Radial Slicks -Which and Who from?

[BYKer Will]

I have decided to use cr500s or r888 as road/wet trackday tyres and radial slicks for the lovely hot summer trackdays we are having!

 

What secondhand RADIAL slicks should I be looking for and is there an easy source for them?

 

Spec - Blackbird with 6 and 8 inch Barmbys (13 inch)

 

Thanks for anyhelp

 

Also - Wanted- More barmbys and radial slicks please.

 

Will

 

[Irrelevant]

Formula Renault Michelins - 160/530 R13 and 230/570 R13 (IIRC) in S210 compound. Cheap as chips (got a nice set for £30 the other day ). There are various other control tyres available from comparable single seater race series. Bear in mind though that radial slicks typically require wider rims than crossplies so don't get carried away with cheap wide rubber. Having said this, people seem to run radial slicks on narrower than recommended rims without problems - F355GTS who posts on here being one that springs to mind - think he uses 6" and 8".

 

There are various sources for used slicks but supply is very erratic - so no easy source. You might not be able to find anything if the used slick dealers have sold out, in which case you'll have to wait for their next lorry load of used control tyres. Supply seems to be poor at the moment - search for used slicks on Google to find sellers.

[Dickie Normuss]

I think Mark gets his from a company called stick slicks or similar of a tenner a piece IIRC

 

VX HPC - Loud and proud here

Watch out, whatever hits the fan will not be distributed evenly

[Dickie Normuss]

Ta daaaaa!

 

VX HPC - Loud and proud here

Watch out, whatever hits the fan will not be distributed evenly

[Mike Molloy]

Has anyone got first hand experience of using both cross-ply and radial slicks on a Caterham?

IIRC one time I was talking to the Avon technical guy and he told me radial slicks were primarily designed for cars with super-stiff chassis (i.e. single seaters with carbon tubs) and a bendy old se7en would be much better suited to x-plys.

How does this work out in practise?

Do the CSR racers use x-ply or radial?

[Irrelevant]

CSRs are radials

 

[fatcat]

CSR racers use Avon radials.

 

Have raced on both x-ply & radial slicks on various caterhams I can't say that the difference was that noticeable to me. Far more important was getting the size right - matching power & weight of car, getting the geometry right - camber, front/rear ride height, etc, getting the suspension set up right which includes allowing for tyre flex. Then of course tyre pressure must be correct and the compound should be appropriate for the intended use, the tyres shouldn't be too worn, etc. I doubt I ever got all these things right.

 

I suspect some of the better drivers may have a view and I'm sure the more scientifically minded will also be able to comment on the relative strengths & weaknesses of construction.

[BYKer Will]

Thanks all much appreciated.

 

Anyone disagree with Adam before I go looking for "Formula Renault Michelins - 160/530 R13 and 230/570 R13 (IIRC) in S210 compound."

 

I suggested radials so as to keep the same dedion ear as for the road tyres which seems sensible to me.

 

At 30 or even 40 quid a set they seem an absolute no brainer for trackdays instead of eating cr500s at around 100 pounds each. Why is everyone with a trailer not running on them?

 

Will

[ben7]

Will, another for Adam's advice.

 

I went from ACB10's to ACB0 slicks and TBH didn't think there was much difference. However FWIW, I found the difference between ACB0's and the Michelin's to be quite dramatic.

 

Make sure you are dry sumped though!

 

Ben

 

 

[DSL]

Perhaps wait & see how quickly Adam goes round Curborougher this weekend before you jump to any hasty decisions 😬

 

General concenus is that crossplies are much easier to make work than radials

[F355GTS]

Will

 

I use the 160 on the front but 200's (from the Formula BMW single seater series) on the rear which are perfect for an 8" rim the 230's are too wide for 8" rims

 

they work brilliantly

 

Mark

[BYKer Will]

Thanks Mark. Sorry about Spa.

 

Thanks Ben and Darren also. Darren Got that varnish out yet?

 

Best Wishes

 

Will

[Casbar]

I've been using second hand radial slicks, from Michelin for the last 3 years. They are great, and I've not found any problems with them. They arn't quite as sticky as new slicks, but are fine for my standard of driving and track days.

 

I got mine for £25 a corner. Oh and you don't need to change the de-dion ears as radials are radials

[Mark Piper]

Will, yhm

[BYKer Will]

Thanks Mark.

 

I'll let you know how it goes.

 

Best WIshes

 

Will