So what is the deal with Toyo sleeping on the R888? It's been out overseas for almost 2 years and were stuck with the outdated RA1.. Will 07' be the year when Toyo finally updates their ageing R compound tire?

http://www.toyo.co.uk/page.php?identity=r888

 

Good find, Chris. I'd like to know more, also. Anyone have any info on this?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 6ghatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> ageing R compound tire?</TD></TR></TABLE>
i like the ra1s...

 

what else have you driven on

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Driven &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i like the ra1s... </TD></TR></TABLE>
What's not to like?

If I had to guess, DOT approval is what's holding up the boat.

"The Toyo® Proxes RA-1, a DOT-approved competition tire designed specifically for improved touring racing and autocross, features all the high-tech components to provide you with an uncommon competitive advantage. It's a proven winner.

From its aggressive directional tread design to its steel wire-reinforced sidewalls, the purpose is clear-- to maintain your winning edge.

At its full tread depth (8/32 inch) the RA-1 provides wet traction, but shave it to 4/32 inch and hang on as your dry lap times drop!"

 

They go for around 200 US dollars right now, I know that much, and TOYO's website says for Dry/wet conditions but websites I looked at about them all said Wet race conditions should be avoided. They also don't offer the 225/45/15 size, just a 215/50/15 and 225/50/15

 

when will they be released? no 205/50/15?

 

they have 205 50 15.... click the link

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Justin3 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">They also don't offer the 225/45/15 size, just a 215/50/15....</TD></TR></TABLE>
The 215-50-15 is pretty close to the US 225-45-15 RA1 size. The width is listed as 228 mm, which is close to the 9 inches I've measured on the USDM RA1.

It's possible that changes to the compound could more than make up for the slight tread width difference.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Justin3 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...but websites I looked at about them all said Wet race conditions should be avoided. </TD></TR></TABLE>
Do you mind if I ask what those sites are?

 

http://www.etyres.co.uk was one with the most info I found.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris F &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
What's not to like?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

The fact that the RA-1s are so much slower then the DOT "slicks". Makes it hard to compete outside NASA with them. If Toyo came out with a DOT "slick", that would ease some tension of spec tires.

 

What do you need the R888's for when you have the NT-01's? (same compound as R888)

it's just too bad about the limited sizes for NT-01's

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Honda318dx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The fact that the RA-1s are so much slower then the DOT "slicks". Makes it hard to compete outside NASA with them. If Toyo came out with a DOT "slick", that would ease some tension of spec tires.</TD></TR></TABLE>

It's THE FASTEST TIRE to have in Honda-Challenge! Your hypotheitcal dot slick doesn't work in the rain. Plus, it gives you an "uncommon competitive advantage". Didn't you read the marketing?

"It's a proven winner."

Even I could prove that they're a winner.

Suppose all NASA HC drivers will use Toyos at nationals, and one of those drivers will win, then the winner of HC at nationals will use Toyos.

Proven winner.

-Chris, rambling...

 

reveiws on the 888s floating around arent fantastic. usually the only people giving them rave reviews have only driven on street tires. I think these may be closer to Falkens then real race rubber.

 

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

It's THE FASTEST TIRE to have in Honda-Challenge! Your hypotheitcal dot slick doesn't work in the rain. Plus, it gives you an "uncommon competitive advantage". Didn't you read the marketing?

"It's a proven winner."

Even I could prove that they're a winner.

Suppose all NASA HC drivers will use Toyos at nationals, and one of those drivers will win, then the winner of HC at nationals will use Toyos.

Proven winner.

-Chris, rambling...</TD></TR></TABLE>


Are you drunk?

 

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

Sometimes.

 

I autocrossed on the R888s two weeks ago...

The tire is progressive, has many of the same characteristics of the RA1 as far as being able to hang it out and it being forgiving. I didn't test it back to back though, and the surface I was on was very slippery, so I don't think it would be fair to give impressions of overall grip level.

I will be on them at Carolina Motorsports Park this weekend, and will be able to report back more then.

btw, car in question is AMS Evo VIII.. 500whp at the Autocross, will be closer to 560 this weekend at the track, tires 295/30/18 R888s.

Jon K
http://www.seat-time.com

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Toyo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The Toyo® Proxes RA-1, a DOT-approved competition tire designed specifically for improved touring racing and autocross</TD></TR></TABLE>
. . . yeah, like a decade ago . . .

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris F &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Suppose all NASA HC drivers will use Toyos at nationals, and one of those drivers will win, then the winner of HC at nationals will use Toyos.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Reminds me of those old Camaro commercials that showed them winning IROC races. Well gee, that's an impressive accomplishment!

 

Toyo RA-1's are the shizzle. They rule. They have been proven in tests to add at least 25 horsepower and make your HC car lap faster than an ALMS prototype. If you run RA-1's you won't even need sponsor stickers on your car you'll be so fast. Plus, they stay uber-fast for their entire life, approximately 1659 heat cycles, or 22 years, whichever comes first. They'll save you so much money to race you can just quit your job and live off Toyo bucks (they're quite nutritious and can be burned to provide heat in the winter).

DISCLAIMER: These statements only apply for HC race cars withing the confines of NASA race weekends - if you bring that crap to a SCCA wearing RA-1's you can still have fun with the slow end of SM and the ITC cars.

-Floyd, who's really not Toyo bashing!

 

You know, there are more and more track tires coming on the market all the time, so there are lots and lots of choices - NT01, Z211, Z214, Hoosiers, Kumhos, Pilot Sport Cup, PZero Corsa, A032R, A048, RA-1, Tech RA, and on and on. There used to be only a couple of choices, but no longer.

Also, lots of us are willing to try new R comps when they come on the market. And word gets around. That works both ways, too. If a tire comes out and it's clearly superior to everything else out there, people will find out; if a tire comes out and it's not competitive, people will find that out, too. And I haven't been hearing a whole lot of such comments (in either direction) about any of the R comps on the market.

I'm not saying there aren't significant differences between various R comps; there are. However, all the R comps out there are pretty darn good (including the RA-1, which I've been very happy with). I don't think you can go wrong with any of them.

Okay, flame away...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You know, there are more and more track tires coming on the market all the time</TD></TR></TABLE>

Doesnt matter if you're stuck using a spec tire that hasnt changed design in the past 10 years.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You know, there are more and more track tires coming on the market all the time, so there are lots and lots of choices - NT01, Z211, Z214, Hoosiers, Kumhos, Pilot Sport Cup, PZero Corsa, A032R, A048, RA-1, Tech RA, and on and on. There used to be only a couple of choices, but no longer.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You can not choose your tire if the rules make you run only 1 type of tire (RA-1's for example), even if there is better, or cheaper, or longer lasting tires on the market, or even better paying price $$ for using other tires. You have no choose at all. ....but that's a whole different discussion

 

 

Shut up and drink the