Tyres of choice...

[yeager]

My first post

I can't afford new tyres so I have to rely on local tyre shops giving me part worns. Although this isn't ideal i've found I can get by ok so far.

So I thought i'd share some experiences of the tyres used so far.

Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 (17x45x215)
My first drift event I used these on the back, i'm afraid I can't remember what was on the fronts. Remembering the first few practice sessions at Silverstone they felt superb and once the grip had gone I really could swing the tail out nice and smoothly.

Pirelli P7000's (17x40x215)
These were excellent, nice and progressive and I found with little tread on the front I still had enough feel to keep the balance of under/oversteer. They also kicked out quite a decent amount of smoke, whilst this shouldn't really be an indicator of performance, it sure looks great

Michelin Pilot Sport (17x45x225)
I got 4 free with quite a bit of tread from a local ATS. Two needed puncture repairs but performed without problems. I did find that the higher profile gave me less progression and more roll then snap. But the third round when I used them tended to have odd track conditions in the morning so it was hard to compare (yes yes, excuses excuses )

 

[SteveC200]

a slightly less techy review

For the 15" tyre user:

Bridgestone RE88 (stock s13 tyre): Shite. Gets hot too easily and delaminates with still legal tread on it. Total arse.

Michelin Energy: Wears nicely right down to the canvas, doesnt delaminate at all. Lasts for ages even at North Weald. Nice.

 

[james]

I found that if you go out and give cold tyres a good thrashing, you tend to get chunks peeling off before you know it. Especially with older tyres and an abrasive surface like an airfield.
If you warm them up a little with a quick burnout before you set out, they wear a lot more evenly and predictably

 

[TwinturboCH]

What sort of places are the best for getting part worns? Obviously it's going to be a garage but what sort are most likely to help, Kwikfit, franchise dealer, back alleys or where. I've been a bit of a dick and been using proper tires up to now

 

[SidewaysRob]

Anywhere is good for tyres. I use 3 different places where I live so I don't piss of any one garage. They all fit them on spare rims for me too for a little cash in hand ie £5-10 for 4 tyres.

I found Silverstone very gentle on tyres. It's probably because we only run for 30 seconds and then stop for half an hour. So by the time the tyres get hot you've turned the engine off.

It is true that cold tyres will struggle to hold their rubber if spanked when cold though.
However, I can't do burn outs why and open diff. Well, actually I can, but I'd have 1 hot and one cold rear tyre.

 

[Simon Goes Sideways]

Although I never got to do much drifting in my old AE86, I found that Kumho Ecstas where pretty good.

They are hard wearing, quite progressive and cheap !! I can get a brand new pair of 195/50/15s for £60 fitted and balanced all in

Gonna see what they are like on different cars but Lex fitted them to his S13 and found they were better than Toyo Proxes in terms of progressiveness.

Hope that helps.

Cheers

Si

 

[mitto]

yokohama AVS sports


















wheres the shamless plug smiley when you need it? haha

 

[Lex]

hi all,

i munched thru a set of toyos in two weeks

i get kuhmo ecsta from Protyre enfield @ trade £30 for a set of two fitted they lasted me two drift events and as si said were quite progressive

im trying to arrange regular tyres from a nissan main dealer for both s13 and s14 owners with standard rims -they wont be super low profile and as steve says they arent the best rubber but are gona be very, very cheep , in plentiful supply and should have at least 3mm of tread

cheers Lex

 

[Sjoerd]

I use tyres on my BMW (195-50 15) from a brand called Wanli, this company uses old Yokohama equipment to make them, only....

no grip at all!!!

I only put them on the back, superb for drifting. No grip, no wear, quite cheap.

 

[Genjuro]

The only ones i've used so far are Hankook K104's which seem to wear pretty well and they are pretty cheap and nasty and Pirelli P6000's which seem good, they wear well and take alot of abuse.

 

[mitto]

ive also used wanli in 235/45/17 and have to say i was more than happy with the grip and wear rates. VERY predictable tyre from new. nice

 

[Bon Bon]

Cheap rubber ones work well for me. The older and crappier the better, nothing like a bit of hardened rubber.

Actually in all seriousness I find proper budget tyres work well in the dry, they tend to be quite squirmy and gentle in transitions, making them nice and friendly. Nasty for normal stability, but nice for smooth drifting. I really liked my "Activa Confort Auto" 225/55/15s I used at silverstone and wheels, and my uniroyal "rain tyres" in 205/60/15 were cool too, incidentally, they were utter crap in the rain. lol

 

[20vWill]

Free ones.

Rock-hard Yankie style Cooper Cobra's were a good crack when I had those. Minimal grip and very precise inputs required...

I'll take whatever I can get/am given. They get killed too quickly to have a preference, and beggars can't be choosers.

I was even eyeing-up those weather-hardened painted tyres in the barriers last time I was at Silverstone...

 

[SteveDunn]

Contisport SportContact 205/55/16

Lasted a good few hours of practice session with my heavy right foot at the helm, slipped really progressivly and felt very predictable

Goodyear Eagle F1 205/55/16

Didn't like drifting on these, although it may have been something to do with them being my old front tyres, so already very worn on the inside edge. Didn't feel as good as the Contisports, felt more "wobbly"

 

[Matt_S]

Interesting. Yesterday I was running Michelin Primacy on the front (205/55/16) and these gripped well with minimal understeer.
On the back I ran a Bridgestone Turanza (IIRC) and it lasted 3 minuted before delaminating!!! So, then I had two Pirelli P6000s on the back.
They lasted well - the same one all day on the nearside rear.

Apprently the little MR2 tried running the budget tyres front and Michelin rear and the rear end was unmovable. NOBODY could get it to slip. Swapped tyres front to back though and it was fine. Mayeb the Michelins were better up front onthe MR2 aswell...

Looks like Im running Wanlis onthe rear at D1, so we'll see how I get on....

 

[Bon Bon]

Contisport SportContact 205/55/16

Lasted a good few hours of practice session with my heavy right foot at the helm, slipped really progressivly and felt very predictable

Goodyear Eagle F1 205/55/16

Didn't like drifting on these, although it may have been something to do with them being my old front tyres, so already very worn on the inside edge. Didn't feel as good as the Contisports, felt more "wobbly"

Goodyears felt OK to me Steve, the Contis were EXTREMELY progressive though but they ultimately had less grip than the Goodyears. I think the Goodyears were more snappy, and only felt ok when traction was fully broken. The contis had less traction when fully on the slide, but they were also more happy to just hold a small slip angle, rather than needing full on traction loss.

I've got 225/45/17 Bridgestone Turanza ER30s on the back of mine now, lots of grip but when you break traction they're very smooth and progressive, can hold a small slip angle nicely.