Just in... new Apolly wheels and ZZS tyres
Discussion
Edit: Doh, typo in header. Apollo obviously 
Ordered these on Monday and they turned up today. Not much left on my CR500 after Llandow, so I thought I'd get these so I can get around before I wear my CR500 out at Pembrey in a couple of months!
If it's dry on Saturday I'm hoping to go for a drive and see how they compare. I love the tread pattern though!
Ordered these on Monday and they turned up today. Not much left on my CR500 after Llandow, so I thought I'd get these so I can get around before I wear my CR500 out at Pembrey in a couple of months!
If it's dry on Saturday I'm hoping to go for a drive and see how they compare. I love the tread pattern though!
nigelpugh7 said:
Same wheels as mine, but I have the zzrs on mine, I have been very pleased with them.
Would love to hear your feedback on the new ZZS tyres when you have broken them in.
One word of caution, when CC supplied my wheels with new tyres fitted and balanced, they had put the balance weights in the rears in the wrong place and they fouled the de dion tube so badly, that they stopped the wheel turning completely!
Might be worth checking before and or during fitment!
Thanks for the heads-up Nigel.Would love to hear your feedback on the new ZZS tyres when you have broken them in.
One word of caution, when CC supplied my wheels with new tyres fitted and balanced, they had put the balance weights in the rears in the wrong place and they fouled the de dion tube so badly, that they stopped the wheel turning completely!
Might be worth checking before and or during fitment!
I'm running the 6" setup all round so shouldn't have any issues with the De-Dion tube, but I am worried about clearance around the front brakes - my CXRs only give around 1mm near the weights, and Caterham have put weights on the inner and outer edges, so we'll see what happens when I fit them.
Mellow7 said:
How much??? I'll also need a spare ...
Just over £1000 with the tyres fitted.nigelpugh7 said:
No problem, just wanted to make sure you didn't have the same problem as me!
I should have noticed that you had the same size front and rear from your picture sorry!
I guess they were worse on mine due to the 8 inch rears!
I was told by CC that it's the tyre fitters they use who often fit the balance weights in the wrong place.
And I have heard from three other people who had issues with clearance re the balance weights on new wheels and tyres from CC! So it's clearly quite common!
I reckon if you have balance weights on the outside edge as you say, it might be more of a problem than you had hoped!
I hope they don't catch though!
Ah! Sounds like I might have some fun then! I won't get a chance to fit them unti Saturday. I'm more worried about the inner weights on the front given that the AP calipers fill the wheel! Hopefully they'll have a bit more clearance than my CXRs....I should have noticed that you had the same size front and rear from your picture sorry!
I guess they were worse on mine due to the 8 inch rears!
I was told by CC that it's the tyre fitters they use who often fit the balance weights in the wrong place.
And I have heard from three other people who had issues with clearance re the balance weights on new wheels and tyres from CC! So it's clearly quite common!
I reckon if you have balance weights on the outside edge as you say, it might be more of a problem than you had hoped!
I hope they don't catch though!
I had a quick chance to just try the wheel on the front. Fitted fine.
I still haven't put the rears on, but just to clarify, since mine are the 6" rears, they don't get anywhere near the de-dion ears like the 8" wheels do. There's more clearance on these than the CXR's I have fitted, so given that the CXRs fit on the rear, these have even more room so I just can't see it being a problem. I was more concerned about the front since the CXR's were very very close to the calipers! But these have more room, so no problems there.
Sadly, no chance to try it out yet, we were hoping to take the car away this week, but took the other car thanks to the weather. I'll post some photos once I do get them fitted though. I don't keep the car at home though, so it's not just a matter of popping down to the garage.
I still haven't put the rears on, but just to clarify, since mine are the 6" rears, they don't get anywhere near the de-dion ears like the 8" wheels do. There's more clearance on these than the CXR's I have fitted, so given that the CXRs fit on the rear, these have even more room so I just can't see it being a problem. I was more concerned about the front since the CXR's were very very close to the calipers! But these have more room, so no problems there.
Sadly, no chance to try it out yet, we were hoping to take the car away this week, but took the other car thanks to the weather. I'll post some photos once I do get them fitted though. I don't keep the car at home though, so it's not just a matter of popping down to the garage.
The CR500 are no longer compliant to the latest EU tyre rules so are being phased yet. I get the impression that there's quite some stock remaining at Avon though!
I think the ZZS will be quicker/longer lasting on a dry track thanks to the larger tread blocks. I'm curious to see how it performs in the wet and standing water (I found the CR500 excellent).
I think the ZZS will be quicker/longer lasting on a dry track thanks to the larger tread blocks. I'm curious to see how it performs in the wet and standing water (I found the CR500 excellent).
Had a lovely drive in the sun yesterday around my usual roads in the Brecon Beacons.
First impressions of the ZZS are excellent. They're definitely a bit grippier than the CR500 in the dry. No doubt there. The ride height is also a little higher thanks to the wider tyre (and therefore increased profile). This meant I didn't bottom out on speed bumps like I did with the CR500).
It's been a while since I had a good drive on the road with the CR500, but I think the sidewalls on the ZZS are a little tougher, but they still provided excellent steering feel. I definitely didn't get any tramlining and the handling of the car felt as good as ever. I'll be keen to see how good they are in the rain, but I'm definitely not going to be heading out in the wet intentionally! But if I do get caught out, I'll post my comments on here.
Next trackday is Pembrey in June (unless I manage to squeeze another one before), so I'll post my opinions again then, but my initial feeling is people won't be disappointed going from CR500s to ZZS'.
First impressions of the ZZS are excellent. They're definitely a bit grippier than the CR500 in the dry. No doubt there. The ride height is also a little higher thanks to the wider tyre (and therefore increased profile). This meant I didn't bottom out on speed bumps like I did with the CR500).
It's been a while since I had a good drive on the road with the CR500, but I think the sidewalls on the ZZS are a little tougher, but they still provided excellent steering feel. I definitely didn't get any tramlining and the handling of the car felt as good as ever. I'll be keen to see how good they are in the rain, but I'm definitely not going to be heading out in the wet intentionally! But if I do get caught out, I'll post my comments on here.
Next trackday is Pembrey in June (unless I manage to squeeze another one before), so I'll post my opinions again then, but my initial feeling is people won't be disappointed going from CR500s to ZZS'.
REALIST123 said:
Thanks Andy. Didn't want to start pushing the wrong bit! Need to remove to torque drive shaft nuts properly once the car's on the floor.
Just the front wings, doors, mirrors and IVA stuff then it's off for testing.....
No problem, you should be able to just pop them out with the handle of a screwdriver.Just the front wings, doors, mirrors and IVA stuff then it's off for testing.....
Had another drive on the ZZS today - they definitely have tougher sidewalls than the CR500. The car did seem to jump around a bit more on some of the rougher roads. I'll put the CR500 back on at some point and go for another drive just to be sure, but I do feel they harden up the ride a bit.
I do like how they feel on smoother roads though, and for most of my drive they were as good or better than the CR500 - but you might notice the difference on the very bumpy sections.
I do like how they feel on smoother roads though, and for most of my drive they were as good or better than the CR500 - but you might notice the difference on the very bumpy sections.
I would take the ratings with a pinch of salt.
My road tyres on the Megane are Goodyear Eagle F1 Assy2, are only rated C for wet grip, yet the tyres are fantastic, and give far more confidence than the Pilot Sport 2 they replaced (rated A!).
I've not been out in the wet yet with them(the ZZS), but I'm unlikely to unless we get caught in the rain when touring or on a trackday.
Might be best to find someone who's been in the R300 championship since they used them last season?
My road tyres on the Megane are Goodyear Eagle F1 Assy2, are only rated C for wet grip, yet the tyres are fantastic, and give far more confidence than the Pilot Sport 2 they replaced (rated A!).
I've not been out in the wet yet with them(the ZZS), but I'm unlikely to unless we get caught in the rain when touring or on a trackday.
Might be best to find someone who's been in the R300 championship since they used them last season?
I used the ZZS on the track yesterday (in the dry) at Pembrey and they were brilliant. A good bit gripper than the CR500, but they came up to temp quickly and lasted well on each session. Wear was very good too!
I think yesterday was the most fun I've had on track in the car. I was only passed by a handful of cars all day, and while some of the other 7 style cars caught up with me by the end of the two long straights, as soon as I got to the twisty section I'd lost them within a couple of corners and were long gone by the time I got to the end of the straights the second time.
I still can't quite get over how fast I can corner in it. The best part is you know that you've had to put the work in to go fast, unlike a modern hatch where the car feels so competent that it just flatters your driving. I'm aching and shattered today, but I wouldn't want to do a track day in anything else!
I definitely need to get a tow car and trailer though, it was a hard drive home! (That is the advantage of a hatchback - you can still drive home comfortably!).
I think yesterday was the most fun I've had on track in the car. I was only passed by a handful of cars all day, and while some of the other 7 style cars caught up with me by the end of the two long straights, as soon as I got to the twisty section I'd lost them within a couple of corners and were long gone by the time I got to the end of the straights the second time.
I still can't quite get over how fast I can corner in it. The best part is you know that you've had to put the work in to go fast, unlike a modern hatch where the car feels so competent that it just flatters your driving. I'm aching and shattered today, but I wouldn't want to do a track day in anything else!
I definitely need to get a tow car and trailer though, it was a hard drive home! (That is the advantage of a hatchback - you can still drive home comfortably!).
Edited by framerateuk on Sunday 21st June 20:12
REALIST123 said:
Have you tried the ZZRs Andy? Anyone know how the ZZR compares to the ZZS?
No, but given the ZZS is essentially the wet/all weather version of the ZZR , so the ZZR would still have the edge on dry grip (just look at the tread).The ZZS is now used instead of the CR500 in the Supersport championship (and I think Tracksport and Roadsport too), and the R300s have an option of using the ZZS in the wet instead of the ZZR.
REALIST123 said:
Thanks. I looked on the avon website and had just figured that out.
Were did you get your set of wheels and tyres from?
Direct from Caterham. The wheels are the latest wheel they've released and I don't think they've available elsewhere. You could probably get the tires direct from Cooper tyre though.Were did you get your set of wheels and tyres from?
REALIST123 said:
Cheers. It's just that you said you paid just over £1000 and the best I can see is £1160 or so. DT also do the wheels but the price is the same as Caterham.
The tyres are listed at BMTR
I paid £1,084.50 in total back in March. I had the whole lot supplied fitted and balanced. It saved me having to get them fitted locally.The tyres are listed at BMTR
cwin said:
We have run both in the R300s and the zzs or good in the dry but go off quicker than the Zzr s do in the dry, overall grip is similar.
In the wet the Zzs are good and a lot better than the Zzr s due to being able to shift the water from the tread, we didn't think they were any better than the cr500 s were in the wet though.
Tyre pressures need to be quite high, around 27psi front and 25/26 rear when hot to bet the best results on the Zzr s.
As an all rounder the Zzs is the better tyre if your driving to the circuit and only have one set.
Good to hear some feedback on them in the wet! I always found the CR500 very good, if the ZZS are around the same then that's mission accomplished for me - their dry performance is far better.In the wet the Zzs are good and a lot better than the Zzr s due to being able to shift the water from the tread, we didn't think they were any better than the cr500 s were in the wet though.
Tyre pressures need to be quite high, around 27psi front and 25/26 rear when hot to bet the best results on the Zzr s.
As an all rounder the Zzs is the better tyre if your driving to the circuit and only have one set.
I tried a few different pressures. I was up to 24psi hot, and then tried 19psi and didn't notice much difference. I think the higher pressure gave me slightly better adjustability on throttle out of tighter bends, but it's hard to say since I was still getting used to the additional grip over the last tyres. I thought that 24psi was a bit high (I was told about 18-20 psi hot for CR500s), hence why I lowered them. I might pump them back up if that's the expected pressure though.
Edited by framerateuk on Monday 22 June 17:09
Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff