ZZR vs ZZs vs CR500

[m3inter]

Hi, I'm after a bit of advice with tyre choice.

I am currently running CR500s (Front 175/55R13, Rear 205/55R13 ) on my Superlight. Overall I'm pretty pleased with their level of grip despite them lasting very limited mileage.

Who has experience of these as well as the ZZR or ZZS and how do they compare with regards to longevity and grip?

I will be generally using my car on the road. I might get a track day in if I'm lucky but this shouldn't be a consideration due to the mileage and likelihood of track time.

Finally, can anyone recommend the best place to source these?

Many thanks

[sjl1]

My understanding is CR500’s are being discontinued and increasingly harder to source, the replacement being the ZZS. I have had both and would say they are broadly similar, both need to be treated with respect in the wet. ZZR’s are out and out track day tyres and will be a handful in the wet.

[framerateuk]

I've got a set of wheels with both the ZZS and CR500 fitted.

Generally, the CR500 feel a bit more compliant and less stiff on the road (I think they're lighter and have a softer sidewall). The ZZS are definitely more grippy on trackdays, and as a result, they're a bit harder to kick the back out on.

My CR500's are pretty much dead now though and I'm intending to get a new set of tyres this summer. I'm thinking of running the ZZS along with some ZZRs for dry weather.

[m3inter]

Ok, that's great thanks chaps.

Now, where do I source some ZZSs from? Any know a reliable supplier?

[BertBert]

BMTR?

[upsidedownmark]

Oddly Caterham themselves were they cheaper option (cheaper than BMTR) when I bought mine..

[m3inter]

Ok, that's great to know. Thank you chaps. I'll make some enquiries

[m3inter]

Ok, that's great to know. Thank you chaps. I'll make some enquiries

[knight]

The last time I drove my R500 was when it was on ZZRs on slippery January roads and it was certainly "lively" You just have to be exceedingly careful in poor weather conditions

[ayton 1]

I ran cr500 on mine with & changed to Kumho V70’s . It’s hard to believe how much better they
Are. You can get most sizes in 3 compounds & they are road legal, I was put on to them by a friend who races them.

[m3inter]

It seems the kuhmos are competitively priced too. If I decide to go with these, I just have to decide what compound now!

[framerateuk]

Ordering some ZZR for my 140 for the first time, they'll be dry weather/track only - keeping my ZZS for road use and wet conditions.

I'm keen to see how they perform since I was impressed with the ZZS over the CR500 I had before.

[cwin]

framerateuk said:

Ordering some ZZR for my 140 for the first time, they'll be dry weather/track only - keeping my ZZS for road use and wet conditions.

I'm keen to see how they perform since I was impressed with the ZZS over the CR500 I had before.

I have stacks of good ZZRs cheap from the Championship

[573]

From my experience ZZRs are witchcraft. Dry / track grip is astounding yet they also wear quite well. They're also really not that bad in the wet if you can get a bit of heat into them. Even on the road, so long as you proceed with your brain turned on they work fine as a wet road tyre.

Only real criticism I have is that they are a heavy tyre compared to a CR500.

[Toaster]

I Replaced my CR500's with the ZZS and they seem to be a great tyre no issues with them at all, I drive on the road in the wet so it seemed sensible to get a performance tyre designed to do so

Avon say:

"The Avon ZZS is a tyre range developed to offer outstanding all-round performance in both wet and dry conditions and both on the road and on the track." http://www.avonmotorsport.com/road-legal/performan...

“The Avon ZZR design brief was immense. “To develop the fastest dry weather, track orientated, road legal, E-marked race tyre in the world” http://www.avonmotorsport.com/road-legal/performan...

[Orange Blackbird]

ZZRs offer loads of grip and I use them on track but I do like the CR500 for the road they are lightweight, are compliant due to the less stiff sidewall and make driving interesting without being dangerous. I will miss them when they are eventually phased out. Managed to get some new ones last year but I reckon I may struggle to get a set again :-(

[V7SLR]

What's a little surprising is that on the Avon website the EU tyre labelling for the wet grip for each has both the ZZS & ZZR tyres listed as "C", yet CR500's are listed as "A" wet grip. Having been caught out in a few European deluges in my SLR I'm not convinced about the idea of swapping the current CR500's to the ZZS!
I have a set of spare wheels with ZZR's and although with care they're fine on damp roads, standing water does upset them.

[framerateuk]

I wouldn't worry about their wet performance. Caterham use them as a wet racing tyre in the championship, and I've driven them in the wet and they're at least as good as the CR500 (probably a bit better since the tread seems to work better even when worn, the CR500's are horrible when they get near the marker).

[ChrisW.]

I'm running CSR500's and have a new set of rears so the front's will probably wear out before the rears ...

Would it make any sense to fit ZZS's as a front pair until the rear's are finished and then fit ZZS's to the rear ?

[tomwoodis]

Id try and stick to the same tyre all round if you can. I know perceived wisdom on standard tin tops says you can have different tyres at the front than on the rear without it being dangerous but on a Caterham I'd be weary. They are much more sensitive to setup and id be surprised if running Cr500 and ZZS on different axles didn't upset it