Racing Puma Tyre Review
#1
Posted 05 February 2012 - 10:18 AM
Been meaning to do this for ages now, thought it might be useful to have a subjective and informative thread on tyre choice for the Racing Puma..
If people add to this thread, maybe they could stick roughly to the same format of scoring etc to make comparisons clear... A single line saying "I had these tyres, they were crap" isn't very helpful.. /> />
Scoring will be:
1 very poor
2 Disappointing
3 average / acceptable
4 Good performance
5 Outstanding
Comment on the following attributes:
Dry weather performance
Wet weather performance
Suited for track or road (or maybe both)??
Overall firmness/feel and FRP suitability
Asthetics / tread pattern
Still available?? / cost / supplier
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Pirelli P7000 – OEM Tyre
Dry weather performance - score 4/5
Excellent 10 years ago when the tyres were a little ‘fresher’.. A clear choice for Ford as they were no doubt ‘cheap ish’ probably due them being phased out fairly soon after, also they were super firm.. When the car was new and you drove on these in warm weather there was seemingly endless grip..
Wet weather performance – score 3/5 acceptable
Never really had a problem with these in wet weather. You knew where you stood and knew not to take the piss!
Track / road performance score 4/5
A good all rounder for both I thought, but definately more a road tyre than track.. Even after hard driving on track the tread stood up well and tyres were generally ok to carry on using on the way home after the mild bobbling had worn down.
Excellent overall suitability 4/5
Tread Pattern - Directional
Availability
Cost was generally around £100-120 each… none currently available
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Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2
Dry Weather Performance 4.5 /5
Excellent grip in the dry
Wet Weather Performance 5/5 Outstanding!
Defies the laws of Physics! Outstanding wet weather feel and grip. Incredible how hard you can drive the FRP in wet weather on these tyres!
Road/Track?
Definitely a road tyre. Just too expensive to use on track, also the outside semi/slick shoulder wears down too quick on proper hard driving to make them a do’able track tyre. I’, sure this was the tyre developed for the Clio Cup cars… would be interesting experiment if money was no object to give them a good go on track.
FRP Suitability and ‘feel’ - score 4.5/5
Excellent feel on the floor, I had real trouble getting a set to balance up properly after numerous attempts, even when I was nearly happy with the balancing, after some hard driving the steering wobble came flying back again… very annoying ( iv’e been very unlucky in this respect I think). Have driven them on three other cars, and the general feel and suitability is excellent, just make sure your tracking and balancing and bushes are all in good order so you don’t spoil them like I did!
Tread Pattern
Aysemmetric tread
Availability
widely available at around £150-160 fitted each!..eek
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Hankook RS2
Dry weather performance score 4.5/5!
Excellent dry performance when up to temperature, can catch you out a little if you swing them into a corner without appropriate warm up time.
Wet weather performance - score 3.5/5
Acceptable wet performance
Track/Road?
Marketed as a track tyre with full tread depth...stand up very well on track.. excellent feel and response
Overall feel and suitability - 5/5!
Awesome feel on the FRP, a very firm and grippy feel, compliments the handling superbly, going from the pilot exaltos to these was like fitting whole new suspension! In my opinion simply the ultimate FRP tyre!!
Asthetics 5/5
Nice chunky looking thick tread blocks - Directional tread
Availability
Unfortunately this tyre was phased out a couple of seasons ago.. major bummer! They have developed an RS3 but it’s not for European distribution..boooo
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Hankook Ventus V12 EVO
Dry weather 'grip' - Score 4/5
Very grippy in the dry – very impressive in this respect
Wet weather - score 3/5
Acceptable but you know not to take the piss!.. nothing like the Pilot exaltos.. observe caution!
Track/Road -
Definitely a Road tyre, can’t see them taking much punishment on track
Overall feel and suitability - 2/5
Quite a ‘thin’ feel to them compared to the Pilot Exalto’s, but as least you can feel more of whats going on (recommend fitting new oem anti-roll bar bushes with these if they are worn).. feel quite nice when new, can imagine they might feel harsh when down below half worn.. A decent mid priced tyre, very similar in feel and quality to the Toyo proxies (similar price too)... recommend 32-33 psi on the front with these (personal choice)
admendment.... These have just felt thinner and thinner as the year has gone by....like driving on jelly now /> ... NOT a good choice for the FRP at all!!
Asthetics
Directional tread - Very nice touch having hankook stamped down the center rib..super cool! Score 5/5
Availability
Widely available at very reasonable money! (around £75ish not incl. fitting)
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Denso Iridium Plugs
Helix Clutch
Mobil 1
#2
Posted 05 February 2012 - 11:42 AM
I went for the extra load verson, this tyre has rim protection.
Previous tryes P7000 (loved these) and Toyo T1Rs (did not like these enough to bother writing a review, too sloppy side walls)
Dry weather performance - Score 4/5
Very Good but benefits from getting warm.
Wet weather performance - Score 4/5
Pretty good, suprisingly better then expected and coped well on very heavy down pour on a motorway and did not aqua plane, cornering fine for normal wet weather sensible driving.
Suited for track or road (or maybe both)?? - Score 4/5
Road and have been OK on track.
Very pleased with the controlled tread wear, there was no excessive walking of tyre tread which can suggest weak side walls. I found that the tread does not destroy when trye gets very hot.
So far the tyres did a trip to Germany and the ring and have done five UK track days and still have lots of tread left and pretty even tread wear too. Because I have done 5 half track days I think the tyre compound is harder then I want next time.
Overall firmness/feel and FRP suitability - Score 5/5
Very precise tyre, very precise directional feel. Tyres are very firm and perhaps too noisey for some.
Asthetics / tread pattern - - Score 4/5
Tread pattern OK visually. A directional tyre.
Still available?? / cost / supplier
Yes, GBP 127 each, I bought mine through My Tyres.
I will probally change tyre again when these wear out and have my eye on a set of Advans.
#3
Posted 05 February 2012 - 11:58 AM
I had 2 new ones fitted yesterday.
Dry conditions give fantastic grip but not the best in the wet!
Tread pattern looks good!
I've always had t1r's on the FRP and they seem to last a long time, the ride feels good (it doesn't feel too harsh)
Road noise is quiet, and just a good alround Tyre.
I paid £100 each fitted
Dave #007
#4
Posted 05 February 2012 - 12:55 PM
I would give 4/5 across the board.
I ran both on the car front / back and swapped them around during that time.
Both gripped very well wet and dry.
Trackday included, although the Uniroyles do over heat giving over steer when on the back if pushed on a hot day on the track.
Very controllable and fun to induce
I went from this combination straight to Toyo T1R's all round.
Pumabuild £78 each
A noticeable drop in grip, especially in the wet.
Dry 3/5
wet 2/5
I won't review Yoko Parada wet performance
Mk3 XR3i
R Reg 1.7 Puma
T Reg 1.7 Lux Puma
Now its Racing Puma 072
Graham
#5
Posted 06 February 2012 - 11:29 AM
Dogsbody, on 05 February 2012 - 12:55 PM, said:
I won't review Yoko Parada wet performance
Go for it Graham.. the more the merrier...
Denso Iridium Plugs
Helix Clutch
Mobil 1
#6
Posted 06 February 2012 - 12:31 PM
Not my choice of tyres for every day roads use.
They do look good, like a intermediate racing tyre, and perform about the same on normal roads...
My FRP had them on the front with a good 7mm + of tread on when I bought it.
It followed white lines and road imperfections, aquaplaned and was generally horrible to drive.
So much so I thought it was a problem with the car.
A change to Uniroyles sorted it.
Looks 5/5
Road grip 3/5
Track use 4/5
Wet use 1/5 Ditch finders
OK for a sunny weekend use car or for planting spuds in
They are a lot cheaper than the uniroyles and Pirelli's at £81 each from EARS motorsport.
But you tend to get what you pay for...
The exception to that rule is reviewed below
Mk3 XR3i
R Reg 1.7 Puma
T Reg 1.7 Lux Puma
Now its Racing Puma 072
Graham
#7
Posted 06 February 2012 - 12:48 PM
I picked one of these up and put it opposite a Toyo T1S on the front for a airfield trackday on the basis it wasn't going to last long.
My mistake was which side I fitted it to, thinking the fastest corners would load the driver side.
So I'm at a fast circuit on a dry airfield track day with a tyre which cost me a fiver on Ebay which is going to be hammered trough one hard corner at around 100 mph. A very slight feeling of the inevitable accident was lurking in my mind
How wrong I was. It performed as well as the Toyo at half the price.
Couldn't fault it it any way all day. OK it was a dry and track use only.
But I caught a Ariel Atom up with it on and spent 6 or 7 laps chasing a mate with his Lotus Elise who could open up a gap.
That was all down to cornering speeds and late braking
So Dry track use 4/5
I think Zara has or does use them
Mk3 XR3i
R Reg 1.7 Puma
T Reg 1.7 Lux Puma
Now its Racing Puma 072
Graham
#8
Posted 06 February 2012 - 08:03 PM
Dry weather performance - Score 3.75
Wet weather performance - Score 3.75
Suited for track or road (or maybe both)?? - Score 3.75 I think they are OK for road use, they neither in my eyes excel or dissapoint. When I ran a set on the back, never had them on the front, they did not do anything silly, but I found the feel on track not precise enough for my taste. these did not appear to be a noisey tyre nor were they crashy.
Overall firmness/feel and FRP suitability - Score 3.5 an OK tyre, not as firm in the side walls as I personally prefer (I really like strong side walls), but plenty run these on their FRPs
Asthetics / tread pattern - Score 3 not my cup of T
Still available?? / cost / supplier - Toyo Proxy T1R £77.50 from Pumabuild a very fair tyre for the price
#9
Posted 17 July 2012 - 08:51 AM
avoid on the FRP!... far too thin and jelly like after a few months of use... not good!
will be reviewing the Pirelli PZero Neros when iv'e got a few more miles on them...
Chris
Denso Iridium Plugs
Helix Clutch
Mobil 1
#10
Posted 19 August 2012 - 07:26 AM
But on the advice of 'El Dude' a couple of years ago, when they needed changing I fitted Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 all round. I'd simply echo the thoughts that these are excellent all round , and as a great bonus they just protrude beyond the edge of the rim rather then the other way about which was the case with the previous ones I had fitted (I hate it when this happens), which means you can gently touch kerbs without kerbing the alloys when parking.
I wouldn't use anything else now unless they ever stop producing them
They way I see it is if you find a great product, stick with it, and ATEOTD it's ultimately your tyres which keep your stuck to the road - I want the best I can get to do this well!
#11
Posted 19 August 2012 - 07:34 AM
And my opinion of the toyo t1rs is that they were good in the dry and in the wet.
All depends how hard u push round corners or roundabouts!
FRP 245 - sold, then killed by new owner!
FRP 225 - sold in 2013 and regretted it ever since!FRP ??? - Now after another one after two years of Fiesta ST2 ownership.
#12
Posted 22 August 2012 - 09:26 PM
I'm going to leave the toyo's on the back for now.
£94 each fitted and balanced.
Will get them fitted in the morning.
Now fitted.
I will give them a few days the wear in before trying out the grip levels.
Mk3 XR3i
R Reg 1.7 Puma
T Reg 1.7 Lux Puma
Now its Racing Puma 072
Graham
#13
Posted 23 August 2012 - 06:10 PM
Nankang NS2 5/5 alround as they had good grip in the torential rain coming back from york
Nexen N6000 3/5 alround as they are a good road tyre but don't expect them to perform too well on the track!
This post has been edited by Ginger Tom: 23 August 2012 - 06:12 PM
#14
Posted 05 November 2012 - 02:06 PM
#15
Posted 05 November 2012 - 02:11 PM
Iv'e got a post to make on the Pirelli PZero Nero's too... just want to give them a little more time to settle into my new geometry settings...
ps.. can people read post no.1 before writing please... and offer as much info and comparison as possible..... just 'bigging up' a new tyre isn't actually very subjective or helpful!... ANY new tyre, even the crap ones will transmit a very different feel to the old ones ideally give them a few months to settle, and then big them up..
Denso Iridium Plugs
Helix Clutch
Mobil 1
#16
Posted 05 November 2012 - 04:49 PM
So much more sure footed in the wet conditions
Trackday on Saturday, so a bit of tyre abuse coming up.
Mk3 XR3i
R Reg 1.7 Puma
T Reg 1.7 Lux Puma
Now its Racing Puma 072
Graham
#17
Posted 06 November 2012 - 06:59 PM
#18
Posted 23 June 2013 - 11:05 AM
So the fronts needed replacing and I thought sod it I fancy a change so changed all four to Falken ZE914 (previously had ze912's on my old puma and found them to be very good).
I had been having a fair bit of steering shake and pulling to the left so I was sure I had a buckled wheel and the tracking was out... Neither was the case it was down to the Toyos. Now with the Falkens fitted no steering shake at all and no pull to either side what so ever.
Speaking to the guy that fitted them, apparently Toyos are very prone to this. Has put me off having them again in the future.
Used to hate driving the FRP because of the above and was always on the look out for new wheels as I was soo sure they were buckled never did I think it was down to the tyres.
Haven't really had chance yet to see what the Falkens are like but they grip very well in the dry. Also over £30 cheaper a tyre than Toyos from Black Circles. I paid £67 each delivered and £10 to have them fitted.
#19
Posted 23 June 2013 - 04:31 PM
as usual the issues are always down to geometry and balancing...
Both issues are EXTREMELY hard to fix at the level of service you get at most tyre fitting centers..and as for the tyre fitter saying that's a problem with Toyo's..lol what a complete plonker!..
Veering off to one side is probably down to unequal toe on the rear beam setup, which will need to be adjusted with shim tape...
you'll probably find the new tyres do exactly the same when they bed in to your current settings (unless it's been corrected of course)..
The front needs to toe in around 10mins of a degree on both sides...the rear toe is more like 13, andmust be fairly equal within +- a couple of minutes...
Chris
Denso Iridium Plugs
Helix Clutch
Mobil 1
#20
Posted 23 June 2013 - 04:47 PM