Road tyres on a track day

[E-bmw]

For years now I have used my on-road wheels/tyres (normally top-notch tyres like (RT2, F1 ASSY, CSC5 or similar) as my wet set-up when on track on my previous car (e36 328) & am now in the position of having a new challenge & a new car & am wondering what experiences have been like with road tyres.

I am now preparing my r53 cooper s for track/road duty to be a bit less extreme than the bm was so am wondering if it is also viable to have a dry set-up that also works on the road.

Obviously, I am not going to throw the closest set of ditch finders on & hope for the best.

So, over to you.

Is there a normal road tyre out there that works so well in the dry only that it is worth considering as a dry only on track tyre?

[df76]

What size??

[E-bmw]

Didn't think that would matter too much, so didn't include it, although I suppose some tyres aren't available in smaller/larger sizes.

Standard mini cooper size size 205/45/17, but would probably prefer to go up one to 215/40/17.

[MrC986]

I know these aren't "normal" road tyres, although I run Yoko AD08Rs on my R56 Cooper S - they're great on the track & surprisingly good in the wet. I've a friend whose got Super Trofeos on his R53 as well.

[QBee]

Cannot speak for the Mini - Federal 595 RSR worked very well both for road in all conditions apart from absolute downpour, and on a dry track on my TVR in that size, and are about half the price of AD08Rs. With 315 bhp and 355 torques through the rear wheels of a 1 tonne car, I tend not to do wet track days.

[anonymous-user]

Pilot Sport Cup 2 if you can get them in that size, the only road condition they don't seem happy with is when it's very cold. Standing water, heavy rain, no problem at all. Very, very expensive though.

[Neil - YVM]

QBee said:

Cannot speak for the Mini - Federal 595 RSR worked very well both for road in all conditions apart from absolute downpour, and on a dry track on my TVR in that size, and are about half the price of AD08Rs. With 315 bhp and 355 torques through the rear wheels of a 1 tonne car, I tend not to do wet track days.

My experience is much the same, I used 595 RSR on my track R53 mini a few years ago, and they where fine as a road / track tyre, and still Ok in the wet.

[james_gt3rs]

I've always used road tyres on track and been fine (light cars though). Currently on Yoko AD08Rs and these are good.

[RBH58]

I ate through 50% of a set of Conti SC5Ps (on an Megane RS250 Cup) in one track day! It was an expensive track day.

[QBee]

james_gt3rs said:

I've always used road tyres on track and been fine (light cars though). Currently on Yoko AD08Rs and these are good.

Friend of mine uses these on both road and track on his TVR Griffith, FWIW. He doesn't tend to venture out in the wet too often, but I believe the wet grip is pretty good.

[Mr MXT]

Nankang NS2R also good at the budget end, I prefer them to the Federals.

[E-bmw]

Not too many surprises with all those opinions then.

FWIW I did NOT rate the 595s that I tried previously, but the Nankangs were brilliant in comparison.

It looks like my opinion will remain the same for the moment then.

Thanks for those who expressed an opinion, any others are welcome.

[motorhole]

Soft road tyres tend not to last long on track! I've done a number of track days on Champiro UHP1s - not the last word in wet or dry grip, but they do last well and hold up to the abuse. Supposedly popular in Indonesia and Australia, so high temperatures is their thing...

Still. Proper track tyres with a second set of wheels with road tyres for wet days from now on.

[plenty]

E-bmw said:

FWIW I did NOT rate the 595s that I tried previously, but the Nankangs were brilliant in comparison.

Were you running the 595 RS-R and not the vastly inferior 595 EVO?

[E-bmw]

Sorry to dissappoint, they were the rsr's & I thought they drove like they were made of hard plastic, whereas the Nankangs were fantastic on the same car with the same set-up.

[JKING]

Nankang NS2R Or Yokohama ADO8R

[anonymous-user]

NS2-R is a good call, I've used them on track and while they're not the grippiest tyre in the world they are very, very consistent and lasted pretty well. On the road they're one of the more tolerant track-type tyres.

Don't use the Eagle F1's, they melt very very easily.

[RBH58]

charltjr said:

Don't use the Eagle F1's, they melt very very easily.

So do CSC5Ps. "Melting being a very apt description".

[git-r]

Another vote for the yoko's AD08R's.

Check prices on eBay and f'book.

I paid £360 for a set of 4 x 255/35/18
And £420 for a set of 4 x 235/35/19

They're competitive in wet and dry in my experience, particularly in the wet!

[E-bmw]

git-r said:

Another vote for the yoko's AD08R's.

Check prices on eBay and f'book.

I paid £360 for a set of 4 x 255/35/18
And £420 for a set of 4 x 235/35/19

£489 for a set of 4, that'll be a no from me!

Nankangs are only £300