R-Spec Tyres

forcedfive · Postby **forcedfive** » Thu Apr 20, 2017 12:01 pm

R-Spec Tyres - what are you using? A050 M
What have you used? R888 and Toyo RA1 briefly as no comparison to the A050
Best regardless of cost? A050
Best value for money? A050

We spend so much time and money maintaining and running our cars. I personally cant see the point saving a few dollars which I have done in the past (unless of course the extra amount cant be afforded), when it is the tyres that IMO are the cheapest way to get better performance and times aside from driver improvement. Your tyres should last at least a season so buy the best ones you can manage. my A050's have done 7 rounds of the MX5 Cup and a handful of track days. While they are not as good as when new after so many heat cycles they still have life left and I will get another event or two before I really have to replace them (unless of course I want to minimise my lap times then I should be doing that now).

Nuddy · Postby **Nuddy** » Thu Apr 20, 2017 12:49 pm

Nuddy wrote:
Nuddy wrote:I heard about the Nito NT01s so I will avoid those.
I have got onto a set of used Federal 595 RS-R and used Yokohama Advan A050
I will use them and then decide what to go for from there.

I am using the stock size 195/50R15 on standard NB rims 15 x 6

I looked up the Yokohama website and see that the A050 are only available in 'M' in 195/50R15
If I want the softer compound I would have to go up to 205/50R15.
That would raise my overall gearing slightly and be less than ideal on 6" rim.
Thoughts people?

rascal · Postby **rascal** » Thu Apr 20, 2017 1:15 pm

Nuddy wrote:I looked up the Yokohama website and see that the A050 are only available in 'M' in 195/50R15
If I want the softer compound I would have to go up to 205/50R15.
That would raise my overall gearing slightly and be less than ideal on 6" rim.
Thoughts people?

You want the 'M' (medium) compound for sprints/races. As FF mentioned, you will most likely get a whole season out of them.
The 'S" (soft) compound is only for hillclimbs or mega $$ time attack teams that put them on for a one lap flyer.
The Softs wouldnt last very long at all on sustained circuit use.

Nuddy · Postby **Nuddy** » Thu Apr 20, 2017 1:33 pm

forcedfive wrote:R-Spec Tyres - what are you using? A050 M
What have you used? R888 and Toyo RA1 briefly as no comparison to the A050
Best regardless of cost? A050
Best value for money? A050

We spend so much time and money maintaining and running our cars. I personally cant see the point saving a few dollars which I have done in the past (unless of course the extra amount cant be afforded), when it is the tyres that IMO are the cheapest way to get better performance and times aside from driver improvement. Your tyres should last at least a season so buy the best ones you can manage. my A050's have done 7 rounds of the MX5 Cup and a handful of track days. While they are not as good as when new after so many heat cycles they still have life left and I will get another event or two before I really have to replace them (unless of course I want to minimise my lap times then I should be doing that now).

I agree. I will be working on my driving as first priority. I'm entering pretty much everything that is on. Even joined a second and a third car club, primarily to expand the diary.
I'm running a standard NB8a + Torsen V2 with 4.3:1 final drive ratio. Renewed all suspension bushes and had wheels aligned. Currently running the tyres that came with it.
I think it would be good value in the long run to get another set of rims and R-Spec tyres for track use and keep using the others for the road.
I am aiming to race in MX-5 Cup races and think the best modification I can make to the car towards making the qualifying lap time is the R-Spec tyres.
I will be having my first run at Wakefield on Sunday and will be on the Kumho Solus HS51. Then I'll be back there on 14th May on R-Specs with a little more experience.
I am getting a second set of wheels with used Federal RS-Rs
I'm thinking ahead to what to buy when buying new tyres. It's looking like the A050 is the way to go.

rascal · Postby **rascal** » Thu Apr 20, 2017 2:46 pm

Nuddy wrote:I think it would be good value in the long run to get another set of rims and R-Spec tyres for track use and keep using the others for the road.

Agreed.. Your road tyres wont be that flash on the track, and running R specs on the road isnt a great idea either, (noisy, fast wearing, low grip) so a separate set of rims/tyres means you can have perfectly suited tyres for both situations..

StillIC · Postby **StillIC** » Thu Apr 20, 2017 9:38 pm

rascal wrote:
Nuddy wrote:I think it would be good value in the long run to get another set of rims and R-Spec tyres for track use and keep using the others for the road.

Agreed.. Your road tyres wont be that flash on the track, and running R specs on the road isnt a great idea either, (noisy, fast wearing, low grip) so a separate set of rims/tyres means you can have perfectly suited tyres for both situations..

Disagreed!
If you are doing lots of events and driving your car to each track you will soon get very tired of changing 8 wheels every event with two sets of wheels/tyres. I drive my r-specs on the road where they have *lots of grip*, hardly wear at all compared to wear they receive on the track and while being noisy, this noise is mostly drowned out by traffic in an MX5.