Tyre recommendations - 14" wheels

[Supersport-ben]

Hi,

I am around 6 weeks into ownership of my 1st Caterham and have recently found out that despite looking ok, my front ZV1's are 14 years old!

The car is a 140bhp 1.8 K.

I am not intending to do many track days a year but I do have one at Brands Hatch coming up on 19th of this month and think I'd be wise to change them before this.

Any recommendations for a decent all purpose tyre at a reasonable cost? I'm not interested in ultimate lap times but it would be nice to have a reasonable amount of grip on track whilst not requiring a change every few thousand miles. I have ZV3'son the rear by the way.

Falkens and Dunlop Sport blue response have been suggested  on Pistonheads. Anyone agree or have other ideas?

Thanks,

Ben.

[DJ.]

I've just been going through the same thing.

I've had Yokohama a021r on the Seven for 3 years and they were brilliant all rounders apart from the price rising from £280 for 4 to this year £400 +fitting. They wore quite quickly too.

On 14 inch wheels, you've got Toyo 888s or the specialist Yokohama tyres or standard saloon tyres often made with economy in mind. On a hot day the normal tyres are OK, but in bad weather it is very difficult to get any heat into them. I think the Falkens or Dunlops will probably be better than ZV3 and definitely better than you ancient ZV1, but I don't have experience of them.

On Pistonheads, there was a chap who tried Uniroyal Rain Experts on his Seven, he tried them on the road and on a track day with mixed conditions. He thought they were great for road use, and coped well in wet conditions on track, but over heated (not surprisingly) when it dried out on track.

I also have a good friend with a different kit and his car is on Rain Experts. We drove around Wales in monsoon conditions last May and he coped very well with keeping up with cars on Toyo R1Rs (only available in 15 inch wheel) and Yoko 021Rs. I was impressed and wanted tyres that wouldn't break the bank and would last more than one summer, so I am in the process of fitting a set to my Seven, but unfortunately I can't give you my impressions yet.

Anyway, I hope this might be of some interest.

[Jonathan Kay]

What do you use it for? And how important is grip in the wet?

I'd start here. (And have just bought a set of A021Rs.)

Jonathan

[Supersport-ben]

Thanks DJ and Jonathan.

I am using the car for an occasional 60 mile round trip commute, short drives for fun at the weekends and perhaps a track day or 2 a year. I don't intend to use it on very wet roads but I have been caught out already in unexpected rain so some wet weather performance would be useful 

i will look at the A021R's. I don't mind paying a bit more so long as they're not worn out after a year of mainly light use.

[Gary Stone]

Yoko O21R's.

[Martin J]

Pop over the border & join us for a Kent Sunday breakfast blat sometime Ben.

Last  Sunday was a good one (& not just because I was leading  ) If there is anything going on it will be posted on blat chat.

I am on my third set of AO21's & have found them excellent. It might be a case of get them while you can as I hear they are being discontinued.

I will be interested to see how Duncan finds the rain experts as they may be my next tyre.

[SM25T]

You are a bit limited for choice with 14" wheels. May want to consider changing to 13" ?

[Bob L]

Partial hijack but hopefully connected - any good recommendations on where to buy at present.  I'm really thinking Toyo 888's ( I have 13" wheels).  Previously used A021's and found them excellent all rounders but I avoid the wet whenever possible.
 

[oldbutnotslow]

"It might be a case of get them while you can as I hear they are being discontinued. "

There was a post about 21's a little while back and from memory they will still be produced but that they will no longer be E marked. Excellent tyre by the way and a bit cheaper in the larger profile. Have a word with Polleys. Ive always found them to be there or there abouts on price.

Never been keen on 888's but thats just my opinion

[Jonathan Kay]

There was a post about 21's a little while back and from memory they will still be produced but that they will no longer be E marked.

Yes, link posted earlier in this thread.

Jonathan

[Supersport-ben]

Sounds good - I'll keep my eyes open.

Thanks all for you replies. A change of wheel size may well be in n order but not this side of Christmas after a stupidly expensive few weeks.

Ben.

[Julian H]

Welcome SSBen.

Pop over to the next mid-Sussex meet if you can? It's a pretty easy trip. I regularly come through Etchingham on my way out on a Sunday "early doors" blat in better weather. Hope to see you sometime soon!

Cheers, Julian

[7 wonders of the world]

For road use look at the Uniroyal rainmaster - a softer than normal road tyre well priced too, had them on  the tintop life on that was pretty much have of that of Goodyears and P6000's.