Semi-slicks

[SLE355]

I'm putting 17x8.5 rims on the back of my commodore and want to use a set of semi-slick street tyres.The car is only driven in the dry so wet weather traction isn't a concern.Has anyone used these sorts of tyres and if so what type.

I will be using 255/40 series tyres.

[Matty]

yes, heaps of us have them though not many for road use. Try using the search function. Popular tyres are Yokohama Advan-032R, Dunlop D-01, Bridgestone RE540S, Falken Azenis...

[SLE355]

Thanks matt.Which of these wouled be the most popular?

[Matty]

dunno - costs tend to vary a bit, and they have slightly different purposes, so it depends on your definition of popular...

Advans are probably the cheapest and least grippy (relatively of course). THey warm up the quickest, and are fine to drive on when cold. plus they have the most tread depth

A friend of mine get rid of ris 540S's because they were too skatey until they warmed up, not good for the road or for short sprints. But once warm the grip is probably on par with the dunlops and they may be a little cheaper?

The Dunlops often get the nod for grip, but have less tread depth and wear faster.

As I said, use the search function (button at the top right of this page) and you'll find a few old discussions about these tyres.

[SLE355]

Thanks again Matt.
I'll ring stuckey's tomorrow about the dunlops.
Who in melb can i ring about the bridgestones?Do you have there number?

[Matty]

Mansons (in Mitcham?) re the bridgestones (and they do Toyo RA-1 as well I think). dunno the number.

Traction tyre & suspension (rowville) re the Advans.

be warned though that all of these tyres are very noisy on the road! if you do long trips you'll hate them.

[SLE355]

I rang mansons today.

255/40 17 re540s $400

Rang stuckeys


255/40 17 D-01J $500

I think I'll go for the dunlops as i'm only getting them for the rears.

[Matty]

how about the Advans? don't discount them, they're far better than normal road tyres, only marginally less grippy than the Dunlops and far better in the wet.

[SLE355]

Just when i'd made up my mind!!!

I did ask the guy at mansons about the Avans.He reckons there not as grippy as the re540s but are quieter.I'm only after max dry weather grip so wet weather grip doesn't worry me.

[Matty]

Of course the guy at Mansons is going to say that, and he's probably right when you're at the track...

what he won't tell you is that the 540S's are slippery as hell until they are warmed up... and by warm I mean two or three race pace track laps. A friend of mine ditched his 540S's and went back to Advans for this reason recently, said they were too scary on the street. (of course this is on an MX5 so the size/weight etc differences may be an influence here).

Advans have about 50% more tread depth too. ANd they've now got the A-048 version in which is meant to be grippier than the old 032's

[T99]

Just me, but I wouldn't go for these tyres on the rear only, it may result in a very funny handling car. It sounds like you are after maximum traction though, and for straight line stuff. As Matty said, you do need some heat in these tyres, and if you are planning to do small burnouts to get this, then these tyres are really not going to last long.

At those prices, the Michelins (tarmac Rspec tyre) would be another consideration and something that may work better at lower temps but not well in the wet.

[SLE355]

Sorry i thought you meant the falkens.I haven't founed out about the yokies yet.How do they compare to the dunlops for grip.The guy at stuckeys said you don't need to much heat into them and both places reckon there tyres are stickier when cold than any normal road tyre.

[Matty]

They'll stick, but can be a bit sharp to catch if you lose traction...

I've got relative statements about the Yokohama Advans above (not Azenis, though they are only on the next rung lower), and a contact placde for them (Traction Tyres in Rowville - who will of course tell you that they're just as grippy as the others.

Look, realistically, unless you're a track junky and you don't sound like one, you're not going to pick much difference between any of these. THey'll all crap on any road tyre. so I figure you may as well go for the one that is cheapest and or lasts longest, and my guess is that would be the Yokies.

[SLE355]

Thanks for all the info Matt.