Bridgestone Potenza RE730 Gen II vs. BF Goodrich G Force T/A KDWS...Any Comments?

[RubyDropTop]

Hi -

Does anyone have any first hand knowledge/experience with either of these 2 different tires? It's time to put new sneakers on the Vette for Spring, but I'm trying to weigh my options. Thanks for any insight.

 

[Vettelt193]

What are you trying to get out of the tire? I don't autocross, and don't mind a $$ for some traction at the drag strip so I go for a lower cost tire that has good wet and all around traction.... what are your preferences etc?

 

[*89x2*]

new shoes for your Ruby
I don't know but am interested in the answer myself
(My Ruby has brand new tires, soooo... )

 

[Bob 89]

I love my Potenzas. I do not take it out in the rain so I cannot speak for their wet weather traction and handling but in the dry they are SUPER. Got them from Tirerack.com

Bob

 

[RubyDropTop]

Preferences...that's a good place to start. Well, I don't road race or autocross, and I try to avoid rain at all costs.

I do, however, like to drive aggressively on the street from time to time. Grip on dry pavement is a crucial point to me. I'd like the tire to hold tight when pushing it through a turn.

I hear the Michelin Pilot Sports are great, but I'm not ready to spend that kind of money on a tire. I was looking at about $160.00 for the fronts, and $180.00 for the backs. I'd prefer to stay with the "American" tires, so Kumhos (sp?), Yokohama, etc. aren't really the road I wanted to take.

The sooner I get these GSC's off, the better. :bang

 

[RubyDropTop]

Bob 89 -

How would you rate the dry pavement grip of the Potenza's? Do they hold an aggressive turn? And are yours the Gen II, or did you purchase them before they made that change? Thanks.

 

[kfehling]

Bridgestones for me

I changed my Goodyear GSCs at 25,000 miles to Bridgestone Potenza RE730s. This was two years ago so I am not sure which "generation" they are. However, I love them. My car (FE1 suspension) rides much better and MUCH quieter than with the Goodyears. I paid about $800 out the door (mounted and balanced). I have driven it only a few times in the rain last year and can say that the grip was great. As for the dry, I have autocrossed a few times and they were better than the Goodyears but still allowed quite a bit of understeer despite the alignment changes. On the street, I think they will give you all the grip you want without risking life and limb. I would buy them again--in fact I may have to soon.

 

[dburgjohn]

Goodrich KDWS

I am two months into a set of Goodrich KDWS and love them. Good ride, low noise and much better price. I do not race, but I am subject to 'bits of speed' <G>

 

[RubyDropTop]

Seems like both tires are well liked. Discount Tire Direct is now offering free shipping via Fed Ex, and that makes it tempting to order the BF Goodrich tires from them.

They do not carry the Potenza RE730 Gen II tires, unfortunately.

I was also looking at the TireRack.com, but there's no free shipping there.

 

[jmccloud]

Tires

There's a fantastic tire comparison at the tirerack site Even if you don't buy from it's worth a look.

 

[Daryllawman]

I use the BF Goodrich.....I put all four on my 88 Vette....makes the ride great......

 

[Bob 89]

RubyDroTOp - They are not GenII's. Got them right before GenII's hit the market. They are much better than the original Goodyears, but I am not a fan of Goodyears. I think the Potenza's handle better than my previous Dunlop 8000's and are definitily QUIETER, than both the Goodyears and Dunlop's.

The Potenza's tend to be a little stiffer than my Dunlops early in the morning, or may I am just older .

I know folks who like the BFG. I don't think you can go wrong with either.

Bob White

 

[bowtie911]

I'm running the Goodrich's on both of my vettes. I really like them. I've also run them on other vehicles. Can say anything about the other brand, never tried them. Just my $.02.

 

[c4cruiser]

Don't have the Gen II's

but the RE730's have been on my 92 roadster for over 2 years now and they have been a superb tire. Have done about a dozen autocross events (both low speed and high speed) and 3 track days with them. They have excellent grip in turns and also off the line at a light.

They are quiet running and very predictable at their limits. I haven't done a lot of wet weather driving on them, but they don't seem to hydroplane on wet roads.

I bought mine from the Tire Rack and would happily do so again.

 

[RubyDropTop]

Re: Don't have the Gen II's

Predictability at their limits is very important to me, so that is good to know about the Potenza's. The GSC's that are on the car now, really don't seem to offer any "feedback" (if that makes sense) as to what their intentions are - are they going to hold tight in a corner or let loose? It's an uneasy feeling, and I can't wait to get them off the car.

but the RE730's have been on my 92 roadster for over 2 years now and they have been a superb tire. Have done about a dozen autocross events (both low speed and high speed) and 3 track days with them. They have excellent grip in turns and also off the line at a light.

They are quiet running and very predictable at their limits. I haven't done a lot of wet weather driving on them, but they don't seem to hydroplane on wet roads.

I bought mine from the Tire Rack and would happily do so again.

 

[sanman]

My re730s are great,very low noise level compaired to gsc`s
handleing and feedback are also great.they do tend to grab a little on road seams.$800.00 mounted and balanced they are a
exellent tire at a good price,i would buy them again.

 

[vee93]

Well, before my "incident" last Sunday, I was riding on BF Goodrich's 285/40/17s all around. Quiet riding tire with good traction. $160.00 from Wal-Mart, since the Goodrich dealers down here didn't have them in stock and wanted to charge $200+ per tire.
vee

 

[CKA_Racing]

Ruby,
Any reason you why you are trying to compare an All-Season performance tire to a non All-Season Performance tire? Is cost an issue?
Is getting as much mileage out of your tires an issue?

The All-Season KDWS will have less traction in the dry than the RE730. The KDWS has a Treadware rating of 400. That's pretty high for a tire that's expected to have high grip in the dry. FYI, the S on teh end of KDWS refers to SNOW. Sounds to me like you would be better off with the RE730 which has a rating of 300. I have driven on All-Season performace tires and they don't compare to true Performance tires when driven at the limit. I could not even come close to pushing it as hard as I did with the Performance tires. If you have enough funds take a look at the KDW. This tire compares more on the level of the RE730 but does cost more. Not sure why you don't like Kumhos but thier MX tire is a very good buy and has excellent grip, wear and low cost.
I know exactly what you mean about the GSC's on their now. When they let go, they let go with no warning.

 

[*89x2*]

...When they let go, they let go with no warning.

My Goodyears did that to me once... Once. Now they are part of an endtable ensamble

 

[CKA_Racing]

My Goodyears did that to me once... Once. Now they are part of an endtable ensamble

Yes, and they are nice end tables at that.