19 replies to this topic

[rich1889]

Well not much more to say....

[lawnmowercrap]

Well not much more to say....

Dont get the A008's, get the A032r's. I ran the A032's for around 8000 miles though had to change them because my rear tracking was wrong. I couldnt get A032r's at the time and ended up with A008's. In the wet, they aquaplane like mad. I was limited to a 30mph in a 60mph the other day because of how bad they were. They have a flimsy sidewall, meaning you go into a roundabout and get a shed load of flex in the sidewall causing a delay in the steering. Then they do nothing but lock up under braking becauseof the useless amount of grip they have.
The A032r's however were brilliant. There is a slight tyre noise but is barely noticeable around town. Grip is brilliant, stopping distances are really good and they dont aquaplane. I infact loved how they handled in the wet.

Lee

[bmcecosse]

4.5" wheels are really limited to 145 section tyres.....

[Cooperman]

The Rim Width Calculator on "AlloyWheels.com" gives the rim widths for a 165/70x10 as 4.5" to 6".
I've been using 165/70 x 10 on my ST 4.5" Minilites for over 16 years in all sorts of Historic Rallying and so have all the other Minis running in that category.
I think you are referring to a 3.5" wheel which can't go bigger than 145 section width.

[lawnmowercrap]

The Rim Width Calculator on "AlloyWheels.com" gives the rim widths for a 165/70x10 as 4.5" to 6".
I've been using 165/70 x 10 on my ST 4.5" Minilites for over 16 years in all sorts of Historic Rallying and so have all the other Minis running in that category.
I think you are referring to a 3.5" wheel which can't go bigger than 145 section width.

Thats correct cooperman
Have noted that website down as well, good to remember that one.

[rich1889]

Found fitting, balancing and a set of a008's for £200 at national tyres and autocare. so prob go for that

[Cooperman]

The A008 is a good tyre on most types of tarmac until about 1/2 worn. The the lack of grip on slightly broken and very wet surfaces becomes noticeable. On muddy or gravel surfaces the 008 is poor even when new. Pressures are also an issue and the 008 seems to like about 32 psi all round.
If a tarmac road is so wet that only 30 mph is possible on a 008, then unless the 008's are really worn it is unlikely that any other 165 section tyre will do much better except a full 'knobbly' gravel/forest tyre. In such conditions a 145 with an open-pattern would be better.
I've rallied in the wet on the 008 and done OK, but the Falkens are better in such conditions where sudden surface changes ae possible. Then again, Falkens are not so good on dry smooth tarmac.
With tyres it's all a compromise and it is necessary to drive to the limitations of the tyres and the road conditions. No one type of tyre is all-good or all-bad, each will be better under some conditions and worse under others.

[lawnmowercrap]

The A008 is a good tyre on most types of tarmac until about 1/2 worn. The the lack of grip on slightly broken and very wet surfaces becomes noticeable. On muddy or gravel surfaces the 008 is poor even when new. Pressures are also an issue and the 008 seems to like about 32 psi all round.
If a tarmac road is so wet that only 30 mph is possible on a 008, then unless the 008's are really worn it is unlikely that any other 165 section tyre will do much better except a full 'knobbly' gravel/forest tyre. In such conditions a 145 with an open-pattern would be better.
I've rallied in the wet on the 008 and done OK, but the Falkens are better in such conditions where sudden surface changes ae possible. Then again, Falkens are not so good on dry smooth tarmac.
With tyres it's all a compromise and it is necessary to drive to the limitations of the tyres and the road conditions. No one type of tyre is all-good or all-bad, each will be better under some conditions and worse under others.

Ive tried running different tyre pressures to try and make them better, started at 24psi and am now running 32psi, it was running 32psi that the aquaplaning was at its worst.
They arent worn, have only covered around 1800 miles since being fitted.
I definetley wont be buying another set of A008's.

[Cooperman]

The old Dunlop SP Sport was always a good tyre in the wet and on mixed surfaces, but less good on dry smooth tarmac unless pumped to about 35 psi.

Edited by Cooperman, 06 June 2011 - 03:58 PM.

[blacktulip]

thats funny as i have been running A008's on my 4.5x10" minilifes and find them good even in the wet. i run 30psi all round. i might try some A032's next time.

[mk3 Cooper S]

The Rim Width Calculator on "AlloyWheels.com" gives the rim widths for a 165/70x10 as 4.5" to 6".
I've been using 165/70 x 10 on my ST 4.5" Minilites for over 16 years in all sorts of Historic Rallying and so have all the other Minis running in that category.
I think you are referring to a 3.5" wheel which can't go bigger than 145 section width.

145 / 10 were fitted to 1275gt 4.5 rostyles and many fitted 145's to reverse rims.

In my expereience 145's are better on 4.5 rims as 165's have too much tyre wall deflection for me.

Basically you pay your money you take your chiose as 4.5's are right on the cross over point from 145,s to 165's.

[dklawson]

At least you have choices.

Over here, the A008 is about the only 10" Mini tire meeting DOT regulations. There are Falkens also but they are even harder to get than the Yokos.

[Cooperman]

The Rim Width Calculator on "AlloyWheels.com" gives the rim widths for a 165/70x10 as 4.5" to 6".
I've been using 165/70 x 10 on my ST 4.5" Minilites for over 16 years in all sorts of Historic Rallying and so have all the other Minis running in that category.
I think you are referring to a 3.5" wheel which can't go bigger than 145 section width.

145 / 10 were fitted to 1275gt 4.5 rostyles and many fitted 145's to reverse rims.

In my expereience 145's are better on 4.5 rims as 165's have too much tyre wall deflection for me.

Basically you pay your money you take your chiose as 4.5's are right on the cross over point from 145,s to 165's.

In the 145 section width there really is no tyre suitable for rallying these days except for forest-pattern ones. I've done about 35 rallies in my '64 'S' and won 5 of them, all on 165/70 x 10 inc. A008's, Falkens, 'Knobbly' Colways and SP Sports.

[mk3 Cooper S]

The Rim Width Calculator on "AlloyWheels.com" gives the rim widths for a 165/70x10 as 4.5" to 6".
I've been using 165/70 x 10 on my ST 4.5" Minilites for over 16 years in all sorts of Historic Rallying and so have all the other Minis running in that category.
I think you are referring to a 3.5" wheel which can't go bigger than 145 section width.

145 / 10 were fitted to 1275gt 4.5 rostyles and many fitted 145's to reverse rims.

In my expereience 145's are better on 4.5 rims as 165's have too much tyre wall deflection for me.

Basically you pay your money you take your chiose as 4.5's are right on the cross over point from 145,s to 165's.

In the 145 section width there really is no tyre suitable for rallying these days except for forest-pattern ones. I've done about 35 rallies in my '64 'S' and won 5 of them, all on 165/70 x 10 inc. A008's, Falkens, 'Knobbly' Colways and SP Sports.

Well done.

Does the OP want to rally or use them for the road?

[Cooperman]

The Rim Width Calculator on "AlloyWheels.com" gives the rim widths for a 165/70x10 as 4.5" to 6".
I've been using 165/70 x 10 on my ST 4.5" Minilites for over 16 years in all sorts of Historic Rallying and so have all the other Minis running in that category.
I think you are referring to a 3.5" wheel which can't go bigger than 145 section width.

145 / 10 were fitted to 1275gt 4.5 rostyles and many fitted 145's to reverse rims.

In my expereience 145's are better on 4.5 rims as 165's have too much tyre wall deflection for me.

Basically you pay your money you take your chiose as 4.5's are right on the cross over point from 145,s to 165's.

Well done.

Does the OP want to rally or use them for the road?

My point, which you may have missed, is that if that range of tyres in that width can do OK in competition, they will be ideal for the road. A 4.5" wheel width is absolutely ideal for a 165 section tyre for road use so long as the type of tread pattern is suitable for whatever type of driving you choose to do.

In the 145 section width there really is no tyre suitable for rallying these days except for forest-pattern ones. I've done about 35 rallies in my '64 'S' and won 5 of them, all on 165/70 x 10 inc. A008's, Falkens, 'Knobbly' Colways and SP Sports.

Edited by Cooperman, 06 June 2011 - 04:04 PM.