Tyres again!

[captainpugwash]

Would be very interested in peoples views on best tyres for this season?
FWD Hillclimb saloon running in roadgoing class, C.295bhp, can use 1a & 1b tyres.
Interested in suggestions for both wet & dry tyres.
Thank you

[Trev450]

You will no doubt get a variety of answers, but to get the ball rolling, I use 888R's in anything other than heavy rain and I then use Goodyear F1 Asymetric 2's. 460 bhp Evo 6 rs.

[Galveston]

Bizarrely I'm always quicker on my List 1A tyres (Michelin Pilot Sport 3) than I am on List 1B (R888Rs). I don't think the R888Rs work especially well when they're cold, and the car feels a bit nicer on the Michelins which I think is more important than outright grip when you have so little opportunity to practise. The Michelins are also great in the wet so they're a no-brainer for me. The R888Rs were bought for sprinting but now only get used for track days.

(Bog-standard Clio 172 Cup)

[Vocal Minority]

To counter that

I was immediately a second quicker up Shelsley on a scruffy run on R888s v Goodyear Assymentric 2. Gap for best times between the 2 is 1.5 seconds.

The Toyo R888 seems to be boot of choice since the ZZR was moved to 1C.

[df76]

Yes, certainly shouldn't be going slower on 1b's. Softer the better of course, and you would struggle to get any heat into tyres on a short hillclimb so might struggle to take chunks of time.

Tyres that look interesting for 2017:

Maxsport RB5s. These won the ASWMC hillclimb championship (with a good driver!), and they are very very soft.

Nankang AR-1s. New to list 1b, has a very low treadwear and looks like a cut slick.

Extreme VR2. Know nothing about them, but look like a cut slick and come in three compounds, one of which will be very soft (R5 with a treadwear of 80).

I'd have a gamble with one of these!

[captainpugwash]

Thanks for advice,
Is it worth getting something for wet conditions?

[Vocal Minority]

I found the R888s perfectly capable of dealing with damp and greasy where soft compound > more tread.

Not sure I'd fancy it if there was standing water about though

Be interested to hear about Nankangs - toyed with the idea of an NR1 - but they take a little while to heat up I'm told.

[Trev450]

captainpugwash said:

Thanks for advice,
Is it worth getting something for wet conditions?

If you plan to use a 1b with minimal tread then yes. On the other hand, something like n AD08R will perform well in both wet and dry conditions but won't have the untimate dry grip of something more'cut slick' focused such as an R888R.

[MG CHRIS]

Vocal Minority said:

I found the R888s perfectly capable of dealing with damp and greasy where soft compound > more tread.

Not sure I'd fancy it if there was standing water about though

Be interested to hear about Nankangs - toyed with the idea of an NR1 - but they take a little while to heat up I'm told.

Your on about the ns2-r which do take a few laps to warm up the ar1 are a totally different tyre. Ive been running them throughout 2016 was one of the first to order the first batch of tyres into the country. Run them on my turbocharged mev exocet and done 6 sprint events and they are good from cold not as good as a super soft set of sprinting slicks which are twice the price. All though with any tyre after 2 laps or so the grip is incredible.

[captainpugwash]

Thanks, think I might give the AR1's a go as they are listed in my size
I'm thinking that I might also put something else on a pair of wheels for the front if it's very wet.
Perhaps rainsports ???

[df76]

captainpugwash said:

Thanks, think I might give the AR1's a go as they are listed in my size
I'm thinking that I might also put something else on a pair of wheels for the front if it's very wet.
Perhaps rainsports ???

That's the sensible option, and cheap. Some other decent list 1a alternatives but will all be much more expensive.