Hi,

I’ve finally got a second set of rims for the track and am looking for a good R-Compound tire. I have narrowed my selection down to A032R hard compound, A032R Soft compound and Victoracers. I am running the RSX DC5-R rims with the factory Brembo’s and have to use the R-Stock 17x7 rim. I have the motor/tranny swap too. Stock tire is 215/45/17. So I figure 225/45/17. I looked at the Toyo RA1’s but they don’t come in that size.

I’m looking for a tire that might compromise stickiness for longevity as I can’t afford new tires every 3rd or 4th track day.

Right now I’m favoring the A032R hard as it seems that it will last a little longer and comes with more tread than the Victoracers. But someone told me that the Soft compound was lasting just as long as the hard compound.

Let me know what you think.

Thanks,

Derek

 

Toyo RA1

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JMI &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...have to use the R-Stock 17x7 rim. I have the motor/tranny swap too. Stock tire is 215/45/17. So I figure 225/45/17. I looked at the Toyo RA1’s but they don’t come in that size.
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235/50/17 Toyo RA1 will fit a 17x7 wheel. Not the optimal wheel width but it will fit fine (The wheel that is. I don't know about the fenders.)

 

235/50/17 Toyo RA1 don't think thats going to work on my EP3. So I think I'll rule them out. Don't you think the Yokohama Advan 032R will last longer, 6/32 vs 3/32 tread depth of the toyo and victoracer ?

Thanks,

Derek

 

The A032's (hard) will last longer - if the RA1's come in a size that will work well enough, then go with that - which are cheaper than the A032's and last longer.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JMI &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">235/50/17 Toyo RA1 don't think thats going to work on my EP3. So I think I'll rule them out. Don't you think the Yokohama Advan 032R will last longer, 6/32 vs 3/32 tread depth of the toyo and victoracer ?

Thanks,

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

You're going to want to shave the tires anyway for use in dry conditions so the tread depth isn't going to be a full 6/32nds.

the RA-1 is the longest lasting of the r-comps, the victos are the cheapest. I think you can squeeze 4 or 5 track days out of a set of victos.

your wheel size + tire combo is gonna crap all over your gearing, since the overall diameter will be larger than stock--but the increased grip may even things out.

 

I paid for that rubber I'm going to use it on the track I'll just take it easy and do short sesions to heat cycle them. I do have the JDM type R 6 speed tranny so the gearing is good

Funny here in Canada the A032's are about the same price as the RA1's.


Derek

 

235-40-17 Toyo RA1s is your ticket. They come with 8/32" of tread depth new, unshaved. A032Rs come in that size also. Another option are the new Advan A048s in 225-45-17. But you really should stick to a shorter tire for fender clearance...

 

I was told buy the tire dealer that 235/40/17 was too wide for a 17x7 rim ?

Derek

 

235 is pushing it a bit on a 7" wheel... but it will fit. Do you know if it will clear everything else? (suspension, fenders)

 

Can you get the Pirelli P Zero Corsa? They're available in a 215/45/17 and have a 140 treadwear rating. I'd look into the Pirellis as your first choice.

A 235 / 50 will be HUGE - I'd steer clear of a tire that large.

By all accounts, the A032Rs are the longest lasting R compound that I know of - the RA1's are faster, but don't last quite as long.

Again, I'd go for the 215/45 Corsa by Pirelli - it's the right size, its an R compound and has a higher treadwear rating than any of the tires you've listed.

I would not reccomend shaving the tires if longevity is a factor; run them full tread, but be sure to scrub them in prior to use on the track.

 

Thanks, I didn't know about these tires. I see they have a right and left side tire...

Please describe what "scrub them in" is.

Looks like I have to pick the Corsa vs the a032r hard.

Derek

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JMI &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks, I didn't know about these tires. I see they have a right and left side tire...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Not the 215/45. It does not have a left and right side. Its the only size that does not, it also has a higher rating than all the other corsa tires which do have assigned handedness; check the tirerack.com site for more details.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Please describe what "scrub them in" is.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Try to get between 50-100 miles on the tires before you track them, to allow the mold releasing agent to come out, and for the tires to wear in a bit - I made the mistake of using fresh, full tread r compounds - just drive them around a bit before you put them to use on the track - that's all.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Looks like I have to pick the Corsa vs the a032r hard.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'd pick the corsa - its a newer tire than the A032R (meaning newer technology; newer technology = more grip) and will last just as long.

 

Thanks !

I think I have found my tire ! I would have never known about the 215/45/17 differences. I wonder why these are different form the rest ?

Thanks again,

Derek

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JMI &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I paid for that rubber I'm going to use it on the track I'll just take it easy and do short sesions to heat cycle them. I do have the JDM type R 6 speed tranny so the gearing is good

Funny here in Canada the A032's are about the same price as the RA1's.


Derek

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Derek, from my experience, it doesn't work that way. Shave the tires, you will get more life out of them. Running them unshaven causes them to chunk as the tread blocks squirm so in the end, you are likely (if driven hard) to end up w/ shorter life from a full tread than a shaved tire (if used in the dry). Heat cycling will not prevent this as you are not doing anything to shorten the tread blocks. I have run the older A032Rs (think they come 5/32nds and would *assume* they are akin to the hard compounds of today) and they do last a long time provided you keep the air pressures reasonable (way high pressures and they will wear premeturely from my experience). The RA1s we race on have been 4/32nds and 3/32nds and they last a long long time for R-compounds. Our rain tires (which were 6/32nds to my knowledge) do great in the wet but even on a drying track they will show some minor chunking.

best of luck.

Thought I'd mention, we have run 225/50s on 6" rims for years w/out any issues. I would rather run them on 7" rims but 235s on 7" rims seems like a no-brainer for the Toyos (and I'd assume the Yokos too).


Modified by phat-S at 11:11 PM 8/10/2004

 

You might be interested to know that the World Challenge Spec tire for the RSX is the RA-1, size is 235/40/17. You can see for yourself here:

http://www.speedvisionwc.com/c...1.pdf

I would imagine they are using 17 x 8 " rims, as that is the maximum allowed. All cars must run on same tires as this front and rear.