Afternoon all..well...those who are bearing with the temporary set up anyway!

Just after a bit of advise about rubber please

Doing a couple of track days in the last few months has whetted my appetite and i plan to do a load more in 2010

I have managed to get though the 2 airfield days I have done by using an end of life set of road tyres but 2 are now completely bald and the others are bald on the shoulders.

Toyo R888's don't come in the Fabia standard of 205/45/16 but as mileage on them will be negliable over size would probably be ok or does anyone have any experience of other "track tyres"?

Actually going forward is it worth forking out for track tyres at all?

As the Fabia isn't going to push the boundries of grip and i'm pretty low on the ability front is lunching my way through a set of £35 a corner Nankang ditchfinders a better idea?

Any thoughts appreciated

195/50/16 R888's would be fine on the fabia, they're a bit bulgy anyway.

This is what i'll be trying for nurburgring next year..

If not, i have a set of dunlop 16" slicks sat in the garage that were swiftly acquired hardly worn from a Britcar Elise

Kev

Hmmm but given I'm not a racing driver is spending £100+ per corner really going to give me more fun than £35 Nankangs?!

In fact a trackday in the rain with near bald fronts and completely bald rears (and one of them lethal Jabba RARB's;)) gave enough "fun" moments for me!

I believe Toyo now produce a tyre called the R1-R which is in between R888 and the T1-R. They will give track-day performance, but cope much better in the damp/wet. According to their brochure (although not on their website), they make them in the Fabia size, but I'm not sure where to get them, (no mention on Camskill).

P.S. Is this thread aimed at me? lol

The way I see it is:

1. Slap on a set of said dithcfinders, see how they fayre and decide after.

2. Follow step #1 and if they/you/car ends up fooked buy some proper tyres.

HTH

Jim -

Thanks for that - Will probably investigate in the new year but can't see myself spending more on track tyres than on road tyres!

if it makes you feel better the thread is aimed at you - however itn honestly it was a poor old school Star Trek play on words

Barrie - that does indeed help (as did seeing you facing the wrong way on the infield! )

I think i did ok on the knackered road tyres (and would do another day on them TBH!) and will probably keep touch with some local ftters to see if they get anymore 205/45/16's that are heading to the great tyre yard in the sky

Barrie - that does indeed help (as did seeing you facing the wrong way on the infield! )

Glad I could be of service.

I think i did ok on the knackered road tyres (and would do another day on them TBH!)

Likewise. Very little left on the them, but i'd use 'em again on a dry track, otherwise it'll be the poverty spec steel rims with a TR-1/Conti Sport contact 2 set up.

IIRC there is a tyre place on the Lansdown Road in Cheltenham that sells partwron tyres :rubchin:

yup indeed there is

however last tie i tried to get hold of them they were too busy making remoulds to anwser the phone

Hankook RS2s are worth a look too, if you're looking at the top-end of the performance/track tyre market. Reasonably priced for what they offer. Not as extreme as a 888, but still pretty epic

www.camskill.co.uk stock them....

If you're going for the new tyre route, but on a budget, I'd fling some Kumho KU31s on. I'd also be tempted by the part-worn route too, if it's from a reasonably reputable place (if there is such a thing for part worns ) and that people have used successfully before. Finally, check eBay as I often see part worn stuff on there, or maybe the odd single or pair - could be a decent way to do it if you pick things up gradually.

Steve

corroldoboy has used hankook RS2's and he seemed happy with them. Also a few clio owners are now using these for trackdays due to the cost compared to R888 and Exalto PE2's.

Yep, the RS2s always seem to get good reviews from those who use them. In fact the Renault R26R boys seem to be going over to them when they find they've quickly worn out their supplied 888s

Steve

Thank you boys

KU31's have gone on all round on the road wheels for everyday use and seem pretty good but again i can't justify paying £60 a corner for track tyres although i guess they would last bloody ages from brand new!

The other scenario i've thought of is to buy new sets of alloys when i need tyres.Generally a used set of wheels with worn tyres seems to be cheaper than news tyres.Then i'm free to destroy the tyres and flog the rims.

I think 2010 will include destroying a set of very worn over size tyres currently residing on a set of VW Montreal 2's off a Golf 4 in my inlaws shed from when they fitted R32 reps

I have used R888 GG and RS2 back to back. RS-2 are very grippy for a road tyre with pretty good aquaplaning resistance. Damp surface performance is manageable but they suffer a lot as they wear down past half way. R888 is a whole different level of grip and directness of response in the dry. Wet grip is also higher than the RS-2 but aquaplaning resistance is less. The R888 have a very stiff construction giving extremely fast response to driver input. For track use I would take the R888 every time.

Chris