limited slip diff
Discussion
TaHave a read of this recent thread on blatchat: http://www.blatchat.com/t.asp?Id=144735 as it will answer this nicely.
The summary is:
1) You can get more traction on the road as the unloaded wheel doesn't spin all the power away
2) You can break traction more controllably - i.e. Donuts!
Steve
The summary is:
1) You can get more traction on the road as the unloaded wheel doesn't spin all the power away
2) You can break traction more controllably - i.e. Donuts!
Steve
LSD is most helpful in slow/tight corners as it stops you spinning away all the power on the inside wheel. The converse of that is that in the hands of the inexperienced or unwary it can give you unexpected power oversteer (especially in the wet).
Another tyre option is the Toyo R888 which is very similar to the Yokohama A048R but has softer sidewalls giving a better ride.
Another tyre option is the Toyo R888 which is very similar to the Yokohama A048R but has softer sidewalls giving a better ride.
Arnie - fair point - LSD can increase understeer.
On the tyre front you will get as many opinions as there are tyres.
I have tried many of the track biased tyres on a Caterham (on road and track).
Yoko A021Rs are a good allrounder but, IMHO, they don't offer anywhere near the benefits in the wet that many people state. When cold they are as cr*p as any other track biased tyre. A Caterham is so light that you will aquaplane in standing water whatever tyre you have - just take it easy in bad conditions. On a dry track they will rapidly overheat.
Yoko A048R has more dry grip and no real penalty in the wet. Still needs heat to be most effective. Has very stiff sidewalls and tramlines badly on poor road surfaces. Much better on track than the A021R
Toyo R888 similar to A048R but with softer sidewalls leading to better ride and less tendency to tramline. I have these in soft compound for sprinting but if price were an issue I would use these in medium compound on the road and track.
Avon CR500 - IMHO the best road tyre for a Caterham. They are much lighter than any of the others (giving a better ride and reducing unsprung weight) and are good in wet or dry - also last longer than some others. Not the ultimate on track but they work pretty well. Downside is they are more expensive than all the others mentioned above.
Unless you are doing stellar mileages I can't see the point in putting a normal car tyre on a Caterham.
On the tyre front you will get as many opinions as there are tyres.
I have tried many of the track biased tyres on a Caterham (on road and track).
Yoko A021Rs are a good allrounder but, IMHO, they don't offer anywhere near the benefits in the wet that many people state. When cold they are as cr*p as any other track biased tyre. A Caterham is so light that you will aquaplane in standing water whatever tyre you have - just take it easy in bad conditions. On a dry track they will rapidly overheat.
Yoko A048R has more dry grip and no real penalty in the wet. Still needs heat to be most effective. Has very stiff sidewalls and tramlines badly on poor road surfaces. Much better on track than the A021R
Toyo R888 similar to A048R but with softer sidewalls leading to better ride and less tendency to tramline. I have these in soft compound for sprinting but if price were an issue I would use these in medium compound on the road and track.
Avon CR500 - IMHO the best road tyre for a Caterham. They are much lighter than any of the others (giving a better ride and reducing unsprung weight) and are good in wet or dry - also last longer than some others. Not the ultimate on track but they work pretty well. Downside is they are more expensive than all the others mentioned above.
Unless you are doing stellar mileages I can't see the point in putting a normal car tyre on a Caterham.
James.S said:
CR500's are way, way better thatn the Yoko 48's in the wet, although they do not last as long.
James, are you saying that the CR500's or the 48's don't last as long? My experience with 48's are that after only a thousand miles, they were noticeably worn whereas CR500's are expected to last 10k or more... (so long as you aren't doing donuts everywhere 
) In fact, a set that had very little tread on them still managed a trip to the Stelvio and Nurburgring last June with a run to the 50th in Norfolk before finally giving up the ghost on a trackday in November!Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff