11 replies to this topic

[thetrev.com]

Hi,

 

currently using the car for Solo's and Autotests but want to get back into 12 Car and if I can get within the spec maybe some HRCR road events, 

 

The cars on 10's atm using Yoko A008 which are good for the tarmac event not sure they will strong enough for the roads with the rough roads and potholes, any recommendations on tyres seen some running Alaska's or the RB1 if I move upto 12" just not sure how they will perform on wet tarmac

thanks

[Avtovaz]

are the hrcr events full night events?

 

If your using it for 12 cars, i dont think you will be going down much rough stuff so your a008 will be fine?

 

I think the alaskas are more of a grass track type of tyre? I know Guy Woodcock won a rally [brynaui i think it was] with alaskas on the back of the escort but he said it was interesting at times, and that was all he had in the shed lol. 

 

I have a bmw e36 compact i road rally. I asked Bryn of maxsport about them for my car but he said for me to stick on the rb3 ultras are they are so strong, but obviously different situation on the mini. 

[thetrev.com]

They are not full night events, local roads being used on 12 cars and 2020s are rough,

Issue is availability for the mini, the yoke sidewall just feel soft for the state of the roads.

[Mr.greenPullover]

I only have a vague idea what Solo's and Autotest are, HRCR is told by google to me as historic racing and due to lack of knowledge and language barrier I don't know what atm, 12 cars and 2020s are...

 

Is this racing full on tarmac?  As I have no experience on gravel... and only with brisk (polite aggressive) road driving. And our streets seams to be not as rough as British... yet...

 

But for the issue of the too soft sidewall I can share my experience.

My Mini started it's life with me on 12 inch Yokohama A539. It was converted quite a time ago to 10 inch and first I had Yoko A008 and took detours over Falken and Nankang (both not worth it) back to the A008 for a long time. 

End of winter last year I finally dared to try the Yokohama A032r and regretted impartiality, not to have tried them earlier. They have so much more grip, surprisingly especially in the wet.

 

And for the question of the sidewall, the 12 inch A539 feels as soft as the 10 inch A008 but as the sidewall of the 12 inch is narrow, I assume there is now gain for switching to 12 inch.

But the 10 inch A032r as "racing tires" has significantly stiffer sidewall.  

Oh, and of cause they make more noise...

   

So with the better dry grip, the much more better wet grip (even over the A539) and the stiffer sidewall if available I would recommend to give the A032r in the soft compound a try.

 

Please be aware, it's only my experience and only last year, where I sadly coundn't drive as much as I wanted, so it's limited to 3 oil changes or 9.000 mls...

 

Also I don't really have comparisons to any 13 inch tires as the Nankang NS-2R I drove briefly were in dry summer over only few days and fuel tanks... 

[GraemeC]

The A008s will take a lot of punishment without causing a problem. Many top lads run them for full night events, nevermind 12 cars. I don’t think you’ll go far wrong with them.

Other options are limited:
- Avon CR6ZZ have a very stiff sidewall but are pricey and not the best in muddy conditions.
- Maxsport Hakkas can be had with a reinforced sidewall and do well on mud and grass, but lose out on tarmac.
- Dunlop SP44s are good but again pricey
- Blockleys seem to get mixed reviews.

Edited by GraemeC, 28 January 2026 - 03:29 PM.

[Cooperman]

Tyres for Minis in Historic events is a problem.

The A008 is fine on tarmac, wet or dry, but on gravel not so good (I needed a new roof panel when I went off in my S using A008's ina forest!).

There are no knobbly 10" except for the very expensive SP44 replicas, although they are great.

If running 12" wheels you are not allowed 60 profile tyres for historics, so again you are very limited. A 145/70 x 12 might be available, but whether this is available with a knobbly pattern I am not sure.

My son did well on the John Bloxham in my S and he ran 145/80x10 SP44's, which worked fine on the front and A008's (165/70 x 10) on the rear. It was very muddy and A008's would clogged.

We need to get someone like Mini Spares to persuade MaxSport Tyres to do a limited run of 10" knobblies, Apparently the problem is the lack of re-mouldable carcasses. 

Maybe I'll call Richy at MS North and ask him if he could make an approach. Then we can all see how many old worn 165/70 x10" we can find as donor carcasses.

[shera12]

Sounds exciting! For rougher roads, a slightly tougher tyre like the Alaska or RB1 on 12" might be better. They should still be okay on wet tarmac, but maybe check others’ feedback on grip before committing.

[Cooperman]

But can you get a 145/70x12 RB1. Remember, a 165/70x12 has too large a rolling radius to fit the rear and a 60 profile is not allowed in historics.

[thetrev.com]

Thank you for the replies, I have seen lots of pics on the Bloxham with A008s on, they have worked well on wet and dry airfield, it  would be in the test and large potholes I have a worry.

 

I have seen the MaxSport Hakka in a 10 but more autograss tyre and not emaked so unsure about use in Wales, The Dunlop one look fantastic but at £225 a tyre not within my budget, the Maxsport Rb1 in 145 70 12 do look useable, I think full lock they do rub, just something a keeping 10's on a mini is putting me off.

[Mudhen]

For road rallys here in the states I've always used snow tires.  Especially the longer/harder events use a lot of gravel and they provide a lot more grip than regular road tires, and typically a taller sidewall than I use on my street tires.  I have a set of Nankang Winter Activa 145/70-12s for my rallycar, unfortunately, had issues with the drive flanges (that I've only just fixed) so haven't had an opportunity to try them.

 

I don't think anyone has mentioned Black Rockets for gravel tires yet - they have a few different sizes that have been discussed - 145-10, 165/70-10, 145/70-12.

 

https://shop.rtemoto...57/black-rocket

 

I run Yokohama Advan 165/65-13 gravel tires for SCCA rallycross (similar to your auto tests I believe?) as they were all I could get at the time and my front flanges were 13" only, but I did have to do some trimming on the rear trailing arm brackets, and the fronts have been rubbing on the inner wings.  Will be moving to 12s this season fingers crossed!

[GraemeC]

I have seen the MaxSport Hakka in a 10 but more autograss tyre and not emaked so unsure about use in Wales

 

Hakkas are E marked and they also do them with a stronger carcass fro rally use.

 

They are also now made on new casings and the quality has improved with that (although the price has increased to reflect it too)

Edited by GraemeC, 29 January 2026 - 04:17 PM.

[Cooperman]

The Hakkas in 10” are great on gravel and mud, but not so good on dry tarmac, on which wear rate is high.
The old Conway 165/70x10 with the Michelin Nora pattern were great on gravel, mud and tarmac. Pity they are NLA.
I think my son is going to get a set of the SP 44’s when he uses my S, but for the East Anglian Classic he will use the 008’s as there is a lot of tarmac/concrete and it’s Summertime.
Rallying is not cheap if you are aiming to win, or finish in the top 5.