Kumho R800s

[Curly]

Is there anything we should know about these tyres? Picked up a pair as spares for this weekend's Donnelly rally in WA.

We're running a BFMR Familia, and in the past have used Dunlop SP85-R (I think) in a 185/65R14s.

The R800s were only available in a 175 width on a 14" wheel, but the car isn't making big power, so figured it might be ok.

Another forumite suggested that they can be easy to pop off the rims, so they ran silly pressures in order to stop that. Can anyone confirm/deny?

They look a lot less chunky - tread blocks much closer together, so fingers crossed they'll wear well and handle swept conditions nicely. Just have to keep it out of the soft stuff I suppose.

[lisalex]

I ran these in LCC Safari and by proxy in Darling 200 last year. Ran my normal pressures, didn't get them cut (was suggested as an option by the dealer, I figured I could cut them later to improve grip if I wanted).

I had no problems with them, although having them roll off the rim would be more likely on the rear, and I haven't used them on the rear.

I found them more durable than the Dunlop SP85 S (non kevlar), and prefer them on the front (of a FWD) because I don't like buying new tyres every event.

The "traction cut" opens up the tread a bit to improve grip, Raz has a set that have been cut for reference.

Alex.

[gslrallysport]

Originally Posted by lisalex

I found them more durable than the Dunlop SP85 S (non kevlar), and prefer them on the front (of a FWD) because I don't like buying new tyres every event.

The "traction cut" opens up the tread a bit to improve grip, Raz has a set that have been cut for reference.

Alex.

Quoted for absolute truth! I've also ran them back to back against the SP85, and prefer them for both wear AND grip. They're also a lot more predictable. I've also used the traction cut, and found it good on the excel to open it up a bit and get some more heat. This was all on the Excel, but I certainly plan to use them on the RS once the Silverstones I bought with it are worn out...

[Curly]

Awesome, cheers for the info. So no more susceptible to rolling off the rim than the equivalent Dunlop? What pressures should we run - aim for 28 hot or thereabouts?

Originally Posted by lisalex

although having them roll off the rim would be more likely on the rear, and I haven't used them on the rear.

Maybe I'm just being soft, but I would have thought it's more likely to roll a tyre off a rim on the front... In all our khanacrosses, we've never rolled a rear tyre off. Wavey popped a front off at Donnelly last year by being a bit understeery into a dirt gutter.

Unless you're going crazy hard and backing it in to dirt banks beside the road, I don't see how it's going to happen...

[gslrallysport]

Originally Posted by Curly

Awesome, cheers for the info. So no more susceptible to rolling off the rim than the equivalent Dunlop? What pressures should we run - aim for 28 hot or thereabouts?

In 2008 we did 11 events on the R800, didn't have a single tyre issue... we then did one event on Dunlop, and this was the result:
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-...15907_2218.jpg
... I turned the destroyed sidewall into a clock!

I've got no qualms running the R800.

[lisalex]

Originally Posted by Curly

I would have thought it's more likely to roll a tyre off a rim on the front...

The reason I say this is because I run lower pressures in the back. I laugh at your insinuation that you are soft (in comparison to me).

28 hot is the minimum recommended pressure I found on the rally.com.au site:
http://rally.com.au/images/stories/R...mperatures.pdf

There is a cutting guide that I'm chasing down, will post up here when I get a hold of it.

[gslrallysport]

Here ya go! When they said 2WD they mean RWD. FWD would be the same as 4WD.

[lisalex]

Here's the original pdf from f-sport (it's basically the same)

[gslrallysport]

Originally Posted by lisalex

Here's the original pdf from f-sport (it's basically the same)

haha, yeah that is better than my dodgy scanned faxed copy!

[Curly]

Cheers for that. Looks like hard work. Painful too if Sarah catches me sneaking her knives out of the kitchen.