R Spec Tyres

[kryten2001]

Hi Guys -

Anybody out there have any experience using R spec tyres on a high powered FWD golf?

I've been looking at the Yokohamas, but would like feedback on anybody who has used any R spec tyre on the track/street.

Of particular interest -

. Are they street legal?
. Road Noise
. Price
. Wet weather performance - if any...

Or any other interesting relevant points...

Cheers guys.

[gareth_oau]

kryten, the did a giant tyres test in Motor magazine a few months back (I cant find my February edition, so I suspect its in that one)

Anhyway, they tested various street tyres andf the also tested some 9street legal) semi-slicks and gave relative price, wet and dry performance

if nobody on here has it, then give Motor a call on 136 116 and you can order a back issue

[Blitzen]

Hey man. I know its not a Golf, but I have Federal 595 RS-R's on my Polo GTI, and my is my daily driver...
. Are they street legal?- Yes
. Road Noise?- Its there, but you get that with the contact patch these have...
. Price?- $328EA for 205/45 R16
. Wet weather performance?- Really good. You will get some slip, but you just have to modify your driving style to suit the conditions...

Or any other interesting relevant points... I have so far got 25,000km out of these tyres. I think I will easily get another 20,000km out of them. They have a great amount of grip, and did well in the Motor Mag tyre test.

[gareth_oau]

Actually, it was the January edition (with a McLaren on the cover)

I posted some of the data from the test here:

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newforum/upload/showthread.php?t=25143&highlight=motor+tyre+test

[tinto]

I have a set of Toyo Proxes R888 225/45/17
>Are they street legal?
Yes
>Road Noise
Irritating, like being chased by a swarm of hornets sometimes.
Not the nicest daily drivers from that perspective, but they're on a separate set of lightweight 17" wheels(8kg/wheel) that aren't on the car often.
The BZZZZZZZZZZZ sound and vibrations can egg you on a bit.
>Price
Just over $400/corner (from WheelsWorld)
>Wet weather performance - if any...
Excellent IMO. Wouldn't be nice in standing water, but on a greasy/wet road these give you a lot of confidence. They let go fairly progressively too, it's not snap on/off.

Note - these are directional and symmetrical, which means you can flip them left-right on the rim when you've hammered the outside shoulders too much, therefore extending their usable life.

That is significant if you want them to remain legal for as long as possible.
Great for driving to/from the track. I'll be looking for the same symmetrical feature in whatever R spec I get next.

At 17" size they also have the steel wire right around onto the sidewalls, so they are VERY stiff. Step up to 18" and you don't get that (smaller sidewall is stiff enough i believe).

I recently switched back to my every day 18" street wheels, and noticed the amount of wheelspin I get. I'd get a little slither in the R specs, and on road tyres I'm (unintentionally) spinning on the spot before adjusting my right foot.

[kryten2001]

I have a set of Toyo Proxes R888 225/45/17
>Are they street legal?
Yes
>Road Noise
Irritating, like being chased by a swarm of hornets sometimes.
Not the nicest daily drivers from that perspective, but they're on a separate set of lightweight 17" wheels(8kg/wheel) that aren't on the car often.
The BZZZZZZZZZZZ sound and vibrations can egg you on a bit.
>Price
Just over $400/corner (from WheelsWorld)
>Wet weather performance - if any...
Excellent IMO. Wouldn't be nice in standing water, but on a greasy/wet road these give you a lot of confidence. They let go fairly progressively too, it's not snap on/off.

Note - these are directional and symmetrical, which means you can flip them left-right on the rim when you've hammered the outside shoulders too much, therefore extending their usable life.

That is significant if you want them to remain legal for as long as possible.
Great for driving to/from the track. I'll be looking for the same symmetrical feature in whatever R spec I get next.

At 17" size they also have the steel wire right around onto the sidewalls, so they are VERY stiff. Step up to 18" and you don't get that (smaller sidewall is stiff enough i believe).

I recently switched back to my every day 18" street wheels, and noticed the amount of wheelspin I get. I'd get a little slither in the R specs, and on road tyres I'm (unintentionally) spinning on the spot before adjusting my right foot.

ta guys.

Trying to get any weight figures on the 18" pirelli wheels, if anybody knows actual figures, I'd be most appreciative...

I could get somebody to rip a tyre off a rim to weigh it - but what a hassle... The answer must be out there somewhere in interwebworld.

The whole exercise surrounds whether it's worthwhile replacing them with lightweight rims + semi slicks, or not bother... If it's only a few KGs, then it's not worth the considerable expense.

I was given a guess of 12kg, but it might be way off. The wheels are apparently made by Antera.

[POLARBEAR666]

I had Hankook Ventus RS2's the super high silica compound tyre on my 450hp subaru.

Gripped like limpet mines. Has a treadwear rating thats stickier than shaved pirelli p zero rosso or just about anything else except semi slick R comps.

Good wear out of them strangely as they probably were not flexing as much as a crappy tyre would around corners.

[nayfen]

bought 4x kumho ku36 tyres 225/45 r17w this week. got a great price $177 ea. still have little bit of tread left on the toyos and will mount the newbies after easter.

[Johnbu]

bought 4x kumho ku36 tyres 225/45 r17w this week. got a great price $177 ea. still have little bit of tread left on the toyos and will mount the newbies after easter.

good price, where you get them from?

[Guy_H]

Hoosier R6 is what I am using now - DOT approved.

Just make sure you look at the sky for clouds before you head out of the garage

[Mr Messy]

Noooooo waaaaaay!
They look incredible.
Holy understeer if someone spits on the road though!

[mrx]

bought 4x kumho ku36 tyres 225/45 r17w this week. got a great price $177 ea. still have little bit of tread left on the toyos and will mount the newbies after easter.

225/40 18w were $213ea under the same deal. I bought a set of KU31's 225/45 17y for $126 ea. I don't expect them to compete with top of the range tyres, but I expect them to be far better than anything else I could have got for $500 a set!

There was a thread about it on the golfmkv forum, but I think the special price was only 'til the end of March.

[gareth_oau]

Guy you big softy - how much tread do you actually need?

[Guy_H]

On my Cayman S they alone have cut over 2 seconds a lap off every circuit I have been to (including a sub 50 second lap of Mt Cotton Hillclimb!)