I'm rapidly reaching the conclusion that the 175x60x13 Kuhmo V70A's that I have been using are just a tad to small and to be honest while they are okay, are not as good as the old Bridgestone RE520S's that I used previously ( and they were the thick end of 10years old before they ever hit the track.
Unfortunately the 4 door does not enjoy the rear guard clearance that the coupe does so I am very limited in my sizing. 185x60x13 will be the biggest that I can go and that will involve some inner guard massaging!
Options here in New Zealand are limited but what is on offer is Yokahama A048's at $239 each or Toyo R888R's at $405 each!!There is also the R888 at $300.
Has anybody had any experience with any of these tyres?
Also can anybody tell me what is the tyre of choice in improved production in Australia?
Any other recommendations?
Cheers
Dave

Not sure of your rules their.

I have used Kumho Ecsta V70A but am now using Hankook Z214,225/45R13 C5 compound they fit on 7" rims and fit under the guards(slight massage of outer lip)
Try Federal 595
I have ordered a set of Hankook Z209, 210/530R13 & compound tarmac race/rally tyres for longer races.about $260 each
Hope this helps or confuses you even more.GREG.

Not sure they are available for you but I'm using Hoosier Street TDs 185/60-13. They are a very short tire 20.6 diameter with a 7" section width. Note they are bias ply, pretty much slicks with grooves in them. I started using them because they fit under the rear fenders without clearance issues. I've stuck with them because they've made me very competitive.

Tom

What sort of rubber are your competitors using Tom?
Cheers
Dave

Quote:

Can I ask Greg, Who is the retailer. Or are you importing them privately?

cheers
benny

In qld the importer is zcarracing ph 0738082755 not sure who is the importer in nsw

A048 are superseded. Current Yokohama is A050 - that's what Improved Production has been using over here for the past few years. The A048 wasn't a great tyre - slow and loses even more performance with heat cycles. A050 on the other hand is regarded as the fastest semi available, along with Hankook Z221s.

R888 is also not a great tyre IMO. The wear well, but had no grip for a semi slick.

I'm currently using Nankang AR-1 semis on both my cars - twin turbo Soarer and AE111 Levin BZR. On the Soarer which I've owned for years I've had a few different semis now:
Nitto NT01. 245/40 R18. Lakeside 1:01.3
Hankook Z221. 235/40 R18. Lakeside 59.8
Nankangs AR1. 265/35 R18. Lakeside 1:00.2

So as you can see it's not a straight comparison using the same sizes, but the car was unchanged so it gives you an idea of how they compare. My Impressions:

Nitto are made by Toyo in the same factory in Japan, and have the same construction and compound as R888. They were unimpressive. lacked lateral grip and drive. They were only 0.7sec faster than normal road tyres! Same kind of performance I got from the R888 I used on a 180SX years ago. But they were cheap. That's why I tried them, combined with some people swearing they were better/faster than R888 - which they weren't.

Hankook Soft compound Z221 were awesome! So much grip it was ridiculous. But only lasted 5 track days so not great value for money, but if the ultimate goal is going fast, these are awesome. Hankook Z221 and Yokohama A050 are generally regarded as the fastest semis currently available. When I say they only lasted 5 track days, they still have plenty of tread, just lost grip. They didn't taper off - they stayed rocket-ship fast up until the day they gave up the ghost and went over 1.5sec a lap slower.

The Nankangs have good grip, good wear, and great prices. They're available in 185/60 R13 http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Nankang-AR-1-185-60R13-80V-80-TL-Tyres.
When I got the Levin, I went straight for the Nankangs. If you can get them in NZ, give them a go. They're not widely available in Aus...

I agree with you harry about the hankooks they just drop of so fast.but they are so so sticky.greg.

Dave,

In the small bore group people are using Hoosier Street TDs, Toyo ( the sticky ones) or Hoosier r6 now R7.

In the medium bore sedan group, which is made up of B-Sedan under 2.5L Trans Am (mostly BMW 2002 & Datsun 510s) they are almost all using either the Toyos or Hoosier R6/R7. Minimum weight for the 2002s is 1900lbs and 510s are 2000lbs (this is without driver) versus my car at 1670.

I've contemplated going with the Hoosier R7 in the same size but the bias ply tire is 4lbs lighter and and shorter. I lose out on the straights so every it helps. I haven't had a chance to email Hoosier and see if the radial R7 offers more grip (I think the bias ply is actually softer)

Thanks Harry,
As always a wealth of good,carefully considered sound knowledge and info.
I don't like my chances with the Nankang but I am going to try. Spoke with the importers in Auckland and there is nothing in the country so they would have to be specially indented . That in itself would not be a problem but I have to go through a retailer- that is where it could all just get too expensive by the time they put their margins on. At least I a a base line figure to work with thanks to your link to the ones for sale in Aust.
I do have another option that I am considering and that is there are some old stock of a medium compound Silverstone slicks 160/530/13 that fit my rims available from Palmside here in Chch. In theory I should not be using them for classics but heaps of guys do and no one cares apart from the big meetings. They would certainly cover track days and smaller events and at $120 each are now very reasonable buying.
I just feel a touch awkward using them when others are playing by the rules although I must admit I'm getting sick of watching the tread disappear on the R's...
Looks as if its going to have to be a complete rim change to get the 185/60/13's in those rear guards as well, I test fit a Revolution minilight replica and that is giving me 10mm extra inset to play with but its still going to be tight- bloody 4 doors!
Cheers
Dave