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track tires (BFG vs. Yoko)

Mike--

You asked for input on Yokohoma and BFG R compund track tires. So here 
goes....

If you have a reasonably stock suspension, by far the best choice is the 
BFG R1. Becuase of the tire construction, you get about 2 degrees 
negative camber just from the tire. This is important for the track where 
you might otherwise run on the outer edge of the tire when cornering. It 
remains the most popular tire at CCA schools and track events.

The Yoko A008s are R compund tires but represent old technology (and make
sure you get the track tire not the autocross tire). They're an old
design.  Good wear but slow lap times. Personally, I couldn't recommend
them any longer. 

I have recent experience with the new Yoko A032R on a E30 M3 with sport 
suspension (i.e., stiff, lower, and with negative camber built in). I'm 
trying them because as a club racer if you win your class with them Yoko 
gives you free tires. (We're allowed to dream, right?)

Brand new with full tread (8/32") they are no comparison to a worn set of
BFG R1s--the BFGs are quicker.  But a new set of BFGs are no match for a
worn set of BFGs either! As the Yokos have worn in, they are getting
quicker and may match the times of the BFGs. I have yet to see. The Yokos
do appear to be wearing well. Right now, I would say better than the BFGs
and the famous "groove of doom". Again, too early to tell definitively,
but Yoko says they should wear better. 

After a day and one half of track time on the Yokos (i.e., not shaved but 
delivered full tread), it appears that the Yokos cannot be driven as 
roughly as the BFGs can or are as forgiving. Of course, both like smooth 
driving technique but I THINK the Yokos more so. 

One thing I do not like about the YOKOs so far is the necessity of moving
my braking points back somewhat from where I'm used to braking with the
BFGs. Right now, with the YOKOs starting to get broken in, this is
where I PERCEIVE the largest difference to be--i.e., the performance of
the two tires under braking. 

One important factor which may change this impression has to do with cold
tire inflation pressures. The Yoko is so new that the folks at Yoko
Motorsport could not give me a definitive recommendation for where to
start with cold pressures. This past weekend, I elected to use 30F/30R and
chalk the tires. The tire chalk suggested these pressures were in the ball
park and the car was well-balanced in the turns (i.e., no obvious under or
over steer). Unfortunately, I was not able to get hot tread temperatures
because I did not have a pyrometer handy. It may very well be that by
adjusting the tire pressures to get even and optimal tread temperatures, I
may be able to improve on the Yokos' performance under braking and
elsewhere. I hope to do so very soon.

The above relates to dry weather performance. I know the BFGs with some
tread are outstanding in the rain. It appears the same will hold for the
Yokos given their unique tread design. 

One annoyance with the Yokos is that they are a directional tire. You can 
swap front and back but not left and right without dismounting the tire 
from the wheel. With the BFGs, you generally put your best tire on the 
left front with no worries about directionality.

Finally, there are other DOT approved R compund tires to consider. Toyo, 
Hoosier, Goodyear, and others have them. I;ve heard good things about the 
Hoosiers but have not tried them. The Goodyear GS-CS may be the quickest 
of all but you gotta have deep pockets--I'm told they don't wear well and 
will wind up costing you extra $$$$.

Hope this helps,

Phil Abrami