Tyres (again)

Author
Discussion

Ace-T

Original Poster:

7,697 posts

255 months

Saturday 21st October 2006
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So my Falkens were great through the summer, but now the roads are getting wetter and greasier they have completely changed character. Yesterday I did the second slowest 4 wheel drift ever (the slowest being in a golf cart with Rude Girl, but that is a different story! hehe) at 20mph round a roundabout. While it was fun, it was not intentional and just showed how crap my tyres are in the wet.

Now I wanted to go for Yokohamas next but as I do circa 12k miles a year I suspect I will have to replace them at least twice hehe. I have been recommended Dunlop Super sports but I just wondered if you chaps had ever used them and if so what were your thoughts?

Cheers

Trace

PS Size is 165 * 70 * 10

Edited to add, couldn't find this before www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=220241&f=90&h=0&hw=dunlop+supersport cheers all.

Edited by Ace-T on Saturday 21st October 21:06

vrooom

3,763 posts

267 months

Saturday 21st October 2006
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My yokohama a008 seem be good in wet....

love machine

7,609 posts

235 months

Saturday 21st October 2006
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Yoko A008's are not that good. Get another set of cheap wheels and fit Camacs, they are also surprisingly good on grass and in mud.

My mini is virtually undrivable in the wet due to the suspension and tyres not being too good. I'm running Falkens at the mo (old set of wheels) If I accepted the mini as anything other than a dry roads car, I'd get some aquajet SP70's but as it is, I'll take it easy on the crap tyres until the track can merit some more 032R's (which are meant to be better in the wet than 008's). It's pointless caining a set of decent tyres in conditions where you can slide/spin/etc.

Camacs are a good shit weather tyre.

summers

71 posts

218 months

Monday 23rd October 2006
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My mrs has a032r's on her mini, with a tuned 1380,
they are amazing in the dry and very very good in the wet,
once you get your head round being worried that they won't grip,
because they are basically cut slicks.

haynes

370 posts

242 months

Wednesday 25th October 2006
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Check out december's practical classics, they take an S and try 5 different tyres in the wet, testing for lap time and braking distance etc. Dunlop D93 followed closely by A008s come out on top. Carmacs didnt fair too well.

love machine

7,609 posts

235 months

Wednesday 25th October 2006
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I'm talking about properly horrible wet lanes with big puddles and things. Personally, I find A008's can be fun on corners, falkens with a bit of wear seem to aquaplane like hell. Don't waste good cut slicks on driving in the wet. Seriously, Camacs seem to beat the other tyres for a sort of rally driving tyre. Bearing in mind I really do push mine hard and they feel safer in the wet. I'm ambling around at the minute off the cam as the falkens are just ridiculous. The backs inner wheel is locking up braking on corners on a smooth surface which isn't good.

I'd get a set of SP Sports if they weren't such a ridiculous price. I expect they wear pretty fast and I get through tyres quite quickly. I'll probably buy a set of old wheels with some ratty tyres on them to keep me through the winter and as soon as it starts warming up a bit and getting dry patches, back to 032R's on 5" mag-minilites.

Ace-T

Original Poster:

7,697 posts

255 months

Wednesday 25th October 2006
quotequote all
The chap who was looking out for some tyres for me has called me and recommended Dunlop Aquajets at £69 a corner yikes He also says that the Yoko A008s are great in the dry, ok in the wet and lethal in snow. He has also said that I can go and try his car out on the Dunlops.

Now I don't want to skimp on tyre safety but at the same time I dont want to fork out £280 for a set of tyres I know nothing about so am reluctant to take him up on his offer. LM are these the same Aquajets that you mention? Are they any good?

Oh and you are so right about the Falkens after a bit of wear! eek

Ace-T

love machine

7,609 posts

235 months

Thursday 26th October 2006
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Yep, you can get the VTS Aquajets or perhaps get lucky and find some new old stock ones on ebay, they do come up from time to time. If I pay £69 for a mini tyre, I want it to grip like a slick, clear snow like a snow tyre and wear like it's made of metal The VTS ones dont have the rib around the edge which is a nice anti scuff feature and looks good too.

I use the most shocking tyres I can in the wet as they are just supporting the weight. 008's in my opinion are 2/3 of the way to an 032 so pay a bit more and get the better tyre.

I do generally go back to 3.5 steels with 145 tyres on them. Always fun with the 1380 they generally last about 2 weeks laugh

GURU_1071

2,768 posts

234 months

Thursday 26th October 2006
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but what if its really raining?????

happy days!

guru_1071

2,768 posts

234 months

Thursday 2nd November 2006
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theres a good artical on tyres in this months practical classic.

they test a load of tyres on a mk 3 cooper s, so the test is relevant to this forum!

needless to say camacs get a resounding thumbs down!!!!!!eek

haynes

370 posts

242 months

Thursday 2nd November 2006
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Ive used the Dunlop aquajets for years, also featured in the practical classics article. They seem to last for ever, Ive owned my car 10 years and only ever bought 2 sets of the aquajets. I had a couple of A008s on for about 6 months before they were devoid of tread, also found them hiddeous in the wet, especially over white lines.

vrooom

3,763 posts

267 months

Thursday 2nd November 2006
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No problem with yokohama a008 i drive my mini in all weather.. i am amazed the grip difference between carmac, falken. yokohama a008 has best grip in wet and dry. carmac is good for muddy field.... but tyre is made of plastic!!!

love machine

7,609 posts

235 months

Thursday 2nd November 2006
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Having said, when I had 70hp, the Camacs lasted forever, with me trying to wear them out. I upped it a few bananas and I wore out 2 front ones in about 400 miles!

My favourite tyre for the mini is the Kelly Springfield KR-5, they are out of production but are nicely square shouldered, fabric bodied and a light, very nice tyre. Having said, they went up in smoke like the rest of them! I'm getting to the point where my driving style wears harder tyres quicker than softer ones!