PJT Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 I have a 10 year old 1.6 Super Sport shod with Avon ZV1 185/60R14. Not only are these very skittish in any sort of damp conditions but they are coming to the end of their useful life, although still road legal. I was thinking of Dunlop CR500 but am told you can't get them in R14 size. Is this right? If so, can anyone suggest a good alternative? It's only for road use as my wife thinks tracks are dangerous - even though I point out that, unlike on normal roads, cars are all (most of the time!) going in the same direction! Anyway, at nearly 70 it's probably not the time to start as my old reactions ain't wot they used to be!! Please can you help on some new boots? Thanks. PS Someone suggested Dunlop Fast Response at £56 each. Any thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Campbell Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Initial thoughts...get yourself booked on a track day...age should be no barrier (although SWMBO might be) 😬 I'll get my coat. By the way, I used to use R13 Toyo 888 on my old supersport...great for road or track (at least for me) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myothercarsa2cv Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 For 14" wheels, your options are: Avon ZV3 - standard issue on 7s and not highly rated Toyo R888 - highly rated Yokohama A021 - highly rated Yokohama A048 - highly rated Yokohama A539 - popular tyre for sprinters I believe (not sure if you can get them in 185/60 though) Anything that is designed for a tintop, like the ZV1 and ZV3, will probably be no good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_Russell Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 The CR500s are Avons, by the way! and rather pricey... the Yokohama a539s would be a mild upgrade. I run these on my race car and they're better than the old Avon CR322s and I expect they'll be better than the ZV1s, which have a pretty poor reputation amongst seveners! the Yokohama a021s would be much more grippy, and still reasonably priced, but much less durable. Superb in the wet. Yokohama a048s and Toyo r888s are stickier, higher performance tyres but the dry grip comes at the cost of wet grip. They do not clear water like a fully treaded tyre does. Polley Motorsport are a good sourceof the Yokohama range- give them a ring for sizing and pricing. ETA: If I were you I'd 'upgrade' to 13" wheels and I'd fit 185/70r13 a021r's from polley which are a steal at £50 each. The taller tyre will (arguably) improve handling and ride quality. Editted (Again!) To Add: I wouldn't touch the Dunlop Fastresponse with a barge pole. Any ordinary tyre which is designed for a car which weighs at least twice as much as a Caterham will probably be no good, as MOCA2CV said Yes, the a539 is an ordinary road car tyre too- but at least other 7ers have tried them and found them okay. Edited by - James_Russell on 24 Feb 2012 12:44:59 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Lynch Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 A539's are for sprinting and ditchfinding. I use them on road purely to keep me sensible. Not fun when they let go in a straight line above 4000rpm in the wet 😳 Put my A021R's back on for winter and so much more progressive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Golf Juliet Tango Posted February 24, 2012 Area Representative Share Posted February 24, 2012 Yoko 21R from Polley Motorsport. http://www.polleymotorsport.co.uk/polley/catalogue_tyres_final.asp?id=35&manufacturer=Yokohama Available as 185/60R14. Fab in the wet. Good in the dry. Reliable. Predictable. For all weather on the road. A good step up from ZV1. Edited by - Golf Juliet Tango on 24 Feb 2012 15:24:23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavinsmithartist Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 I've just changed to Yoko A021R. £82 inc vat and fitting from Jefferies in Bromsgrove Worcs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fil M Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 AO 21 R again I use the seven all year round and they are very predictable and give no surprises. I changed from some ancient avons that Ben Hur had been using. You will notice a bit more road noisey n gritty flicky due to gripability and a slightly lower mpg due to smileability,grinability, and all round yipeeness. 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Allen Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 AO21Rs for me, just changed from ZV3s and the difference is amazing, so predictable. There are more stones being thrown up but not a problem, just makes your 7 more enjoyable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Allen Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 PS looking at your profile welcome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anton Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 LE0's an 8 year old SV 140 with 90k on the clock, driven 365 days a year regardless of the weather. I've got 16 inch wheels and have tried A021s and 539s (ZV3s were the original fit), but find that the 888s give me the best all-round prformance in all weathers, but only by a very small margin over the A021s. The 888s do seem to last a lot longer than the others, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heptagon Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 LEO - I can vouch for the 365 days a year, have seen you loads of times on Croydon Lane as I head into Croydon each morning, always wondered who it was. Keep a look out for a dark blue scooby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter clarke Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 For all the year round I would run 21's but as I use the other cars in the rain(3seriesM), then use 888's as they give better ride on the road, more predictable and better at the limit where you think you may not come back. Last ok as well considering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaterBram Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Another thumb's up to A021's a great all round tyre, and you will probably get a decent 6k per set out of them unless driving hard. no matter what you fit it's liable to give a totally new feel to the 7 as 10 year rubber is well past it's best. if SWMBO won't let you do track day's why not have a go at sprinting. You only have to go at your pace and your only running by yourself rather than loads of others on track at the same time 😬 There is no upper age limit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eugene Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 021Rs on 13" rims - perfect. The 70 profile makes such a difference - much better handling, etc. HERE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Machine Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Another vote for A021's. I have 14" wheels and the move from ZV's to A021's did a bit more justice to the car. If you don't drive them hard you can get 7000 miles out of a set. Met one chap at Le Mans who drives very gently and has got 10,000 from a set Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeljclark Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Moved from ZV 3's to Toyo Proxes T1-R's Much better all around, especially when it gets wet! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frying Pan Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 I've got T1-Rs (195/45R15) as well. At £155 for two fitted, can't complain... CR500s are about double the price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irrotational Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 AO21's are good, you have to be going VERY quick on a road to really the notice the difference between them and the 48's. Note it is ONLY the 185X70X13's that come at the special price of £50...this is due to some sort of deal with some sort of race series... as an example 185X60X13's are £80-£90 each. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJT Posted March 5, 2012 Author Share Posted March 5, 2012 Hi Guys, Thanks for all the info. Looks like it's Yoko A021Rs then. I look forward to no more 180s!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJT Posted March 5, 2012 Author Share Posted March 5, 2012 Hi Guys, Thanks for all the info. It looks like Yoko AO21Rs then. I look forward to no more 180s!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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