16 replies to this topic

[Trissy B]

Hi all. Had a set of Yokohama A008's on my mini.. which are about 10 years old now!! (obviously dont do enough miles!!). So, in need of some new ones.

 

Question is - are yokos still pretty good or is there something better for the road? Do you think you can trust the road-legal slick type on wet roads?

 

Wheels are 10x6 minilites - thanks

[minidaves]

A008's are great if you dont do miles then get the super sticky ones :)

[Dan]

Do you think you can trust the road-legal slick type on wet roads

If you mean A032r then yes, they are far far better than A008 in the wet. It's what they were specifically designed for.

[mab01uk]

I have the Dunlop R7's with the classic 1960's Dunlop CR65 tread pattern (not really that expensive if compared with modern cars tyres!).........but there are also the less period looking Dunlop D93J which are also excellent road/race 10" tyres and and slightly cheaper:
 

165/70HR-10 DUNLOP CAR TYRE: ROAD/RACE: R7: TL
http://www.classicty...--road-race--tl

165/70HR-10 DUNLOP CAR TYRE: ROAD/RACE: D93J
http://www.classicty...p-road-race--tl

 

The Japanese R7 Dunlop CR65 'look-a-likes' below on Japanese export spec 6x10 ET-15 offset Minilites:

Edited by mab01uk, 01 December 2014 - 07:26 PM.

[Trissy B]

Cool cheers. Dunlops look but a bit pricey though.. always liked the look of the A032R! Didn't realise that the A032 was decent in the wet (and was really only a track day tyre).. will go with that probably if its ok for normal road conditions

[HarrysMini]

I find A032rs better in the snow too but no one seems to agree with me on that.

[ShaunaFTW]

I find A032rs better in the snow too but no one seems to agree with me on that.

I swear you are the most experienced 17 year old driver in the world.

[HarrysMini]

I'm just saying what I thought. The tread pattern of the 032r is much better at self clearing than the 008. Therefore they don't get clogged up with snow as easily. 

 

I'm guessing this is why they perform well in the wet, because the tread displaces water quickly.

[Tamworthbay]

I'm just saying what I thought. The tread pattern of the 032r is much better at self clearing than the 008. Therefore they don't get clogged up with snow as easily. 
 
I'm guessing this is why they perform well in the wet, because the tread displaces water quickly.

but that is based on very limited use on private Tarmac, public roads are very different and any 'road legal slick'/ list 1b type tyres are not ideal for winter use. The aquatusk is designed for wet road use which is a very different situation to snow.

[SiZT]

I find A032rs better in the snow too but no one seems to agree with me on that.

I swear you are the most experienced 17 year old driver in the world.

I knew everything when I was 17 as well

Trackday tyres are fine until you get near anything that slightly resembles a puddle, then you're a passenger

[Trissy B]

Yea i've seen an Ariel Atom (on road legal slicks) aquaplane down the M20 before and have a pretty spectacular crash into a second and third Atom.. I very nearly ploughed into the back of them!

 

So im a bit concerned about that sort of tyre. However, I used the A008 every day for a few years including rain and snow and was ok. If the A032r is better in the wet I think I will go for that... got a daily run about now for snow days!

[Wright&Wright]

Those Dunlop R7's look very similar to the tread patterns we run on the classics at work. If they perform the same way then they must be a hell of a tyre too!

 

I've had a set of A539's on mine for 4 years now, never had any issues in the rain, snow and they offer enough grip in the dry for 'spirited' driving.

I think tyre choice can be preferential when I comes to road cars, I've experienced both the A032R and the A008 and they're excellent tyres. Unless you're pushing them to their limit in tarmac events or on track days then it comes down to what you want to pay and styling.

[mab01uk]

Those Dunlop R7's look very similar to the tread patterns we run on the classics at work. If they perform the same way then they must be a hell of a tyre too!

 

 

The Dunlop R7 are great all round high performance road tyres for a Mini, as long as you don't do a high annual road mileage and accept the higher wear rates when used on track day orientated events.......

Edited by mab01uk, 02 December 2014 - 12:53 PM.

[RossKnight]

 
I'm guessing

Maybe don't guess when it comes to giving advice about tyres as they're pretty critical to a car staying on the road....

I don't know where you got the idea a semi slick is good in the snow.... And you passed in the summer. When have you driven in snow on the road? And on 32rs.. as we didn't have snow last year either.

[62S]

The Dunlop R7 are great all round high performance road tyres for a Mini, as long as you don't do a high annual road mileage and accept the higher wear rates when used on track day orientated events.......

 

I'd second that - with hard (but not stupid) road use a pair of fronts will struggle to last 3000 miles but they look so much better on a classic Mini than any other performance tyre.