bridgestones don't...

["Dave Eaton" <Dave.Eaton@clear.net.nz>]

i am now satisfied that the bridgestone s02 pole positions recently fitted
to the rs2 are the cause of the sudden case of rim bending that i have
encountered (3 and counting).  sure rough roads have contributed, but the
old sp8000's coped with exactly the same roads without any difficulties.

the cause seems to be the much stiffer tyre sidewall that the s02 pp's have
than the old sp8000's.  these cushion the rims a lot less than the sp8000.
i would also say that, on the rs2, there seems to be little if any direct
benefit in handling which results from this characteristic.  the rs2 with
sp8000's was a very good combination (as you should expect with the
homologated tyre i guess).  perhaps the s02 will be better in the wet than
the sp8000's but, as yet, the rains haven't come for me to test the s02's
properly.  certainly the sp8000's were pretty good in the wet, so i had no
complaints there anyway.

pantelis has had the same problem in greece with the same tyres and the same
rims.

the (expensive) decision i have come to is to replace the s02's with
sp8000's which my tyre fitter has managed to source from germany.  stocks
are still available apparently, despite "last orders" being put out on the
tyres 6 months ago.

so, a warning to listers using, or thinking of using s02's on alloy rims.
be careful out there...

dave
'95 rs2
'90 ur-q