightly better in the wet than the old A520's.
Finally, although I have never used the RE720's, lots of people here rate them very highly, and as I have said I love the SO2's. I would try the RE720's if I were you.

Jas.

[19560]

I'll second what paceracing said. I've got four 539s - they are good in the dry but I'm not happy in the wet so I've put them away for the winter and am running with F1 GS-D3s now which feel more positive (but not available in 60 profile.) I also have a couple of SO2PPs left which I like a lot (but again 55 profile.) If you are determined not to shift down 3% in rolling diameter then the REs may be a good choice.

[Midge]

I fitted RE720's to my S3c when the RE71's became unavailable and can honestly say they are the dog's b******s both in the dry and wet where as I found the RE71's a nightmare on a wet surface.

[shnozz]

I have just changd my SO2's to RE720's all round. I havent really gunned it with them yet as I want to give them a few hundred miles wear first plus the weather hasnt really let me since they were changed. I spoke to several people about what they recommended and that seemed a fairly common choice. Whilst many people run SO2's, nobody I spoke to gave the RE720 a bad write up so that why I went for it - oh and I wanted to go back to the original profile tyre and the ride is better now.

only downside is the feckwit tyre fitters have scratched the crap out of my (otherwise) immaculate original OZ alloys. bastards.

[tvrmark]

Paceracing said: I used to run A520's on my S2 and found that grip in the dry was pretty good, but in the wet was awful. I switched to SO2 Potenza's in 55 profile, which were fantastic in all conditions.

I always thought that about the A520's until I done a trackday when it was bucketing down, they gave a fantastic amount of grip. In damp conditions they are hopeless, the wetter it is the better they become.

Mark

[kev s3]

put 4 re720's on mine in june and have found excellent in all conditions (mostly wet). if its any help got them from manning u.k(01491 578759)pretty cheap i thought and delivery was only about 20squids.

[peterc]

I shopped around the tyre dealers in my area and was offered a variety of tyres at varying prices. I wanted four new tyres 205/60/vr15 so got their "best" offers (after bullying) Typically I was quoted around £75 to £95 per corner including valve, fitting, balancing, disposal and VAT. This was for things like Michelin, Firestone, Continentals etc.

I did manage to get a couple of quotes for Bridgestone RE71's, but the price varied from £105 up to £160 a corner. I considered this to be OTT.

I then went to my local Kwik-Fit (who had earlier promised to match my best deal) and they ordered for me a set of Bridgestone RE720's for £300 inc. They were ordered Thursday afternoon, arrived Friday and fitted Saturday morning. My thanks to Kwik-Fit

I chose the RE720's based upon the comments on PH's and the recommendations on the Tyres-Online Tyre Test Reviews web page.

[johno]

RE720's all the way !

Superb tyre.

Won the Hill Climb at Zolder with them on a S2.

Fantastic in the wet. Progressive in the dry. Had the ability to properly drift the car on track.

Made RE71's feel like they had been bold when on car previoulsy.

Yoko's are great in the dry. Crud in the wet.

Pirelli's also get a good write up on this forum aswell. P6000's seem to be popular although I think they are not as good as the RE720's and are a hard as nails whenever I touch them which does not inspire confidence with me.

[iguana]

I ran 4 RE720s on my Golf & thought they were ace wet or dry, until I replaced em with 4 A539s and I thought they were even better by quite a long way and they felt even better in the wet. Lasted ages too.

[shnozz]

peterc said: I shopped around the tyre dealers in my area and was offered a variety of tyres at varying prices. I wanted four new tyres 205/60/vr15 so got their "best" offers (after bullying) Typically I was quoted around £75 to £95 per corner including valve, fitting, balancing, disposal and VAT. This was for things like Michelin, Firestone, Continentals etc.

I did manage to get a couple of quotes for Bridgestone RE71's, but the price varied from £105 up to £160 a corner. I considered this to be OTT.

I then went to my local Kwik-Fit (who had earlier promised to match my best deal) and they ordered for me a set of Bridgestone RE720's for £300 inc. They were ordered Thursday afternoon, arrived Friday and fitted Saturday morning. My thanks to Kwik-Fit

I chose the RE720's based upon the comments on PH's and the recommendations on the Tyres-Online Tyre Test Reviews web page.

This isnt meant to sound "i did better than you did" - but i rang around a couple of places (including micheldever) and got a local backstreet tyre place to do mine at £69 a corner for RE720's, fitted and balanced. Suffice to say, its worth calling about.

[HarryW]

Don't know about the Yoko's, but I was chatting to a chap sprinting an S at Goodwood this summer and he rated the RE720's, being worth over 2 seconds a lap over the RE71's
Shame they don't do them in ZR rating or I'd have fitted them myself like a shot instead of the 71's when I had to change boots earlier in the year.

Harry

[deltaf]

Tried A539s, were awful.
Understeer in the wet was attrocious, squirmy in the dry.
Changed to Bridgestone Potenza S01, transformed!
Ill never use another type unless its made by Bridgestone.

[Paceracing]

HarryW said: Don't know about the Yoko's, but I was chatting to a chap sprinting an S at Goodwood this summer and he rated the RE720's, being worth over 2 seconds a lap over the RE71's
Harry

Sounds very surprising! 2 seconds is an enormous amount of time when it comes to Sprinting. A second would be pushing things IMHO. It is possible that the old RE71's were totally knackered when he replaced them.

Jas.

[HarryW]

Probably a combination of both plus more experience of the track (bigger kahonas maybe).
More a case of pointing out that they are superior in performance to the old 71's, but they still don't do them in ZR's which is a shame.

Harry

[johno]

HarryW said: Probably a combination of both plus more experience of the track (bigger kahonas maybe).
More a case of pointing out that they are superior in performance to the old 71's, but they still don't do them in ZR's which is a shame.

Harry

If that was the V8S sprinting at Goodwood this year when Steve bent the Wedge and I missed HarryW he was wearing RE720's, and it was a V8S !! He was sprinting them aswell !!

[iguana]

Ha ha look at the differences of opinion here
I say A539s are ace, but deltaf

deltaf said: Tried A539s, were awful.

So make ya own mind up I guess!!

deltaf im suprised you think that, coz I really rate those 539s what car were the yokos fitted to?

[19560]

I have a set of A539s which I use in the summer - great in the dry but I find them a little nervous in the wet. I think that S02PPs or F1 GS-D3s are best for the winter but you'll have to change to 55 profiles for that.

[HarryW]

johno said:

HarryW said: Probably a combination of both plus more experience of the track (bigger kahonas maybe).
More a case of pointing out that they are superior in performance to the old 71's, but they still don't do them in ZR's which is a shame.

Harry

If that was the V8S sprinting at Goodwood this year when Steve bent the Wedge and I missed HarryW he was wearing RE720's, and it was a V8S !! He was sprinting them aswell !!

Yep Johno same guy, just didn't want to highlight that someone about running the wrong speed rated tyres at a high speed circuit, particulary in a competative event . He did seem a bit suprised when i asked him the same question in the pits though.

Harry

[granty]

If anyone is interested, I have got a brand new pair of SO2PP's available.Send me an e-mail from my profile.

>> Edited by granty to read SO2's instead of RE71's(sorry for confusion) on Monday 2nd December 22:42

>> Edited by granty on Monday 2nd December 22:55