Wet tyre choice

[Stuart]

After todays shambolic run out ( or should that be splash out) I wondered what tyres track or circuit drivers were using in the wet and how they rated them. Rather than turn this into a load of unintelligible dribble, I would ask that the replies are limited by;

1) Relevant experience only. I couldn't give a toss how good they are on the public road. If you haven't specifically driven with these tyres on a track, then I'm sorry, but your not who I want to hear from.

2) Try to explain how the tyres feel under braking, as you turn in, as apply power going through a bend and how they compared in terms of feel to the same tyre when used in the dry.

The more detail the better thanks guys.

I know Kim and Gerry both ran Goodyear F1's today.

[gary@apt]

i saw a set of the toyo rir in poland and tried to get hold of a set but they still say only a japan tyre

if sunday looks to be wet then ill be cutting a set of r888's

[Stuart]

I wondered whether that would be an option for me but in truth, I am reluctant to spend another R888's worth for wet use. Being tight and all that

Were the R1-Rs being used? How did they get on? If they are import only then presumably the costs of getting some over would be horrendous?

[pablo]

Last year we ran 'Uniroyal rainsport', only got to use them at Rockingham. When the track was fully wet they gave a lot of feedback and under hard braking the car remained stable with good feel and on turn in again the feel was there. When pushed hard through the slower bends we did get a bit of slide however this was progressive and predictable. When appying the power exiting the bends the grip was there as was grip through the banked bend of turn 1.

As the track started to dry out in places and become only damp they quickly overheated and the car then started to slide about a fair bit. Under braking the Abs cut in and through the bends we suffered oversteer and understeer.

Our video footage from RS National day Rockingham session I is with the uniroyals on and clearly shows the benefit we got from them, when you bear in mind that most of the cars out there were also 4 wheel drive.



I get Alan to post a reply about the T1R's.

[Gerry H]

i saw a set of the toyo rir in poland and tried to get hold of a set but they still say only a japan tyre

if sunday looks to be wet then ill be cutting a set of r888's

Is cutting 888s because that's the only option for TA or because it actually transforms them into a good wet?

[ESL]

You've answered your own question Stuart. F1's with a fair bit of tread. They have been my favourite 1A tyre throughout their various incarnations. Kim does alot of tyre testing for his magazine. Gerry might have an opinion having tried a few things. At NW earlier in the year I tried 888s and F1 GSD3s back to back. The 888s gave me 2 secs/lap on a dry circuit over the F1s. Car was a 97 scoob, had ATB diffs.

[duncan]

i saw a set of the toyo rir in poland and tried to get hold of a set but they still say only a japan tyre

if sunday looks to be wet then ill be cutting a set of r888's

Is cutting 888s because that's the only option for TA or because it actually transforms them into a good wet?

It helps them to clear water, heat up better and makes them a better wet than the t1-r

[Stuart]

Have you tested them yet then Dunk?

With regards to the F1's, Andy raises a valid point. Is there a version of the tyre that is the one to go for (like the S-02's seemed to be for Bridgestone IIRC) I see the lastest design is around

[duncan]

No i havent Stu - i have one set of 888's. If it rains at the weekend, I will be going slower But the Pro teams have tested them and they work very well.

[Gerry H]

Goodyear F! Asymetrics were very good yesterday. The understeer disappeared once I reduced the front pressures and went slower :roll: My crap times weren't due to poor grip but other issues.

I imagined you were asking about 'proper' wets rather than a compromised good road tyre.