Wet track day tyres

[2BarBoost]

Hi

Would people with experience of using please advise me on a decent tyre to use on track days if there weather is wet and where best to buy

I use in the dry Bridgestone RE070's in 225/45/17 because they are great value, but they ain't the best in the wet. Car is an Evo 5

Thanks J

[curlyks2]

I did Bedford in torrential rain a couple of years ago and the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric set I had on at the time were brilliant.

[upsidedownmark]

I doubt you'll find any really significant difference changing them for another 'road' tyre. They're not an extreme / barely treaded tyre like (say) a R888, they should clear water just fine. If you're not aquaplaning, compound is the main issue, IME most road tyres suck on a wet track (more so than on the road) - something about circuits just doesn't seem to have the friction and relies on some heat, which a (relatively speaking) very hard road tyre just can't do in the wet.

I'd suggest you either enjoy the lack of grip, or look at a proper race wet. That of course won't be legal, and will wear fast, especially if you use it in merely damp.. but the grip has to be experienced to be believed.

[StreetDragster]

Uniroyal Rainsport 3's on our RX8, seem to do well.

[Oilchange]

Lots of race cars that want inexpensive wet tyres pick Uniroyals. They are pretty damn good apparently...

[xr287]

Toyo R1R, it's just an R888 with more grooves.

[mpit]

Oilchange said:

Lots of race cars that want inexpensive wet tyres pick Uniroyals. They are pretty damn good apparently...

For reference, this is the difference between proper wets and Uniroyals;

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNGzPMzhcXz/

Both drivers set identical times at Snetterton on the same tyres, previously.

I'm on proper wets in the E92, camera car is on Rainsport 3s. I'm not convinced you can call something "pretty damn good" when it's so far away from the proper tool for the job

[2BarBoost]

Thanks for the reply everyone

The dry tyre I use is pretty horrific in the wet so something like an eagle F1 on a spare set of alloys would defiantly give more grip in damp/wet conditions for sure.

Could someone advise me on a place to get and type of full race wet tyre that would be close to my size 225/235 45 17

Thanks Jamie

[Oilchange]

Lol, yeah I see there is nothing really to compare with proper race wets but they are a. Very expensive and b. Not as accessible for the average trackday Joe. Uniroyals are practically a budget tyre but perform better than a lot of other branded road tyres, hence my comments.
Also, when there is lots of standing water they come into their own when others are squirrelling about on semi slicks
I do see the paddock chock full of spare wheels (with 'wets' fitted) and those tyres are Uniroyals so it says something, no?

mpit said:

For reference, this is the difference between proper wets and Uniroyals;

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNGzPMzhcXz/

Both drivers set identical times at Snetterton on the same tyres, previously.

I'm on proper wets in the E92, camera car is on Rainsport 3s. I'm not convinced you can call something "pretty damn good" when it's so far away from the proper tool for the job

Edited by Oilchange on Wednesday 7th December 17:29

[blocko23]

I have yokohoma advan neova ad08r on my daily driver scooby... Can handle even the hardest i throw at it even in the wet.. bet they would be great on track

[petrolbloke]

I've done two very wet trackdays in my Clio with AD08Rs, went past a lot of cars that would normally be quicker in the dry. The AD08Rs make great all rounders as they stand up better to track use better than most road tyres when the track is dry. A friend also had good results with Goodyear Eagle F1 AS2s on track in the wet and I am impressed with them on the road (not tried on track myself).

Road tyres I've found lacking in the wet are Conti Sport Contacts 2s and Toyo T1-Rs.

It would be interesting to see comparisons in wet laptimes between AD08Rs, Eagle F1s and Rainsport 3s.

[rallycross]

Get a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 3.

I've just fitted a set of Michelin Pilot sport 3 to my track car for wet days and driving it on the road they did seem to be really good.

We used these for fist time at Brands last weekend and the day started off wet and the grip from these was quite incredible, very impressive (I've used lots of tyres on track in the wet including things like A048, Ao32, T888,Bridgestone RE002 Re040, Hankook RS2 etc)

There is a chap on ebay selling part worn Pilot sports from the Ginetta juniors for £120 a set in 15" well worth it if you are looking for some track tyres

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/195-50-x-15-Michelin-Pil...

[IdiotRace]

blocko23 said:

I have yokohoma advan neova ad08r on my daily driver scooby... Can handle even the hardest i throw at it even in the wet.. bet they would be great on track

Did a very wet day at bedford early in the year and found that the AD08R does not like large standing patches of water, they don't feel that great on wet roads either. To be fair a turbo mr2 doesn't have the best wet handling characteristics.

In the dry however I love em.

[geeks]

Nankang NS2-Rs are very good in the wet. Get the harder compound though as the soft isn't as good in the wet and they will also last longer and run fine in the dry just adjust the pressures.

I never really understood this Rainsport 3 in the wet at a track, I have never found them any good for track work...

[billyboysm3]

Uniroyals on a wet track are brilliiant.

Compared to Goodyear eagle f1s they are in a different league.

Goodyear eagle f1s are a very very good wet tyre and I've ran them for years but you're talking a massive difference in lap time and braking.

The uniroyals in the right hands are fun and you can drive to and from the track.
Plus you get to learn more about your driving.

That camera car was on uniroyals but was off the pace by 10-15 seconds a lap for that tyre.

[geeks]

billyboysm3 said:

Uniroyals on a wet track are brilliiant.

Compared to Goodyear eagle f1s they are in a different league.

Goodyear eagle f1s are a very very good wet tyre and I've ran them for years but you're talking a massive difference in lap time and braking.

The uniroyals in the right hands are fun and you can drive to and from the track.
Plus you get to learn more about your driving.

That camera car was on uniroyals but was off the pace by 10-15 seconds a lap for that tyre.

I'm sorry but you are wrong

[Oilchange]

I haven't tracked my Alfa which is on Uniroyals but in the cold and wet they seem to handle very well. I can't obviously compare them to race wets, lets face it, they are going to be far far better but as a wet track day tyre for Joe on a budget they aren't bad. And they are cheap so what's not to like?

[Dakkon]

Eagle F1's are ok in the wet but as soon as the track starts to dry they will over heat very quickly and start to melt,AD08R or Uniroyals are a much better choice

[upsidedownmark]

I assume all these sweeping generalisations do realise that it very much depends what you put them on? big AMG is going to have problems melting tyres, a little caterham is going to struggle to get any heat.. in between you need to know your car.

[2BarBoost]

So are people saying the following

A/ a decent road going tyres which is ok on the track is Rainsport3's or eagle F1's?

B/ no substitute for race wets!!!

Can anyone recommend a set of race sets that would suit my car? 17x8 wheel?