What tyre choice

[Casey]

Hi guys,
I have searched and read till my eyes hurt and I am still none the wiser so here I go. I own the Laguna Blue Turbo Clubman. It has now been relegated to weekend drives and track days which are around a 1km track for 5 laps and lots of coners or hillclimbs which are again only about 1.5km long.

My question is this:

Objectivly should I even be looking at RT615's or should I go straight to the Toyo R888 how does this compare to the RA1

Other tyres that I am considering are:

Direzza 02G
Formula R SV98
Ecsta V70A
Advan A048
Potenza RE540S and RE55S

While price isn't a real issue I am not that keen on paying any more than I need to. The other consideration is tyre size. I currenty have 205/55/15 Dunlop FM901 fitted that have a diameter of 607mm this scrubs. Is the increase in tyre width from the 195 to the 205 worth the extra traction as such given the extra weight. I would love to hear people's opinions (hopfully backed by experience).

Cheers
Paul

Paul - I'm in exactly the same boat. Something with a super soft compound but a streetable tread like a Bridgestone Re070 or the Michelin Pilot Sports Cup (fitted to the M3 CSL) would be ideal for me if only they made them in a 205/45/16. Unfortunately 16 " is a bit of a black hole in terms of tyre choices, but nonetheless I'll be interested to see what you decide.

[StanTheMan]

Paul.
firstly maybe you should think about s lightly lower profile. Like 205x50/15
this will not scrub.
2ndly

A tyre like the Toyo is comparable to the DO'1's which i have had experience with. They are a serious gripping tyre when they have'nt been ruined by too many heat cycles.
My road current road rubber is the RT215's I love them to bits.

Now allow me to tell you about recent experience i had at Wakefield a few weeks ago.

I'd been driving around wakefield all day getting low 1:20 on my RT215's . To my delight a friend suggested we swap tyres. His were DO'1s. They had been used a fair amount on getting to & from events & probably the odd weekend sprint up some back road.

as i was driving around the laps, Ii was surprised with the lack of grip. As i have had experience with DO'1s before. These pareticular ones had had too many heat cycles & were no better than my own 215's Yes they were a fraction more predicable when the drifting had begun around some of the corners than my own but my time came within 0.5 sec of my personal best of that day.
Vice versa my friend got within a few 10's of his personal best of day as well with my tyres. he prefered the feel of the DO1's too but thats ok.

My experience with other DO1 was a fantastic one. I couln't believe the grip. However i drove those tyres near the end of thier life but they had only had 3 heat cycles in thier whole life. Big massive difference.

so my point is. If you are a weekend warrior & do the ocasional hill climb.
in my own opinion go for the RT615. As it is not affected by how many heat cycles you have.
You will also have the advantage that when you do do the hill climb the RT615's will get to operating heat a lot quicker than most R compound tyres.
If you were to do 20 laps of a circuit....yes the RT615 will fail....as the can't deal with heat too well. but by the sounds of it. you will not be doing this.

Most R compound tyres will give you better grip initially in thier early life but the heat cycles really start affecting them.

Thats my take.

[Brad]

I agree. If you are going to have 1 set of tyres to do both street and track driving, go the RT615's. If you want a dedicated track tyre go the R888's and get another cheaper and longer lasting tyre for the road, like Eagle F1's.

I went the RT615's as I wanted a compromised best of both worlds. They are brilliant on the road and on the track for what they are, though I've done 6,000kms and they are about half done. That's with 2 full-day track days and a full day at the skid pan (wet and dry) and several spirited drives up Mt Glorious. If I get 12-15k I'll be very happy. R888's on the other hand will probably last about 5 full track days if you take care of them from what I've seen to date. Other may get more though.

[EGG80X]

RE55s and Advan A048 are wonderfull tyres but not road legal thought

[Adam_NAclubman]

RE55's are legal, I had them on my DR30

[jules]

How come you don't use the car for daily driving anymore??


Jules

[Casey]

I agree. If you are going to have 1 set of tyres to do both street and track driving, go the RT615's. If you want a dedicated track tyre go the R888's and get another cheaper and longer lasting tyre for the road, like Eagle F1's.

I went the RT615's as I wanted a compromised best of both worlds. They are brilliant on the road and on the track for what they are, though I've done 6,000kms and they are about half done. That's with 2 full-day track days and a full day at the skid pan (wet and dry) and several spirited drives up Mt Glorious. If I get 12-15k I'll be very happy. R888's on the other hand will probably last about 5 full track days if you take care of them from what I've seen to date. Other may get more though.

Do the RT615's come in a 205/45/16 (83W)? Maybe I'll have to get off my backside and ring some tyre dealers

[StanTheMan]

Tragically they don't casey. This is my own delema. Been lusting after these 16 inch rimms for years. Now i have them but can't get the rubber i want.

spoke to someone from falken.....who indicate it will not be before the end of the year as they are still testing the market here. No idear who i spoke to but it was the phone no on thier web site.

[Casey]

Tragically they don't casey. This is my own delema. Been lusting after these 16 inch rimms for years. Now i have them but can't get the rubber i want.

spoke to someone from falken.....who indicate it will not be before the end of the year as they are still testing the market here. No idear who i spoke to but it was the phone no on thier web site.

According to their overseas web pages they come in a 205/40/16 or a 215/45/16. Might have to go for the latter although I'm worried the rims are too skinny

[Red Baron]

Objectivly should I even be looking at RT615's or should I go straight to the Toyo R888 how does this compare to the RA1

You are asking too much of one tyre type.

For hill climbs you need a grippy tyre from go, RA1's
For supersprinting of 5 laps you need a different pattern, less grooves and a mid compound, one warm up and into it.
For the road you need good grip levels in all conditions.

Solution, get another set of rims.

For hill climbs and daily driver, RA1's, and when they get down use them on the track to finish them off.

For track R888's, and they are quiet enough to use on the road too, but be cautious about using them on hill climbs, especially if the first corner greets a wall.

For the road, use both of them and have fun.

Once the tread depth is worn off the RA1's, they are every bit as good. if not better than DJ01, or 2 and R888's. Plenty of them are buffed to achieve this.

Last run at Wakefield dry on RA1's low 1.16's, and in the wet, low 1.16's

baron

[Casey]

Was told today that the RT615 is not available in a 16\" in any size in Australia. Might have to go for the Michelins now.

[StanTheMan]

which Michelins Casey

[Casey]

Preceda 2.

[RobbieRat]

I have the Kumho V70a's 205/45/16 in a medium soft compound, great tyre, very sticky right from cold, perfect for hillclimbs and sprints, pretty quiet on the road too.

However being such a soft tyre don't expect them to last long, i'd go the medium hard next time for more tyre life.

[Casey]

I have the Kumho V70a's 205/45/16 in a medium soft compound, great tyre, very sticky right from cold, perfect for hillclimbs and sprints, pretty quiet on the road too.

However being such a soft tyre don't expect them to last long, i'd go the medium hard next time for more tyre life.

Thanks Robbie - I'll check them out. How long is not long? Generally I'll be happy to get 15,000km out of them.

Alternatively, I can get the Precedas or the Toyo T1-Rs for about the same price. Which would be the better choice?