Tyres review : Uniroyal RainExpert 5

 

TL;DR  Uniroyal RainExpert 5 are a solid choice.

So after the Vosges trip, it was really time to replace the rear Avon ZT7.  I never found the ZT7 to be any good, but after 18 000 km they were mostly slick, and made the car unpredictable on wet roads.

On a rush I called the local tyre station to know what they had in inventory. They could provide me with a pair of  Uniroyal RainExpert 5 immediately. I went there two hours later, during lunchtime.

As I know that the Caterham cannot be lifted with their usual scissor jacks, I parked in the empty area of the shop and guided the mechanic for the appropriate lift point (the center of the diff).

We are now 5 months later with about 9000km driven since. This feels like a good time for a proper look-back.

At first, they felt really weird, with the rear-and slithering under my ass. I found it so bad that I did intent on quickly burning those things a mount something else as soon as possible.

On the other hand, driving under the first rain felt very promising, with the rear remaining well planted on the road even in the trickiest curves while the front axle was sliding with the Avon ZT7.

After some time, let's say between 500-1000km, they became very good on dry too. They really pumped-up my confidence in the car. With those, I'm not afraid of anything on dry, and they are probably the best thing you can get for the wet. They evacuate water very well, so much so that they spray laterally above the wheel arches on the motorway. 

All in all they are excellent on both dry and wet, really hot days or near freezing alike.

Talking with the guys at a Static Rally, I learned that the RainSport 5 and RainExpert 5 are actually a known quantity, and well appreciated on the Caterham. They also told me that this is the tyre used in the VW Fun Cup. 

That first set will last me around 10 000 km but I drove them all along with the intent of burning them as fast as possible. My guesstimate is that they would last at least 15 000 km if driven in a sporty manner, and well over 20 000 km with a sensible driver behind the wheel.

As the front ZT7 are reaching their end too, I plan on having a full set of those RainExpert 5 before next summer.