Good tyres in 185/60/R14 or similar?

[Gooly]

Hi guys,
Been looking around for some decent tyres for my Fiesta. I'd like some T1-Rs or some Uniroyal Rainsports but neither seem to be available in 14" at all from what I can see, let alone in this profile/width. Has anyone got any recommendations? I just want a decent normal weather tyre that can handle spirited driving every now and then.

Edited by Gooly on Thursday 23 August 23:08

[alfa pint]

I've got Yokohama A drives in virtually that size on my MG which do stick in the wet, but still allow me to provoke the back end when I want.

Have you had a look on blackcircles.com and read their reviews?

[davepoth]

Toyo Proxes are supposed to be good.

http://www.blackcircles.com/tyres/brands/toyo/prox...

[Captain Muppet]

Gooly said:

I'd like some T1-Rs ...

Because the internet loves Toyo T1Rs I bought some in the 195/55R14 size which is the closest to 185/60R14 that they do.

At the same time I also had some new Toyo CF1s in 185/60R14.

The CF1s had more dry cornering grip when new, and didn't do that horrible sideways lurch that T1Rs do when you load them up. I was so appalled at the T1Rs I did a test - I fitted T1Rs on the front and CF1s on the back - instant understeer. Then I swapped them round and got instant oversteer. T1Rs are horrible in this size when new, and stayed horrible until about half worn, at which point they started to be "amusing" in the wet.

I was very happy with the CF1s - they were cheap, worked well in all conditions and were unremarkable in the good way - they just worked.

If I was buying in this size again I'd go for CF1s.

[Gooly]

Cheers for the replies, will be hunting down some CF1s asap then.

[s3fella]

Gooly said:

Hi guys,
Been looking around for some decent tyres for my Fiesta. I'd like some T1-Rs or some Uniroyal Rainsports but neither seem to be available in 14" at all from what I can see, let alone in this profile/width. Has anyone got any recommendations? I just want a decent normal weather tyre that can handle spirited driving every now and then.

Edited by Gooly on Thursday 23 August 23:08

They do uniroyal rain experts in that size and they are excellent.

[HustleRussell]

I race on Yoko a539 which are available in that size. Nice looking and probably more durable than the Toyos.

[andy-xr]

I think my 888's are in that size

[HeatonNorris]

HustleRussell said:

I race on Yoko a539 which are available in that size. Nice looking and probably more durable than the Toyos.

I doubt it! - they're very soft and my old Alfa 33 16v used to tear through a pair of fronts in 3-4k miles.

Uniroyal Rain Experts are my current favourite in this size.

[HustleRussell]

HeatonNorris said:

HustleRussell said:

I race on Yoko a539 which are available in that size. Nice looking and probably more durable than the Toyos.

I doubt it! - they're very soft and my old Alfa 33 16v used to tear through a pair of fronts in 3-4k miles.

Uniroyal Rain Experts are my current favourite in this size.

Are you sure you're thinking of the same Yoko? Us Caterham Classics racers can comfortably get a full season's racing out of a set... In fact, we have them buffed down to ~5mm and they will still do a full season of dry qualifying and racing.

P.S. the Toyo 888s mentioned are a semi-slick trackday tyre.

[ewenm]

I was going to suggest the A539s too - got a 15" set on my Caterham that are proving to be very good.

[HeatonNorris]

HustleRussell said:

Are you sure you're thinking of the same Yoko? Us Caterham Classics racers can comfortably get a full season's racing out of a set... In fact, we have them buffed down to ~5mm and they will still do a full season of dry qualifying and racing.

Half the weight and RWD makes a lot of difference to tyre wear.

Even just RWD makes a difference - my MX5 wears the same size tyres and my Rain Experts are lasting forever, despite lots of road and track miles (I did 115 track miles on Friday!)

[cirian75]

thumbs up for the CF1

its a tyre that "works"

no vices.