Am I being silly / dangerous?
Discussion
Been trying to find new decent tyres localy with no joy. Everyone seems to only stock cheepo's in 13"? Before I order them in, have any of you run crap tyres purely for fun. I figure there prob wont be many more track days this year and sliding around with poor grip could be fun (it certainly has been on the battered ones I'm trying to replace!) Will the novelty wear off or will I just end up in the hedge?
Cheers
Jon
Cheers
Jon
Are the tyres still legal?
Any which way, I'd still advocate changing them.
Get some Yoko 21Rs from Polleys. Truly great tyres for all weather use. The tail can still be provoked out if you wish, and they're very, very progressive.
Probably the single best performance upgrade you can do to a car (assuming to was previously running something like Michelin Pilots).
Any which way, I'd still advocate changing them.
Get some Yoko 21Rs from Polleys. Truly great tyres for all weather use. The tail can still be provoked out if you wish, and they're very, very progressive.
Probably the single best performance upgrade you can do to a car (assuming to was previously running something like Michelin Pilots).
Hehe, Turkish rubber to be pedantic 
The plan didn't totally work out though. It was easy enough to fling it into a corner and get understeer at low speed, but I could never get power oversteer going, and was still very hard to spin the tyres from a standing start. I think maybe the tall gearing from my CR gearbox in conjunction with a superlight flywheel and alu front pulley just wasn't giving enough grunt to break traction. The Duratec should cure that problem in spades 
Jon, if you want to give it a crack without spending too much, why not try and pick up a set of part worn CR322s from the grads guys? The going rate seems to be about £50 for a set of 4 with plenty of tread (it's not like they wear much, even on circuits). You will find it interesting in the wet though.
The plan didn't totally work out though. It was easy enough to fling it into a corner and get understeer at low speed, but I could never get power oversteer going, and was still very hard to spin the tyres from a standing start. I think maybe the tall gearing from my CR gearbox in conjunction with a superlight flywheel and alu front pulley just wasn't giving enough grunt to break traction. The Duratec should cure that problem in spades Jon, if you want to give it a crack without spending too much, why not try and pick up a set of part worn CR322s from the grads guys? The going rate seems to be about £50 for a set of 4 with plenty of tread (it's not like they wear much, even on circuits). You will find it interesting in the wet though.
lukeb said:Or the Academy guys, and they're not that bad in the wet. We were still hitting about 2:00 at Cadwell and it was pissing down
Jon, if you want to give it a crack without spending too much, why not try and pick up a set of part worn CR322s from the grads guys? The going rate seems to be about £50 for a set of 4 with plenty of tread (it's not like they wear much, even on circuits). You will find it interesting in the wet though.
Went off the idea, best and most convienent option was a set of Yok 48r from a local independent.
What's the common choice? this is the first set since purchase of my car so have no experience of different rubber. Think I probably got tucked up a little on the price though? (£90?)
Not had chance to push the car since I changed 'um, wont stop bloody raining...
What's the common choice? this is the first set since purchase of my car so have no experience of different rubber. Think I probably got tucked up a little on the price though? (£90?)
Not had chance to push the car since I changed 'um, wont stop bloody raining...
Whatever you do, be careful for the first few hundred miles. Tyres have release agent on them and they will not be as sticky as you'd hope initially (unless scrubbed in by the seller). It takes a few hundred miles for it to scrub off properly.
Also, if you're going to use the car over winter, make sure you get some warmth in them before pushing it. The rubber needs to be warm before it gives its best.
Tyres pressures - start around 16-18psi all round, perhaps a pound or two more in winter. Then watch the wear rate. If they go down the middle most, the pressures are too high for the way you drive.
For future reference, try Polley Motorsport (www.polleymotorsport.co.uk/) for Yokos. They're the importer, top guys and usually the cheapest.
Also, if you're going to use the car over winter, make sure you get some warmth in them before pushing it. The rubber needs to be warm before it gives its best.
Tyres pressures - start around 16-18psi all round, perhaps a pound or two more in winter. Then watch the wear rate. If they go down the middle most, the pressures are too high for the way you drive.
For future reference, try Polley Motorsport (www.polleymotorsport.co.uk/) for Yokos. They're the importer, top guys and usually the cheapest.
A539s are run by the Graduates, they are more grippy than CR322s. Although I think CR322s are better in the wet.
I dont know where A539s get the reputation from. As a road and occasional trackday tyre, they are pretty good and have a decent wear rate. It seems people compare them to Cr500s and the like.
Also you should rotate your tyres on the car, esp at track if you are getting high wear rates. A set of road tyres should last more than 2 trackdays.
I dont know where A539s get the reputation from. As a road and occasional trackday tyre, they are pretty good and have a decent wear rate. It seems people compare them to Cr500s and the like.
Also you should rotate your tyres on the car, esp at track if you are getting high wear rates. A set of road tyres should last more than 2 trackdays.
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