yoko A048s

[AndrewO]

A friend of mine picks up 10+ of these a month, part worn from a lotus racing series. I picked up 4 today and they are being fitted to a new set of wheels. So I'll have a set of wets (prada's) and semi-slicks (a048's) for the next trackday.

They have 2-3mm on them. Anyone know the depth they are new, and when should I change them ? I was thinking of using them until the thread pattern disappears or is that too late. The centres seem to have got most of the wear so this is what I need to keep an eye on.

I'm hoping the cornering will be alot quicker, better braking and no doubt it will show up that something else will need doing, a petrol swirlpot for starters.

If anyone wants some they are 225/45/17's, should last me about 2 trackdays compared to 4 for new parada's. I can stick up the details if so.

[GC8]

They sound ideal for my Compomotives. Id be interested by PM please.

[philevo6]

Yoko paradas spec 2 for wets!!!!!...guess you dont want to live long!!

They are terrible in the wet,borderline dangerous!...tread pattern is far to blocky (not enough tyre touching the tarmac) and the compound is hard.

Tyres last a while ill give them that!

A048r come with just over 5mm new...not much,but great trackday tyre.

Edited by philevo6 on Sunday 6th June 16:09

[Stephanie Plum]

Tread depth on the 48s isn't always a reliable indicator of wear - think instead in terms of heat cycles. I use them on one my Lotuses and usually find they are way past their best well before I use up the available tread.

[AndrewO]

philevo6 said:

Yoko paradas spec 2 for wets!!!!!...guess you dont want to live long!!

I do tend to loose it in the wet alright. 4xProper wets and worn 4xA048s would mean I'd have to move to a trailer.

[AndrewO]

Stephanie Plum said:

Tread depth on the 48s isn't always a reliable indicator of wear - think instead in terms of heat cycles. I use them on one my Lotuses and usually find they are way past their best well before I use up the available tread.

Interesting. How many cycles before they start to go off ? Do they overheat after this and is that what causes the fall off in grip ?

[robg2]

Unlike road tyres, track-day tyres like A048s tend to behave well until they really have no tread left whatsoever. That's in the dry of course...

Road tyres are normally dead when they get down to the legal limit.

[Stephanie Plum]

AndrewO said:

Stephanie Plum said:

Tread depth on the 48s isn't always a reliable indicator of wear - think instead in terms of heat cycles. I use them on one my Lotuses and usually find they are way past their best well before I use up the available tread.

Interesting. How many cycles before they start to go off ? Do they overheat after this and is that what causes the fall off in grip ?

You need someone more knowledgeable than me - if you pop over to the Elise/Exige forum some of the racers in the series where yours will have come from lurk in there, and will be able to give you a far more precise and accurate answer than I ever will.

I find that once I have done around 4 hot, dry and busy track days they start to be less grippy after just a few laps in a session. If you're unlucky enough to find yourself on a wet day at this point it's like having rollerskates on.