Yoko A539 or Toyo R888 -which for a street driven xflow

[twobone]

Hi,

My options here in Canada are very limited for a 13 inch wheel. I can get my hands on some R888 from a local shop for 625GBP

Alternatively, I can import some A539 from the UK and get them installed for a total of about 450-500GBP

I know the Toyo R888 are a higher spec tire. What I really am looking for is real life advice on the right choice of the two tires for car, driving style, etc.

My car is a bog-stock crossflow 89' live axle Caterham
Most of my driving is around town short blats and also some spirited B-road driving.

I want a tire that is sticky without needing to get heat in them
I want a tire that will not overly punish my tired old axle, suspension and bushings
I want a tire that will still let me pull off a bit of "round-about" oversteer for a giggle.
I want a tire that I can feel confident that I can push a bit without heading nose first into the hedges


Thanks in advance

[Shaun_E]

From your list of requirements, I think I would go for the A539. I've never used them but many of my fellow sprint and hillclimb competitors use them in classes where the stickier tyres are not allowed. I have used R888/A048/etc. and suspect that they will give more grip than a stock crossflow can overcome easily and will also probably put a lot of stress on the rear axle should you be cornering enthusiastically.
If you are importing from the UK it would be worth seeing if you can get Yokohama A021R which fall somewhere between the 2 tyres you mention. They have a soft compound but a good road going tread pattern. I used them for a couple of years before moving to the more extreme tyres and they are still very popular over here as a general tyre for Caterhams.

[Roadru77er]

I use AO21 on my Caterham, great all round road tyre (mine are 185/60 13 but you can get 185/70 for a little more ground clearance) I like Shaun above have no experience of the 539 but also agree the 888 is too extreme for your requirements.

[CraigyB]

I used the 539s for a while, until I spun - unexpectedly on a greasy november road..
Have used yoko 21s since, and a world of difference. Geroge Polley motorsport sell the 70 profile tyres for ~£45 each

[ewenm]

I use the 539 on my 7 (K-Series VVC). I find it predictable and grippy enough in all conditions without being so grippy that it's a struggle to break traction if I want to. It's also quite hard wearing so suits my relatively high mileage (well, in the past anyway;)).

[sam919]

twobone said:

Hi,

My options here in Canada are very limited for a 13 inch wheel. I can get my hands on some R888 from a local shop for 625GBP

Alternatively, I can import some A539 from the UK and get them installed for a total of about 450-500GBP

I know the Toyo R888 are a higher spec tire. What I really am looking for is real life advice on the right choice of the two tires for car, driving style, etc.

My car is a bog-stock crossflow 89' live axle Caterham
Most of my driving is around town short blats and also some spirited B-road driving.

I want a tire that is sticky without needing to get heat in them
I want a tire that will not overly punish my tired old axle, suspension and bushings
I want a tire that will still let me pull off a bit of "round-about" oversteer for a giggle.
I want a tire that I can feel confident that I can push a bit without heading nose first into the hedges


Thanks in advance

I used the R888 on a road going fury with bike power, very good and very predictable. In coldish form if you go for the medium compound youll have to do some warming up before you get some real heat into them and have the best grip on offer.I dont suppose you will be weaving around the road doing this, thus youll have a reasonable grip levels when cold/ warm and they will last longer. If i had a road going caterham i would go with the R888.

[snapper seven]

I run A539s on my 15" Prisoner wheels for touring and winter driving and also R888s on my 13" MB alloys for hooning.

I'd agree with previous comments that A539s probably suit your requirements best. I think you will find all tyres need to be warmed up before delivering optimum performance but I have always found the A539 to be grippy enough (though I too have nearly spun on a cold November day!). The R888s have massive grip and I find there is no back end 'play' when warmed up (ETA - though should add these are 205 width rather than 185 but don't think that would change anything), although in fairness I probably don't drive hard enough. They certainly won't be as slippy on the edge of adhesion as A539s, which on the road isn't a great thing as you will find yourself being flung into a hedge before you know it.

The A539s are hard wearing too. I've had mine 6 years, probably done 12-15,000 miles on them and show very little signs of wear. I'd probably get 5,000 out of the R888s (GG medium compound) and I'm not that agressive on tyres so if cost is a factor then bear that in mind because you will need to replace R888s more regularly.

Given the tread (or lack of it!) I have found the R888s pretty good in the wet so long as you show them respect, but I wouldn't like to travel through standing water in them. The A539 however will perform admirably in such conditions having experienced such driving in a monumental downpour in Switzerland a few years back (although appreciateing the Seven is such a light car that aquaplaning in standing water is always a risk whatever the tyre).

Ultimately though, if I had one set of wheels for all year round use then my choice would be Yoko A21s too.

Cheers
SS

Edited by snapper seven on Wednesday 23 November 13:48