Wet tyres

[Output Flange]

Those of you restricted to 1a/1b/1c tyres, do you run the same size for wets or do you go narrower?

I know that on road cars, when you switch to winters for bad weather you drop down a width (same weight pressing down on a smaller footprint should lessen aquaplaning?) but does the same apply for track driving? In my mind it should!

[stevieturbo]

Output Flange said:

Those of you restricted to 1a/1b/1c tyres, do you run the same size for wets or do you go narrower?

I know that on road cars, when you switch to winters for bad weather you drop down a width (same weight pressing down on a smaller footprint should lessen aquaplaning?) but does the same apply for track driving? In my mind it should!

You fit what is convenient and appropriate, any myths about smaller footprint...well, it is a myth really.

For a very brief moment if you drive through body of water large enough to aquaplane would you want a narrower tyre that offers less grip everywhere else ?

Does whereever you race, experience huge puddles or floods ?

[andy97]

I don't have any "wets". I race on whatever tyres are on the car, usually Yoko a048s or Toyo 888s - they are meant to be road legal! I carry two spare wheels in case of punctures and that's it.

I know people do have a set of "wets" but if everyone is on list1b or 1c then I think it's negligible value tbh, unless you are right down to the wear bars.

If a series allows the use of proper racing wets then that's a different matter.

[Kinkell]

My mk1 Escort is about 1 second a lap quicker on soft compound 048s than mediums and a certain Avon tyre is quicker than both in the wet. I have found that my car handles better on 185s than on 205s and thus quicker.
We have lost our control Yokohama tyre this season due to lack of availability so it will be interesting finding faster rubber.

[df76]

In "proper" wet conditions, and I mean puddles, a decent road tyre will be significantly quicker than anything designed for dry track use. There are a few independent tyre tests where the Yoko AD08 (which actually has ok wet weather ability compared with some) has been run against road tyres, and the findings are consistent.

Or this is a track focused wet tyre:

http://www.avonmotorsport.com/road-legal/performan...

But for 2016 onwards, unless your car is pre-1990, it's a List 1c tyre.

[Kinkell]

That looks like that certain Avon. I think they need a lap or two to warm up as we stuck with Yokos for the hills.

[Trev450]

For a list 1b tyre for wet use you won't do much better than Toyo R1R's.

[stevieturbo]

Trev450 said:

For a list 1b tyre for wet use you won't do much better than Toyo R1R's.

Did they stop making them too ?

That's the thing, it's slightly less about width etc...more about tread design. Some tyres just lend themselves better to water dispersal than others.

Pick the softest rubber with the most efficient tread design to get rid of water, R1R's are pretty good in that respect.

[Trev450]

stevieturbo said:

Trev450 said:

For a list 1b tyre for wet use you won't do much better than Toyo R1R's.

Did they stop making them too ?

That's the thing, it's slightly less about width etc...more about tread design. Some tyres just lend themselves better to water dispersal than others.
Pick the softest rubber with the most efficient tread design to get rid of water, R1R's are pretty good in that respect.

Not sure if they've stopped making them but all the usual places appear to have stock.

[df76]

Whilst this is from the USA, it does pitch the Yoko AD08 and Toyo R1R against the best performance road tyres. There are wet weather tests:

http://media.caranddriver.com/files/monsters-of-gr...

[stevieturbo]

df76 said:

Whilst this is from the USA, it does pitch the Yoko AD08 and Toyo R1R against the best performance road tyres. There are wet weather tests:

http://media.caranddriver.com/files/monsters-of-gr...

Doesnt state specific tyres in the list ?

or how much water they're dealing with ?

wet, raining and standing water are all very different

[df76]

stevieturbo said:

Doesnt state specific tyres in the list ?

or how much water they're dealing with ?

wet, raining and standing water are all very different

Google to the rescue...

http://m.caranddriver.com/comparisons/monsters-of-...

I guess if you have specific puddle size questions, you'll have to contact the editor.

[HummuH]

I've found Uniroyal Rainsports the best tyre to use in full wet conditions (standing water) if racing wets are not permitted. Also tried AD08R and R1R's, Uniroyals were the best, comfortably.

[Oilchange]

made in England too I believe

[RegMolehusband]

andy97 said:

I don't have any "wets". I race on whatever tyres are on the car, usually Yoko a048s or Toyo 888s - they are meant to be road legal! I carry two spare wheels in case of punctures and that's it.

I know people do have a set of "wets" but if everyone is on list1b or 1c then I think it's negligible value tbh, unless you are right down to the wear bars.

If a series allows the use of proper racing wets then that's a different matter.

Yes, I did that last year until my Avon ZZR's hit running water at Prescott Hill Climb and I lost all steering and had a horrible spin close to banks and Armco.

So this year I am getting some Avon CR28 or similar for wet days (whatever is on the new List 1B list).