Tyre Sizes and Types (for a westfeild)
Discussion
I've recently bought myself a narrowbody westfield.
- Estimated weight of around 600kg with a 1.9l CVH estimated at around 130hp. Or somthing like that.
I bought it with a set of Yoko A032's (185/60 R13 front, 205/60 R13 rear) mounted on ford rs laser wheels, which have reached there legal limit, so im looking for ther tyres.
I have therefore looked at options.
- A lot of people are running r888, primarally it seams because there cheap, and everyone else is. (£50)
- I could buy another set of A032's the same (£71) or swap to the A048, which is what the car was on in the photo i was sent of it right at the begining.
I have also been offered a set of part-worn A048's on 5.5" Alleycats, which would allow me to keep the A032 for a bit for dryer trackdays or what have you.
The car will be used on road throughout the year, and for i hope around 2 or 4 track days a year.
Obviously in the current weather its impossable to tell really, but apprently the 032's (and A048's?) can stuggle to keep heat in the tyre compaired to the R888. But then again people have said the R888 is more suitbale for heavier cars, subaru's and the like!
I have a tight budget, but intented spend where its needed. Im also keen not to 'overtyre' such a light car with massive things that i cant keep warm off the track without going round every round about three times at full beat!
Open to your thoughts really.
Daniel
- Estimated weight of around 600kg with a 1.9l CVH estimated at around 130hp. Or somthing like that.
I bought it with a set of Yoko A032's (185/60 R13 front, 205/60 R13 rear) mounted on ford rs laser wheels, which have reached there legal limit, so im looking for ther tyres.
I have therefore looked at options.
- A lot of people are running r888, primarally it seams because there cheap, and everyone else is. (£50)
- I could buy another set of A032's the same (£71) or swap to the A048, which is what the car was on in the photo i was sent of it right at the begining.
I have also been offered a set of part-worn A048's on 5.5" Alleycats, which would allow me to keep the A032 for a bit for dryer trackdays or what have you.
The car will be used on road throughout the year, and for i hope around 2 or 4 track days a year.
Obviously in the current weather its impossable to tell really, but apprently the 032's (and A048's?) can stuggle to keep heat in the tyre compaired to the R888. But then again people have said the R888 is more suitbale for heavier cars, subaru's and the like!
I have a tight budget, but intented spend where its needed. Im also keen not to 'overtyre' such a light car with massive things that i cant keep warm off the track without going round every round about three times at full beat!
Open to your thoughts really.
Daniel
You'd be better off posting this sort of question of the westfield owner's club site I would have thought but I'll have a go...
I had Yoko A539s on my 1.6 crossflow westfield and they were a pretty good all round all weather tyre. I never tried them on the track.
My 4.6l v89 westfield had A032s on it and they were very good indeed in the dry and really really bad in the wet but then the car had quite a lot of power I guess. These tyres were terrific on track. I can't compare them to anything similar though as that's all I ever had. Having said that I did have a set of narrower road tyres (I think they were continentals) but they were terrifying in almost every circumstance.
Hope this helps a bit,
Mark
I had Yoko A539s on my 1.6 crossflow westfield and they were a pretty good all round all weather tyre. I never tried them on the track.
My 4.6l v89 westfield had A032s on it and they were very good indeed in the dry and really really bad in the wet but then the car had quite a lot of power I guess. These tyres were terrific on track. I can't compare them to anything similar though as that's all I ever had. Having said that I did have a set of narrower road tyres (I think they were continentals) but they were terrifying in almost every circumstance.
Hope this helps a bit,
Mark
custardtart said:
888's are suited to the westy and are cheaper (as you know) than the 48's and offer very similar performance so probably get them. The 32's will probably have gone off if they're old and worn so keep for trackdays as you suggested.
Thanks both,As you say, i dont know the age of the A032's, i believe they have stoped making them noe having been replaced by the 48's but i dont know when that happened (would date them to some respect)
The other tyre ive been looking at is the Toyo T1-S or T1-R but im not sure its available in the size.
Daniel
My experience R888's on Caterhams are ok'ish but give them some colder weather & they take some warming up to work in the damp. They are NOT like a road tyre as in they need heat to work or they are all over the place & unpredicatble. Now obvioulsy I assume you won't be to keen to be out when its 10 deg outside but do bear it in mind they can be pretty lethal in cold damp conditions.
Incorrigible said:
Just a small point but 048s are awfull in the wet (very controllable just no grip) I'd get them for track day tyres if the price was right (I sold a set of minilites with part worns £100 for the set to give you a ball park figure).
Yeah, its certainly a valid point.- I was out in it today (first day the ice has receaded a little) with the A032's on, its not exactly grip-central. But caping the top speed at 50 and about 30 on anything other than the a-roads seamed to work ok. As you say, controllable, but no grip.
But yeah, interesting.
Mainly the car will only be used in the dry, on warmer days, and trackdays. Speaking to someone wo races in the 750mc with his locost he uses a048's all weather. :-S
What would you suggest as something 'wetter ? Might the Toyo T1's be better?
Daniel
dhutch said:
What would you suggest as something 'wetter ? Might the Toyo T1's be better?
I've never driven those tyres in the cold and wet so can't really commentAvon CR500s are pretty good (they should be as Caterham used them (and other Avons) exclusively on new stuff) Don't know how they stack up VFM against the Toyos
Incorrigible said:
dhutch said:
What would you suggest as something 'wetter ? Might the Toyo T1's be better?
I've never driven those tyres in the cold and wet so can't really commentAvon CR500s are pretty good (they should be as Caterham used them (and other Avons) exclusively on new stuff) Don't know how they stack up VFM against the Toyos
- Obviously its only one mans thoughts, but if you replace the 32's with 48's it might still be faily reflective of current tyres.
Camskills have got the a048 prices back on.
- £87 for 205's and £72 for 185's
- £65/52 for the r888's and £71/£85 for the a021
- Edited to add, polley motorsport prices.
- with the a021 basicaly the same, plus vat and £12 postage.
Daniel
Edited by dhutch on Tuesday 13th January 15:32
dhutch said:
Incorrigible said:
dhutch said:
What would you suggest as something 'wetter ? Might the Toyo T1's be better?
I've never driven those tyres in the cold and wet so can't really commentAvon CR500s are pretty good (they should be as Caterham used them (and other Avons) exclusively on new stuff) Don't know how they stack up VFM against the Toyos
- Obviously its only one mans thoughts, but if you replace the 32's with 48's it might still be faily reflective of current tyres.
Camskills have got the a048 prices back on.
- £87 for 205/60/13's and £72 for 185's compared to £65/52 for the r888's and £71/£85 for the a021
Daniel

[quote]depending on compound and having raced on both 32 and 48's the 48's are a touch more progressive than the 32's and have a touch more grip if you compare m compund 48's to s compound 32's. the 888's are still cheaper and although i haven't used them they do seem to offer similar performance for less 
[/quote]
Yeah all sounds like its starting to stack up.
- Heard it said that the r888 is, tho basical a soft tyre, based around a fairly standard road carcase.
- Which would maybe explan the lower price, and the claims of better wet performace. Over the stiffer yoko carcases.
Daniel

[/quote]
Yeah all sounds like its starting to stack up.
- Heard it said that the r888 is, tho basical a soft tyre, based around a fairly standard road carcase.
- Which would maybe explan the lower price, and the claims of better wet performace. Over the stiffer yoko carcases.
Daniel
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