idl1975
|
| posted on 20/10/08 at 10:46 AM |
|
|
Tyre options for a BEC - mid priced?
I'm currently running a foxeye 'blade engined MK Indy with a set of 195/50 15 Kumho Ecsta Supra 712s. The car is set up with a bit of
negative camber, and front end grip under braking is not very impressive. IOW, it locks the front far too early.
While these tyres do have the advantage that they will probably last 50,000 miles on something as light as the MK, I'd like to fit something
stickier to the front to shorten braking distance, as much for safety as anything else. The car does have rather stiff springs up front, which will
obviously tend to encourage push, but the chassis otherwise works well (with all the usual MK traits) so I'm loath to start mucking with the
suspension setup and alignment.
Now it seems like there's a bit of a price gulf between cheap performance tyres aimed at heavy hatches and BMW sedans and the trackday type of
tyre. So Eagle F1s can be had for £35 (this is 15" ), but if you want Advans, you're looking at £75+ a tyre(!). And while F1s (for
example) are great on a 330i, I suspect they may well
be too stiff in the carcass and hard in terms of tread compound to work on a 500kg car on public roads. The 712s take an age to warm up, for example.
Is there actually anything in the middle of this divide in terms of price and performance which works with light cars? As modern cars are so obese, I
realise the answer may be "no". 
Alternatively, can anyone suggest a tyre in the "cheap" category (what about Parada Spec 2s?) that will out-grip my tuner-tastic 712s and
still work in the driech British winter?
Thanks in advance...
|
|
|
|
|
CRAIGR
|
| posted on 20/10/08 at 10:48 AM |
|
|
Toyo T1r's maybe worth a look
|
|
|
Paul TigerB6
|
| posted on 20/10/08 at 10:53 AM |
|
|
On a car as light as a BEC, i'd personally go for Toyo R888's which are softer / stickier. Fit 4 though rather than just 2 on the front!!
No point having tyres that last for ever on a car that does limited mileage - personally i'd want to change them every 2 or 3 years or so anyway
as they harden and eventually perish.
What rated springs are you using though ?? What about the damper settings? Might be best to get the suspension sorted out rather than just changing
the tyres to provide grip for suspension that isnt working properly.
|
|
|
ashg
|
| posted on 20/10/08 at 11:04 AM |
|
|
my vote is the toyo's . i have had them on three cars now and havent looked back
Anything With Tits or Wheels Will cost you MONEY!!
Haynes Roadster (Finished)
Exocet (Finished & Sold)
New Project (Started)
|
|
|
idl1975
|
| posted on 20/10/08 at 11:08 AM |
|
|
Thanks guys!
My brother in law's using Proxes on his Dax (not on the road yet though) - anyone have opinions on T1s v. Parada Spec 2?
Re: the R888, it seems to fall in that £75+ category of trackday tyres. I actually do a reasonable amount of mileage, so I also don't really
want to be changing tyres every 6 months at £300 + mounting. Hence also wanting to just swap the front boots. That's why I was wondering if
anyone did anything between the £35 "value" tyres and the pricier trackday specials.
350lb front springs and 200 rear - not sure on damping. There's some sense in this spring setup though, as I understand the MK (non-R) chassis
has a tendency to bump steer (it does on mine anyway...), and more weight shift to the front could exacerbate the tendency to steer itself into a
hedge if you transfer a lot of weight suddenly from back to front. The steering feedback and predictability of the chassis are actually spot on, so
as I said I'm loath to touch the suspension. It's only braking performance that worries me.
quote:
Originally posted by Paul TigerB6
On a car as light as a BEC, i'd personally go for Toyo R888's which are softer / stickier. Fit 4 though rather than just 2 on the front!!
No point having tyres that last for ever on a car that does limited mileage - personally i'd want to change them every 2 or 3 years or so anyway
as they harden and eventually perish.
What rated springs are you using though ?? What about the damper settings? Might be best to get the suspension sorted out rather than just changing
the tyres to provide grip for suspension that isnt working properly.
|
|
|
idl1975
|
| posted on 20/10/08 at 11:09 AM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by ashg
my vote is the toyo's . i have had them on three cars now and havent looked back
T1 or R888?
|
|
|
TimC
|
| posted on 20/10/08 at 11:48 AM |
|
|
Coozer has just fitted the Parada Spec 2s and they look well worth a go I think. I used to like the A539s and these look like a small step from these
delisted tyres in the direction of the trackday specials:
|
|
|
MikeR
|
| posted on 20/10/08 at 11:56 AM |
|
|
On a bec those springs sound waaay to hard.
I'd have thought (absolutely no experience here) that the 200lbs spring on the front and a 150lbs on the rear would be far better.
I'll be running a 220lbs spring on a crossflow car at the front.
|
|
|
nick205
|
| posted on 20/10/08 at 12:06 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by TimC
Coozer has just fitted the Parada Spec 2s and they look well worth a go I think. I used to like the A539s and these look like a small step from these
delisted tyres in the direction of the trackday specials:
I've long been a fan of the Yoko A539's on hatches and my (Pinto) Indy - sadly they're no longer available.
I need to replace my fronts too and will be fitting Parada's as above.
|
|
|
iank
|
| posted on 20/10/08 at 12:14 PM |
|
|
I'd take it to a suspension decent setup company and get it sorted personally - well worth the money.
Soft springs, firm dampers was always the Chapman/Lotus way. Most 7's are oversprung as people try to apply saloon car fashion to a car that
weighs 1/3 the amount.
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
|
|
|
idl1975
|
| posted on 20/10/08 at 12:32 PM |
|
|
I didn't build it, but it did seem a little schizophrenic - the rest of the build says "road car", but the spring rates seem to be
saying "soft slick here please". 
Not sure what the logic was, except as I said maybe to minimize weight transfer and the car bump steering itself into a hedge.
quote:
Originally posted by MikeR
On a bec those springs sound waaay to hard.
I'd have thought (absolutely no experience here) that the 200lbs spring on the front and a 150lbs on the rear would be far better.
I'll be running a 220lbs spring on a crossflow car at the front.
|
|
|
idl1975
|
| posted on 20/10/08 at 12:34 PM |
|
|
Thanks guys. Will be having a think about those Paradas...
quote:
Originally posted by nick205
quote:
Originally posted by TimC
Coozer has just fitted the Parada Spec 2s and they look well worth a go I think. I used to like the A539s and these look like a small step from these
delisted tyres in the direction of the trackday specials:
I've long been a fan of the Yoko A539's on hatches and my (Pinto) Indy - sadly they're no longer available.
I need to replace my fronts too and will be fitting Parada's as above.
|
|
|
adithorp
|
| posted on 20/10/08 at 03:52 PM |
|
|
I paid £234 for 4 t888's inc vat and carrige from tyretraders.com
Your spring rates sound to be a bit high for a BEC. I'm on 210 and they're a bit hard (but inboard so not really comparable). Is your
brake balence adjustable; a touch more rear balance maybe?
adrian
"A witty saying proves nothing" Voltaire
http://jpsc.org.uk/forum/
|
|
|
hobbsy
|
| posted on 20/10/08 at 06:09 PM |
|
|
How much are Maragoni Zeta Lineas (sp?) in your size? No personal experience of them but supposedly quite good for the money.
Out of interest I'm running 180lb at the front and 130 at the rear with an R1 Fury. Might be too soft looking at those rates! But again mine
is in board at the front.
|
|
|
