ArJuna wrote:Joining CB here. I have the Aussie made RE001's, same size (195/50/15) and their shocking in the wet, even a set of R888's with 20% tread left do better.
From what I have established from the various threads in this forum, the Aussie RE001's are crap and the Jap ones are great.
Is this the same in the wet.
To confuse us more, my tyre fitter claims he has received both Aussie and Jap manufactured versions in the same size.
Add this revelation taken from here
Charlie Brown wrote:Yes the Bridgestone’s RE001 only have an 'outside' and are unidirectional, which may be why they are so skittish in the wet as on one side of the car they channel the water away from the tyre while the other side channels to the centre of the tyre.![]()
Strange but true.
My opinion, I have the Jap 205/45x16 on a stock NB8B and they appear OK in the wet. I have not pushed or found their limit (yet)

They are heaps better than the Ventus SP Sports K104 (on a second set of rims) which will spin and slide at much lower speeds/throttle inputs.