My car currently has 13" Yoko A539 tyres. I don't have any problems with them, they're the best tyre I've ever used on a mini (limited by what I've tried).

I'm thinking about upgrading to A032Rs, mainly from the point of view of the increased safety more than any desire to push my car any harder through corners.

From those that have experience - would the driving characteristics change if I swap the tyres? I'm concerned that though they may come with more grip, there will be an inevitable point where you go from grip to no grip very quickly, where as on a harder / normal tyre, there would be more of a transition phase you feel as a warning.

The other thing - my car is lucky to see 2000 Km use a year, and is only driven on dry weather days. Is it worth it to me?
What sort of life can I expect to get from A032R's? Will the tread wear out after 4000 Kms or will they go hard from lack of use first?

Experience stories would be much appreciated.
Thanks.

To answer some of your questions
* From my experience, old and hard A032R's (once warmed up to normal road use temps) will provide grip levels exceeding normal road tyres, they can be a little skatey when totally cold.
* for a road car they are very noisy, you may not like that.
* once warm, you would be trying very hard to reach the grip limits of an A032R tyre on public roads - wet or dry.
* I've never used 13" wheels so can't help there
* Yes, you should get 4000k's out of a set, provided you aren't doing track days.

On the road in dry conditions they're fine, they aren't by any means a racing slick but they're excellent on a road car, good grip levels and a pretty good compound, however, they're a compromise in wet conditions, on a race track, they're crap in the wet. On the road they're fine because the speed isn't there. They just don't clear water as good as a full road tyre. Don't let that scare you off though, they are more then fine for a road car.

I'm running them and have used them past they're limits and let me assure you it's beyond most people's common sense level

I still have A048s on 13" rims. Not sure if you can get A032 any more in 13".

After a few years of alternating daily/spirited/track driving they are only just legal and have certainly hardened but are still better than any of the "road" tyres. If I had know about heat cycling the first time out they would probably be better than they are now.

Great fun on both road & track, and they don't just "let go" like hard road tyres. The huge improvement in grip in the dry is lost in the wet, so you have to drive like a normal person then

They would be ideal for your intended use.

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Too many cars, and too little time.

A048 Is what I mean you're right AWDmoke.

They have a new tread an compound spec now can't remember what ao it is but it's far superior to the ao48, should investigate that In a 13

It's only a slight improvement from the A048R to the A050R, but in Oz they only do a 60 series in 13" for the new version. You need 175/50 to keep the diameter down.

Just looked up the UK, you can still get the old A032s

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Too many cars, and too little time.

They are far better than any road tire in both the wet and dry.

IMO although the speeds are higher when traction is lost the communication back to the driver is far better and the transition is easily felt, they don't just snap and break traction you get good warning.

There are different compounds as well hard medium and soft all marked on the side wall (H/M/S) a medium compound should last you a while.

Just buy from overseas as the local market is a rip off for R compound tires.

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Starlet Conversion:
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15484

What are the hard compound ones like for road use?
Would they have the best life and still be better than normal road tyres?

I've never used the hard compound but would imagine they'd still be better than an A539.

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Starlet Conversion:
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15484

I've only ever used soft compound, i've never seen any other compound on A032's used in 10" in Australia.

Despite what has been said above, i still think they are a pretty good wet weather tyre, compared to your average road tyre. I'd rather drive on A032R's in the wet compared to Yoko 008's, but thats just my opinion.

The new ones are A050. The smallest size the come in is 175/60-13

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Tim
Dusk Blue
1964 850

They were over a second a lap quicker back to back tested on a Porsche 944 I reckon that's a dramatic improvement!

Also re wet weather performance. I can do a faster lap time on a good road tyre then on yoko r rubber.. But would hardly notice on the road

the AO48R 175-50-13 is a wicked tyre

i recommend them very highly

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.