Tyres, Tyres, Tyres. Damn tyres, R888 or Federal RSRs
Discussion
My rear 265/35/18s are due for renewal on my TVR that gets used for a lot of track days and friendly sprints.
Hunting on the the web, it seems that my usual R888s are a minimum of £220 each.
Now, I'm not a person to pennypinch but the Federals are less than £100 each.
Will I notice much difference if I fit federals. I have a pair of Federal fronts already that I can fit to match up.
I am open to suggestions for another make.
Consider the car only weighs one ton.
What's the consensus of opinion on this?
Hunting on the the web, it seems that my usual R888s are a minimum of £220 each.
Now, I'm not a person to pennypinch but the Federals are less than £100 each.
Will I notice much difference if I fit federals. I have a pair of Federal fronts already that I can fit to match up.
I am open to suggestions for another make.
Consider the car only weighs one ton.
What's the consensus of opinion on this?
phazed said:
Will I notice much difference if I fit federals.
Yes. The feds are not awful, but not 888 level, OK 888 are not top dog in the market & overpriced in the main (good prices in little sizes) but that's another thread.
You could try Yoko ado8 as a budget tyre, again not 888 good but closer than the 595 & usually lots cheaper.
You'll probably notice the difference, at least I did in my 206.
That said, I'll probably continue to buy Federals, as while they are not as good as 888's, my car is after all only a 206. And the Federals are good enough to have fun giving decent grip for under £200 compared to the £400 for the Toyo's (all 15")
That said, I'll probably continue to buy Federals, as while they are not as good as 888's, my car is after all only a 206. And the Federals are good enough to have fun giving decent grip for under £200 compared to the £400 for the Toyo's (all 15")
iguana said:
PS I have a pair of used but still lots life left (4mm) direzza 03g in H1 245/40/18 if any good, for peanuts £
Thank you but no thanks I will stick to my sizes.So, Is the general consensus that the R888s are the best tyres?
Trouble is if you want the best then it seems,(unless anyone recommends another tyre) that I'll have to shell out.
I set my best time at Curborough last year when the tyres were pretty new, 1.25.6. Since then I have done about 7-8 TDs and sprints and the tyres are down to 1mm!
The best time I could manage last week was a 1.28, (which was the fastest road car there).
I put this down to a lack of grip caused by the tyres being worn and the fact that they have been through scores of heat cycles.
If I get a slightly less grippy tyre then I take a small step back in times but still get a hoot fom loosing the back end!
Edited by phazed on Saturday 29th August 13:42
Avon recently developed the ZZR and ZZS for the Caterham range, and now have expanded it out to various other sizes.
http://www.avonmotorsport.com/road-legal/performan...
http://www.avonmotorsport.com/road-legal/performan...
Seems the ZZR is avaliable in 18s as well.
http://www.avonmotorsport.com/road-legal/performan...
http://www.avonmotorsport.com/road-legal/performan...
Seems the ZZR is avaliable in 18s as well.
DeaconFrost said:
I was at Curborough when you were there in my gt86 and got a 1.30.1 on the Federals and I must be way down on power to you. Chris got a 1.28.8 in his tuned MCS also on the Federals. I don't think the Federals would be too bad at all!
If you were watching then you may have noticed my lack of grip!I have found the same issue when sprinting on worn 888's - you can never get close to the times you do on them when new.
As to your question, if it was just trackday use I would say go for the Federals. But since you sprint it as well and depending how competitive you want to be, I would stick with 888's or go to Dunlop DZ03's.
As to your question, if it was just trackday use I would say go for the Federals. But since you sprint it as well and depending how competitive you want to be, I would stick with 888's or go to Dunlop DZ03's.
You could try tyre leader for Michelin cup sport 2's. They were doing them for less than 200 each (265/35/18) - a friend recently got a set of 4 for around 700. Best tyre imho
Nankang NS2R are good too and cheaper about 100 each.
I run the AD08r's - excellent in the wet but wouldn't be as quick as cups or r888's in dry. Great tyres though - much better quality than federal.
Not sure if your car would suffer oil surge with the more grippy tyres, worth keeping in mind.
Nankang NS2R are good too and cheaper about 100 each.
I run the AD08r's - excellent in the wet but wouldn't be as quick as cups or r888's in dry. Great tyres though - much better quality than federal.
Not sure if your car would suffer oil surge with the more grippy tyres, worth keeping in mind.
You could try tyre leader for Michelin cup sport 2's. They were doing them for less than 200 each (265/35/18) - a friend recently got a set of 4 for around 700. Best tyre imho
Nankang NS2R are good too and cheaper about 100 each.
I run the AD08r's - excellent in the wet but wouldn't be as quick as cups or r888's in dry. Great tyres though - much better quality than federal.
Not sure if your car would suffer oil surge with the more grippy tyres, worth keeping in mind.
Nankang NS2R are good too and cheaper about 100 each.
I run the AD08r's - excellent in the wet but wouldn't be as quick as cups or r888's in dry. Great tyres though - much better quality than federal.
Not sure if your car would suffer oil surge with the more grippy tyres, worth keeping in mind.
As you know, Peter, I have a set of 888s and a set of Feds, in approx the same sizes as each other.
Honest answer is I cannot tell the difference. When newer, the 888s let go more suddenly than the Feds, which, like a defensive dog, let our a low growl for about three or four seconds before trying to bite my bum. Now both sets are well worn, they both are more progressive.
Both my sets are now barely legal, and my replacements will be Federals, purely on price for the track, but also because they give a softer ride and better wet grip on the road, thanks to the lower load rating.
BTW, as a man who has more than one set of wheels and an interest in sprinting, have you considered going for two separate sets of tyres, a set of medium compound for track days and a set of much softer compound tyres for sprinting? IMH,APQW,O, sprinting needs a tyre that works 10/10ths straight from cold, whereas on a track day you can run a few laps at 6-8/10 to get the tyres and brakes warmed up.
Honest answer is I cannot tell the difference. When newer, the 888s let go more suddenly than the Feds, which, like a defensive dog, let our a low growl for about three or four seconds before trying to bite my bum. Now both sets are well worn, they both are more progressive.
Both my sets are now barely legal, and my replacements will be Federals, purely on price for the track, but also because they give a softer ride and better wet grip on the road, thanks to the lower load rating.
BTW, as a man who has more than one set of wheels and an interest in sprinting, have you considered going for two separate sets of tyres, a set of medium compound for track days and a set of much softer compound tyres for sprinting? IMH,APQW,O, sprinting needs a tyre that works 10/10ths straight from cold, whereas on a track day you can run a few laps at 6-8/10 to get the tyres and brakes warmed up.
QBee said:
BTW, as a man who has more than one set of wheels and an interest in sprinting, have you considered going for two separate sets of tyres, a set of medium compound for track days and a set of much softer compound tyres for sprinting? IMH,APQW,O, sprinting needs a tyre that works 10/10ths straight from cold, whereas on a track day you can run a few laps at 6-8/10 to get the tyres and brakes warmed up.
Good point, so what is the 10/10ths?Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff