Hoosier R6 & Yoko Advan A005

[Philip]

Time for me to run tracks with slicks. After having read a few threads, it seems two tires are on top: the Hoosier R6 and the Yoko Advan A005.

I need new wheels as well. Given that I have a 2006 Elise, can someone recommend a wheel manufacturer (the lighter the better but not flimsy...) and what sizes for front and rear for each tires (R6 and A005.)
My birthday is coming soon and the little woman said I could get new wheels and tires!

Cheers!

[RichS]

I'd go with smaller wheels (hey, I did!) and just about the lightest, reasonably priced wheels out there are the Volks CE28Ns.

[AZReason]

Sorry to muddy the waters, but if you have an NA car you might consider the Hoosier A6. As before, CE28Ns would be the best for a 15x7/16x8 combo with Hoosier 205/50-15 f and 225/50-16 r or 225/45-15 f and 245/45-16 r. I am not sure which A005's would fit those wheels. The other option would be 16x7/17x8 RAC Monolites, Lotus Cup Wheels or Volk TE37's with Hoosier 205/45-16 front and either 225/45-17, 225/40-17, 235/40-17 or 245/40-17 rears with the 235's being my favorite choice. The special made A005's for Lotus would fit the 16/17 combo also, available from you Lotus dealer. The down side of 16/17 combo is that your only tire option for the front is Hoosier or Yokohama in one size for R compound tires. So no Nittos, Toyos, Hankooks or Michelins on front. My current combo is 205/50-15 front and 225/40-17 rear (rules limit my tire size). I run 225/50-16 rears if the track requires taller gearing. I have also tried 225/45-15 front, but found with my setup I don't need that much front tire although many setups require them to minimize understeer. All in Hoosier A6. They last longer for me than the R6. A higher HP car with more downforce might require R6's since the rear A6's could be overheated. My opinion might be biased toward Hoosier. Check my sig.

[Jack]

FWIW -- On the grip front, the Yoko slicks have more stick than the Hoosiers (A6 or R6) based on first-hand testing for track use. YMMV

[AZReason]

Jack, how about sizes and compounds for A005's in 15/16 and 16/17 for reference or do you just get the Lotus ones.

[Jack]

Originally Posted by AZReason

Jack, how about sizes and compounds for A005's in 15/16 and 16/17 for reference or do you just get the Lotus ones.

No 15/16 sizes that I have found ..... I use the 16 and 17 sizes, which appear to be readily available ... 190/580 and 230/625... and use different compounds depending upon track conditions and temps.

[deddie]

I just switched from A048s to A005s for track use and could not be happier. The grip of the A005s was amazing.

[Philip]

Lots of great information being listed, thanks everyone!

I can see, on the Yoko A005 page the 190/580R16 tire, but I do not see anything with a size 17.
Clearly, the 17 230/625 is not listed. Is it a special request?
What am I missing?

Yokohama Tire

[deddie]

For A005s, contact Trackside Performance at 1-949-589-5394. They stock the 190/580/16 and 230/625/17. On the West Coast, you probably want to go with the S04 compound, which is the "hard" compound - but still very sticky on the track (ideally suited for hotter track days) and still slightly softer than the Lotus-specific compound that only the Cup Car owners are entitled to purchase. The total cost (tires, shipping to El Dorado Hills, CA, tax) on my recent order of these tires in Augusut 2009 was $1198.

[glennsmooth]

Anyone try 245/45/17 (rear) and maybe a 205 front rather than the 225 (rear) and 190 (front) OEM sizes? Seems a wider tire would add more traction but then again maybe there is more of the outside edge getting rolled under causing less traction?