Trackday Tyres - any experience?

Monster · Post by **Monster** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 7:51 pm

Anyone got any experience or opinions of track day tyres? I'm going to need to replace the 888s on the gtr soon and am wondering whether to try something different. Some are available in different compounds so, I may try a medium or even hard to see if i get more life out of them.

Yoko Advan A048 look good and I've heard can last better than 888s, but they're very expensive. Available in different compunds.

Khumo Ecsta V70A are cheap and also available in different compounds

Federal FZ-201 is something new to me, they look great and are also cheaper than 888s. Only do a 255 though so i'd be dropping a size from my 265s - would this be noticable in performance terms?

Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R are also less money than 888s.

Post by **Stuart** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 8:51 pm

I only have first hand knowledge of the A048 and the Dunlop DJ01 (now replaced by the newer model). The Dunlop's were more hard wearing and that seems to be common to the newer model too. The Yoko's were quicker to come up to temperature and took more laps before they went 'off' or got too hot, but back then the price gap between the R888 and Yoko was too great (similar now of course)

The Federal tyre is reckoned to be really, really good. Just read the reports of Phil and co. @ Driftworks. I know there is a financial tie up with them and Federal but I'm pretty sure they wouldn't use it on their own race cars if they were shite.

As for 255 vs. 265's, I'm not sure that you'd notice much at all and experimenting with camber, castor and tyre pressures could almost certainly mitigate any changes in width.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

A2ON · Post by **A2ON** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 8:52 pm

Monster wrote:Anyone got any experience or opinions of track day tyres? I'm going to need to replace the 888s on the gtr soon and am wondering whether to try something different. Some are available in different compounds so, I may try a medium or even hard to see if i get more life out of them.

Yoko Advan A048 look good and I've heard can last better than 888s, but they're very expensive. Available in different compunds.

Khumo Ecsta V70A are cheap and also available in different compounds

Federal FZ-201 is something new to me, they look great and are also cheaper than 888s. Only do a 255 though so i'd be dropping a size from my 265s - would this be noticable in performance terms?

Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R are also less money than 888s.

I have tried lots on HP FWD cars .

The choices as i see it are

Federal 595 RSR's - available in 235 of 255 however dispute this i ran a 235 of a 9J as i believe a stretched tyre works better on track

Fz201's the next step from a R888 IMO offer amazing wear characteristics and superb grip same applies ref stretch however less tread and next to no tread block to be effected by this however utterlly dangerious in the wet !

Troferos are great also see above as they are very similar.

Hankook RS2's offer great wear also , however are a good all rounder

what are you looking for it to do

A dry tyre and then you have a wet tyre ?

Or

An all rounder . ?

Monster · Post by **Monster** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 9:12 pm

Stuart wrote:I only have first hand knowledge of the A048 and the Dunlop DJ01 (now replaced by the newer model). The Dunlop's were more hard wearing and that seems to be common to the newer model too. The Yoko's were quicker to come up to temperature and took more laps before they went 'off' or got too hot, but back then the price gap between the R888 and Yoko was too great (similar now of course)

The Federal tyre is reckoned to be really, really good. Just read the reports of Phil and co. @ Driftworks. I know there is a financial tie up with them and Federal but I'm pretty sure they wouldn't use it on their own race cars if they were shite.

As for 255 vs. 265's, I'm not sure that you'd notice much at all and experimenting with camber, castor and tyre pressures could almost certainly mitigate any changes in width.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Thanks bud, will have a look onm driftworks. I've been doing a bit of searching since my post and all reports on the federal seem to be very positive. Turns out they also do them in 265/35, it must just be that DT don't have them in stock so not on their site.

Ref the camber/castor, I'm hoping not to have to change that any more having already had it done twice in a month, but agree that one size can't make a noticable difference, and certainly some pressure tweaking could help...

Will keep ya posted...

Monster · Post by **Monster** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 9:16 pm

A2ON wrote:I have tried lots on HP FWD cars .

The choices as i see it are

Federal 595 RSR's - available in 235 of 255 however dispute this i ran a 235 of a 9J as i believe a stretched tyre works better on track

Fz201's the next step from a R888 IMO offer amazing wear characteristics and superb grip same applies ref stretch however less tread and next to no tread block to be effected by this however utterlly dangerious in the wet !

Troferos are great also see above as they are very similar.

Hankook RS2's offer great wear also , however are a good all rounder

what are you looking for it to do

A dry tyre and then you have a wet tyre ?

Or

An all rounder . ?

Thats interesting Aron thanks for the insight. Sounds like the federals could be the right boots for me.

Ironically I'm actually buying these as "wets"

The plan is that I run the car on slicks and these stay on the tyre rack in case it rains, plus of course do road duties when i'm running back and forth on trips not worth loading it for, or jsut want to go for a blast.

I always found the 888s pretty good in the wet on circuit so am happy for them to be my rain tyre!!

Monster · Post by **Monster** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 9:28 pm

hmm, the federal site is listing an FZ-202 as they're latest semi-slick. Doesn't look as cool but also not asymmetrical which will help with wear considering the camber I'm now running at the front

drifter · Post by **drifter** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 6:52 am

I've just fitted Federal Rs-R's to the S15, loads more grip as you'd expect on the road, not been on track yet

Have a look at Camskill for them

Fast Eddy · Post by **Fast Eddy** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 1:01 pm

We do the Federal RS-R, FZ201 and Sliverstone FTZ RR

If you need advice, give me a call

Eddy

A2ON · Post by **A2ON** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 3:47 pm

Win for you

http://www.racecarnewmedia.com/bmtr/news.asp?NewsID=45

Post by **Stuart** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 5:39 pm

Don't forget the VAT and carriage fees