there have been many instances of Spec Miata guys getting 2 weekends or less out of their Toyo RA-1's recently. i know a lot of you honda guys run these tires and in the exact same size we do (205/50R15), i was wondering if anybody was experiencing the same problem. i need a new set of tires for next year, and as it looks like we're moving to open tire, i'm exploring other options than the Toyo.

 

Got a set of 205s from Phill back in March/April. 4 race weekends on them, they look like they will do a few more.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tnord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">there have been many instances of Spec Miata guys getting 2 weekends or less out of their Toyo RA-1's recently. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Are they really worn down to the cords, or they just loose their competitive edge? Another question would be how much do some of the SM guys shave them down to. Depending on how competitive SM is in a given region, I would not be surprised if there are people racing on new tires each weekend. Having said that, from what I remember of the RA1 shaved dry tire, they remain quick for quite a while and many heat cycles.

 

the ones i've personally witnessed were shaved to 4/32nd's and i did see cord coming through after 2 weekends. an alignment was done on the car right when they were put on as well.

some people will shave to 3/32nd, i've heard of one down to 2/32nd. but for the most part it is the usual 4/32nd that people are having problems with. i know of 2 guys in my region who have gone through 2 sets each with the same problem. there are many others across the country.

 

in Ontario it was noticed that RA1's had 2 different tread wear ratings at the end of the year I picked up a set with a treadwear of 40 while everyone else I knew had a set that had 100 stamped on the side... I'm not sure which is new since I might have been given old stock and I don't have the tires anymore to tell when they were made.

 

I run that size with no problems with 4/32 shave at 2305 lbs. I ran 4 HC weekends plus two test days on set one (40 TW rating), and this weekend will be the fourth weekend on set two (100 TW rating). I am a front runner BTW.

I am sure all eight tires could go another 4 weekends as rears.

Sounds like an odd batch perhaps. Or maybe some chemical treatment? Weather or track conditions affecting wear?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rickpeak &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Sounds like an odd batch perhaps. Or maybe some chemical treatment? Weather or track conditions affecting wear?

</TD></TR></TABLE>

an odd batch perhaps. the thing that worries us is it is we're hearing about problems like this all across the country, so it's not that the new concrete at mid-ohio is the problem.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tnord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">an odd batch perhaps. the thing that worries us is it is we're hearing about problems like this all across the country, so it's not that the new concrete at mid-ohio is the problem.</TD></TR></TABLE>

My RA1's came with two different stickers. Some Yellow, some Purple. I bought them in July/August from Frisby tire. They don't seem to be wearing very evenly but I was just attributing that to left/rightness.

Maybe Todd Swift from Frisby tire can comment, he sells a ton of 205/15R15's to the Miata guys.

Let me see what the two stickers said differently (I think font sizes changed not sure... I'll throw up a pic.)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ccfries &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

My RA1's came with two different stickers. Some Yellow, some Purple. I bought them in July/August from Frisby tire. They don't seem to be wearing very evenly but I was just attributing that to left/rightness.

Maybe Todd Swift from Frisby tire can comment, he sells a ton of 205/15R15's to the Miata guys.

Let me see what the two stickers said differently (I think font sizes changed not sure... I'll throw up a pic.)

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Here's the stickers.

Also, my lefts and rights appear to have different markings... could be normal, could be.... sinister evil Toyo plot to wear my tires unevenly!!!

 

One left and one right say CX6 97V2004
The other left and right are CX6 97V2504 and CX6 97V2904.

The left ones have the marking 97V2?04 on the inside.

-Chris

 

Its all part of the Toyo master plan.

First: estalish a reputation as a long lasting, durable and low cost tire to get the tire specced as a required tire in many popular series
Second: slowly raise price of tire
Third: take away durability, requiring frequent replacement of an expensive, but required tire


Evan
who is hopefully only kidding

 

i have ran toyos and they have lasted more then 6 track days (streets of willow ) which is harsh on tires and brakes.
i have ran 235/45/17 -6 track days and still seems that they have about another 4 left in them.
and 255/40/17
but they have not been shave so i know that has alot to do with it . The funny thing i notice on the last set that some said tread wear 100 AA and the other 40 AA

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ccfries &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">One left and one right say CX6 97V2004
The other left and right are CX6 97V2504 and CX6 97V2904.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

You do know the last 4 numbers are just build date, right? 20th, 25th, and 29th week of '04, respectively. Maybe I missed someone pointing that out already.

Nothing to be worried about.

 

Oh yeah? Well how do you explain the purple and yellow stickers Mr. Smarty Pants?

(Just kidding-- thanks for the info, that makes sense. Now I know...)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">First: estalish a reputation as a long lasting, durable and low cost tire to get the tire specced as a required tire in many popular series
Second: slowly raise price of tire
Third: take away durability, requiring frequent replacement of an expensive, but required tire

</TD></TR></TABLE>

[underpants gnome] 4th: PROFIT!! [/underpants gnome]

Matt&lt;---wondering if anyone got that....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ccfries &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Oh yeah? Well how do you explain the purple and yellow stickers Mr. Smarty Pants? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Well, yellow is obviously faster than purple, duh.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MaddMatt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

[underpants gnome] 4th: PROFIT!! [/underpants gnome]

Matt&lt;---wondering if anyone got that....</TD></TR></TABLE>

Actually Profit was the 3rd step of the Underpants gnome's business plan.

Do you know the second step? If not no bother, someone else knows right?

 

Second step:

 

1st stage: you get the underpants
2nd stage: you get the power
3rd stage: profit

isn't it something like that?

 

Step 1: Steal underpants!

Step 2: ...

Step 3: Profit!