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Heres a picture of my 1993 Rover Metro GTi. I have owned it for about 3 years. It is the 103 bhp mpi model in Flame Red with Silverstone seats. It used to be my daily runabout until December 2006 when I decided to use it for sprinting. I've since polybushed the suspension, fitted a rear strut brace, adjustable front dampers, Magnacor leads, irridium spark plugs and dropped a tyre profile to 175/50/13 Yokohamas A539s. I did a full championship as a novice female driver in 2007, came 2nd in class overall and was also awarded the Graham Light trophy for Best Newcomer of 2007.

My first GTi was a late Flame red like that. It even had gold wheels when I bought it although the first thing to happen was I changed them back to silver.

I've got yoko A539s on my vvc and I have to say they suck donkey balls and they scream like a schoolgirl at a Westlife concert. I'm sure you'd have come first in class with some better rubber.

Lol. I've found the A539s to be better than the Toyo road pros I had, but as you say there are probably better tyres yet! Being in "standard class" I'm only allowed to fit tyres under group A such as the Yokos. Even so, the lower profiles certainly make the steering lighter and more positive which is great for Curborough as its such a small but twisty track.

i have only run 175-50-13 ....10 years ..... the yoka`s are too soft a compound .... the dunlops are probley the best for road use all round ...but i found the p700 pirellis the best on the track ... just my view

Thanks for the info I daresay I'll experiment with different tyres as I progress. I bought the Yokos because all the MG Metro Cup racers used them up until recently so I figured they should be ok.

o there ok ...but becouse thay are a soft compound ... don`t last to long !

Nothing in my opinion, and alot of other experienced Metro drivers opinions too, beats the Toyo Roadpro R610 as the best standard size tyre on the Metro GTi. None of the others make the car feel stable on the road and none of them inspire confidence like the Toyos. Camac, Dunlop, Pirelli, Yoko A510 etc I've tried them all and none handle the rain as well.

I can't say I've been on track with A539s but I have driven on the road with them in a couple of sizes and I honestly find them naff in the wet or even on a damp or greasy country lane they are poor compared to the Toyos. As I say my opinion of them is from the road, on the track the softer compound is probably better suited. Have you tried Falken ZE513s?

Hi Barry! I used to have Toyo Road Pros in 185/55/13s on my GTi at beginning of season but have got on much better with the Yoko 175/50/13. I also used to have Falkens on my Turbo but as I aint raced it I can't comment on them.
Its probably just a personal thing with tyres. I daresay my GTi would perform even better with something else recommended and I would certainly upgrade when the time comes. I aint a particulary aggressive driver and prefer to drive quickly but smoothly when I'm competeing. In my case the Yokos have suited me well so far.

Heres a clip of me later in the season.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bwju8kNpd8

I think the Falken is even softer than the Yoko, maybe worth a try.

As I said, my experience of all the tyres is on the road, and mostly on country lanes at that. The A539 just doesn't seem to handle damp, greasy, muddy, leafy or wet conditions at all.
Its fine, if a bit of a screamer, on smooth and dry main roads, for me a tyre has to cope with far more than just a track though.