We just wrapped up the first of a few planned tests comparing the Vitour P1 against the Yokohama A052. If you’re ready to experience the P1 for yourself, grab them at vitourp1.com!
Here’s the setup:
- Car: Stock C8 Stingray
- Tires: 295/18 front, 315/18 rear
- Track Conditions: Sunny, temperatures in the 50s
- Tires Tested: Vitour P1 vs Yokohama A052
Results
Both Michael Young and I ran the Vitour P1 for two sessions in the morning, followed by the A052 in the afternoon. The lap times for both tires were incredibly close, within a few tenths of each other on a roughly 2:30 lap. While my fastest lap was on the A052, that was more due to better driving and improved conditions. Mike, on the other hand, set his fastest lap on the P1.
Key Takeaways:
- Flying Laps: The P1s offered more flying laps. I felt confident getting two solid flyers, and the data suggested that most of the time I could squeeze out three. When the P1s did overheat, the fall-off was around 2 seconds. The A052 is known for significant fall-off when overheated, and while I didn’t get many clean back-to-back flyers on the A052, the difference in fall-off between the two was noticeable. As Mike put it, "the Yoks fall off significantly."
- Grip Levels: The grip felt pretty similar between the two tires. However, the P1s communicated better, giving more feedback and letting you know when they’re at the limit, which helps with consistent lap times.
- First Impressions at Road America: This was Mike's and my first time at Road America, so we weren’t as consistent as we would be at our home tracks. Still, the test was productive, and I even managed to set a class/track record during the event!
Next Steps
Later in the season, I’ll continue testing these tires at my home tracks, where I’ve set records and can put down back-to-back laps within tenths. I’m looking forward to getting even more consistent data from tracks I’m more familiar with.
Check out my track footage from the event here!