Just spoke to Dunlop Motorsport, trying to track down places that sell
R-rated tyres. I was asking after the Formula-R D98J, as this was the only
R-rated tyre I was aware of that comes in 205/50-16 size. It turns out that
Dunlop have just introduced a new tyre called the D01J, which is the same
compound as the D98J but with a different tread pattern that supposedly
gives better wet-weather performance. The guy at Dunlop said that they
should perform just as well in the dry, but I had the slight feeling that he
didn't know for sure.

For those that don't know, R-rated tyres use a very soft compound with
minimal tread pattern. They are similar in technology and appearance to
superbike rear tyres, and have a similarly short life expectancy (around
3000 miles in road use). They last much better than road tyres on the
track, however, because the large tread blocks don't get scrubbed as badly
as the more detailed treads on normal road tyres.

The tread pattern is 20% "gap", which is the legal minimum for a road tyre,
so you can drive to and from the track on them. Personally, for this reason
alone I would choose them over full slicks. Two other advantages are that
they still work reasonably well in the wet, so you don't have to come in and
change wheels if it rains, and they don't offer the same chassis-wrenching
level of grip as full slicks. This second point might sound like a
disadvantage, until you consider that racing cars have seam-welded bodies
and roll cages to add stiffness. I suspect after a year or two of track-day
use on slicks might be enough to start fatiguing the spot-welds in our
road-going Impreza shells.

Anyway, if anyone wants a set, you should be able to get any branch of
MotorWay to order you a set. The RRP is GBP110+vat unfitted.
Alternatively, Dunlop will also deliver direct to you, and charge 8 quid for
next-day delivery of four tyres. Call 0121-384 4444 and ask for motorsport
if you are interested.

L8R...

-= mike =-

Good steer - I'm thinking of changing my standard road wheels for 17" with SO2s, and was considering using slicks on the old wheels for track-time fun.

I assume part worn slicks would be cheaper, but I like the idea of being able to drive to the track on them. If they are anything like the tyres you sometimes see on trick Caterhams - they look great too.

Mike, will you be at Donington with a set?

Tony

Hi Tony,

I have seen these tyres on many Caterhams and Elises, although the original Superlight 7 came with Avon hand-cut crossply slicks. Whatever, I can confirm that the Formula-Rs do look very serious indeed. S02s look like perfectly ordinary in comparison.

I won't be at Donington, as I drove there twice last year and I fancy a change of scenery - so it's Cadwell for me, 29th March.

TTFN

-= mike =-

PS. There are various one-make series that use D98Js, including the MGF Cup cars which use them in 205/50-16 size. It might be worth getting on their mailing list or whatever and trying to get hold of a part-worn set if the GBP500+ price scares you.

I have got a spare set of wheels now with the remnants of my original potenzas on that I will trash at Donnington. Can anyone sugest a half decent slick and where to get them from. If an intermediate tyre is better then I`ll go for that as my car is uk std.
cheers

Ok, quick update. There are some new Yokohamas called the A038R and A039R (the 38 is used by the Lotus 340R). Unfortunately,
neither of these will be available in this country until much later in the
year. This information came directly from Yokohama UK's motorsports manager.

A032Rs are available in 205/50-16, however, and you can get some pretty good deals.
Wheels Around in Perth (Scotland) do the best price - GBP97.02+vat. They
also sell the Dunlop Formula-R D01J, which is the latest and greatest
R-rated tyre from Dunlop (better than the D98J), for a mere GBP100+vat. I will probably invest in a set of these.

Wheels Around regularly attend track days in England, and will fit for free
at these events. We could probably persuade them to come to Donno and/or
Cadwell if there is enough interest, so please let me know if you might want
a set. Alternatively, I can get a list of the events they are already
covering, so we know where to turn up. (Note: the disadvantage of getting
them to come to one of our own track events is that you would then be going
out with brand new rubber, so you'd have to drive quite a few gentle laps to
wear them in. I don't know if this is less of an issue with R-rated tyres,
but certainly with road tyres you're best advised to get a hundred or so
miles on them before giving 'em hell.)

Alternatively, for those in the Southeast, George Poly Motorsport in
Heathfield, E. Sussex also do a good price on the A032Rs - GBP104+vat
fitted. If this suits you, the best thing to do is contact them directly.
Ring 01435-863679 and ask to speak to George.

-= mike =-

PS. All the above details relate to tyres in 205/50-16 size.

Excellent research Mike, just the sort of stuff many track enthusiasts will want to know with the track day season about to start http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/smile.gif

We have had Wheels Around attend one of our track days at Knockhill last year, and as well as fitting motorsport tyres, they can also supply and fit (free of charge) a full range of high performance road tyres, with especially good prices on Yokohamas.

To be honest if you are going to go to the trouble of getting tyres from the Dunlop Formula R range or for that matter any of the Yokohama type then you are going to need a spare set of rims - cos these tyres are useless as road tyres because their wet weather capability is none existant.

One thing that you could do is simply buy a set of slicks and take them with you. That way you will stay nice and safe on the way to the track day - plus if it rains your normal road tyres will be better anyway.

Not only that but slicks are a much more stable tyre and you will find you are able to slide the car more predicably.

Slide the car on slicks???
Isn't that kind of defeating the object? http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/confused.gif

Stef (no slicks needed here for sliding! http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/smile.gif ).

Stef - you can slide a car on anything if your going hard enough. Obviously on slicks you'll just be travelling faster.

An important point is at slicks are designed for competition, and therefore up to the job. They will also last better on a track as road tyres rip up.