Tyres for HPC

[harry b]

I'm looking into some new tyres for the HPC, 205/45x16.
Any experiences?

[Eugene7]

Replace the rims with 13" - then go for 70 profiles. I use 021Rs.

Seriously, the difference is amazing!!!

[pikeyboy]

Eugene7 said:

Replace the rims with 13" - then go for 70 profiles. I use 021Rs.

Seriously, the difference is amazing!!!

This^

[harry b]

Eugene7 said:

Replace the rims with 13" - then go for 70 profiles. I use 021Rs.

Seriously, the difference is amazing!!!

No option, I just sold my 13" wheels with Avons I had.
My car just performs better with 16", currently with Pirelli's. Had to remove front antirollbar, that improved things quite a bit for my Drivingstyle. Probably not the best for a caterham, but I'm used to mid and rear engined cars.
Want to keep the original look and the car looks better with the 16". Personal taste.

Options I found so far:
Avon ZZR 225/45x16 (too extreme?)
Bridgestone RE55 225/45x16
Yokohama Advan Neova AD08 205/45x16 215/45x16
Yokohama Advan A048 225/45x16
Toyo Proxes R888 225/45x16
Toyo Proxes R1R 205/45x16
Kuhmo V70A 205/45x16
Federal 595 RS-R 205/45x16 (never heard of them)
Dunlop Direzza 03G 225/45x16
Hankook Ventus R-S2RS 215/45x16

[Alan Carswell]

Have a look at Toyo R1R - sure they do them in the size you require. I am running these on 15 in wheels on my HPC and I am really pleased with them. Used in all weathers and been great so far, I know others using them who definitely drive at the limit and they like them as well, feel very progressive.

[harry b]

Alan Carswell said:

Have a look at Toyo R1R - sure they do them in the size you require. I am running these on 15 in wheels on my HPC and I am really pleased with them. Used in all weathers and been great so far, I know others using them who definitely drive at the limit and they like them as well, feel very progressive.

Thank You. I'll try them.

[Rick7HPC]

Have 16" on my HPC and Toyo R888's (love the 16's asthetics too) The Toyo's are incredible on track, imense grip but progressive still, but when cold on the rosd they can catch you out untill warm. They look the nuts too.. Had Yoko's before and no where near as good.

[snapper seven]

Heard pretty good things about the Kuhmo's too.

If it's mainly track stuff then you can afford to choose something a little saucier but otherwise you may want to steer clear of the ZZR as you say. I run R888's, on 13"s admittedly, and haven't suffered too greatly in the wet but not sure about standing water.

Cheers
SS

[rubystone]

harry b said:

Eugene7 said:

Replace the rims with 13" - then go for 70 profiles. I use 021Rs.

Seriously, the difference is amazing!!!

No option, I just sold my 13" wheels with Avons I had.
My car just performs better with 16", currently with Pirelli's. Had to remove front antirollbar, that improved things quite a bit for my Drivingstyle. Probably not the best for a caterham, but I'm used to mid and rear engined cars.
Want to keep the original look and the car looks better with the 16". Personal taste.

Options I found so far:
Avon ZZR 225/45x16 (too extreme?)
Bridgestone RE55 225/45x16
Yokohama Advan Neova AD08 205/45x16 215/45x16
Yokohama Advan A048 225/45x16
Toyo Proxes R888 225/45x16
Toyo Proxes R1R 205/45x16
Kuhmo V70A 205/45x16
Federal 595 RS-R 205/45x16 (never heard of them)
Dunlop Direzza 03G 225/45x16
Hankook Ventus R-S2RS 215/45x16

The problem with anything above 13 inches on a Caterham is that the tyres just do not warm up. Your Pirellis are an example of this. The 888 are the only tyre that you'll have a chance with. Oh and wehy the heck would you want to overtyre a Caterham with 225s? Sheer madness!

Can't understand why a Caterham on 16 inch wheels should feel more like a rear-engined or mid-engined car though, but I understand why you'll have removed the front ARB, given the VX engined cars'propensity to understeer. However, had you stuck to 13 inch wheels and adjusted the ride height to suit (as was done to my HPC) you'd have a sweet(er) handling car.

[harry b]

rubystone said:

The problem with anything above 13 inches on a Caterham is that the tyres just do not warm up. Your Pirellis are an example of this. The 888 are the only tyre that you'll have a chance with. Oh and wehy the heck would you want to overtyre a Caterham with 225s? Sheer madness!

Can't understand why a Caterham on 16 inch wheels should feel more like a rear-engined or mid-engined car though, but I understand why you'll have removed the front ARB, given the VX engined cars'propensity to understeer. However, had you stuck to 13 inch wheels and adjusted the ride height to suit (as was done to my HPC) you'd have a sweet(er) handling car.

I didn't find a 205 size for the 888's so took the closest size in the listings.
I agree that they probably are too wide.

The 16" don't make it feel more like a mid/rear engined setup, the removal of the ARB did.
I use the 16" because I like them better on the car. Personal taste.

What is interesting though is your remark about the ridehight adjustment.
Could you be a bit more specific on what you adjusted on your HPC to get it right?

So conclusion so far:

Yokohama Advan Neova AD08 205/45x16 215/45x16
Toyo Proxes R1R 205/45x16
Kuhmo V70A 205/45x16

Edited by harry b on Saturday 14th July 07:51

[rubystone]

Rather than my go through it all ad nauseam, this thread here is excellent guidance for how to set a car up...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=967...

I would add that other variables are driver specific. I like front toe-in on my R500 because it helps turn-in and reduces understeer on track...but makes the car less settled on the road.

Final advice - my cars had always been setup by Hyperion who had the knowledge of setting up hundreds of racecars, with VX being a speciality. They knew exactly what worked and what didn't. Find a professional team and get them to fine tune your settings.