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Sorry, tyres again. 14” ZV3 replacements


Alex Rae

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I’m needing new tyres for my Roadsport. I’ve used Avon ZV3s since they came out and been happy with them. Not the most grip, but fine for a low powered car. 

However they are no longer made. I’ve seen Caterham offer ZT5s in that size, but I know nothing about them. 

 

Any suggestions? I don’t want to buy new 13” wheels and want a tyre of similar specification. 

 

Many thanks. 

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I have been using Uniroyal Rain Experts for a few years, and now have the Rain Expert 3. I went from ZV3 to aO21r to the Uniroyals. The Uniroyals are definitely better than ZV3s in bad weather, and even hold up ok on track days the way I drive my 125 *smile*
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It would be helpful to know what people are comparing their tyres to. Without this it makes judgements difficult. People in the past have posted that ZV3 are fine, something I would have agreed with in my first few months of driving, but having swapped them after a few "moments" I wouldn't go back.

For me:

ZV3 - tyre that came with my kit. Felt absolutely fine until I was in the wet or when I once needed to brake heavily.

Yokohama A048r - big improvement in grip so better if I needed to stop quickly. Better in the wet. Side wall was stiff and the car would stick in the ruts in the road.

R888 - Felt as grippy as A048r but much better at not following ruts. Better than ZV3 in the wet.

R888R - Just fitted so unable to compare to others.

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I don’t get it why fit tyres not designed for your car ? r888s 048rs ZZRs bloody amazing, grip is eye watering but you can slide if you want to , no I don’t have 000’s of BHP they are just great in 99% of conditions, the majority of time you’ll be driving in the dry damp or light rain and they are great in all of those. They don’t like standing water true but I’ve aquaplaned in an Audi A6 and Subaru.

you don’t walk around all year in Wellies just in case it snows or you come across deep mud do you ? 

If you encounter very heavy rain just slow down , use a higher gear  , accelerate and brake more gently. If it’s that bad pull over and wait for it to pass. The rest of the time you’ll be grinning like an loon as you lean on the grip 

I would never go back they just  are perfect for a 7 . 

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Each to their own.

I use my Seven mainly on the road, and I don't let rain stop me enjoying it. I organised a tour a few years ago and it rained for four days out of five. There was no way I could or even wanted to drop out and we had to drive though a lot of standing water. On days like that, I would happily trade a bit of outright grip for reduced chance of aquaplaning.

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DJ I drove back from the ring in terrible weather and commute the 122 miles to Wales in mine in all weathers and for that 1% I wouldn’t trade the improvement in response and handling for the other 99% 

but as you say each to their own 

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Rain expert 3 for me too.

Use my Caterham everyday in all weathers, on all sorts of roads, and I can rely on their grip all the time - especially when I need to stop 'cos some pillock hasn't seen me.

16psi ish all round and they GRIP, certainly more than enough for road use. 

I too used the Avons until I couldn't get them, then switched the rear to the latest Avon a few years ago, ZV3 still on the front.  They seemed okay until I moved the new Avons to the front after a year, and fitted Rain Experts to the rear - and promptly nearly crashed on a damp corner on the way to work that hadn't given me any grief in the previous 15yrs.

Rain Experts were fitted all round the same week.

I'm quite happy with less then absolute grip in the dry, for the reliable grip in all other conditions. 

 

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Roadsport06 said:

DJ - you say that your Uniroyal tyres are better in the rain than ZV3. Do you have any experience with R888 or similar to compare the two? R888 are so much better in the rain than ZV3 too.

I haven't tried R888 tyres, the only specialist tyres I have used were three sets of Yokohama a021r. They had a very soft compound, so were extremely grippy in the dry, were good in damp/wet and enough channels to be Ok in deeper water. I have to say they were probably the ideal tyre for a Seven in my opinion, but they did wear out very quickly. Of course now they are unavailable.

Compared to the Rain Expert, there was definitely more grip in the dry, and I suspect more in damp conditions. However, when I swapped to the Uniroyals, I took it very easy to start and then kept pushing a little harder, I have to say that after one spirited wet autumn drive, I was amazed how good the Uniroyals were.

Bricol said:

I'm quite happy with less then absolute grip in the dry, for the reliable grip in all other conditions. 

This sums it up well for me *smile*

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One thing is for certain from the rain expert users that have posted is that I wouldn't be using ZV3/ZV5 tyres. It would be nice to have a comparison with them and R888, especially in the wet. I've found R888 surprisingly good in the wet. Not that I push such a lightweight car in the wet.
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I also need tyres for 14 in wheels.  Looking at the MSA Lists 1 a and 1b,  (so I could do Gurston Hillclimb events, and maybe Castle Combe Sprints).

Thinking that R888r's are a bit extreme dry,  Would appreciate advice.   

Russ P

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I’ve used ZV3, Uniroyal Rain Sport (not sure what the difference is between sport and expert) and ZZS, albeit on 13”. Rain Sport are a noticeable improvement over ZV3 but not as good as ZZS in the dry (not used them in the wet). Rain Sport have huge cut outs and along with their shape nowhere near the contact area of a track day tyre like ZZS or I suppose R888. As a road only tyre I find the Rain Sports a good choice and quite inexpensive.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi

I’ve got Nankangs in the soft compound and prefer them to my old ZV3’s. It isn’t much if a comparison I’m afraid but they seem to work. Yes a bit iffy in standing water but most things are I suspect if you don’t slow down a bit. You can definitely lean on them in the dry with confidence. 150bhp Roadsport by the way.

Julian 

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