Toyo R888 tires

[SLOroadster]

I'm looking for some RA1 like tires in a 225/50/14, there aren't many choices. I had a set of RA1s and they were great tires, but there are no RA1s in a 14 anymore. The R888 does come in the size, however I've heard many people don't like them for various reasons, and they have had odd wear issues with them. Anyone run them on a roadster? If so, what are your thoughts?

Thanks,
Will

[Mike Unger]

Take a look at the Nitto NT01. They come with reduced tread but I've had these shaved and raced on them and they are pretty durable and perform well. I've won races on them. The R888 needs to be shaved for the track. Otherwise, they overheat quickly when pressed hard. I've raced on those unshaved on a 1200 and they fell off quickly.

[SLOroadster]

I've heard the NT01s get greasy fast. Perhaps they have changed the compound. I'll look into them.

Thanks,
Will

[RCMike]

Are you running auto x or full track?

My experience on both was that they needed to get warm before they worked.. Also heard both got greasy, but on a car as light as a roadster, I had a hard time getting them to greasy, until ambient got to the 100 range and track to about 135..

[SLOroadster]

I'm looking at the R888s for more track use rather than autoX. The roadster doesn't fit into any class that it could possibly win. That said, I might as well buy some track tires and not worry about setting TTOD autoxing. When I do autoX I run the event ast staff so I get lots of runs and will get the tires up to temp. I think I'd rather have a tire that is more track stable than quick heat capable.

Will

[RCMike]

Sorry, I did not look in here, on a round the country road trip in my Skyline. I liked the r888 on track. It took most of a lap or more to get warm enough to stick. once it gets warm, then it was beautiful. Decent wear. I mean, its a 100tw? So you are not going to get 15k miles. I ran them at -2.9 to -3.2 camber, and rotated once. Got very even wear. Heat cycled nicely, not a monster falloff. Yeah, 7 track days, it started to get easier to spin the tires, but..

R888 or NT01, I don't know. Probably NT01, but it's close. I would not like either for autox, because both need heat to really work, but I would probably go NT01 if street/canyon and autox were in the mix, and r888 if only track..

My 2 cents, not worth much.

[crzydave]

I run Maxxis RC1s on my 350Z track car, but they don't make it in a 14" yet. You'd have to bump up to 15". It's a fantastic track tire that alot of HPDE'ers run here in Texas if you can find it in your size. I also ran NT01 for many years with much success. I only moved away because they had a bad splicing problem a few years back and I never looked back once I went to the RC1.

Good luck!

[SLOroadster]

15s are out. The car doesnt' like them (I have them for street wheels, but it doesn't drive as well with them.) The NT01s only come in a 205, so it looks like I'm still stuck with the R888s if I want a 225/14. I've run 205s and the car was ok, 225s and the car becomes hard to beat. The only thing holding it back is the driver. That is a lot of rubber for that size of a car.

Will

[Mainer311]

Shant has them, I believe.

[zippy67roadster]

Has anyone tried the Kuhmo V710? How about the new race tire from Maxxis? I think it is called the Victra RC-1.

[crzydave]

Has anyone tried the Kuhmo V710? How about the new race tire from Maxxis? I think it is called the Victra RC-1.

The RC1 is what I mentioned in my post. Its a great DE track tire. Good grip and lasts for many heat cycles. And the price is not too bad either. I've been running them for a couple years. Pretty much since they've been introduced.

[Pjackb]

Have you checked Hankook Z214s?
heard good things about them and I see they're available in 14 , 205/50 and 225/50

[zippy67roadster]

Has anyone tried the Kuhmo V710? How about the new race tire from Maxxis? I think it is called the Victra RC-1.

The RC1 is what I mentioned in my post. Its a great DE track tire. Good grip and lasts for many heat cycles. And the price is not too bad either. I've been running them for a couple years. Pretty much since they've been introduced.

Thanks! I met with Maxxis at the SEMA show and am waiting to hear if they are going to sponsor me. No matter what happens I plan on running them first to see how they are. If I don't like them I will probably try the Nitto NT01's.

[crzydave]

Has anyone tried the Kuhmo V710? How about the new race tire from Maxxis? I think it is called the Victra RC-1.

The RC1 is what I mentioned in my post. Its a great DE track tire. Good grip and lasts for many heat cycles. And the price is not too bad either. I've been running them for a couple years. Pretty much since they've been introduced.

Thanks! I met with Maxxis at the SEMA show and am waiting to hear if they are going to sponsor me. No matter what happens I plan on running them first to see how they are. If I don't like them I will probably try the Nitto NT01's.

Very cool. I ran the nittos for a couple years. The RC1s are a little stickier and last a little longer IMO. The nittos do let you get away with more slip angle though. You have to drive a little tidier with the RC1s to maximize them otherwise they'll overheat and you have to let them cool off a bit.

Just my 2 cents on a completely different car!

[troyt]

So Will, what did you end up going with last season? What's your impression on what you went with? I've run lot's of different 13, 14, and 15" race tires on my Datsuns over the years if you ever need some input.