Discussion
If budget isn't a consideration, he'll get a good idea if he looks at the types of tyres being fitted to the quicker versions of current Caterhams. Yokahama (my Westfield runs A0032R's and my Sylva the now-obsolete A008R's and I can recommend both) or Avon ACB10's or CR500's are pretty good.
Like everything else, though, it's a compromise... a tyre that is good for dry track use is going to be pretty hopeless for all-weather road use and is likely to have pretty high wear rates (I tend to get no more than 5-6K miles out of a set of tyres, even in road use, on my Sylva or Westfield).
Like everything else, though, it's a compromise... a tyre that is good for dry track use is going to be pretty hopeless for all-weather road use and is likely to have pretty high wear rates (I tend to get no more than 5-6K miles out of a set of tyres, even in road use, on my Sylva or Westfield).
minipete said:
Hi all i`m putting this post up for a friend who has built a Westfield type kitcar,it is power br a Mondeo 1.8l engine.He plans to take it on trackdays,and would like to know what are the best brand of tyres to use for track use.
Thanks Pete,
I've got A048R's on my Fisher Fury R1 and I really like them but when cold they don't grip too well, which may be an issue if he intends to drive all year round on the road.Thanks Pete,
On 13" rims they are really quite cheap, which is just as well, as I reckon 2000 miles is the most the rears will see, given my 95% road driving / 5% track use.
minipete said:
Cheers all i`ll pass that on,i think he is on a tight budget and he is planning to have a set of sticking tyres for trackdays and keep his other set for road use.
If on a tight budget then he can have just as much fun on std road tyres, get a set of Kumho or Toyo T1 tyres, cheap-ish and will be great fun, just might not have the ultimate grip of the fancy tyres but he might not need that much grip if he's not running high power.The more grip you have, generally the faster reactions you need and the more stress put on the car and if you spin you'll be spinnng at higher speed - for fun track days for a normal bloke out for a laugh then any reasonable road tyre will be OK. Will also allow you to get the car sideways if you want to at lower speed. Some race series use tyres like this for these reasons.
As it's a light car you ideally want a tyre that's offered in many compounds so you don't have problems getting heat into them. The trouble with single compound tyres is they have to be designed to cope with a 120bhp superlight and a 500bhp 1500kgs monster which often leads to problems at each extreme end.
I'd recommend having a look at a soft compound Kumho V70a if on a budget. If not, the Yokos seem to be the kit car owners preference.
I'd recommend having a look at a soft compound Kumho V70a if on a budget. If not, the Yokos seem to be the kit car owners preference.
If he is serious I have a set of 185/60/14 Yokohama AO32r's (almost new, surplust to my requirements as I have too many!) in the garage. These are proper road legal trackday tyres,and cost way over £300. I would let them go for about half that, to buy myself some T1R's for street use. Let me know. Yokohama 32r, 48r and Toyo R888 (generally cheaper) are the best trackday tyres for lightweight kit cars.
For "normal" tyres always try www.mytyres.co.uk first. For specialist tyres, can be a minefield. Pollysport are a good source for Yokohama. never heard of the ones you mention?
minipete said:
Cheers for that,but he`s running 15" wheels.
How readily availible are Marangoni Zeta Tyres?
They are available here for one thing: -How readily availible are Marangoni Zeta Tyres?
http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m4b0s9...
I would assume most tyre places should be able to order them in though? I dunno, but I'm going to try some for this track day season as my existing tyres are shot.
Furyblade_Lee said:
If he is serious I have a set of 185/60/14 Yokohama AO32r's (almost new, surplust to my requirements as I have too many!) in the garage. These are proper road legal trackday tyres,and cost way over £300. I would let them go for about half that, to buy myself some T1R's for street use. Let me know. Yokohama 32r, 48r and Toyo R888 (generally cheaper) are the best trackday tyres for lightweight kit cars.
Me! Me! Me! 
Furyblade, how many of those have you got - 4 or 5? I need a full set for a Westfield I'm buying and that's exactly what I wanted to get. I'm in Kent so could collect.
Cheers,
Iain
for comparing prices:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
185/60 R13 (80V)
Semi Slick Toyo Proxes R888
2 tyres for 143,- pound
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
185/60 R13 (80V)
Semi Slick Toyo Proxes R888
2 tyres for 143,- pound
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