13 replies to this topic

[Cater_Racer]

After getting my oily engine sorted, (Thank you Minisport, now I have an engine which sounds and feels good, and does not result in a blue haze following me around) I'm off for a bit of fun round the Nordscheife next week. I'm in the EifelRennen at the weekend. I've got my 4.5 inch minilites full of Yoko A008's which I know are the business in the dry and semi-damp, but I'm thinking of taking some 3.5" rims with brand new Falken tyres on for the potential downpour.

Does anyone have any ideas on the efficacy of Falkens in the wet?

Model: Cooper
Year:1964
Description of problem (please be as in depth as possible):Advice on wet set-up



Any non-standard parts that might be involved with the problem? Stage II with 276 cam and circa 70 BHP, 4 Sync box, 7.5 inch crossdrilled 4 pot front brakes, fin cooled rears

[Cooperman]

In the pouring rain the Falkens are slightly better than the A008's. In damp conditions, a fairly new A008 is probably slightly better, but once the 008 wears a bit it's not so good as the Falken.
In fact the 008 is a good all-round tyre so long as the pressures are right. On my rally car I run the 008's at 34 psi all round in the dry and 30 psi when it's very wet. Actually I don't know if that makes much difference - I think it's 'all in the mind'.
Where the 008 is seriously poor is on any sort of mud as they clog up and are then like slicks on ice.
The old Dunlop SP Sport was always highly regarded in the streaming wet, but in the dry it's radial bracing was a bit lacking. A good tyre nevertheless and I believe they are available again, but I don't know if the compound is the same as the originals.
I'[ve never tried the Dunlop D93, although a friend of mine says they are excellent, as is the 165/70x10 Avon, but the Avon is a lot of money.
I hope this helps.
Good luck with the track testing.

Peter

[minidaves]

a008 is fantastic tyre to be honest. i used to have a008's on the front and the dunlop aqua jets on the back and in the rain this was great because if the back moved i knew the front was not far behind

falkens i think are not that good in the dry and worse in the wet but thats personal

dave

[liirge]

What are the A032R's like in the wet?

Edited by liirge, 16 September 2009 - 04:47 PM.

[Cooperman]

What are the A032R's like in the wet?

The 032 is a bit like slicks I'm told.
I have rallied in my '64 historic Cooper 'S' on Falkens, Yoko 008's, Dunlop SP Sports and Dunlop SP Supers (NLA).
I quite like the Falkens as they are more predictable if there is a sudden surface change. I rolled in a Welsh forest when on Yoko's due to a surface change. I know that the Yoko is not suitable for gravel, but it was a 70% tarmac historic event and we had been leading up to that point (yes, trying too hard as usual!).
The old SP Super was excellent and I did a Pirelli Classic Marathon on a set many years ago. Good in the wet and on a loose-ish surface.
So, whilst the Falkens might not be the ultimate for any one specific condition, they are a good compromise.
It depends what events you want to do.

[Ouster]

Someone was saying to me one time that the A032R were developed with wet weather performance in mind. Hard to believe, but may be true!

[Jackman]

What are the A032R's like in the wet?

Quite good actually, ive been in some heavy downpours and they have been fine, never pushed them in the rain but have when the roads have been wet and they seemed to stick well... i ran out of brave before they ran out of grip.

[huw_jenks]

A lot of people like to have a go at the Falkens, but here people are saying that they aren't really a bad tyre. So what's right? And is it worth paying extra for Yoko's on a road car?

[jonny d]

I have yoko's 008 on my 10" wheels they are super in the dry but not great in the wet but ok .I don't drive fast in the rain for safety reasons anyway.

[jn1702]

Try fiting a set of yokies inside out in other words the dotted pattern to the inside of the wheel, i've seen this done and some people swear by it. the grooves are then working the water away when cornering. A008 tyres i mean

[Cater_Racer]

I have yoko's 008 on my 10" wheels they are super in the dry but not great in the wet but ok .I don't drive fast in the rain for safety reasons anyway.

Thanks Jonny, but not really an option on a race. But your comments on the A008 are spot on, the weather in the Eifel mountains is notoriously fickle, I need a fall back plan if it's tipping down. Falkens on 3.5" rims might be my answer, especially if they are brand spanking new and have nice sharp edges to the tread pattern.

I just can't think of any other option.

[Cater_Racer]

Thanks Cooperman, Huw, ouster, Jn, Jackman et.al.

I think I'll go with the plan, I have some fairly new A008's on the 4.5" minilites (the've only done 450 miles) so I'll use them if it's dry thru normal wet. If it's binnin it down and streams are flowing across the track, I'll put on the 3.5" rims with 145 x 80 x 10 Falkens. The good news it's a handicapped event so my little 1070 engine will only need to put in around 15 min laps, average speed 52 MPH to keep up the pace.

[jaydee]

Yokos 032R are wet tyres, as they have the aquatusk pattern and a very soft compound.
3.5" rims with 145 x 80 x 10 Falkens seems to ba a good combination for wet condition, where you need a narrower tyre, but dont expect great handling on dry.

[Monstrous]

What are the A032R's like in the wet?

For a road slick they're surprisingly good in the wet

I felt more confident in the rain with A032R's than i did with the falkens

And in the dry they're even better!