Yoko AD08r track tyre review, after being on the track (Look worse for wear)

chris blue · Jul 18, 2017

Had a great Hour and 20 mins last Sunday on the track at the French Car show at Donnington (Was red flagged 10 mins before session end and i didnt bother waiting to see if there was a restart)
I fitted AD08r's late March 2017, and pretty much been used as a road tyre since then, the plan is taking them off before the winter.

When i had a good look at the tyres when i got home, the front 2 tyres outer edge, 2 inch or so, seems the rubber gone soft and gooey, but the rest of the tyre seems OK?
On the rear 2, the 2 inner tread lines, both have edges that look like they are giving way all the way round?

Know I know i went for it, albeit pretty much slowest on the track i threw it around the corners and hoped for the best (And loved every minute) These tyres have done less than 2000 miles total, (Loads actual tread depth left prob 6-7mm) done 2 x 20 min seshs at Lydeen and looked fine after, and just this 1hr 20min sesh at Donnington.

Do they usually shred up as quick as this?

Also my brakes dont seem as responsive (Not fussed) and seems PAS fluid has splashed all over the shop even tho the cap is on firm. (Will keep an eye on and its at min level. Seems track time can get expensive. Ha!

Can post photos if need be.

New2RS · Jul 18, 2017

Hit the nail on the head with ya last sentence mate!
As for the tyres, you will destroy them on circuit, if you're worried about uneven wear get a laser alignment done an make sure the pressures are correct. If the rubber is costing too much you can switch to 15in wheels which many members have done, save a few quid.

MarkCup · Jul 18, 2017

That wasn't 1hr 20min non-stop was it? You had breaks to cool everything down every 15-20 mins or so?

chris blue · Jul 18, 2017

New2RS said:
If the rubber is costing too much you can switch to 15in wheels which many members have done, save a few quid.

Am on 15 inch wheels.

MarkCup said:
That wasn't 1hr 20min non-stop was it? You had breaks to cool everything down every 15-20 mins or so?

No. Lol. stopped every 20 mins ish, check pressures and look under bonnet. bonnet up, engine off, in gear, no handbrake etc etc

Tyres might wear away the (worn) top surface after a few miles and be OK underneath. Looks like the rubber has turned to liqourice. Have emailed Yokohama and asked. Doubtful of a supportive response

Suppose harder rubber would wear better- just thought these Yoko,s were good stuff. Maybe only use them for the wet..

chris blue · Jul 18, 2017

This is the response i got from a Tuner friend of mine running the same tyres

"Generally you'll see a lot of scrubbing and lots of little rubber marbles stuck to it, that's if your pushing them hard enough. There very soft almost sticky when red hot, but that's what we want for grip in the dry.
The nankang nsr2 is also a highly rated track tyre at a reasonable price."

JB21 · Jul 18, 2017

It'll just be marbling pick up, you get it when you go off the racing line, normally on a cool down lap. If you let it set it needs scrapping off. Or it could be your geo does need altering as above. Mine wears in the places you state but only slightly more than the rest of the tyre.

Get a pic up to so we can see for certain.

chris blue · Jul 18, 2017

Above front tyre

above front tyre different angle

above rear tyre

rear tyre close up

both front tyres are the same, and both rears are the same
theyre not as bad as i thought, but who knows how much more they will deteriorate
Only paid £300 odd for them about 1500 miles ago.
i was away from the racing line a fair bit, getting out the way of other drivers
Ah well, not as pricey as premier football season ticket when you add in all the trimmings. LOL.

Speedy300 · Jul 18, 2017

The AD08r's are quite a soft compound and very effective on track - I use them. I tend to limit myself to 15 minute sessions, it's the last few minutes which overheat the tyres which causes them to melt them.

Also the car needs a reasonable amount of time to cool down before the next session.

chris blue · Jul 18, 2017

Speedy300 said:
The AD08r's are quite a soft compound and very effective on track - I use them. I tend to limit myself to 15 minute sessions, it's the last few minutes which overheat the tyres which causes them to melt them.

Also the car needs a reasonable amount of time to cool down before the next session.

Well i went wrong there then. probably at least 20 mins, then 5 mins ish cool down
Maybe thats why aftre 2 x 20 min seshs at Lydden they seemed fine

Speedy300 · Jul 18, 2017

chris blue said:
Well i went wrong there then. probably at least 20 mins, then 5 mins ish cool down
Maybe thats why aftre 2 x 20 min seshs at Lydden they seemed fine

I would guess that the tyres would be in better health after 3 x 15 mins rather than 2 x 20 mins. The extra heat applied to the tyres in a single session destroys them. On occasion I have stayed out on track a little longer then 15 mins and my tyres start melting but that's just my experience.

New2RS · Jul 18, 2017

If you're geometry and pressures are right then you've nothing to worry about. I run ns2r's and the strips of melted rubber are still flying off days after the trackday. Just enjoy and replace.

chris blue · Jul 18, 2017

New2RS said:
If you're geometry and pressures are right then you've nothing to worry about. I run ns2r's and the strips of melted rubber are still flying off days after the trackday. Just enjoy and replace.

Not sure about the geometry? Is that a £40 laser test at the local tyre place?
And as for pressures, they were a bit weird on the day, then I found out my gauge was knackerd, in fact both my foot pumps give false readings. I wasn't far off running 28 psi on the day, maybe went up to 30 psi when checked. Think the "off race line" probly applies to me a fair bit, cos there was no pace car to show the way, and as it was first time on the track it took me about 6 laps to get the idea. Then, as said, continually getting out the way of overtakers, who were a bit unfair I thought as I gave an inch, and they took a mile, so I started ascerting myself at the end- and it worked

New2RS · Jul 18, 2017

chris blue said:
Not sure about the geometry? Is that a £40 laser test at the local tyre place?
And as for pressures, they were a bit weird on the day, then I found out my gauge was knackerd, in fact both my foot pumps give false readings. I wasn't far off running 28 psi on the day, maybe went up to 30 psi when checked. Think the "off race line" probly applies to me a fair bit, cos there was no pace car to show the way, and as it was first time on the track it took me about 6 laps to get the idea. Then, as said, continually getting out the way of overtakers, who were a bit unfair I thought as I gave an inch, and they took a mile, so I started ascerting myself at the end- and it worked

Yeah the laser alignment should give you the best chance of even tyre wear on the road but obviously track abuse can wear outside/inside edges more and you've got to consider many circuits have far more left turns than right or vice versa.
I never bother with pressures on my Trackdays but I think the general thinking is to achieve 28psi when hot probably meaning lowering pressure throughout the day.

SWL16 · Jul 18, 2017

Are you sure a lot of that (last two pics) isn't just rubber pick up off the track? Photo isn't large enough on my phone to tell. Might find it flicking off over the next few days when you drive around.

chris blue · Jul 18, 2017

SWL16 said:
Are you sure a lot of that (last two pics) isn't just rubber pick up off the track? Photo isn't large enough on my phone to tell. Might find it flicking off over the next few days when you drive around.

I will have another look, but the front tyres has tiny flaps where the rubber has eroded it looks, and the rear tyres the inner tread is very spongy and feels almost "not set". maybe lots heat has melted it. But I will try and pick it off to see whether it is the tyre coming away, or added rubber from the track

MarkCup · Jul 18, 2017

Donnington's clockwise and that rear tyre just looks to me like you were having a lot of fun. Working the back when they're hot will roll/wear some of the surface across to the edge of the tread block.

Other than cutting your session times down a little as said above I see nothing on those tyres I wouldn't expect to see myself.

chris blue · Jul 18, 2017

MarkCup said:
Donnington's clockwise and that rear tyre just looks to me like you were having a lot of fun. Working the back when they're hot will roll/wear some of the surface across to the edge of the tread block.

Other than cutting your session times down a little as said above I see nothing on those tyres I wouldn't expect to see myself.

I did have a lot of fun, but no more than anyone else, so are all tyres the same? think I should stop every 15mins from now on.
will they wear a bit better without track use, hopefully theyre not fooked.

One thing, I didn't have a slip that I can recall the whole time. they performed well but shagged themselves in the process
In the wet at Brands, they spun out on lap one in the wet (Ooops, that's an hour sesh I forgot about) so maybe not great wet tyres

SWL16 · Jul 18, 2017

chris blue said:
so maybe not great wet tyres

I thought they were actually really good in the wet at Oulton (on friends clio). Certainly better than the PS3s on my car which was a surprise tbh.

chris blue · Jul 18, 2017

SWL16 said:
I thought they were actually really good in the wet at Oulton (on friends clio). Certainly better than the PS3s on my car which was a surprise tbh.

thinking maybe mine weren't warmed up enough

Sir_Dave · Jul 18, 2017

Those tyres are perfectly fine, id expect to see far more rubber pickup after a decent trackday. The ad08r wears very well on track imho, its certainly harder than say an r888, whilst giving far better wear/grip than a road tyre like a michelin pss.

JB21 · Jul 19, 2017

Just pick up that, they look in good condition.

super_ted · Jul 19, 2017

I don't see what the problem is here? They look as you'd expect after some track time.

Mr R. · Jul 19, 2017

My Goodyear eagle F1s looked the same after a track day at Bradford.

That's just rubber pick up from others tyres and not your hero driving. [emoji6]

MarkCup · Jul 19, 2017

Is it rubber pick up?

If it was wouldn't it be all over the tyre instead of gathered on one side only of all the tread blocks?

Budgie · Jul 19, 2017

Nothing out of the ordinary there.

Goodj · Jul 19, 2017

S'alright, my tyres look like they've been used after I've put miles on them too.

JamesBryan · Jul 19, 2017

I wish my AD08's looked that good after an hour and twenty minutes 😂

Nothing to worry about though, looks fine in those pictures.

Martin. · Jul 19, 2017

Tyres look fine to me. Should see mine hahaha!!

As long as your alignment is ok and the pressures were ok then carry on as you were. Try and let the car have a longer cool down in between sessions if possible though.

A cool down, and warm up lap are also very important in my eyes. I never go balls out as soon as I hit the tarmac, always do at least one cool up lap depending on the temperature of the car already and length of lap etc.

TheEvilGiraffe · Jul 19, 2017

As per the other 20 posts - Tyres are fine. Look at any tyres at a track....

Martin. said:
cool up lap

LOL.

Someone should really think of a word to describe the opposite of 'cool down'.

Weather warning - It's really un-hot out there on this mid-December day.

BoatNonce · Jul 19, 2017

chris blue said:
View attachment 194315
Above front tyre

View attachment 194316
above front tyre different angle
View attachment 194317

above rear tyre

View attachment 194319

rear tyre close up

both front tyres are the same, and both rears are the same
theyre not as bad as i thought, but who knows how much more they will deteriorate
Only paid £300 odd for them about 1500 miles ago.
i was away from the racing line a fair bit, getting out the way of other drivers
Ah well, not as pricey as premier football season ticket when you add in all the trimmings. LOL.

Is that it?

chris blue · Jul 19, 2017

Fair enough. I trust you fellow Clio Bredren.
But they are well gooey and bits missing, but if you say its good I'ma happy now

chris blue · Jul 19, 2017

McGherkin said:
Is that it?

Rears more of a concern

chris blue · Jul 19, 2017

McGherkin said:
Is that it?

Rears more of a concern (ooops, double)

MarkCup · Jul 19, 2017

They're fine. If my rears didn't look like that after a track session i'd check I hadn't suddenly grown a vagina.

New2RS · Jul 19, 2017

My rears look like that after the school run:sweatsmile:

chris blue · Jul 19, 2017

New2RS said:
My rears look like that after the school run:sweatsmile:

Wow.. really? Never.....

New2RS · Jul 19, 2017

chris blue said:
Wow.. really? Never.....

No mate, I always have a 30 second cool down period when the kids bail out:tearsofjoy:

Tim. · Jul 19, 2017

Phase1sr said:
My Goodyear eagle F1s looked the same after a track day at Bradford.

That tickled me - street circuit is it Scott?

Coops Mk1 · Jul 19, 2017

not read all this, but looking at the pics, they look fine

Martin. · Jul 20, 2017

TheEvilGiraffe said:
As per the other 20 posts - Tyres are fine. Look at any tyres at a track....
LOL.

Someone should really think of a word to describe the opposite of 'cool down'.

Weather warning - It's really un-hot out there on this mid-December day.

Ok ok ok ok I made a typo. Kill me now lol

Yoko AD08r track tyre review, after being on the track (Look worse for wear)

South East - Essex

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