Croc Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Well after nearly 3000 miles on the Avon CR500s I am up for a new set of tires. Currently I have Avon CR500 with: Front 195/45/R15 Rear 245/40/R15 Avon is out of stock globally. Caterham UK website says they have the rears in stock but that is a glitch - they do not - and cannot tell me when they will come in. Avon UK themselves said they are out of stock and are expecting more "within the next 2 months"! :toetap05: My real issue with any replacement is sizing - no one else offers that exact spec and there is no room to expand under the front wings which are close profiled for aerodynamics. So looking for alternatives I have come up with the following tires and their diameter: Toyo R1R 584.2 mm (205/50R15 86V) Kunho V70A 583 mm (205/50ZR15) Avon ZZR 577mm (195/50 R15) Toyo T1R 576 mm (195/50 R15) Toyo R888 574 mm (195/50R15 82V) Avon ACB10 551 mm (195/45-15) CR500 554 mm (195/45 R15) I have confirmed through a CSR owner in Stockholm that the V70A will not fit. So that would appear to rule out the R1R. From a CSR owner in Luxembourg it appears the T1R will make it on but is very very close. The ACB10s are an easy fit but they suffer tramlining and I have to make some radical suspension camber/caster changes for them to work with a all new flat floor set up process - bit of a pain. However, the R888s look promising. What are people's experience with them? Any other tire options that are worth considering that might fit? For the rears I have more room to play with but what is the view of me getting 225/50 or a 235/50 to work on a rim that currently wears a 245/40? Car use is a mix of touring and track work. I am not much out in the rain but it is known to happen by accident. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bsimon Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 (edited) Mike, 1 very satisfied vote for R888s here. I use the 205/50/15 R888 on an 8" front rim, 225/50/15 on the 9" rear rims. The tyres seem to be a little grippier than the previous Yoko 032s that I had. Breakaway is more forgiving as well. The R888s have a softer carcass than the 032s. They don't wear out the centre of the treads quite as fast. Since these tyres are designed for heavier vehicles, you need to keep air pressures low. 14PSI is about max. I would think the 195/50/15 would work nicely on the 7" CSR front rims, provided you can stand the additional 20mm of diameter under the wings. Using 225s on the rear would be 34mm bigger than the CR500s. Quite a jump. The best deal I could find on Toyos was; TiresDirect.net 200 South Church Street Addison, IL 60101 Toll Free (888) 394-9292 Fast, impeccable service. edited to add: I'm not sure about the R888 in the rain. I haven't the chance to ring them out in the wet. I suspect they can't be much worse than my old A032s. Edited March 17, 2012 by bsimon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucky dawg Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Less than 3000 miles? I hope there was a lot of track use on them or a typo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Mike, I thought you were looking for something with a bit more aggressive tread for your Off Roading trips.:jester: Something more akin to a tractor tire. :smilielol5: Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoPho Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 I am also in need of CR500's they are the only ones that fit my car. I'd really like to get the Toyo's as I've heard great things about them and they are a lot cheaper and easier to get, but I had to bend the stanchions to keep the wings from rubbing the 195/45 CR500's, there is no way a 195/50 is going to fit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turboeric Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 If you're contemplating the R888, a comparable tire would be the Nitto NT01, which is very highly thought of in the Miata track day community. It's available in 205/50x15 and 225/45x15 (both are the same diameter). I've used them extensively on my turbo Miata for track days, and I've been very happy. High grip, don't overheat easily, decent wear and very forgiving breakaway characteristics. Nitto NT01 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted March 17, 2012 Author Share Posted March 17, 2012 (edited) Less than 3000 miles? I hope there was a lot of track use on them or a typo. No typo unfortunately. This was 1500 road miles and 6 track days which is about normal for other CSRs. If it were all road miles the range of use for set seems to be between 5000 and 7500 miles. The CR500s are pretty soft and wear quick. Lovely to drive on though. If you're contemplating the R888, a comparable tire would be the Nitto NT01, which is very highly thought of in the Miata track day community. It's available in 205/50x15 and 225/45x15 (both are the same diameter). I've used them extensively on my turbo Miata for track days, and I've been very happy. High grip, don't overheat easily, decent wear and very forgiving breakaway characteristics. Nitto NT01 I agree and this was one tire I checked and was hoping for. However, the NT01 205/50/R15 has an inflated diameter of 22.95inches or 583mm. So it does not fit under the front wings of a CSR. Edited March 17, 2012 by Croc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S1Steve Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Mike, I'm pretty pleased with my R888's. Now that it's warm and I lowered the pressures to 18, they are working well. Pushed them as hard as I dare on the local back roads today , and had no drama. Track guys say they are great... Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoPho Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 If it were all road miles the range of use for set seems to be between 5000 and 7500 miles. This has been my experience . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Croc-as you know, thx to NJMP's policy of leaving large boulders where it mite be expected I wld slide off-that's my story and I am not budging- I had the chance to do an impromptu tire comparo when we were there last summer. I took off my damaged rear CR500 x 195s in the back and substituted Toyo RA1's 15x 50x205's. I left the195 x 15 CR500's on the front The car was perfectly balanced, meaning my Toyo's were the equal of the Avons. The Toyos had 10K+ miles on them, the Avons 100 miles. The Avons had a bit of tread, the Toyos were "naturally shaved". Unlike the Avons, the Toyos seem to age well. But, why not add Tom's Hoosier rubber and go for broke? (Street driving???). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted March 18, 2012 Author Share Posted March 18, 2012 Well I learned yesterday that you cannot put 225/50R15 on a 9 inch rear rim. Need at least 235 or ideally 245! This tire stuff is getting difficult. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Terry Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 We have 6 195x15 in stock and I am 99% sure we have 3 245x15 my partner is in the UK. I will text him for you and get back to you when I hear back from him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted March 18, 2012 Author Share Posted March 18, 2012 Many thanks Terry. I am assuming the 6 you have in stock are the 195/45/R15 CR500s? PM please me with price/how to place order/shipping details once you know about your ability to supply the 245 rears. It will be 2x195/45/R15 and 2x245/45/R15 If nothing else, I think I have learned a good lesson about keeping some spares at home in the garage in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Terry Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Yes, you are quite correct the fronts are 195X45 R15. Would you like 3 of each? I have sent David a text, it could take 2 or 3 days to hear back from him. As soon as he replies I will get back to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboWood Posted November 13, 2013 Share Posted November 13, 2013 Mike, Did you ever give the R888's a try? Is the 235/50 too tall to fit in the back? It sounds like it could be stretched on the 9" rim (especially with an aspect ratio of 50). Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blubarisax Posted November 13, 2013 Share Posted November 13, 2013 (edited) Croc, I think you will find the Michelin 20/54-13 (front) 24/57-13 (rear) slicks work quite nicely on your new 13" BBS wheels! I find them on eBay in the UK for under $50 plus shipping. (Shipping is about the same cost as the tires) Perhaps we should do a group buy so we can get new ones. Edited November 13, 2013 by blubarisax Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted November 14, 2013 Author Share Posted November 14, 2013 Mike, Did you ever give the R888's a try? Is the 235/50 too tall to fit in the back? It sounds like it could be stretched on the 9" rim (especially with an aspect ratio of 50). Daniel Daniel, I never did go for the R888s although I have since learned a CSR owner in Europe has fitted them. Its close but they fit supposedly. I have been trying to go a different direction - 13 inch custom rims for my offset that I can then mount a bunch of thicker sidewall sticky tire brands on. Despite others with fat wallets saying I should go for slicks I don't feel the need for that. 235/50/15 can be stretched for the rears. Any lower (i.e 225/50s) cannot and you will find tire installers will refuse to for fear of litigation - they will only follow the manufacturer installation guidance - I tried and got rejected. Between LA and Shanghai means you are in Hawaii or Guam? With a seven??? Cheers mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboWood Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 (edited) I travel back and forth from LA and Shanghai. Work/home base is LA, but the job has me living in Shanghai for the moment. The 7 kit is due to arrive Thanksgiving week! I have to wait until Christmas to see it, but that's not a bad gift! I'm getting way ahead of myself asking about tires since I don't even have an assembled car yet, but it is one of my concerns. I hope to use the car regularly which could (hopefully will) result in needing new tires every year! Daniel Edited November 14, 2013 by TurboWood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 (edited) 235/50x15 Toyo R888's will not fit on the back of a S3. Way too wide. I have a mounted set (2 wheels) and it is not even close. 195/15x15 does fit. They are way to tall/wide for the front fender set up that I run tho. I have a set of the 195/15's and they are going on the back. I will mount a 13" wheel/tire combo up front once I find a 13'' wheel/tire set I like. This will be my back-up so I dont have to borrow Karl's street tire/wheels, like I did at NJMP, if my track tires have issues. Edited November 14, 2013 by Kitcat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blubarisax Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 Daniel, Despite others with fat wallets saying I should go for slicks I don't feel the need for that. Cheers mike Croc, I get a whole season out of the slicks that with shipping are about $100 each. So far I have had great luck getting nearly new tires. I have not consulted your actuarial team, but I think the Michelin used slicks end up being cheaper than the Avon CR500s and much cheaper than Tom's mega-wide Hoosiers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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