Are Rainsport tyres the best option other than race wets?

[smiles1]

On a 750-900kg car, are Rainsports the best option for a wet tyre or is there anything else that has proven to be as good or better other than a full race wet?

Thanks

[E-bmw]

Pirelli P Zero & CSC5.

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2016-ADAC-Tyr...

CPC6

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2017-Auto-Bil...


According to various professional testers all beat them in the wet, under the test conditions that they prescribed.

[smiles1]

Thanks, appreciate the links. Very interesting to read

[df76]

What size tyre are you looking at? Is it track days only??

[smiles1]

Yes track only but will drive to the circuit. But may consider trailering.

15 and 16 inch.

[df76]

smiles1 said:

Yes track only but will drive to the circuit. But may consider trailering.

15 and 16 inch.

I would definitely be getting Rainsport 3s in those sizes and for that purpose, and they're so cheap. Camskill sell 195/50/15s for £40 each.

[smiles1]

df76 said:

smiles1 said:

Yes track only but will drive to the circuit. But may consider trailering.

15 and 16 inch.

I would definitely be getting Rainsport 3s in those sizes and for that purpose, and they're so cheap. Camskill sell 195/50/15s for £40 each.

Thanks

[6MPS]

I used Rainsport 3's on my track car for wets and rate them highly as long as they're fairly new with decent tread. Ive found once they get past half worn and have seen a few cold winters they become a little skittish.

If you can stretch to them the Avon ZZS are a fantastic damp/wet weather tyre, as are the Toyo R1R's.

[smiles1]

6MPS said:

If you can stretch to them the Avon ZZS are a fantastic damp/wet weather tyre, as are the Toyo R1R's.

Better than Rainsport 3's?

[df76]

smiles1 said:

6MPS said:

If you can stretch to them the Avon ZZS are a fantastic damp/wet weather tyre, as are the Toyo R1R's.

Better than Rainsport 3's?

In proper wet conditions (any possibility of standing water), not a chance.

[Oilchange]

There is a reason that I see absolutely loads of racers with a set of these ready at every race meet I attend. And why I have them on my daily.
Excellent tyre for not a lot of money. Buy a top brand if you want but you will pay through the nose for the name. Nothing more.

[C70R]

An upvote for Toyo R1R here. On a rainy-to-drying Woodbridge trackday, the 206 was very confidence inspiring - although the rain wasn't heavy enough to leave significant standing water.

[6MPS]

df76 said:

smiles1 said:

6MPS said:

If you can stretch to them the Avon ZZS are a fantastic damp/wet weather tyre, as are the Toyo R1R's.

Better than Rainsport 3's?

In proper wet conditions (any possibility of standing water), not a chance.

Have you used all 3 tyres in wet track conditions?

[df76]

6MPS said:

Have you used all 3 tyres in wet track conditions?

I’ve used Rainsports on track, and directly against Toyo R888 and Nankang NS2R tyres. The difference in wet conditions was significant. I’ve also compared other “normal” road tyres against track tyres in competition when really wet, and the lap times were approx. 10 seconds quicker around Combe.

Also help to run saloon cars at Combe, and one particular race in early 2016 showed just how good Rainsports are. Combe saloons are also limited to 1a tyres, so nothing too racey allowed. The cars on Rainsports drove away from the others that were running Contis and Michelins, the well driven race winning car (that would normally be mid pack) was on Rainsport 3s. Details here:

http://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=BARC/2016/161821...

The next race meeting, the paddock was full of Rainsports just in case it was wet.

All track orientated tyres that I’ve used (including Avon ZZRs that I currently have) are fine in damp conditions as long as you can get temperature into them. As soon as there’s any standing water, they will be outperformed by a good road tyre and / or have a scary inability to deal with aquaplaning. I’m sure that the ZZS and R1R have some ability to deal with water due to their tread patterns, but given the cost, Rainsports are highly recommended and will be the safer / faster option in truly wet conditions.

There are a few tyre tests about on the web that compared track tyres in the wet against road tyres, I don’t think that they come to a different conclusion.

[drjhill]

same endorsement on a heavier car (1200 kg RWD and 300 bhp) ?

Thanks

[E-bmw]

I went with CSC5s until recently for my default road/wet weather set up (240 bhp RWD) and on several occasions in wet conditions surprised cars that (in the wet) should have been better.

[SonicShadow]

The reason Rainsports are popular is because they offer decent performance for not a huge amount of money. In outright wet performance, there are other road tyres that are objectively better as other users have linked.

[Oilchange]

My Alfa runs on them and they are really good when running in frosty or cold and damp miserable mornings on the commute.
I would not recommend a tyre based on others 'objective' recommendations but I would look closer at them.

Edited by Oilchange on Friday 12th January 19:19

[df76]

SonicShadow said:

The reason Rainsports are popular is because they offer decent performance for not a huge amount of money. In outright wet performance, there are other road tyres that are objectively better as other users have linked.

There are limited alternatives in 15 / 16" sizes. Plus, it's a track day. The cheapest and safest option.