AD08 or Assymetric 2 for an Evo?

ChrisD.

ChrisD.

ChrisD.

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I'm getting an Evo in a few weeks. The tyres will need replacing in a few months and I'm in 2 minds about which of the above to go for?

I'm not too fussed about the price, I'm more thinking about an everyday usability and performance aspect.

I realise that the AD08 is a better tyre in fast road and dry conditions, but I'm wondering whether during my first few months of ownership while I'm getting used to 4WD, boost etc if I'm better off getting a pure road tyre that can perhaps handle UK weather a little bit better in extreme conditions over a super sport/semi slick tyre?
 
I think the most important question is whether you're going to track the car and how often. Personally, if it's primarily a road car with a rare track day then I'd go for the F1A2, if you're going to be spanking it round a track given every opportunity then AD08 without question.
 
MilanoChris said:
No I haven't to be honest, another contender I guess.
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Trust me when I say this on an EVO you need the steering alive as possible in terms of feedback and responsiveness and AD08's will make it feel like a different car. If you must fit a road tyre then SuperSports!
 
Bump for this.

I'm ordering new tyres soon and considering I'll be doing some commuting I'm a little put off by the wet weather grip and wear rate of the AD08's.
 
RE050A you mean? I'm considering everything. My concern is that I will be using it as a daily now and again I think the AD08 may be a little too extreme.

I had looked at sourcing RE070 but I can't find them in 235/45/17 and I expect the price to go upwards. Asymmetric 2, Super Sport 3, RE050A etc are all coming in at under £100 a corner delivered (Camskill) and AD08s are £134 via the MLR so that would be my upper limit on price.
 
I run AD08s on my VX220 and survived the winter OK so far, even driving to work in the snow. Wet weather is surprisingly good, expect their shortfall will be aquaplaning when hitting standing water, but wet roads with good drainage is not a problem. Judging by their current wear, I expect I would have got over 8000 miles on them when they are replaced.
 
Trifid said:
I run AD08s on my VX220 and survived the winter OK so far, even driving to work in the snow. Wet weather is surprisingly good, expect their shortfall will be aquaplaning when hitting standing water, but wet roads with good drainage is not a problem. Judging by their current wear, I expect I would have got over 8000 miles on them when they are replaced.
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That's the problems with the roads I drive on to work, there is quite often large puddles as the drainage is rubbish hence I'm somewhat worried about AD08s in these situations.
 
MilanoChris said:
That's the problems with the roads I drive on to work, there is quite often large puddles as the drainage is rubbish hence I'm somewhat worried about AD08s in these situations.
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AD08's will make the car feel sublime though!
On extremely wet days just drive to the conditions and you obviously know where deep puddles will develop so just drive slower. :)

If wet performance is a must then F1AS2 or MPSS!
 
I've got AD08's and they are a great tyre that really suits the car.

However, if you want to boast to your mates how great your 4WD Japanese sports saloon is in the snow, you'd best buy yourself a spare set of wheels.
 
I'm gonna disagree with the suggestion to fit AD08's as that would just leave you with the worst grip when you might need it most. If you want track day tyres get them on separate rims and buy a cheap trolley jack :)
 
Dr Who said:
I'm gonna disagree with the suggestion to fit AD08's as that would just leave you with the worst grip when you might need it most. If you want track day tyres get them on separate rims and buy a cheap trolley jack :)
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Gibbo posting on 8 packs account, I owned an EVO X and the AD08's were fine, infact they were truly sublime in both dry and wet conditions when warm. Admittedly on freezing days in the wet they were like bars of soap, but very predictable and controllable, easy and fun.

Of course for Winter I fitted Michelin Alpin sport tyres which meant that in those freezing wet and snowy conditions I could still drove the car like I stole it.

For me that was the best combo, the AD08's are very good in the wet, ON A WARM DAY, if its very cold then yes they are slippy but very communitive, predictable and controllable. :)
 
The AD08's are hardly a death trap in the rain, and only really an issue if you are pushing your luck and there is a lot of standing water and/or torrential rain. You've got to ask yourself why you'd be doing this in most cases.

Even then, you are sitting in one of the best type of cars to handle such a situation.
 
You won't need winter tyres. Almost everyone here seems to be under the impression that AD08 is an S tyre, it isn't. They cope fine with winter, no different to another UHP summer tyre.
Grip is excellent, wet, dry, hot, cold, whatever. Aquaplaning is not an issue, if there is a difference then it is hardly even preceptible. Besides, when has aquaplaning ever been an issue for you, think about it..? One time I drove them into a flood at 70mph, nothing bad happened.
Mild mannered, no wierd traits like the tramlining I have with RE070, no abrupt breakaway of grip, just fine.
Great wear rate, 10k road and 5 trackdays from my last set.

Comparing directly with an F1AS2, grip level I found roughly comparable in all conditions, although I never truly pushed the F1s nor did I use them on track. The difference is in the rigidity, they are tyres at opposite ends of the scale. Ad08 are solid, F1 have sidewalls literally as pliable as chewing gum and this makes a huge difference to the feedback you receive from the road, and the responsiveness to steering inputs.
Downside to the AD08 is only the increased ride harshness and noise transmission, it's about the same as runflats. If you cared about these attributes you wouldn't drive an Evo though??
 
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