Tyres for Sprinting

[Lauren]

Yes, that is correct.

Earlier ones had 15's all round.

[Marf]

Just put AD08s on my Mk2

Awesome tyre

Sharp turn in, amazing grip, great feedback.

I'm getting very intersted in AD08s Marf

You won't regret them if you buy them.

I had the OEM A022 on the rear before, the AD08 was cheaper in a 16" than the A022 in a 15, and it outclasses it massively, most noticable so far is the increase in wet grip, both lateral and under acceleration/braking.

A mate of mine just fitted a set on his NSX and is raving about them too.

[SuperRedMR2]

Two of mine lasted 28000 miles

Even towards the end of their life i.e. slick, they would still hold the road in the wet! Unbelievable.

[elbon50]

I'm getting nothing but positive feedback on AD08s

Does anyone know anything about Michelin Exaltos ?

[elbon50]

I think the later spec ones are staggered sizes. 6j front 7j rear if I recall correctly.

Having done a quick & dirty comparison, there appears to be a half inch difference in rim width front to rear

6" & 6 1/2" I suspect

No problem if so as both are ideal widths for 195s

Just a case of being careful to use the larger ones on the rear at all times I should think

My 14" pepperpots have all the size details moulded on the rim

[SuperRedMR2]

I was unknowingly running on 3 at 6.0 and 1 at 6.5 wide without any issues with my tyres. Could hammer it and have no problems.

[Quigonjay]

ad08's are on list 1a?
how did they manage that?
well done yokahama

[elbon50]

ad08's are on list 1a?
how did they manage that?
well done yokahama

Yes, definately 1a

That surprises you then Jay ?

[elbon50]

ad08's are on list 1a?
how did they manage that?
well done yokahama

Yes, definately 1a

That surprises you then Jay ?

it does surprise me slightly, given that they are usually marketed as a trackday tyre, besides, from what i can remember the old ad07's where on list 1b? could be wrong though

Yes TopGearShop online market AD08s as a trackday tyre Jay

AD07s are currently on list 1a as well as 08s

IIRC Lauren said she'd used 07s & found them a really "stonking" tyre

AO48s are 1b, AO50s (classed as sprint tyres) arn't even listed so far as I can see



Was shown another Yohama tyre by a local supplier yesterday called Parada

It also seems to be on list 1a

Soft compound & agressive looking asymetric tread

Ever heard of those ?

Peter

[jimi]

I couldn't find S-Drives in 195/50 when I was looking

The wheels I'm currently using have 185/55/15s front & 205/50/15s rear Alex

I ditched that setup within 2 weeks of buying my mk3 alloys - it tramlined really badly to the point where I felt unsafe.

I ditched them within a day of fitting MK3 wheels, horrible to drive ! and didn't feel safe.
I went to 195 x 50 x 15 Goodyear F1's all round, they have been absolutely superb for road use, wet or dry the grip is amazing. They even survived about half an hour of getting hammered round Curborough with no ill effects ( I was there for a magazine photoshoot)
The early MK3 (pre facelift, up to around 2003/4) wheels were 15 x 6 front and 15 x 6.5 rear.
The easy way to tell the fronts from the rears is to look at the inside mounting face of the wheel, if there's a 10mm tapped hole between the mounting holes then it's a rear wheel (the rear wheels had a location pin on the inside of the wheel to stop you fitting the rears on the front on a MK3, it just unscrews)
Later ones were 15 x 6 front and 16 x 6.5 rear

[elbon50]

The wheels I'm currently using have 185/55/15s front & 205/50/15s rear Alex

I ditched that setup within 2 weeks of buying my mk3 alloys - it tramlined really badly to the point where I felt unsafe.

I ditched them within a day of fitting MK3 wheels, horrible to drive ! and didn't feel safe.
I went to 195 x 50 x 15 Goodyear F1's all round, they have been absolutely superb for road use, wet or dry the grip is amazing. They even survived about half an hour of getting hammered round Curborough with no ill effects ( I was there for a magazine photoshoot)
The early MK3 (pre facelift, up to around 2003/4) wheels were 15 x 6 front and 15 x 6.5 rear.
The easy way to tell the fronts from the rears is to look at the inside mounting face of the wheel, if there's a 10mm tapped hole between the mounting holes then it's a rear wheel (the rear wheels had a location pin on the inside of the wheel to stop you fitting the rears on the front on a MK3, it just unscrews)
Later ones were 15 x 6 front and 16 x 6.5 rear

I've had the 185/205 Mk3 setup for a year or more with no problems Jimi

You're the third person now to say you hated it though

Perhaps the tyres were different make/type to mine (Avon ZV3)

The Avons have gone too hard now so need new

Will definately go to 195s all round

[jimi]

Can't remember what tires were on the wheels when I got them, they were only on a couple of days and that was 5/6 years ago
However I am sure they were the original ones that came with the car so they would have been whatever Mr T used for OEM fitment

[Lauren]

IIRC Lauren said she'd used 07s & found them a really "stonking" tyre

Peter

I used a Yoko Advan Neova LTS (Lotus). Basically Elise S1 fronts all round. They were absolutely amazing wet or dry. You can no longer get them because Lotus (they really are up their own ass at times) didn't like it that they were being fitted to non Elises.

Crying shame, because I'd have them again like a shot. Not cheap at over £100 a tyre but the best thing since sliced bread was the general consensus amongst the trackday elite.

Parada's are a budget tyre really. Have heard they are alright but may suffer from soft-ish sidewalls.

I note that Jimi recommended GSD3's. A good road tyre but to be avoided at all costs if you are going near a track as the sidewalls are made of jelly and due to the huge size of the tread they overheat very quickly. I've seen GSD3's delaminate. Not good. Generally they go all squidgy within a couple of laps IME. They are not bad in the wet though.

S-Drives aren't bad, have had them when they came out, like it that they are nice and stiff on the sidewalls, so it helps the front end feel more responsive.

T1-R's seem to be a popular forum choice, doubtless because they are cheap. They lack bite though and feel sloppy. I admit they replaced the legendary RE010's I had on my DC2 and just made the whole car feel absolute rubbish as soon as you tried to push on.

My choice:

S-Drives if you're tight.

AD08's if you've got the dosh.

[elbon50]

IIRC Lauren said she'd used 07s & found them a really "stonking" tyre

Peter

I used a Yoko Advan Neova LTS (Lotus). Basically Elise S1 fronts all round. They were absolutely amazing wet or dry. You can no longer get them because Lotus (they really are up their own ass at times) didn't like it that they were being fitted to non Elises.

Crying shame, because I'd have them again like a shot. Not cheap at over £100 a tyre but the best thing since sliced bread was the general consensus amongst the trackday elite.

Parada's are a budget tyre really. Have heard they are alright but may suffer from soft-ish sidewalls.

I note that Jimi recommended GSD3's. A good road tyre but to be avoided at all costs if you are going near a track as the sidewalls are made of jelly and due to the huge size of the tread they overheat very quickly. I've seen GSD3's delaminate. Not good. Generally they go all squidgy within a couple of laps IME. They are not bad in the wet though.

S-Drives aren't bad, have had them when they came out, like it that they are nice and stiff on the sidewalls, so it helps the front end feel more responsive.

T1-R's seem to be a popular forum choice, doubtless because they are cheap. They lack bite though and feel sloppy. I admit they replaced the legendary RE010's I had on my DC2 and just made the whole car feel absolute rubbish as soon as you tried to push on.

My choice:

S-Drives if you're tight.

AD08's if you've got the dosh.

Many thanks Lauren

That was all very helpful

Am close to a final decision now I think

[jimi]

I note that Jimi recommended GSD3's.

they have been absolutely superb for road use, wet or dry the grip is amazing.

[elbon50]

Have ordered a set of 4 195/50/15 AD08s

Got them locally at the same price as the so called lower cost ones online

Not easy to get locally though

DT & TopGearShop online seem to have plenty BUT there's a snag

Fitting costs up to £20 a wheel on top of the online price

I'm getting them fully fitted for the same price as online

They're scarce (in that size anyway) from local suppliers around here

Yokohama Central UK has them on back order frrom Japan

My friendly local dealer has hunted some down in Yorkshire

EDIT: Have just spotted what you said elsewhere re Paradas Alex

[SuperRedMR2]

Yeah my Parada's are poo.

I'm going to have to get my geometry checked to make sure its not that.

But my rainsport 2 tyres on the rear, are awesome! Can't lose it in the wet unless it means having a big accident through trying too hard!

The AD08s were poor in the ice by the way lol

[SuperRedMR2]

If I decided to change all my tyres from 50 profile to 45, what sort of difference is there going to be?

[pk_090]

Ive got vresedretenensremereddns's on the rear. Dont get me wrong they are not trackday/race tyres by any means but they are tidy for on the road, not stepped out on me yet, only on mud which was fun and they dont cost the earth either!
I agree with Lauren on T1r's they can feel abit sloshy after a while, and i would steer away from Kuhmo tyres as they wear incredibly quick, my mates scooby burned a set in 3 laps with his mrs driving his near stock classic shape.
Alex

[Lauren]

If I decided to change all my tyres from 50 profile to 45, what sort of difference is there going to be?

Slightly sharper front end. Less progression when you go beyond the maximum slip angle, ie they'll fall off a cliff sooner and you'll be quick with the lock or in the neareast hedge.

I'd stick with 50's personally as it's as close to the standard rolling radius.

45 profile tyres means less tyres in that size and more expense really.