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Seems very few places stock these. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Cheers in advance.

It would help if you told us where you are, even put it in your profile ...

there are only a few places you can get them.
Tyres and More in Strathpine, QLD is where I got my last set. https://www.tyresandmore.com.au/stores/strathpine/overview

That doesn't help if your not in SE QLD though...

Gotta come from the Yokohama motorsport dealer in each state.
It's Gordon Leven Tyres in NSW.

Things may have changed, but it used to be that they wouldn't even give other Yoki dealers a decent trade price... So unless you have a VERY friendly local dealer, you will have to pay more to get them from anyone but the motorsport dealer.

But they do offer a discount off full retail for IPRA members, WTAC entrants and possibly others. In my experience/observation, sometimes they are happy to give the discount to anyone, sometimes it becomes the Spanish Inquisition before the knock a few dollars off.

YOKOHAMA!!!
When I got my first set last year I was stuck with Gordon Leven. Didn't budge on price, 215/50/15 cost something like $365 a tyre.
The annoying part is I did some digging through Japanese web pages and worked out that over there they were just over $200 a tyre at many dealers. Being Japanese though they probably show that price without the 8% Tax, but being an international buyer, that would be dropped anyway. If only I knew how to send them over for a reasonable rate.

I know it costs Gordon Leven money to import them in but the price premium is ridiculous.
Or does Yokohama bring them in and then the exclusive Motorsport dealers then only have access to them??? Who knows.
Basically they told me if you want the fastest tyre, you will pay, or go get something else. MONOPOLY

And more on topic now.
http://www.yokohama.com.au/ADVAN-Motorsport.aspx

NSW Gordon Leven Motorsport Tyres - Emu Plains

QLD Albion Motorsport - Strathpine

SA Kensington Park Tyrepower - Kensington Park

VIC/TAS Traction Tyres & More - Rowville

WA Wheels World Tyres & More - Osborne Park

plohl wrote:there are only a few places you can get them.
Tyres and More in Strathpine, QLD is where I got my last set. https://www.tyresandmore.com.au/stores/strathpine/overview

That doesn't help if your not in SE QLD though...

I’m in Samford Valley so they’re just down the road

Thanks all, I’ll ring a few and see what’s the go on prices. I used to race on yok’s in the UK where they were seen as a cheap tyre. Funny how a monopoly changes things!

$1408 for a set of 205/50R15 Late last year.
They're not cheap here

For W.A. people, not sure if Wheels World still supply them since John left.

I get mine from John Fowler Autosport https://www.facebook.com/johnfowlerautosport/

Another way to do it is to look for racing series which use A050s as control tyres. I know the Porsche 944 Challenge Cup does. Then you just try to track down the front running teams and ask them if you can buy their second hand tyres. I did this for a few years, typically paying around 200-300 per set. Front runners change tyres well before they're cooked or worn out. Back markers are much more frugal, rather like MX5 competitiors.

manga_blue wrote:Another way to do it is to look for racing series which use A050s as control tyres. I know the Porsche 944 Challenge Cup does. Then you just try to track down the front running teams and ask them if you can buy their second hand tyres. I did this for a few years, typically paying around 200-300 per set. Front runners change tyres well before they're cooked or worn out. Back markers are much more frugal, rather like MX5 competitiors.

This is a top tip

Great idea, but there don't seem to be many people replacing lightly/moderately used A050s.
It happened a lot more with the older A048s which got a lot slower after a few heat cycles.
With the cost of the A050s and the fact that they drop off far more slowly as they wear/age/are heat cycled, people seem to hang onto them until they are trashed.

Happy to be proven wrong on this one! I would love a supply of cheap A050s!

Don’t the 944s run 225/50s. Not ideal size for an mx5... (but then I guess if you can get them for $200 a set then worth the hassle....)

Thought I’d do a quick update. In the size I need the AO50 is just too much money coming in at around $1500 a set. So I’ve settled on Toyo R888R’s at $600 a set.
I know they’ll be a bit slower and feom what I’ve read they heat cycle out quite quickly but for what they’re going to do they just seem a more sensible choice for me right now.
Thanks for all you help, much appreciated.

Custardtart wrote:Thought I’d do a quick update. In the size I need the AO50 is just too much money coming in at around $1500 a set. So I’ve settled on Toyo R888R’s at $600 a set.
I know they’ll be a bit slower and feom what I’ve read they heat cycle out quite quickly but for what they’re going to do they just seem a more sensible choice for me right now.
Thanks for all you help, much appreciated.

Nitto NT01's are about the same price (I paid $170ea for my last set, albeit in 2016), are slightly quicker than R888Rs, and last down to the cords without heat cycling out. If you haven't pushed the buy button yet, then they would be worth a look.

rascal wrote:

Custardtart wrote:Thought I’d do a quick update. In the size I need the AO50 is just too much money coming in at around $1500 a set. So I’ve settled on Toyo R888R’s at $600 a set.
I know they’ll be a bit slower and feom what I’ve read they heat cycle out quite quickly but for what they’re going to do they just seem a more sensible choice for me right now.
Thanks for all you help, much appreciated.

Nitto NT01's are about the same price (I paid $170ea for my last set, albeit in 2016), are slightly quicker than R888Rs, and last down to the cords without heat cycling out. If you haven't pushed the buy button yet, then they would be worth a look.

I really like the NT01 but I couldn’t find anyone that sold them in my size - 205 50 16.