Yokohama A052 - Good for Fast Laps, Terrible on Wear

[MasterC17]

Just incase anyone was considering the A052 for Road Course use, here is what mine look like after 2.5 hours of track time.

I flipped them once at the 1.5 hour mark. I can probably get another hour out of them, but that may be pushing it. All four look just as bad. -3 degrees of camber in the front and -2.5 in the rear.

Considering the RT660 next, but no perfect sizes. 295/40/18 looks like it would probably work, but a bit tall.

 

[Mash]

A052 are qualifying tires and die super fast. Street use kills them within months as well. They said it's the same compound as the one they use on racing slicks. Similar story as r888.

 

[MasterC17]

A052 are qualifying tires and die super fast. Street use kills them within months as well. They said it's the same compound as the one they use on racing slicks. Similar story as r888.

Yeah, I knew they wouldn't last terribly long, but was hoping for better than this.

According to the below video, the RT660 is as fast but should last much longer.

 

[subieworx]

I have used A052's extensively on time attack cars that I build. They work amazingly well with the right amount of camber.

I have also used RT600's quite a lot as my team is sponsored by Falken. They are equally as fast as the A052. They do not feel quite as good to me and they need a proper good heat cycling when new. That said they last quite a bit longer than the A052's. Probably helps that they start with 3/32 more tread as well.

I won a class at the last time attack event with Gridlife in my Model 3 running RT660 tires. That is the third event on those tires and they still have lots of tread left and are still quick.

 

[MasterC17]

I have used A052's extensively on time attack cars that I build. They work amazingly well with the right amount of camber.

I have also used RT600's quite a lot as my team is sponsored by Falken. They are equally as fast as the A052. They do not feel quite as good to me and they need a proper good heat cycling when new. That said they last quite a bit longer than the A052's. Probably helps that they start with 3/32 more tread as well.

I won a class at the last time attack event with Gridlife in my Model 3 running RT660 tires. That is the third event on those tires and they still have lots of tread left and are still quick.

Appreciate the feedback! What size did you run on the 3 with the RT660?

 

[M3Pdude]

I am heading to my first autox event this weekend with a new set of A052s. I'm all stock so no camber. After seeing this post I am thinking I made mistake on the A052s. Oh well, hoping I don't destroy them too fast.

 

[GAGT]

I am heading to my first autox event this weekend with a new set of A052s. I'm all stock so no camber. After seeing this post I am thinking I made mistake on the A052s. Oh well, hoping I don't destroy them too fast.

Mistake for sure. You'll want to over air them, spray them down after every run, limit over-running them(I'm prone to this being an aggressive autocrosser) and you'll be ok. Forget one of those 3 things and you'll be delaminating them pretty quickly.

 

[SK360]

Yeah A052’s are great for AutoX when someone else is paying for your tires but otherwise on cars with this much weight I’d go RT660 as they’re supposed to be more like RE71Rs in terms of wear.

 

[butterscotch]

Just incase anyone was considering the A052 for Road Course use, here is what mine look like after 2.5 hours of track time.

View attachment 685533

I flipped them once at the 1.5 hour mark. I can probably get another hour out of them, but that may be pushing it. All four look just as bad. -3 degrees of camber in the front and -2.5 in the rear.

Considering the RT660 next, but no perfect sizes. 295/40/18 looks like it would probably work, but a bit tall.

what size were the tires?

 

[butterscotch]

Yeah A052’s are great for AutoX when someone else is paying for your tires but otherwise on cars with this much weight I’d go RT660 as they’re supposed to be more like RE71Rs in terms of wear.

I've run RE71RS and they are great! How's RT660 compared to it?

 

[MasterC17]

what size were the tires?

295/40/18

 

[SK360]

I've run RE71RS and they are great! How's RT660 compared to it?

I'm still on RE's but supposed to be very similar

 

[butterscotch]

295/40/18

under stock fenders? I can't imagine how 295 can fit in the front lol

 

[MasterC17]

under stock fenders? I can't imagine how 295 can fit in the front lol

Yup - just need enough camber (-2.5 or more).

 

[butterscotch]

Yup - just need enough camber (-2.5 or more).

interesting, what's the spec of your wheels? specifically the width and offset. I imagine it has to be carefully calculated so it doesn't rub the control arm and the fender

 

[MasterC17]

interesting, what's the spec of your wheels? specifically the width and offset. I imagine it has to be carefully calculated so it doesn't rub the control arm and the fender

18x10.5 ET25

 

[subieworx]

Appreciate the feedback! What size did you run on the 3 with the RT660?

Class limited to 255's. Have been running 255 35 18. Going to 40's next.

 

[Sam1]

is that just the lighting from the pic or is the center tread starting to blue over?

 

[MasterC17]

is that just the lighting from the pic or is the center tread starting to blue over?

Hmm, not sure. It wouldn't surprise me if it were. Haven't driven the car in 3 weeks lol

 

[Sam1]

Hmm, not sure. It wouldn't surprise me if it were. Haven't driven the car in 3 weeks lol

If it's bluing I've never seen that happen on sections of a car tire. It's usually the whole thing or nothing. On motorcycles it happens pretty much all the time, but that's because 95% of the heat comes from cornering on a side, the the middle is untouched.

Would be interesting to see that though, seems it would have to be dual compound for the center to be blued and the side tread not.