Avon supply issues ahead ?
Discussion
Chubbyross said:
Just out of interest, what are the next best alternatives? I’m new to Seven ownership and my Avons have plenty of life left in them but should I be buying a set to stick on the shelf just in case? I’m surprised at how much Avons seem to be the standard for these cars.
No - ZZR and ZZS will still be available.Chubbyross said:
Just out of interest, what are the next best alternatives? I’m new to Seven ownership and my Avons have plenty of life left in them but should I be buying a set to stick on the shelf just in case? I’m surprised at how much Avons seem to be the standard for these cars.
Avon and Caterham have worked in partnership to produce tyres that suit the lightweight Seven for the last 20+ years. While this does make them a good match - from CR500s to ZZS / ZZRs - you will pay a premium for them. Toyo tyres sponsor and support a few classes of Caterham racing, and I have found its R888R tyres an excellent choice for my Roadsport 140. They warm up nicely, grip well and will also work in the damp / wet as long as there is not too much standing water.FYI - check the date code on your tyres. Lightweight Seven's don't wear tyres out that quickly, so they often go hard with age before the tread drops to the minimum, especially if you are doing under 3,000 miles per annum.
Boggo said:
I think the ZZR/S comment is based on caterham motorsport using them. My understanding is that they will be made overseas moving forward, and thus be even more expensive in the UK. When they are already quite outrageously priced!
+1 for Toyo's here - great tyre
I understand the logic, but I don't think we've specifically heard that have we? Has someone from Caterham Cars commented?+1 for Toyo's here - great tyre
How does the sidewall stiffness of the R888 work with a light car like a Caterham and how much does it vary from Avons?
The R888 always used to be and I assume still is relatively softly sidewalled, recall from some involvement in circuit racing and rallying the Yoko A048R being preferred due to having a stiff carcass and sidewalls (retains geo, stops tyre folding/leaning) but also wants correspondingly higher spring rates to get the tyres to 'work'.
The R888 always used to be and I assume still is relatively softly sidewalled, recall from some involvement in circuit racing and rallying the Yoko A048R being preferred due to having a stiff carcass and sidewalls (retains geo, stops tyre folding/leaning) but also wants correspondingly higher spring rates to get the tyres to 'work'.
I found that the r888r works well on the same set up as the A048r's - the 48's are a grippier/faster tyre as they are a softer compound all round.
Toyo's do take a bit more to wake them up, but no more than half a lap extra.
I found, compared to the lower profile avon's, that the sidewall stiffness of the toyo's actually suits the car better - you don't feel like you're breaking things when you use curbs, and it's a generally more plesant ride (especially for somone on cirucit with mechanical sympathy). Additionally the higher profile seems to make the gear shifts (for me at least) more well spaced. On Avon's I often found myself between gears in corners - needing to upshift whilst still exiting the corner, where the taller Yoko's and Toyo's ride the gear nicely. I rarely found I need to use 5th unless in a big tow also, which means one less downshift to deal with at some circuits, saving you time.
Toyo's do take a bit more to wake them up, but no more than half a lap extra.
I found, compared to the lower profile avon's, that the sidewall stiffness of the toyo's actually suits the car better - you don't feel like you're breaking things when you use curbs, and it's a generally more plesant ride (especially for somone on cirucit with mechanical sympathy). Additionally the higher profile seems to make the gear shifts (for me at least) more well spaced. On Avon's I often found myself between gears in corners - needing to upshift whilst still exiting the corner, where the taller Yoko's and Toyo's ride the gear nicely. I rarely found I need to use 5th unless in a big tow also, which means one less downshift to deal with at some circuits, saving you time.
boombang said:
Interesting Boggo thanks, mine is a 6 speed and somewhat frantic so a taller profile wouldn't worry me if went down that route once the vintage CR500s are done. The speedo might actually be closer on a taller tyre given how far out it reads too!
If the CR500s are vintage surely their grip will be s
te? Time to get some new?Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff