Hey...I'm doing the NASA HPDE at MidOhio this weekend. Unfortunately, it's rainy and (gasp) borderline snow here in lovely northeast Ohio.

If it looks dry tomorrow morning, would you go with Toyo RA1's or Azenis? I would much prefer the RA1's but I've never had them out in that low of a temperature - will they be able to heat up enough?

If it looks wet, well, I'll go with the Azenis and drive like a wuss.

And - I have a Miata so taking both sets really isn't an option unfortunately.

Thanks!

- Markus

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Markus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If it looks wet, well, I'll go with the Azenis and drive like a wuss.
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Are the RA-1s bald? If they have any tread left on them they are pretty darn good in the rain.

I've had good results with RA-1s well below freezing. You do have to get some heat into them before they will stick though.

joel

 

The RA1's still have the four groove lines around them which if I remember right means 4/32". I think when you get down to two grooves only it's something like 2/32".

Now, all the diagonal grooving that would take water to the side of the tires is gone though...

And by the way thanks for the quick response - gotta love this place.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Markus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Now, all the diagonal grooving that would take water to the side of the tires is gone though...</TD></TR></TABLE>

without the diagonal grooves I wouldn't run them if there is standing water. In other words: Wet track, no problem. Puddles, big problem.

 

lots of spec miata guys run shaved RA-1's (4/32) for their rain tires, and they work just fine, i speak from personal experience as well. are we talking rain of biblical proportions here or just a scattered shower throughout the day? if it's going to be a total wash i'd go azeni's if you have less than 2/32nd depth on the toyo's.

 

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

without the diagonal grooves I wouldn't run them if there is standing water. In other words: Wet track, no problem. Puddles, big problem.</TD></TR></TABLE>

standing water should be avoided anyway. if the track is just wet the RA-1's will be fine, but if there is water flowing across the track or like he said, areas of standing water you can't avoid, go falken.

miata's are fun in the wet

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tnord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> miata's are fun in the wet </TD></TR></TABLE>

Oh boy....hopefully I won't have a mangled car come Monday! We'll see...