Yoko 048 in the wet?

Rory · Post by **Rory** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 8:31 am

Can anyone tell me what are these like on the road in damp conditions and very wet conditions?

Anyone suffered aquaplaning in standing water?

Is lateral grip down on a traditional road tyre?

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 8:34 am

They are not too bad if its just damp not as grippy as a proper road tyre but not a huge difference, they will aquaplane in standing water though.

Post by ed » Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:02 am

alicrozier · Post by **alicrozier** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:14 am

I'd argue that in damp conditions they are still better than normal road tyres although the advantage is not as big as in the dry.

Aquaplaning is an issue when you get to standing water conditions. They will aquaplane at lower speeds, especially if low on tread. Saying that an Elise on good road tyres aquaplanes much more than a normal car.

The answer is just to keep the speed down a bit.

It's amazing what grip they will give in the wet...

Post by ed » Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:25 am

And also in the snow!

Rory · Post by **Rory** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:41 am

Thanks for the replies chaps!

I have Yoko 048s on my track wheels, and have been contemplating whether I should just drive down to Croft on them rather than take them with me. Current weather got me thinking about the A68 in the wet on 048s.

BTW, still one place left for Croft on Saturday (perfect for anyone who falls out with Tut between now and Friday

)

tut · Post by **tut** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 10:23 am

All the R tyres suffer from aquaplaning, and fortunately I was able to experience at KH on the straights before it happened on the road, which it did on Stelvio 2002.

The first time that it happens, ie at 100 on the pit straight, you think that you have copped it, as the car feels as if it is floating and you have no input. However if you keep the wheel straight, the tyre seems to break through and you have control again. After a few instances it is still unnerving, but controllable.

However, remember this is on the straight, corners are another thing.

tut

gorrie · Post by **gorrie** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 1:56 pm

I'm a big pussy, and will be taking the 48's off after summer (if summer arrives). Had too many pant filling moments in the month of May for my liking...

Quite annoyed because I've driven it on 48's since picking it up in January... and when we got to the good weather in April I wondered what all the fuss was about. 3mm left all round, so maybe they are just getting to that state where they are becoming sh1t in the wet... and May has been wet.

Andy.

bertieduff · Post by **bertieduff** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 5:46 pm

Ran 'em last winter and found them a bit hairy, but TBH probably my skill as much as the tyre to blame.

Probably a good thing- meant I drove far more cautiously when conditions were poor, which ain't a bad thing

Was surprised at how easy a low-speed spin was if you had a heavy right foot (also ran them at too high pressure, which wouldn't have helped

).

That said, paxed with Andy @ knockhill in the (seriously) wet and was amazed- his felt like glue in comparison.

Never had any issues with aquaplaning fortunately

ExigeKen · Post by **ExigeKen** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:13 pm

I have ran on them all year round for two years now and have very mixed feelings about them.

There are three major problems with them.

1) Aquaplaning in the smallest amount of standing water - very scary indeed.

2) Running them with the pressure too high and a heavy right foot. Obvious answer make sure they have the right pressure in them and keep your foot off the acelerator in the wet..

3) Once they start to wear down they seem to go to nothing very quickly and lose grip so quickly.

I am also with some of the previous comments in that I think if you are a brilliant driver you will be able to control them in the wet however that does not work for me. I have had some really scary moments.

tut · Post by **tut** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:14 pm

Ken

A lot of it is down to experience with different tyres, different conditions, different trackdays, different roads.

The best advice that I can give is that one hell of a lot of accidents with Elises are at lower speeds, roundabouts, junctions, etc, where the power is put down in a lower gear.

The higher the gear the better, especially if it is slippy.

tut

ExigeKen · Post by **ExigeKen** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:17 pm

tut wrote:Ken

A lot of it is down to experience with different tyres, different conditions, different trackdays, different roads.

The best advice that I can give is that one hell of a lot of accidents with Elises are at lower speeds, roundabouts, junctions, etc, where the power is put down in a lower gear.

The higher the gear the better, especially if it is slippy.

tut

Fair point Tut. My off was at 30mph goinf past a farm entrance in second gear and most of my scary moments have been at low speed. Would you recommend sticking with the A048s then and getting some driving courses and track days under my belt?

Cheers,

Ken.

tut · Post by **tut** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 9:01 am

Ken

I really would not use 48R's if they are mainly for road use. They are very expensive, wear fairly quickly, and whilst OK in the wet with good tread, not so good at 2mm, and you only start with 5.

However if you are doing regular track days, it depends how long you like to stay out for, and how much power/suspension you have. Road tyres will go off when used hard after about 8 laps of KH, R tyres not for 1/2 an hour or more.

I have two sets of wheels so use both types.

I would certainly advise getting some trackdays in, there is no better or safer way to learn your cars capabilities, improve your own, and find out when and how your car bites you in the ass. I am quite happy to never do a wet KH again, probably 25% of the 45 that I have done were wet, but as a starter it is good to get some wet ones under your belt, they are a big benefit for the road.

It is a pity that Walshy no longer does road courses, but it is probably well worth while going down to North Weald for one of his instruction sessions, which quite a few on here have done.

tut

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 10:51 am

I thought the A048's were awesome - in wet and dry.

In the wet avoid the white lines on the road, and avoid KH kerbs!

The last 111r outing at KH in the wet I was astounded at how well the A048's which were on the tread markers held on - awesome.

Always worth remembering that those tyres have a massive dry weather grip though, way beyond normal tyres, and wet or slippy roads will have an effect, as will hammering the car before the tyres are warm.

I went through a set in 3k through track use and being a fan of sideways antics.

Last year i actually didin't use my T1r's through the winter though as I grew to like the A048's in all conditions - keeping in mind your road conditions is a must though - and standing water on any tyre at pace is a night mare - the A048's is pretty much a cut slick, so it will be worse than others.....

Go visit Walshy if you are concerned about sideways incidents.

Pressures i ran at were 22F and 24R on the 111r which should match the Exige.