Toyo R888 Tyres ...

[BenF]

Just wondering - has anyone got any experience of these tyres for trackday use as well as road use?

Normally trackday only tyres are rubbish on the road (no wet grip, don't work until they're 'warm') but I'm quite tempted to pick up a set of these for my Mk1. In standard 185/60 size they're about £85 each, I'm sure I could find them for less than this.

Having said that, the Yoko A539s I have been using on the road and track are nicely progressive - and I'm aware fitting stickier tyres to the mk1 will mean greater load on the wheel bearings, brakes and suspension generally. Hopefully I wouldn't have to baffle the sump ..

[Lauren]

It also might mean more grip than handling. Only way is to suck it and see i guess. Personally if i was looking at this kind of tyre i'd try A048s if you can get them in that size.

[DoM]

Hi Ben,

I've been looking at getting some trackday tyres for the teg and these look to be the number one choice! Most of what I've read has been positive, grip in the dry is equivelent to most other 'R' tyres (eg. Very high!) and the wet grip is also surprisingly good. They look exceptional value too, 76 quid a corner from here..

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php? ... fd73e226df

The only problem with them is that they will wear out quicker than your average road tyre, but I guess thats a compromise you expect.

I am not aware of anyone having problems with Oil surging while running these with standard cars, but it could be a problem, I guess it depends on the type of car and as you said it will cause increased stress on the components.

One comment I would make is that putting stickier tyres on the MK1 will certainly increase your overall grip & laptimes (And braking for turn 1 at Donnington!!) but it'll decrease your back out action! - will that add to your enjoyment? (Or are you only going to stick them on the front!!!)

A048's are certainly an excellent tyre, but they are 40quid more a corner!

Dom

[Lauren]

Hi Ben,

I've been looking at getting some trackday tyres for the teg and these look to be the number one choice! Most of what I've read has been positive, grip in the dry is equivelent to most other 'R' tyres (eg. Very high!) and the wet grip is also surprisingly good. They look exceptional value too, 76 quid a corner from here..

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php? ... fd73e226df

The only problem with them is that they will wear out quicker than your average road tyre, but I guess thats a compromise you expect.

I am not aware of anyone having problems with Oil surging while running these with standard cars, but it could be a problem, I guess it depends on the type of car and as you said it will cause increased stress on the components.

One comment I would make is that putting stickier tyres on the MK1 will certainly increase your overall grip & laptimes (And braking for turn 1 at Donnington!!) but it'll decrease your back out action! - will that add to your enjoyment? (Or are you only going to stick them on the front!!!)

Dom

Dom.

Good tip for you here. Get Yoko Advan Neovas in 195/50/15s all round for your DC2. Best thing since sliced bread. Very progressive, amazing in the wet and very good in the dry. they are basically a wet trackday tyre that is fully road legal so perform very, very well on the road in all conditions. Get them from bookatrack or from any lotus dealer. they are Elise S1 fronts. They seem to last okay too.

PS: i had these on my SC for over a year, they were easily the best tyres i've ever had. They are only available in elise S1 sizes: 195/50/15 & 225/45/16.

[BenF]

Yeah, I'd heard that the R888 was a good trackday tyre - the thing that surprsied me though was that blackcircles.com listed it in a standard 185/60R14 size for the MK1 - all the info I'd seen previously about them gave 15" rims as the minimum tyre size they'd fit.

Would be nice to think they'd have kept me out of the kitty litter at Redgate in the wet, but personally I suspect the passenger at the time just jinxed my driving stiles

losing the ability to goon around would be a big loss though. One thing I'm really missing on the Mk1 is the lack of a LSD - its much more more difficult to powerslide around hairpins without it.

[DoM]

Dom.

Good tip for you here. Get Yoko Advan Neovas in 195/50/15s all round for your DC2. Best thing since sliced bread. Very progressive, amazing in the wet and very good in the dry. they are basically a wet trackday tyre that is fully road legal so perform very, very well on the road in all conditions. Get them from bookatrack or from any lotus dealer. they are Elise S1 fronts. They seem to last okay too.

PS: i had these on my SC for over a year, they were easily the best tyres i've ever had. They are only available in elise S1 sizes: 195/50/15 & 225/45/16.

Thanks Lauren, I've heard they are excellent and the perfect compromise between a track & road tyre.

I have two sets of wheels though, so I'm looking for some out and out track tyres to stick on one and some fairly cheap but progressive road tyres for the other.

[DoM]

losing the ability to goon around would be a big loss though. One thing I'm really missing on the Mk1 is the lack of a LSD - its much more more difficult to powerslide around hairpins without it.

Buy my SC then Ben - The extra torque and the LSD make it great fun around the tight stuff!

[BenF]

la la la la --- I can't year you -- la la la la ..

[DoM]

pfffffffffffffft!