Stu
01-26-2012, 05:10 PM
Because I haven't seen many reviews of this online, I thought I'd give my experiences with it. So far, I've put about 87 miles on the tire. Not a lot, but enough for me to talk about how they are. This is coming from the viewpoint of your average driver, occasionally I'll take the off-ramp fast but that's about it. If you're looking for a spirited review, Car and Driver has you covered. (http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/bridgestone-potenza-re760-sport-page-8) Though, I feel like they were way too demanding of all the tires in their review and got a bit too nit-picky.
I used to have some RE040 RFTs on my car. The fronts were fine, the rears were shot. They handled very well, and response was sharp and direct. But they were loud and really harsh. If you've ever wanted to feel every single tiny bump in the road, then get the RE040s. Something about them just seemed like they were simply not designed for the E46. I did not feel very confident with them in the rain, even last year when the rears still had some life on them. In fact, I hadn't been driving with them in the rain period for about a month or so while I was saving for tires.
I ditched those and put on the RE760s, and what a world of difference. Dead-silent. I cannot hear any tread noise whatsoever. Even going through a puddle, I could not hear the splash. That is how good they are. When driving, the bumps are significantly less harsh, and the ride is extremely smooth. I have not noticed much difference in steering response, if any at all. Full confidence in wet weather driving, too. Big, wide tread design keeps the water out and away, and semi-slick shoulder blocks really help with the handling.
The sidewall is not as aggressive looking as the RE040s, but they still look great. One of the biggest things I noticed is just how smooth it is. The second I drove down the road, I was brought right back to my dad's old E60. I remembered how smooth it was, even with runflats (because the car was designed for them). Driving at 50 mph felt like driving at 35 mph. I got that exact same feeling in my ZHP, which has much harder suspension than my dad's non-sport comfort-built 5-series. As I drove down the road, I felt like I was going a lot slower than I really was. I felt like I was finally driving my car in the way that it was designed to be driven. I said to myself, "Huh. So THIS is what a BMW supposed to feel like!"
Moral of the story: don't get RFTs. You have a spare in the trunk anyway. Our cars' suspension was simply not designed for them, and your ride quality will suffer greatly as a result. They are safer, but with a spare already, why bother?
So, if you are looking for a safe summer tire with a treadwear rating of 340, superb handling, excellent hydroplaning resistance, unbelievably smooth ride, and at a relatively affordable price, this is it. I feel like I'm driving on $1500 tires for half the price. I'd expect this quality from my ultra-expensive RE040s, not from the 760s!
I used to have some RE040 RFTs on my car. The fronts were fine, the rears were shot. They handled very well, and response was sharp and direct. But they were loud and really harsh. If you've ever wanted to feel every single tiny bump in the road, then get the RE040s. Something about them just seemed like they were simply not designed for the E46. I did not feel very confident with them in the rain, even last year when the rears still had some life on them. In fact, I hadn't been driving with them in the rain period for about a month or so while I was saving for tires.
I ditched those and put on the RE760s, and what a world of difference. Dead-silent. I cannot hear any tread noise whatsoever. Even going through a puddle, I could not hear the splash. That is how good they are. When driving, the bumps are significantly less harsh, and the ride is extremely smooth. I have not noticed much difference in steering response, if any at all. Full confidence in wet weather driving, too. Big, wide tread design keeps the water out and away, and semi-slick shoulder blocks really help with the handling.
The sidewall is not as aggressive looking as the RE040s, but they still look great. One of the biggest things I noticed is just how smooth it is. The second I drove down the road, I was brought right back to my dad's old E60. I remembered how smooth it was, even with runflats (because the car was designed for them). Driving at 50 mph felt like driving at 35 mph. I got that exact same feeling in my ZHP, which has much harder suspension than my dad's non-sport comfort-built 5-series. As I drove down the road, I felt like I was going a lot slower than I really was. I felt like I was finally driving my car in the way that it was designed to be driven. I said to myself, "Huh. So THIS is what a BMW supposed to feel like!"
Moral of the story: don't get RFTs. You have a spare in the trunk anyway. Our cars' suspension was simply not designed for them, and your ride quality will suffer greatly as a result. They are safer, but with a spare already, why bother?
So, if you are looking for a safe summer tire with a treadwear rating of 340, superb handling, excellent hydroplaning resistance, unbelievably smooth ride, and at a relatively affordable price, this is it. I feel like I'm driving on $1500 tires for half the price. I'd expect this quality from my ultra-expensive RE040s, not from the 760s!