R888's in the cold/damp

[j14nsx]

I've just started using R888's. I have only used them once in the summer so far. I was wondering what people's experiences are with them in the weather conditions we are having at the moment. I have a track day soon, and can only take the the tyres that are fitted on the car. Use the R888's or normal road tyres?

[Shaun_E]

Use the R888s unless it is monsoon conditions. In cold/damp they are no worse than normal road tyres and on track you'll still probably get some heat into them in which case they will be better. If there is lots of standing water normal road tyres will be less likely to aquaplane.

[PetrolTed]

Cold is no problem. I was at Snetterton on Friday at the outside temperature was -1 when we started the day. The tyres soon get warm and I had no problems at all. As the previous poster says, had it been raining then I'd probably have had to sit it out as mine are on their last legs in terms of tread depth.

[TonyHetherington]

Is that true on the road as well as track? My new car (Exige S) has R888's on it and I noticed it very twitchy in the wet?

[PetrolTed]

I don't think they're ever going to be as good in the wet as a proper road tyre. Provided you've got sufficient tread on them they'll be ok to drive sedately in the wet - just no hooning.

...and they don't work on Spanish roads either

[TonyHetherington]

Cool, thanks! I've been very wary of them these past couple of days (it has been chucking it down everywhere I've been in the car) as they're new to me.

So, no hooning but being sensible. I can live with that

[JonRB]

PetrolTed said:

I don't think they're ever going to be as good in the wet as a proper road tyre. Provided you've got sufficient tread on them they'll be ok to drive sedately in the wet - just no hooning.

Indeed. They simply can't be as good in the wet as a road tyre - they don't have the tread. So it stands to reason that they are going to be more likely to aquaplane in really torrential rain or in standing water.

I've only spun once on R888s in the damp and that was at Silverstone where I went into Vale too hot with not enough heat in the tyres (it was either an out lap or my first hot lap of a session). Would probably have spun just the same on road tyres to be honest.

They're so much fun in the dry though.

Edited by JonRB on Monday 19th November 11:54

[TonyHetherington]

I can't see me even getting close to their ability on the road (in dry), so I'll certainly be tracking the car.

Bedford at first I think when the weather's a bit nicer

[924racer]

we had a VERY wet race at anglesey on them and they were suprisingly good even with standing water, im sure road tyres would be better but the R888's coped alright in appalling conditions

[batman69]

I did a soaking wet morning at Spa earlier in the year and was really impressed. Ok so I wasn't going at full chat but level of grip was good but more importantly the feel was there, very progressive. But as mentioned always treat standing water with care.

[blackscooby]

We've done "mildly moist" sessions at Croft on 888's and they were amazingly good. Admittedly there wasn't standing water as such, but the track was wet. The tyres were hot to touch when we came back into the paddock. In just damp conditions I'd say better than road tyres.

Edited by blackscooby on Tuesday 20th November 10:20

[mko9]

I too have done "mildly moist" conditions. Donington in a FWD, and Bedford in an AWD. They are certainly acceptable, but I would recommend a bit of caution. Ease into it a bit on your first session, as they will obviously have less grip than when it is bone dry. I have gotten them loose but never felt they were unsafe.