Tyres for 7's Speed Series

[Richard Houlgate]

I currently run Nankang AR1 185 60 13 front and 205 60 13 rear. They are 5 years old and so I think that it's time for some new ones. To try and reduce high speed corner exit understeer I plan to fit 205s on the front as well.

I'm not impressed by the Nankangs so thought I'd try the Toyo Proxes R888R.

But there are none available. Apparently Toyo pulled out of the UK at the beginning of the year so the only way to obtain them is to order a container load which most tyre retailers can't afford to do. Demon Tweeks apparently can, but the lead time including ocean freight is 6 months, so there will be none available until the end of August.

 

Are there any other options? 

[Flying Carrot Steve]

7 minutes ago, Richard Houlgate said:

I currently run Nankang AR1 185 60 13 front and 205 60 13 rear. They are 5 years old and so I think that it's time for some new ones. To try and reduce high speed corner exit understeer I plan to fit 205s on the front as well.

I'm not impressed by the Nankangs so thought I'd try the Toyo Proxes R888R.

But there are none available. Apparently Toyo pulled out of the UK at the beginning of the year so the only way to obtain them is to order a container load which most tyre retailers can't afford to do. Demon Tweeks apparently can, but the lead time including ocean freight is 6 months, so there will be none available until the end of August.

 

Are there any other options? 

 

 

I have two 205 60 13 R888R in my garage. Brand new in cling film. They are now £475

 

Plus VAT

 

Each

 

 

 

I'm kidding. I do have them but they're not for sale as my rears are almost toast.

 

If I spot any for sale though, I will alert you ASAP 

[Flying Carrot Steve]

I was hoping Jack Webb Motorsport my have some suitable in stock, but I see not. Still might be worth calling them. 

 

 

 

 

[LoneWolf]

A052 in 13" aren't a good track tire atm, they seem to use a harder compound than the higher sizes.

[Richard Houlgate]

Thanks for your input. There is more to be read on the accursed Facebook if you are interested.

[harrypotter]

I've read on facebook that the new Nova Avon zzs and zzr are for motorsport only, not road legal. It was an annoucment on a caterham site. Could that be right?

[S2T]

On 14/01/2026 at 20:52, harrypotter said:

I've read on facebook that the new Nova Avon zzs and zzr are for motorsport only, not road legal. It was an annoucment on a caterham site. Could that be right?

Yes that is correct the new Nova ZZR and ZZS are not road legal/1b tyres

I did read somewhere that representation was going to be made to MSUK to see if they could relax the permitted tyres regs to include these tyres but personally I cannot see it happening and would only open a can of worms.

For sprinting there is very little competitive choice

[harrypotter]

As a matter of interest what are the best tyres for hillclimb road going class this year? Am correct to think that we are able to use list 1b tyres?

[Two7]

If it is dry toyo r888r seem popular.   Road legal and class 1b for mot road going cars like my westy.  My avon zv7 on the other hand are now no longer allowed,  bog standard road tyres group 1a for years, i used in the wet and driving to tesco but I have to throw them away now because avon got taken over by nova.  Uniroyal  rain sport are supposed to be good 1a. 

[LoneWolf]

I'm throwing it here as I don't know if it's permitted by the rules, but did you guys consider switching to 15" wheels? There are LOADS of good tires in that size, from Nankang CRS to the Yoko A052 (which are trash in 13"), Dunlop Direzza DZ03G and others.

Are the 15" wheels so much worse than 13" for competition use, even with the much better rubber available?

[stephenh]

It's down to weight, mainly, LoneWolf. When I was sprinting regularly, I had 2 sets of wheels; 13" for sprinting and 15" for road use and the occasional trackday. Back then though, we were allowed to use list 1B tyres, which then included all or most of the semi-slick trackday tyres, in super soft rubber mix. Then those tyres were taken out of list 1B, and ceased to be approved for road use, so if you continued to run them you had to run in non-roadgoing class, so up against those using slick tyres.

Although the weight saving isn't huge, remember it is all unsprung weight, so it is relevant to how well the suspension can deal with undulations in the road surface at racing speeds.

[LoneWolf]

5 hours ago, stephenh said:

It's down to weight, mainly, LoneWolf. When I was sprinting regularly, I had 2 sets of wheels; 13" for sprinting and 15" for road use and the occasional trackday. Back then though, we were allowed to use list 1B tyres, which then included all or most of the semi-slick trackday tyres, in super soft rubber mix. Then those tyres were taken out of list 1B, and ceased to be approved for road use, so if you continued to run them you had to run in non-roadgoing class, so up against those using slick tyres.

Although the weight saving isn't huge, remember it is all unsprung weight, so it is relevant to how well the suspension can deal with undulations in the road surface at racing speeds.

I get that, unsprung weight is definitely a big deal. However, I was wondering if running a much better tire might alleviate (or even completely remove) the disadvantage.

[IanD]

To be honest i have been pondering this as well

For sure if all was equal the 13" would be better but of the rubber just isnt available would the diferance be of set.

If only we had the funds and time to back to back test like they do o youtube 

[Nick Algar - Competition Secretary]

2 hours ago, LoneWolf said:

I get that, unsprung weight is definitely a big deal. However, I was wondering if running a much better tire might alleviate (or even completely remove) the disadvantage.

 

I'm starting to think that isa better option, given how difficult it is now getting to buy decent 13" compounds, where as 15" is much easier. The Nankang CRS coumpound is rated by them as better than the popular AR1. And CRS is not available in 13", but is in 15"

[John_Hoyle]

hi i think tyres is a reel problem ,as we all know the old kumho and avon were the tyres to use in road going classes,current  1b tyres dont warm up quick enough for sprints as two to three laps are generally needed to get heat into them. there is off course the pirelli p7 corsa classic ,but the cost is similar to slicks, i think it is a very difficult situaion, personally i think any tyre that is e marked , ie road legal should be allowed to be used.