Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 Tires
02-21-17, 08:34 AM
#46
Pole Position
Thread Starter
I haven't gotten them yet. I just got the call they are in but probably won't get them installed until tomorrow morning. I'll give my impressions after the break in period. I was wanting the PS4S tires, but I can not get them in time. For $700 installed, I'm willing to give these a try.
02-22-17, 07:00 AM
#47
I haven't gotten them yet. I just got the call they are in but probably won't get them installed until tomorrow morning. I'll give my impressions after the break in period. I was wanting the PS4S tires, but I can not get them in time. For $700 installed, I'm willing to give these a try.
02-22-17, 07:22 AM
#48
These have been out in Japan for about a year now branded as a Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE003. It is beyond me why they chose to brand this as a Firestone in the US but they did. They also chose to keep the same exact name as the tire old tire it replaces (firehawk indy 500) which will cause a lot of confusion considering they are *completely* different tires from a different lineage in Bridgestone's tire family. I plan to pick up a set to try out for giggles. So far the feedback in Japan looks really good, they should be a little more aggressive than most other tires in the max and UHP category and they should be able to handle some track use without chunking (unlike most other tires in the max and UHP category). They kind of remind me of a baby Potenza RE-11. If you follow tires closely these are actually in the same family as the Bridgestone Potenza RE760 sport, (aka Adrenalin RE001 in Japan) just two generations newer since they never brought the last generation tire (Adrenalin RE002) over to the US.
-Matt M.
-Matt M.
02-22-17, 12:56 PM
#49
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Firestone was doing a $100 off for Presidents Day sale. I took advantage of it. Unfortunately, they scratched three of out the four wheels in the process of installing the tires. The guy obviously didn't know what he was doing so now they have to pay to get my wheels repaired. Just another headache.
02-24-17, 09:49 AM
#50
I never actually ended up picking up a set for myself since I came up on a deal for a few sets of Pirelli Corsas for silly cheap. I still plan on trying a set of the Firestones once I burn through these but it'll probably be another year or so at least. I did get a chance to try them on one of my student's cars at a track event back in December but I can't give a full impression because I was not driving the car very hard (not my car and I didn't want to break anything). They felt fairly sticky for a true street tire and subjectively better (more responsive and communicative) than most of the other top tires in the UHP and max performance summer categories (including everyone's favorite, the MPSS). On the street I don't doubt they will produce a little more NVH than most others in the category but that's usually the tradeoff when you make a stiffer casing.
-Matt M.
-Matt M.
03-08-17, 08:52 AM
#51
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Just wanted to post an update. I'm just past the 500 mile break in on the tires. I will tell you the experience of dealing with Firestone is enough to turn me off of these tires. I'll order them through Tire Rack next time and let someone else install them. Firestone demolished all four of my wheels while mounting these tires. They ended up paying to get all four wheels refinished so I guess it wasn't the end of the world for me. Just lost time.
As for the tires, so far they have plenty of grip but that could be the fact I went from OEM sizes to 245/35 front and 275/30 rear. I will say the Michelin's have more feedback through the steering wheel than these tires, but looking past that the tires have been good so far. They are far quieter than the PSS tires as far as road noise. I noticed I have turned my radio way down compared to when I had the PSS's. I plan to take them on a mountain run once the weather warms up a little bit. My only gripe with these tires, they flat spot easily. Overnight in the garage, it takes a few miles to get them smooth again. I know others have mentioned the same deal with these tires. The ride feels stiffer than than the PSS's but again, that could be attributed to the new sizes, lower profile tires.
For $600 bucks, I really can't complain. Would I buy them again? Only time will tell, still fresh on a new set.
As for the tires, so far they have plenty of grip but that could be the fact I went from OEM sizes to 245/35 front and 275/30 rear. I will say the Michelin's have more feedback through the steering wheel than these tires, but looking past that the tires have been good so far. They are far quieter than the PSS tires as far as road noise. I noticed I have turned my radio way down compared to when I had the PSS's. I plan to take them on a mountain run once the weather warms up a little bit. My only gripe with these tires, they flat spot easily. Overnight in the garage, it takes a few miles to get them smooth again. I know others have mentioned the same deal with these tires. The ride feels stiffer than than the PSS's but again, that could be attributed to the new sizes, lower profile tires.
For $600 bucks, I really can't complain. Would I buy them again? Only time will tell, still fresh on a new set.
Last edited by PatrickISF; 03-08-17 at 08:57 AM.
03-08-17, 04:44 PM
#53
I went to Firestone a few time like over 15 years ago, nothing major, oil etc. but the one time I took my 91 Foxbody for an alignment, they said they had to drill some holes to align correctly: i ended up paying an additional $60 bucks. this is before i really knew(not that i'm an expert) before working on my cars, etc and suspension, alignments etc. I knew it was BS and i was waiting to buy caster/camber plates, but said, WTH, i don't want any issues with the steering. in other words, I wouldn't let Firestone touch my car(s) unless its an emergency or if i need air in my tires.
03-09-17, 11:19 AM
#54
Just wanted to post an update. I'm just past the 500 mile break in on the tires. I will tell you the experience of dealing with Firestone is enough to turn me off of these tires. I'll order them through Tire Rack next time and let someone else install them. Firestone demolished all four of my wheels while mounting these tires. They ended up paying to get all four wheels refinished so I guess it wasn't the end of the world for me. Just lost time.
As for the tires, so far they have plenty of grip but that could be the fact I went from OEM sizes to 245/35 front and 275/30 rear. I will say the Michelin's have more feedback through the steering wheel than these tires, but looking past that the tires have been good so far. They are far quieter than the PSS tires as far as road noise. I noticed I have turned my radio way down compared to when I had the PSS's. I plan to take them on a mountain run once the weather warms up a little bit. My only gripe with these tires, they flat spot easily. Overnight in the garage, it takes a few miles to get them smooth again. I know others have mentioned the same deal with these tires. The ride feels stiffer than than the PSS's but again, that could be attributed to the new sizes, lower profile tires.
For $600 bucks, I really can't complain. Would I buy them again? Only time will tell, still fresh on a new set.
As for the tires, so far they have plenty of grip but that could be the fact I went from OEM sizes to 245/35 front and 275/30 rear. I will say the Michelin's have more feedback through the steering wheel than these tires, but looking past that the tires have been good so far. They are far quieter than the PSS tires as far as road noise. I noticed I have turned my radio way down compared to when I had the PSS's. I plan to take them on a mountain run once the weather warms up a little bit. My only gripe with these tires, they flat spot easily. Overnight in the garage, it takes a few miles to get them smooth again. I know others have mentioned the same deal with these tires. The ride feels stiffer than than the PSS's but again, that could be attributed to the new sizes, lower profile tires.
For $600 bucks, I really can't complain. Would I buy them again? Only time will tell, still fresh on a new set.
As far as the tires go I want to point out a few things that validate what you're feeling- for any given wheel width, putting wider tires on will reduce feel and feedback since the wider tire is less supported. Also that new tires will always feel more numb and comfortable/quiet than worn tires. I tend to buy tires in bulk since I go through so many (
) and after running several sets of the same tires in the same sizes back to back to back I've noticed a few things. To me the car always feels like garbage being driven aggressively when the tires are brand new. It's great ultimate grip and most tires are fastest new but everything just feels softer and mushier since at full tread depth there is so much tread squirm. It's not until 6-7/32" tread depth that a lot of the feel and feedback starts to come back but the car will always "feel" best and most response with only 1-2/32" tread depth. Of course as they wear they wear the NVH goes up on the street too but it's to be expected.-Matt M.
Last edited by SpeedFreaksUSA; 03-09-17 at 11:22 AM.
03-10-17, 07:55 AM
#55
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Sorry you had to deal with Firestone. I learned that lesson a while back and now only take my nice wheels to shops with touch-less machines and techs who are used to dealing with stiff and short sidewalls and/or more expensive wheels. Most of the less expensive places hire people who aren't trained very well and will treat your wheels the same way they treat any cheap steel wheel with hubcaps. At least they paid for yours to get refinished... you are the minority.
As far as the tires go I want to point out a few things that validate what you're feeling- for any given wheel width, putting wider tires on will reduce feel and feedback since the wider tire is less supported. Also that new tires will always feel more numb and comfortable/quiet than worn tires. I tend to buy tires in bulk since I go through so many ( ) and after running several sets of the same tires in the same sizes back to back to back I've noticed a few things. To me the car always feels like garbage being driven aggressively when the tires are brand new. It's great ultimate grip and most tires are fastest new but everything just feels softer and mushier since at full tread depth there is so much tread squirm. It's not until 6-7/32" tread depth that a lot of the feel and feedback starts to come back but the car will always "feel" best and most response with only 1-2/32" tread depth. Of course as they wear they wear the NVH goes up on the street too but it's to be expected.
-Matt M.
As far as the tires go I want to point out a few things that validate what you're feeling- for any given wheel width, putting wider tires on will reduce feel and feedback since the wider tire is less supported. Also that new tires will always feel more numb and comfortable/quiet than worn tires. I tend to buy tires in bulk since I go through so many (
) and after running several sets of the same tires in the same sizes back to back to back I've noticed a few things. To me the car always feels like garbage being driven aggressively when the tires are brand new. It's great ultimate grip and most tires are fastest new but everything just feels softer and mushier since at full tread depth there is so much tread squirm. It's not until 6-7/32" tread depth that a lot of the feel and feedback starts to come back but the car will always "feel" best and most response with only 1-2/32" tread depth. Of course as they wear they wear the NVH goes up on the street too but it's to be expected.-Matt M.
03-10-17, 11:35 AM
#56
Lexus Fanatic
Glad to hear they took care of you. As far as the tires im afraid of Firestone because my brother handled many law suits for clients injured or killed in those accidents with firestone tires back in the day. I know it was a long time ago but it's been a turn off and I don't they ever rebounded fully from it.
03-10-17, 01:24 PM
#57
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Glad to hear they took care of you. As far as the tires im afraid of Firestone because my brother handled many law suits for clients injured or killed in those accidents with firestone tires back in the day. I know it was a long time ago but it's been a turn off and I don't they ever rebounded fully from it.
03-26-17, 01:48 PM
#60
Driver School Candidate
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Firehawk 500
Got these tires as well. So far no regrets and I don't miss the PSS tires I had before. Great for DD and canyon runs. Grip is "as good as" the Michelin. However the PSS has a bit more feedback. Ride comfort is better than the PSS, still bumpy but not as bone jarring. I can corner with more confidence without upsetting the car. Especially on socal's broken roads. Plus, cant beat the price. It was nice not having to spend over grand for tires
Last edited by Fsport416; 03-26-17 at 01:57 PM.