Wet weather track tyres

[l33haw]

Iv got a Trackday booked in sunny Llandow this Saturday and the long range forecast is pretty tragic. So I was after some opinion on tyre choice.

Iv got AD08s on at the moment which have been great on rd and track, but I also have a spare set of rims with Toyo T1Rs on.

So my quandary is do I go with the T1Rs - Are they likely to be that much better in the wet? How will they perform on track if it drys out?

Or do i go with the AD08s which will be compromised if its wet all day (on a greasy castle Combe 1st session there was approx 0% grip, not sure how much of this was down to tyres or track surface tho), but obviously much better if it drys.

I'm driving the Atom to the track so can't take both.

All thoughts welcome. Thanks.

[Richard Marler]

Given you are driving there and back, fit whatever you will feel most confident driving on the road. Driving on the road without grip is no fun at all, driving on track with no grip just makes learning a slower speed experience.

[fb.george]

I have had the recent pleasure of driving both in very wet conditions and it didn't seem to make a great deal of difference, as both aquaplaned like mad!
I did "feel" safer on the road because I had read that I would be with the T1R's on, so in my head it was better - the AO48's being supposed to aquaplaned on any standing water.
But they both did it, I think as there is so little weight on the front.

I could notice a difference on a dry road so if you are an optimist, take the AO48's

[Bruce Fielding]

Go with the slippiest tyres you can, and learn how to left foot brake.

You'll never have so much fun at such slow speeds and learn so much as you can on crap tyres in the wet.

[ragezx14r]

I've only ever used T1R's once on track and they were terrible. Maybe they weren't at the correct pressure. What pressure would be best to use the on track?

I've got my first set of AD08's coming today and I'll be trying them out at Oulton Park on the 11th so can't comment until then.

Darren

[Matt_E]

On the road, even in torrential conditions, I had much more confidence in the A048 than the T1R in terms of feel and predictability.  No doubt I was driving slower in the A048's through standing water, but comparatively, I was much happier with them than the T1R.

My opinion on track is probably not worth the paper it is written on.  One below freezing damp Oulton Park on T1R's - horrible.  One dry Brands Hatch on A048's - fantastic.

[Trigger]

I have found that 048s in the wet on the road are ok - they are useless on track. I was assuming the AD08s would be better on a wet track than 048s....

Personally I wouldnt use the T1Rs anywhere as you still wont get any front end grip on them on a wet track and if even a dry line appears the AD08s will atleast get a little heat and then be alot better I would imagine.

T

[l33haw]

Thanks fellas. You've confirmed what I was thinking (hoping - as I can't really be arsed to get the spare rims and tyres out the shed and change).

You have reminded me actually how unpredictable the T1Rs can be. I used them on the rd through last winter (only a few hundred miles) and even though I didn't push at all, you wouldn't wanna trust them!

I'm actually looking forward to a wet Trackday (although will be a little annoying to not be the fastest thing out there), as Bruce said its a chance to learn more than possible in the dry. Just gotta keep it out the barrier!

[NathanE]

I use 195 45 r15 Avon CR500s in wet weather on 15" rims all round.  I think that they are better through standing water than the r888s that I use in the dry. 

Doing this does require a second set of rims though and I guess that in fitting 15" rims to the back I am changing the geometry a bit - not that I'd notice a difference!

[NathanE]

Sorry to clarify this just on track.  I leave the r888s on the car on the road.