GR Yaris Lower grip tyres discussion.

[GRYaris_GRFour]

So continuing this conversation with mostly myself , I'm slightly apprehensive for the downsides of going so wide. Less granular feel, more tramlining, even more road noise from an already relatively (thread) noisy tyre, sooner aquaplaning, increased fuel consumption which isn't very low as is despite quite some commuting etc.

Thinking also about breakaway vs feedback, the former I would prefer a smooth transition so thinking 9" is preferable over 9,5".

In the end my curiosity will probably win and nobody else will probably be able to answer my questions of even better present me with a test car that I can try... Finger is hovering over the figurative order button....

I think your on to something here Also you will get the best answers from your own conversation
But, following what you say about your driving development I would myself have tried it out. (9")

 

[Michael Knight]

Quite happy with valino greeva's. even on 215 width, they provide sufficient traction and are easy to control if drift occurs.
No experience on wet tarmac yet. So cheap yet fun tire to drive.
Minus side its heavy and noisy for daily use. for artesan driving culture luckily there is MSC2..

 

[Onehp]

Short (for me) review of the Valino 265/35R18 Ebisu Matusuri. Reviewed at 2,5bar (relative high pressure) and enthusiastic street use only (no track).

Dry
Perfect. Why I got them and just the level of grip I enjoy. Brings down grip levels from sky high to still grippy enough but can also venture beyond if so desired. In that case they are progessive and also quiet tested up to 22C on an occasional small slide (that would have other tyres screetching). Then the width/mass helps keep the rubber cool. Important if wanting to have small fun without folks looking up with that 'where is that accident unfolding?' look.
By keeping temps down with width, it helps keep grip down in situations where you don't put massive heat in the tyre (track).

265/35R18 vs 235/40R17 greeva 08D (same tyre except compound)

Wet
Similar, enough levels of grip to make pace but low enough to make big slides. Importantly, no annoying vibrations/skipping of tyres as most sporty tyres tend to do with their very high wet grip.
Aquaplaning resistance suprisingly good considering the width. Higher pressure and thread depth new 8mm help.

Steering feedback
Not the greatest but good enough. Going lower in pressure helps but also increases grip. Being a drift tyre there is a large pressure window to play with.

Comfort
Definitely a sporty tyre but not super harsh like a track biased semi. Tyres get flat spots when standing a day or more, disappears after a few miles of driving.

Noise
Clear thread noise most noticeable between 50-90km/h. Actual carcass noise not very high and better then some sport tyres, but pitch of thread noise can be a bit annoying but not at all as bad as (from memory) R888 or AR-1. Passengers so far haven't complained so it's there but not BAD.

Tramlining
Apprehensive tramlining would be awful, happy to report it's not spoiling too much. Yes noticeable but manageable and hasn't thrown me off course in a bad way (experienced driver through with both hands on the wheel )

Size
The 215, 235 and now this 265 are actually roughly 10mm narrower. So actual width more like a 255 so no worries of it rubbing if following 255 fitment guidelines.

Weight
13, 4kg so not a light tyre. Does not really matter if the goal is to have simple fun.

Wear
This tyre is especially made to last as long as possible in drifting, will be difficult to find another tyre that wears less when used 'around' the grip limit...

Price
As a drift tyre price is very good, but you do pay in increased fuel use as rolling resistance is pretty pants. But you'll be having fun...

Disclaimer
Have your fun away from others and don't disturb, choose your place and time, and realise braking distances are worse so always keep your distance. As applied in this little demo of the above, wet cold to dry sunny

Concluding
Lower grip, more fun/playfull, but not necessarily slow. Happy to finally have found a tyre that fullfills my criteria.
Others will enjoy a grippy tyre more, crucially a lighter tyre quality tyre will give nicer feedback, but I'm happy for my street driving enjoyment...

 

[Onehp]

To add, I also enjoy my 235 Greeva 08D as a bit more grippy alternative. Great fun in wet, choose grip or slip, in dry bit more grip but still moves about a bit if you want. I use them as wet (narrower) tyre and dry cold use, then dry grip is fun. And 235 (actual 225) is a sweeter steer. Available as 235/40R18, probably 225 real width too so straight fit on stock rims.

 

[LittleMav]

Short (for me) review of the Valino 265/35R18 Ebisu Matusuri. Reviewed at 2,5bar (relative high pressure) and enthusiastic street use only (no track).

View attachment 27787



Dry
Perfect. Why I got them and just the level of grip I enjoy. Brings down grip levels from sky high to still grippy enough but can also venture beyond if so desired. In that case they are progessive and also quiet tested up to 22C on an occasional small slide (that would have other tyres screetching). Then the width/mass helps keep the rubber cool. Important if wanting to have small fun without folks looking up with that 'where is that accident unfolding?' look.
Width helps here to keep temps down.
View attachment 27788
265/35R18 vs 235/40R17 greeva 08D (same tyre except compound)

Wet
Similar, enough levels of grip to make pace but low enough to make big slides. Importantly, no annoying vibrations/skipping of tyres as most sporty tyres tend to do with their very high wet grip.
Aquaplaning resistance suprisingly good considering the width. Higher pressure and thread depth new 8mm help.

Steering feedback
Not the greatest but good enough. Going lower in pressure helps but also increases grip. Being a drift tyre there is a large pressure window to play with.

Comfort
Definitely a sporty tyre but not super harsh like a track biased semi. Tyres get flat spots when standing a day or more, disappears after a few miles of driving.

Noise
Clear thread noise most noticeable between 50-90km/h. Actual carcass noise not very high and better then some sport tyres, but pitch of thread noise can be a bit annoying.

Tramlining
Apprehensive tramlining would be awful, happy to report it's not spoiling too much. Yes noticeable but manageable and hasn't thrown me off course in a bad way (experienced driver through with both hands on the wheel )

Size
Actual width more like a 255 so no worries of it rubbing if following 255 fitment guidelines.

Weight
1,3kg so not a light tyre. Does not really matter if the goal is to have simple fun.

Wear
This tyre is especially made to last as long as possible in drifting, will be difficult to find another tyre that wears less when used 'around' the grip limit...

Price
As a drift tyre price is very good, but you do pay in increased fuel use as rolling resistance is pretty pants. But you'll be having fun...

Disclaimer
Have your fun away from others and don't disturb, choose your place and time, and realise braking distances are worse so always keep your distance. As applied in this little demo of the above, wet cold to dry sunny

Concluding
Lower grip, more fun/playfull, but not necessarily slow. Happy to finally have found a tyre that fullfills my criteria.
Others will enjoy a grippy tyre more, crucially a lighter tyre quality tyre will give nicer feedback, but I'm happy for my street driving enjoyment...

A good Monday morning read…. ️

 

[GRYaris_GRFour]

Without having any knowledge or reference of drifting tyres I have to say I was very impressed by the grip and performance of the Valino 265 mentioned above in pretty advanced driving on quick turning roads @Onehp

 

[GRzep]

I'm looking for a wintertyre or all season for some more low grip fun during the next months here in the Netherlands (almost no snow here). I'm thinking about just some cheap wintertyres or all season tyre with bad wet grip rating. Does anyone recommend a specific playful wintertyre/all season that retains a bit of steering feel? I know I'll sacrifice some steering feel but that's ok. Addition benefit for the all season would be that I could use that tyre a bit longer than during the winter, that would be nice.

I was thinking about some cheap fronway icemaster or some goodride/westlake all seasons.

 

[Onehp]

I'm looking for a wintertyre or all season for some more low grip fun during the next months here in the Netherlands (almost no snow here). I'm thinking about just some cheap wintertyres or all season tyre with bad wet grip rating. Does anyone recommend a specific playful wintertyre/all season that retains a bit of steering feel? I know I'll sacrifice some steering feel but that's ok. Addition benefit for the all season would be that I could use that tyre a bit longer than during the winter, that would be nice.

I was thinking about some cheap fronway icemaster or some goodride/westlake all seasons.

Will you daily these tyres? How fast will you destroy them? Fun in dry also or just wet?
Progressive and low grip in wet are quite opposite to dry and steering feedback. If focusing on wet fun I would go for winters with lots of sipes and low wet grip rating. All seasons are usually optimised for wet use so not sure how much of a gain maee there.
Too cheap tyres can be really bad as in no progression, folding over and unpleasant steering and overall feel when pushed. It's a balance.
I had Nexen all seasons they were quite ok. But my hankook w616 a nordic winter tyre, were huge fun in the wet... @AdvEvo runs old nordic studded tyres without studs, he's from NL also.

Good luck

 

[GRzep]

Will you daily these tyres? How fast will you destroy them? Fun in dry also or just wet?
Progressive and low grip in wet are quite opposite to dry and steering feedback. If focusing on wet fun I would go for winters with lots of sipes and low wet grip rating. All seasons are usually optimised for wet use so not sure how much of a gain maee there.
Too cheap tyres can be really bad as in no progression, folding over and unpleasant steering and overall feel when pushed. It's a balance.
I had Nexen all seasons they were quite ok. But my hankook w616 a nordic winter tyre, were huge fun in the wet... @AdvEvo runs old nordic studded tyres without studs, he's from NL also.

Good luck

Thanks! I read a lot in this thread about the tyres you and AdvEvo used, very helpful. The tyres are for semi-daily. I do not really care about increased noise or higher wear. So I thought 4 seasons like the nexens you've tried or some EU wintertyres would be a good compromise between being useful when dry and have some fun when it's wet. A decent 4 season tyre with bad wet rating should not have too much grip right (C or more)?