Longer lasting trackday tyres
Discussion
I know that tyres for a 7 is a topic that has been done to death, but I was wondering if anyone could give me some suggestions for a longer lasting trackday tyre for my Roadsport SV 125.
I am currently living in Cyprus and have been visiting the Achna Speedway (best track day deal in the world. 20 Euros for 3 20 minute sessions, just turn up 6 days a week without booking in advance and they give you a timing beacon as well! Last 4 trips I had the track to myself!). Its the only track on the island and is very tight and twisty with a very abrasive surface. I was running on the good old rock hard ZV3s and managed to get them down to the wear bars. I had a set of R888s sent out from the UK and after just 2 visits (so just 2 hours on track) the rears are down to the wear bars.
As fun as the R888s are I cannot really justify replacing tyres after just 2 hours on track, so I was wondering what else is out there in R14 that is a better balance between 888 grip and ZV3 longevity (I am stuck with the R14 wheels as my 13s are in storage back in the UK)
ps here is a video of the track - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyhq-YreC-0
I am currently living in Cyprus and have been visiting the Achna Speedway (best track day deal in the world. 20 Euros for 3 20 minute sessions, just turn up 6 days a week without booking in advance and they give you a timing beacon as well! Last 4 trips I had the track to myself!). Its the only track on the island and is very tight and twisty with a very abrasive surface. I was running on the good old rock hard ZV3s and managed to get them down to the wear bars. I had a set of R888s sent out from the UK and after just 2 visits (so just 2 hours on track) the rears are down to the wear bars.
As fun as the R888s are I cannot really justify replacing tyres after just 2 hours on track, so I was wondering what else is out there in R14 that is a better balance between 888 grip and ZV3 longevity (I am stuck with the R14 wheels as my 13s are in storage back in the UK)
ps here is a video of the track - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyhq-YreC-0
for the love of revs, please change down to 2nd!
Yeah we have R888 on 14s and have minced them after 2 warm track days, near the treadmarkers, great tyres but they wear quickly when hot. So I'm interested in this too, on a small tight track like that, I'd be tempted to go cheap and slippy for fun, avon cr322?
Yeah we have R888 on 14s and have minced them after 2 warm track days, near the treadmarkers, great tyres but they wear quickly when hot. So I'm interested in this too, on a small tight track like that, I'd be tempted to go cheap and slippy for fun, avon cr322?
I am kicking myself for not bringing the 13 wheels. You may be right about shipping some out, I have to work out the costs.
As for the revs, I am very aware of not dropping to second. What is weird is that when I do I end up being slower. I tendtend to just do a video of the fastest lap of the day, and its always when I stay in third that I am faster. Tells me my downshifting needs work.
The 888a are a great tyre but despite knowing they are soft I did kind of expect them to last further than 65 track miles.
As for the revs, I am very aware of not dropping to second. What is weird is that when I do I end up being slower. I tendtend to just do a video of the fastest lap of the day, and its always when I stay in third that I am faster. Tells me my downshifting needs work.
The 888a are a great tyre but despite knowing they are soft I did kind of expect them to last further than 65 track miles.
jackh707 said:
for the love of revs, please change down to 2nd!
The sigma '125' lacks urgency at the top end, but does have decent torque. It's quite usual to go faster by holding on to a higher gear.re: tyres- I honestly wouldn't bother buying another set of 14" tyres. 13s are the way forward.
For a start tyres are cheaper- so replacing them with some regularity will be much less painful. Secondly, it opens up the possibility of part worn slicks and other second hand tyres as suggested up there ^.
thre selection- well, the gulf between list 1a (Avons) and 1b (Toyos) is quite wide. I feel you'll be disappointed by the grip afforded by '1a's.
CR322's used to be the tyre of choice but now Caterham have bought the moulds and are manufacturing them under license for the Caterham Academy, they've gone up in price big time. Personally I love them for their progressiveness and wet performance but after 888s you'll be disappointed by their dry grip.
I run Yokohama a539 now, but again they're a hard road tyre and won't grip anything like your 888s.
Have a look at Yokohama a048s perhaps? Caterham Sigmagrad racers (same car as yours basically) do full seasons of racing on 3 sets.
They are GG - just went out to the garage to make sure! I guess I fit into the category of 'heavy on tyres'!
I think I would survive going to the less grippy tyre. Its not as if I have had much chance to get used to using the much grippier 888s. Thanks for the advice on possible tyres, I'll have a look and think and then start looking for a local source for 13 inch wheels - I just managed to get away with shipping tyres via BFPO, I think they might quite rightly draw the line at the weight of 4 wheels!
I think I would survive going to the less grippy tyre. Its not as if I have had much chance to get used to using the much grippier 888s. Thanks for the advice on possible tyres, I'll have a look and think and then start looking for a local source for 13 inch wheels - I just managed to get away with shipping tyres via BFPO, I think they might quite rightly draw the line at the weight of 4 wheels!
Edited by themanalive on Wednesday 12th December 14:27
I've got them on the mini, and They are ok.
Good dry grip
Good wet grip
Soft sidewalls
Predictable
Wear quickly when hot, but then I've got nearly 10,000 out of mine. More of a road tyre IMHO.
If that was your quickest lap I'll keep quiet then, our zetec dosnt get going until 5000 so not used to a gruntier
engined car
Good dry grip
Good wet grip
Soft sidewalls
Predictable
Wear quickly when hot, but then I've got nearly 10,000 out of mine. More of a road tyre IMHO.
If that was your quickest lap I'll keep quiet then, our zetec dosnt get going until 5000 so not used to a gruntier
engined car
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