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General => Shows, events, track days, motorsport => Topic started by: Harvs on 12 August 2012, 09:47

Title: Track tyres
Post by: Harvs on 12 August 2012, 09:47
So, I've posted a couple of bits about brakes, so now it's tyre time.

Toyo 888 seem to be choice of many, and someone has also mentioned Yoko advan Ao48

Anyone used Kumho V70'sor got any other suggestions.

Mk4 1.8t - fully stripped - trailer to and from - 240 Bhp - upgraded discs and pads etc
Title: Re: Track tyres
Post by: Diamond Hell on 12 August 2012, 11:20
I think Nige will be on recommending both the Kuhmo V70s and also Michelin Cups.

I've done a lot of miles on Toyo R888s and had a ball on dry and moist tracks.

Make sure your geometry and bushes are in A1 condition before going down the track tyre route.
Title: Re: Track tyres
Post by: Prawny on 12 August 2012, 21:21
yoko A048's here.

They seem to last longer than 888's before overheating, and there is an abundance of them second hand too. I recently picked up 6 part worn tyres for £96, and the set of 4 have lasted me 3 trackdays! fantastic value in second hand track tyres if you hunt them out.


888's are a brilliant tyre, but mention 'trackday tyre' in any pub in the land, and the man in the pub will name the 888, this gives it similar attributes to BMW M-parts, you pay a tax that isn't really justified.

I've run Federal RS-R's, 888's, A048's, and various road tyres, and I'm really liking the A048's at the moment, on my second set, with another part worn set ready for action as well.

If it's traillered, you don't need road legal, so it'd seem silly to pay £800 for a set of new road legal tyres.
Title: Re: Track tyres
Post by: Harvs on 13 August 2012, 10:45
Cheers guys.  much appreciated.

Prawny - other than ebay, is there anywhere i should start looking for part worn's?  i quite like the sound of the AO48's.  what are they like in damp/wet?  i appreciate they will not be as good as a full wet!

Your point is really valid about not needing new tyres as on tralier.  great advice.  got to get my head round these things!  Cheers buddy.  :smiley:
Title: Re: Track tyres
Post by: Horney on 13 August 2012, 11:51
If you're trailering then you have scope to take a spare set of wheel with wets on. I'm thinking of getting some slicks for mine for those lovely dry days.

Nick
Title: Re: Track tyres
Post by: Nige on 13 August 2012, 21:40
I think Nige will be on recommending both the Kuhmo V70s and also Michelin Cups.
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b207/wh00sher/gifs/wave2.gif)


I wrote this a couple of years ago.
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2010-Reader-Track-Day-Tyre-Comparison.htm (http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2010-Reader-Track-Day-Tyre-Comparison.htm)
Since then, I`ve started using Pilot Sport Cups, however, for a beginner to trackdays, I wouldn`t recommend them.

They are brilliant tyres, I REALLY like them and would choose them over others, BUT, in my experience, they don`t give the same warning before letting go as the others.

For a first `R` rated tyre, I think ANY will be a revelation compared to a normal road tyre, but once you`ve done a few trackdays on them, you`ll start to notice the differences as you try alternate makes, but initially, I don`t think you can go wrong with any of them.
Title: Re: Track tyres
Post by: Harvs on 14 August 2012, 14:11
Thanks Nige.  info appreciated,  Great report BTW.

Kumho or AO48's seems consistently to be backed over the 888 as the 888 is more expensive.

will do some price checking on the web as well.

anywhere i shoujld be looking for part-worn?
Title: Re: Track tyres
Post by: Nige on 14 August 2012, 19:44
Either forums or Ebay. Its where I sell my part worns and look for others.  :wink:
Title: Re: Track tyres
Post by: andybod on 14 August 2012, 19:56
i'm currently running federal rsr's on my mk 4 and quite happy with them,i paid  £386 for 4 225 45 17's from www.bmtr.co.uk so far done a couple of trackdays and a run to the ring andthey seem to be wearing very well ,next i'll be looking for something more slick biased to try and keep the federals for wet's until they wear out
Title: Re: Track tyres
Post by: powerhand on 25 August 2012, 08:58
If you're trailering then you have scope to take a spare set of wheel with wets on. I'm thinking of getting some slicks for mine for those lovely dry days.

Nick
I'm also thinking about getting some slicks for my car. At the moment, I have a set of wheels with some part-worn 888 for dry use and I have been using T1-Rs for in the wet. When the 888 eventually die, I can't face the prospect of paying through the nose for replacements, so I've been looking at part-worn slicks. Anyone got any experience of using slicks? Any thing to consider over "normal" track tyres?
Title: Re: Track tyres
Post by: re2 on 12 September 2012, 10:56
dont forget the Yoko advan 032 either. My friend races and has used these in his race series previously and they were 2 sec faster per lap around silverstone than the 888's where he regularly races. Might be worth a look on ebay for part worns
Title: Re: Track tyres
Post by: jonnybravo on 11 December 2012, 07:50
I use federal RSR's they are a little bit "noisy" but once up to temp they offer very good grip, I've done 2 trackdays on them and I'm gonna rotate them and I'd say there good for another 2-3 days and only costing £80 each they are good value for money if your on a budget
Title: Re: Track tyres
Post by: Dave_IOW on 09 April 2013, 23:57
Looking to get some for mine in the next couple of weeks.

Will be mainly for road driving with a couple of track days a year with the hope of eventually taking it to Germany.

What would be everyone's choice be for that.

Budget around £350, 195/50/15.

If r888's really are that much better than everything else, guess I'll have to wait a little while longer to save the extra pennies.
Title: Re: Track tyres
Post by: danny_p on 11 April 2013, 22:45
tarmack rally tyers  :wink:

about the cheepest grippy tyer there is
Title: Re: Track tyres
Post by: tech1889 on 16 April 2013, 21:02
As above do the same as I have pirelli pzero rx7 which In a nut shell is a cut slick can pick em up for like £70 a pair
Title: Re: Track tyres
Post by: Dave_IOW on 16 April 2013, 21:54
Doesn't look like they come in 195/50/15.
Title: Re: Track tyres
Post by: blueandy on 20 April 2013, 11:59
I've used 888s on various cars and if you can put up with the noise they are awesome.

sticky rubber is pound for pound the best mod you can do to your car imho
Title: Re: Track tyres
Post by: DOA on 30 April 2013, 23:13
Currently running Yokohama AD08 Advan Neova's on my sprint Clio (due to tyre regulations) and they are surprisingly good road/track tyres. Not tried them in streaming wet conditions yet but they seem fine and grippy on the road in the recent random snow flurries etc, whilst being far superior on track to the Toyo Proxies I was running on my previous golf sprint car. Bearing in mind I cant go for 888's or RSR's due to regulations, I dont think I am missing out on a massive amount of outright grip and they certainly fit into your budget.
FWIW I actually got them cheaper, fitted, from the National tyres website. All of the usual suspects for buying tyres (Camskill etc) may look cheaper, but once you factor in fitting they all looked more expensive.
Title: Re: Track tyres
Post by: Dave_IOW on 30 April 2013, 23:26
Currently running Yokohama AD08 Advan Neova's on my sprint Clio (due to tyre regulations) and they are surprisingly good road/track tyres. Not tried them in streaming wet conditions yet but they seem fine and grippy on the road in the recent random snow flurries etc, whilst being far superior on track to the Toyo Proxies I was running on my previous golf sprint car. Bearing in mind I cant go for 888's or RSR's due to regulations, I dont think I am missing out on a massive amount of outright grip and they certainly fit into your budget.
FWIW I actually got them cheaper, fitted, from the National tyres website. All of the usual suspects for buying tyres (Camskill etc) may look cheaper, but once you factor in fitting they all looked more expensive.

Cheers pal, will certainly have a look at these. What are they wearing like, quite reasonably?
Title: Re: Track tyres
Post by: DOA on 07 May 2013, 19:54
Currently running Yokohama AD08 Advan Neova's on my sprint Clio (due to tyre regulations) and they are surprisingly good road/track tyres. Not tried them in streaming wet conditions yet but they seem fine and grippy on the road in the recent random snow flurries etc, whilst being far superior on track to the Toyo Proxies I was running on my previous golf sprint car. Bearing in mind I cant go for 888's or RSR's due to regulations, I dont think I am missing out on a massive amount of outright grip and they certainly fit into your budget.
FWIW I actually got them cheaper, fitted, from the National tyres website. All of the usual suspects for buying tyres (Camskill etc) may look cheaper, but once you factor in fitting they all looked more expensive.

Sorry for the lack of a reply, I dont come on here very often any more. As for the wear, its a bit hard to say as I dont use the car very often. I have probably only done 500 or so miles since fitting them (although due to the variable weather of the last few months, thats been in pretty much all conditions imagineable bar pouring rain) but until I took them on track there was minimal noticeable wear on them from normal road use. Now they have had a pasting on a sprint, the edges have torn a wee bit, but considering you dont get a chance to warm the tyres up properly in a 70 second sprint, I would expect nothing less...

Cheers pal, will certainly have a look at these. What are they wearing like, quite reasonably?
Title: Re: Track tyres
Post by: Harvs on 24 July 2013, 22:42
So, in the end, I put on some 18" bbs ch alloys wrapped in Yoko ad08 advans.  Went to the ring, did some mega laps. Came home and dud a track day at Abingdon in the wet.  I seriously recommend these tyres.  They were mega in the wet and dry, and didn't wear too quickly.

Barry at www.thetyreshop.co.uk sorted me out a great deal.

Recommend both the Tyre Shop, and the tyres!!!
Title: Re: Track tyres
Post by: Yanny on 31 July 2013, 22:11
i would Highly reccomend Federal FZ-201's
Title: Re: Track tyres
Post by: kayla on 26 December 2013, 18:08
Tires are very important to choose on vehicle..
Title: Re: Track tyres
Post by: MartinrobGTi on 13 September 2014, 16:03
Dunlop dz03g i've been using and are very good!
Title: Re: Track tyres
Post by: tweed on 05 October 2014, 14:00
For the money you wont beat the nankang ns2r semi slick. The 180 wear is about 75% of the 888 but half the price. You can get the sticky 120 wear but dont know how long they will last.