Which tyre type for this car?
Discussion
Galveston said:
More difficult to manage, not ideally suited to road car suspension geometry, and snappy on the limit. Not great for someone new to track days.
The op doesn't appear to be completely new if they have done some already. And saying it's not suited to a road car is like saying road cars aren't suited to track use. So might as well not bother with track driving period.
300bhp/ton said:
Galveston said:
More difficult to manage, not ideally suited to road car suspension geometry, and snappy on the limit. Not great for someone new to track days.
The op doesn't appear to be completely new if they have done some already. And saying it's not suited to a road car is like saying road cars aren't suited to track use. So might as well not bother with track driving period.
james_gt3rs said:
Are you setting hot pressures correctly on track? It may be that your tyres are fine, and you're just running too high pressures?
With track tyre this is sound advice, but the Toyo T1R has a very soft sidewall and doesn't last well no matter what you do to it. I used it when I was a novice to track days because I didn't know what else was available. Switching to Pilot Sports was a profound change, and R888's better again. I use T1R on one of my road cars and it's about the only place I would ever use them now. YTee said:
Ahbefive said:
Best to get a proper track based tyre.
Thanks. That's the kind of confirmation that will help me to justify the cost of all this 
As for the guy advising slicks, I can only assume he's never seen what happens to a relative novice trying to run proper slicks on track.
Really appreciate all the input folks. I'm glad there is some disagreement actually, it just goes to show how personal a lot of this stuff must be.
To those wondering how experienced I am, I'm definitely a novice, but I would like to think I'm fast improving. I've learned to handle the Focus on the track pretty well, however since it's FWD and only 125bhp that's hardly an amazing achievement. I've no idea how I would fare in a tail-happy RWD car or something big and torquey. I'm certainly looking forward to learning though!
I think on balance I'm going to go with the track tyre grade (Federal/Nankang etc.) and the Federals look to be the cheapest in the size I would need. Maybe if I try that first and then evaluate them, and once I think I'm ready (and if the car holds up to it) then I could consider slicks after that.
Anything of the suggestions here has to be miles better than the melting T1-Rs I've got now, or the set of Conti Premium Contact 5s I melted on my first track day! Just wish it didn't cost so much to learn these lessons
To those wondering how experienced I am, I'm definitely a novice, but I would like to think I'm fast improving. I've learned to handle the Focus on the track pretty well, however since it's FWD and only 125bhp that's hardly an amazing achievement. I've no idea how I would fare in a tail-happy RWD car or something big and torquey. I'm certainly looking forward to learning though!
I think on balance I'm going to go with the track tyre grade (Federal/Nankang etc.) and the Federals look to be the cheapest in the size I would need. Maybe if I try that first and then evaluate them, and once I think I'm ready (and if the car holds up to it) then I could consider slicks after that.
Anything of the suggestions here has to be miles better than the melting T1-Rs I've got now, or the set of Conti Premium Contact 5s I melted on my first track day! Just wish it didn't cost so much to learn these lessons
Firstly, great choice of car, I did 100,000 miles in my mk1 focus 1.8, never missed a beat and the handling is great.
AD08's are a good choice, did about 6 or 7 trackdays on them in my old mx-5, low wear and good grip and you can keep them on. T1'r just melt, they are a cheap tyre after all.
I have a set of Nankang NSR (I think that what they are called) on my 106 Rallye and these are a good slightly more budget option, surprised how good they were on track earlier in the year and wear was also low...
AD08's are a good choice, did about 6 or 7 trackdays on them in my old mx-5, low wear and good grip and you can keep them on. T1'r just melt, they are a cheap tyre after all.
I have a set of Nankang NSR (I think that what they are called) on my 106 Rallye and these are a good slightly more budget option, surprised how good they were on track earlier in the year and wear was also low...
Itsallicanafford said:
Firstly, great choice of car, I did 100,000 miles in my mk1 focus 1.8, never missed a beat and the handling is great.
Thanks. I agree. I've had two of these in my time and both have been cheap, reliable and really fun to drive. Who needs refinement when you have all of those qualities T1r's are totally pants in the wet, i would go for the Rainsports to get you to and from track and if its wet then they stay on. 888's on the spare wheels which you can change there if its a dry one......can also drive home on those if you cant be ar$ed to change back on the day.
AD08's good for road and track but dont disperse standing water too good.
i have experience of all of these in my MX5 turbo on various circuits and choise for the moment on track is the 888's even in the wet if you take the "off line" in the corners.
i would not entertain slicks as this will merely transfer any forces thru suspension, bushes, hubs and bearings....sumfink has to go!!!
There are also circuits out there that will not allow slicks unless a certified cage is fitted.
good luck with the tyre choice and remember, it has to suit what you want to do on track. theres a big difference in setting lap times and having fun.
D
AD08's good for road and track but dont disperse standing water too good.
i have experience of all of these in my MX5 turbo on various circuits and choise for the moment on track is the 888's even in the wet if you take the "off line" in the corners.
i would not entertain slicks as this will merely transfer any forces thru suspension, bushes, hubs and bearings....sumfink has to go!!!
There are also circuits out there that will not allow slicks unless a certified cage is fitted.
good luck with the tyre choice and remember, it has to suit what you want to do on track. theres a big difference in setting lap times and having fun.
D
Excellent thanks.
I'll be buying these in October and I've decided to use the 15s as dry wheels with NS-2Rs (because they're a lot cheaper than 888s and I need to keep the costs down) and the 17s as wet/road wheels with RainSport 3s on. If the NS-2Rs still don't give me enough grip, then next time around I'll go with the 888s.
I'll post back after the first track day I do on them with some (no doubt positive) results.
I'll be buying these in October and I've decided to use the 15s as dry wheels with NS-2Rs (because they're a lot cheaper than 888s and I need to keep the costs down) and the 17s as wet/road wheels with RainSport 3s on. If the NS-2Rs still don't give me enough grip, then next time around I'll go with the 888s.
I'll post back after the first track day I do on them with some (no doubt positive) results.
I have been running NS2-Rs in 180 for 18 months on the Megane and they are just brilliant - very stable when at the right temp, they just stay there, maybe 8/10 laps, ie after the pads start overheating.
But what I really like about them is how good they are in the wet, and how progressive/predictable. They don't like standing water but that's to be expected.
Those Toyo T1r things are very old school and very average, even on the road.
But what I really like about them is how good they are in the wet, and how progressive/predictable. They don't like standing water but that's to be expected.
Those Toyo T1r things are very old school and very average, even on the road.
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