Is anyone confusing the GXP tires with the regular Solstice tire? My GXP came stock with Eagle F1 summer only tires. I think they are great and I have even used these tires in some light snow without too much drama.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Donald
I think the RSA's get a bad wrap for several reasons, including under/over inflation, modifications to car, and driver inexperience or error. I'm not trying to portray these as great all-weather tires, which they are not. They are fair in wet and dry conditions and I've posted on this in the past, including driving for some time in a tropical storm/heavy rain and wind last year. Chance of a recall is zero.
Funny, because I have always heard RSAs complained about. We're not talking about Corvette owners, but Mustangs and Crown Vics (or was it Caprices? Can't remember). RSAs seem to just plain suck compared to the competition. Or maybe I've just heard from one side of the story. Because I've read a lot from people who hate them but not many who recommend them.
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I have to say that I have not heard many glowing reviews of RS-A's either. They are, in essence, a basic street tire that don't really do anything all that exceptionally. An overall compromise, and maybe not even the best overall compromise.
Jimbo ... we're not saying its the BEST tire ... just that its not as bad as some are making it out to be - i.e. worthy of a recall.
That is why many agree that it would be nice, now that there are many options out there, IF the tire choice was optional for Solstice/Sky purchasers.
If I could find a great deal on a different brand like I did on the second set of RSAs I had ... then I would grab them up in a heartbeat too. My next tires will have to be ALL SEASONS again - but I will go with something a little better than the RSAs - as long as I can beat the price.
__________________ I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!
#139640 '07 NA Sly Fully Loaded 12/1/07
#106614 12/15/05 NA Sly Traded @ 35k Miles
Be too blessed to be stressed! ~ Joel Osteen If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it.
That shouldn't surprise you, that's the way search engines work.
Stock tires, in most cases, are not picked by the auto manufacture for performance extremes. This should come as no surprise with the base price of these cars. Criteria for OEM tires include price, ride quality, noise levels, safety concerns, tread life, handling and lastly high speed concerns.
No doubt there are many models from dozens of manufactures that have better handling and speed ratings. However, for the average driver, they may give higher consideration to ride quality and noise levels. Unfortunately lower noise and better ride quality (agreed very subjective) are mutually exclusive from better handling and high speed performance.
The manufacture does not take into account the numerous mods available as well. It's not surprising that people who add additional HP find the tires wanting. In my opinion tires and suspension should be the first mods, but reality is most people add the HP then discover their tires aren't up to the task of keeping the car on line. Big surprise that they post all over the web that their RSA's suck.
Rear wheel drive cars are much different in their handling, wet and dry, than front wheel drive. Most drivers, today have relatively little recent rear wheel drive experience. Their inexperience quickly get them into trouble their first few times out in adverse conditions and the tires are the easiest scape goat.
My personal experience with the RSA's are they are an average tire in both wet and dry conditions. In extreme wet conditions last summer (Tropical storm Barry, I think) I drove about 50 miles through heavy wind blown rain and standing water. My average speed was about 50 mph, which was just below the limit of 55 mph. This was not a white knuckle drive for me, but my tires where properly inflated and I've considerable experience in rain with RWD cars.
In dry conditions they give plenty of warning, both audibly and through the steering when they near their limits. However, if the car is modified, or driver inexperienced, he may not be able to react quick enough to avoid trouble. Combine the inexperience, modified car, improper inflation etc and you have a recipe for trouble.
I've had tires this wide on a 1300 lb. car (Classic Mini S) 80 mph + in 4" per hr rain with no problems. These tires are not rain worthy period. I'm ditching mine at 20K because I want to live & not endanger others & not drive 45mph. (which again endangers myself & others. I live in Houston , Tx. When it rains, It really rains!
This is weird I didn't make this original post. It was in response to another thread.
But what do I care the stock tires are off my car and I don't plan on buying another set. But when I can drive quite safely on one set of tires at 100mph in the rain and the stock tires slip and slide at 60mph there is something wrong. If you don't mind then so be it. But for me this has got to be the worst tire I have ever driven on.
Amen bro, I really can't believe that there aren't more people speaking up. I didn't put more than 500 miles on my RSA's and I knew that something wasn't right. Those tires weren't any good in ANY conditions. (Yes, they were properly inflated, and yes, I know how to drive) They are as unpredictable as a snake, give you absolutely no confidence at all while driving and white knuckled in the rain and snow. Went to a different tire and brought the soul out of my Solstice. Luckily, I found some chump at work that needed 18" tires. I showed him the Tire Rack page that had them priced at an amazing $225 apiece. So when I offered him the whole set for $300 he jumped on it thinking he was getting the deal of the century. Little does he know the roller coaster ride that he's in for. Any car riding on RSA's are an accident waiting to happen plain and simple.
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2006 Envious base car loaded w/manual trans, limited slip, black/charcoal interior, custom Solo "Storm" single outlet exhaust with 4" tip. Vector tune, Dashhawk, K&N flat panel air filter, Dunlop Direzza Z1 tires, black GM splashguards, 2" machined aluminum stubby antenna and 1/4" tinted Windjammer wind restrictor.
Last edited by Envious06 : 05-27-2008 at 06:45 PM.
Amen bro, I really can't believe that there aren't more people speaking up. I didn't put more than 500 miles on my RSA's and I knew that something wasn't right. Those tires weren't any good in ANY conditions. They are as unpredictable as a snake, give you absolutely no confidence at all while driving and white knuckled in the rain and snow. Went to a different tire and brought the soul out of my Solstice. Luckily, I found some chump at work that needed 18" tires. I showed him the Tire Rack page that had them priced at an amazing $225 apiece. So when I offered him the whole set for $300 he jumped on it thinking he was getting the deal of the century. Little does he know the roller coaster ride that he's in for. Any car riding on RSA's are an accident waiting to happen plain and simple.
I just happened to think of something .... at what pressure did you run your RSAs??
BTW ... you do have a right to your opinion with regard to these tires ... but so do many of the rest of us who have not only driven in rain and snow, pushed them to their limits, but also run them on racetracks and at Autocrosses ... all without the same issues a couple of you have experienced. That is why I wonder about the air pressure as possibly the reason behind those having worse experiences than others.
I do know that a difference of just a couple of pounds makes a VERY noticeable difference in the handling of our car.
__________________ I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!
#139640 '07 NA Sly Fully Loaded 12/1/07
#106614 12/15/05 NA Sly Traded @ 35k Miles
Be too blessed to be stressed! ~ Joel Osteen If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it.
Well gee Moms, I believe I followed proper procedures by setting them up at 29 psi cold when I first got the car and drove it from Delaware back to Ohio. When I found out how terrible they were, I experimented between 25 and auto-crossed them at 35 psi. They just plain sucked. I wish you would try a real set of tires so you would see what you're missing out on. In the mean time, I guess I'll just have to accept the fact that yourself and Aspenrose are just better drivers than me.
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2006 Envious base car loaded w/manual trans, limited slip, black/charcoal interior, custom Solo "Storm" single outlet exhaust with 4" tip. Vector tune, Dashhawk, K&N flat panel air filter, Dunlop Direzza Z1 tires, black GM splashguards, 2" machined aluminum stubby antenna and 1/4" tinted Windjammer wind restrictor.
Well gee Moms, I believe I followed proper procedures by setting them up at 29 psi cold when I first got the car and drove it from Delaware back to Ohio. When I found out how terrible they were, I experimented between 25 and auto-crossed them at 35 psi. They just plain sucked. I wish you would try a real set of tires so you would see what you're missing out on. In the mean time, I guess I'll just have to accept the fact that yourself and Aspenrose are just better drivers than me.
That's not at all what I was getting at ... I simply thought that perhaps the air pressure might have been the issue that caused problems for some and not others. I meant no other implication whatsoever.
I apologize if it was inferred or you mistook my intent
I do look forward to the day that I can purchase 'stickier' tires that are better in the Rain and Snow ... but until that time I will be happy with my RSAs.
__________________ I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!
#139640 '07 NA Sly Fully Loaded 12/1/07
#106614 12/15/05 NA Sly Traded @ 35k Miles
Be too blessed to be stressed! ~ Joel Osteen If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought the Mini was front wheel drive.
Yes its FWD which doesn't make much difference concerning hydroplaning. Excelerating, some maybe, steady state cruising, NOT. Contact patch relative to weight displacement & water displacement in a tread design matter.
Amen bro, I really can't believe that there aren't more people speaking up. I didn't put more than 500 miles on my RSA's and I knew that something wasn't right. Those tires weren't any good in ANY conditions. (Yes, they were properly inflated, and yes, I know how to drive) They are as unpredictable as a snake, give you absolutely no confidence at all while driving and white knuckled in the rain and snow. Went to a different tire and brought the soul out of my Solstice. Luckily, I found some chump at work that needed 18" tires. I showed him the Tire Rack page that had them priced at an amazing $225 apiece. So when I offered him the whole set for $300 he jumped on it thinking he was getting the deal of the century. Little does he know the roller coaster ride that he's in for. Any car riding on RSA's are an accident waiting to happen plain and simple. 
