What Tyres?

[Ex Skyline]

Thinking of treating the "Beast" to a new set of boots for the coming season. Mostly fast road with a couple of track days/"Ring"
trips chucked in. My question (mainly aimed at Simon-no disrespect to the rest of you of course)is, what are the best "Track day
oriented" tyres on the market? Also, how much and best place to get them from? Cheers all [].

 

[Masher]

At the risk of jumping in ...

I've done several track days in both a 964 and 911 on Yoko AD08 tyres and even successfully drove back on snow from Spa on them. I think they're a great road / track tyre (I assume you will drive on the road on these tyres too). Wear at a decent rate too which helps the economics (or says something about my driving!)

The opinion I have formed on Toyo 888s (never having driven on them) is they work well on light cars but not so well on anything over about 1100kg [8|] They are reputed to wear fast too.

EMC strongly suggested Dunlop tyres (DZ03G from memory). I am looking to try these next time I replace tyres unless this thread persuades me otherwise... Simon...

Cheers
Mick

 

[Ewan]

Think about how likely it s that you'll use the car in the rain - if it's only ever going out in the dry your choice can be more extreme. How about Vredestain Ultrac Vorti R? I'm using the Vredestain Ultrac Sessanta which copes with the wet as well.

Remember, your car has to get you to the 'Ring, as well as around it!

 

[andy watson]

It's got to get out of the garage first!!!! [][][][]

Economics and tyre wear shouldn't be a problem ( sorry couldn't resist [])

 

[MarkK]

Dunlops or Toyos for balance of life,grip,wet weather performance,dry performance....
I have raced a Turbo on both[8D]

 

[Ex Skyline]

ORIGINAL: andy watson

It's got to get out of the garage first!!!! [][][][]

Economics and tyre wear shouldn't be a problem ( sorry couldn't resist [])

[][][][][]!!! Nutter [][]!!!

 

[Ex Skyline]

Mick, the AD08 is on my "research" list []. Ewan, those tyres you mentioned sound exotic []! I can do exotic [8D][]!! I will
check those out also. I never go out in the rain intentionally but, you can always get caught out []. Like Jon' and I did coming
back from Germany last spring. It hammered down all the way home []. Any more and, we would of needed a rudder!! I was on
Dunlop Sport 9000 at the time (still am) and they handled very well given the circumstances. Although, I think they are a bit
dated now, although I'm no tyre expert [8|]. My wheels are 18's by the way and, in the dry, the Turbo handles like a Go Cart and,
show's none of the "Horror Story" characteristics talked about on these boards. 18's are uber cool in my opinion [8D]! Just waiting
for Simon's "Ten Pennorth" on this matter. Hurry up Si' []!!

 

[Ewan]

I had Dunlop Sport 9000 on my Ghibli Cup and in the cold or wet they were lethal. The back would spin at the slightest provocation. I've now got Goodyear F1 on that car and it's miles more controllable. I haven't tried Dunlops on my 944, but my experience of them on the Cup was enough to put me off the brand for a good long while.

By the way Pete, I'm speaking to Jon about a tweak for my car - and within a week or so there should be another 40 odd horses under the bonnet. So I've also chatted with Ray at West Tunning and I'm taking my car back there for a re-run. Any idea when yours might be ready to face the rollers of justice?

 

[Neil Haughey]

The Dunlop DZ03 is like a race tyre construction with a hard competition compound and motorbike tyre style tread pattern. Whilst it is road legal I wouldn't confuse it with any road tyre anyone may have had experience of using.

BTW I drove my car back to Yeovil from Silverstone in a Monsoon back in the summer of 2011. It was one of those where the fastest setting on the wipers was needed. It was a bit buttock clenching but 60-65 seemed fine just like everyone else of sane disposition that day on the road. That was on 225x45-16 DZO3s and that experience more than anything else gave me utter confidence that they do seem to work OK in the wet, even heavy rain.

Michelin Cups OTOH are just plain terrifying in the rain, whereas I felt their road tyres are the best there are for all-round performance and equally good in the wet.

 

[edh]

AD08's are great - they have just changed the compound to make it softer. Perfect road/track tyre compromise IMO & means you don't have to drag along another set of track wheels. Might not have the ultimate grip of A048 but it's a trackday, not a race. DZO3g sound great and very durable but are pricey. Ad08's also come with a full 8mm of tread as they are road tyres (even though the new compound is now a list 1B). FWIW I believe that the old AD08's were the preferred list 1A sprinters tyre.

They wear really well - I have 2 sets, the first I bought s/h and still have 3-4mm in the middle of the tread ~2mm on the outer). The second set has seen 3 trackdays and a Spa trip & have nearly 7mm left.

Oh and where to get them from? - anywhere really... My local tyre place, one I use a lot, they seem to do really good prices on Yokos. When you factor in fitting prices they are pretty much on a par with Camskill

 

[Masher]

Really pleased to hear someone else is getting good life out of AD08s and it's not just me not trying hard enough []

Cheers
Mick

 

[944Turbo]

I have sp9000 on my coupe (for road use) they are my favourite 944 road tyre (previously bridgestone S02 and S03 (n-spec), michelin somethings (n-spec), contintentals and Goodyear eagles) I do run them at 32 PSI, and they are possibly slightly 'looser' than the others but very predictable, the bridgestones particularly were tricky to catch when the rear broke away. They also wear very well, twice as long as the bridgestones. On track I have used slicks, and part worn pirelli corsas and michelin cups, all good and fit in the boot, the slicks wear the wheel bearings and brakes much faster though.
Tony

 

[944 man]

The last set that I bought were Dunlop Sport Maxx, but Id probably opt for Yokos next time. or maybe Federal RS-Rs if I had an eye on budget. I missed out on them at about £80 each(!) at the end of last year, for 225/40/17!

 

[Monkeythree]

I had Federal 595 RS-R's on a previous trackday car and they were great. Would buy them again and would recommend to others.

 

[MarkK]

Anyone wanting cheap 17 inch Pirelli slicks (part worn but LOADS of trackday life) i am your man this year,anyone interested PM me.

 

[Ex Skyline]

AD08's it is then chaps [8D][]!! Thank you all for your very helpful comments and advice everyone []. Andy, why did you edit
my post dear chap? I never wrote "nutter", I wrote "cnu."!! Short for Canute of course []. England had a King named Canute []

 

[andy watson]

Hi Pete,

I will give you a call tomorrow.

 

[Neil Haughey]

I also have some unused 245x45-16 Toyo R888s (4 off). I bought them last year, didn't use the car, stored them in our spare room through the winter and now with joining the Dunlop Porsche Cup I am back on Dunlops again. Not given them away but £100 a pop if anyone is interested?

 

[944 man]

That's a cracking price Neil!

 

[Neil Haughey]

Its either that or they spend the next 8 months sat around my house or garage. For sure I would be selling at a loss but if I am racing on the Dunlops again I need to drive the car ASAP on the Dunlops, nature of the game unfortunately.

They were mounted on my 16x8 rims and on the car but never driven on apart from moving the car around the storage place. One pair stripped off and the other sat in our spare room as I type.

There blooming huge btw and make the smaller 225 Dunlops look tiny.