* Toyo RA/1s - a track report -

[Craig 930 RS]

After running Yokohama A032Rs for 6 years, I've switched to Toyo Proxes RA1s - 225/245 for both brands. Went to a track event for the first time yesterday wit the RA/1s -

They are an awesome tire. Leagues above the A032R:

Grip is constant throughout the 1/2 hr session and the entire day.
No greasy feel, ever. Does not 'go away'.
Wears pretty well, too. Per advice of Frisby Race Tire, I ran full tread, and am glad I did. Felt just fine.

If you are thinking of A032rs, try the RA/1s instead.
As they say....."You'll be glad you did"

[JonT]

Thanks for the update Craig--pretty consistent with others reporting on this tire. I recently bought Kuhmo MX's, not quite ready for a true R compound track tire although these are reputed to be close. The Toyo's will be my next tire.

[nostatic]

I have been very happy with my RA-1s. I've done three events now and am getting used to the increased grip (relative to street tires). Only minor complaint is some sidewall flex, but that is probably due to me running 225/245 on 7/8s. I'm hoping they'll last the season (or at least another 6 to 8 events). This is with driving to and from the track.

[jakermc]

I run them 205/245 shaved on 7x9x16 wheels. Love them! I suggest you try them shaved. It eliminates tire squirm and helps break them in faster. I have even heard they last longer shaved, though I forgot the theory on how that can be.

Neat thing about the tire is that they keep getting faster and faster up until the time you cord them. They don't get greasy and don't wear out due to heat cycling. Not the fastest thing out there, but a great bang for the buck.

[Craig 930 RS]

I could not believe how much better they are than A032Rs.
IMO, they are THE best streetable track tire made -

[89911]

I've used them for a year now and like them. I would rather compare them to Pilot sports, Victo's or Hoosiers then A032's (which basically are a high performance street tire). I would rate them below the pilot sports but they wear better and are a better value. Hopefully they can take plenty of heat cycles and still grip which the Victo's didn't. I also got them from Frisby.

[Craig 930 RS]

Good comparison. I used the A032Rs because its what I've run for 6 years.

[alf]

I run RA1s on the street and track. They work great in the rain and is by *far* stickier than my old S03s. Run them full thread on the street to naturally shave them down, then use it for track only when they are baldish.

Great tires.

alf

[Craig 930 RS]

I ran the RA/1s for 2 weeks on street before the DE - got em broken in a bit

[Jeff Alton]

Don't make em in a 225/45/17 for the front! Oh well, A032R it is for me for a while....

Jeff

[Craig 930 RS]

235 fits fine! What wheels and width?

[rfuerst911sc]

O.K. where are some places to purchase these?Where/what/who is Frisbys?

[Jeff Alton]

I run a 17x7.5 kinesis up front.

Jeff

[89911]

The 235's in the Toyo's are about the same size as the 225's in Victoracers. I was worried at first but the fit was no problem on a 8x17 Fikse.

http://www.frisbyracetire.com/

[lateapex911]

rfuerst911sc....

I suggest Appalachian Tire, in Tenn? I think. Great guys, and they can shave them as well. If you want I can get you the contact info. He will ship them down in a split second.

They are so much better than the Yoko, that you can use them in a slightly "wrong" size, and still be better off.

I used them for road racing one season, and I wish I could ditch my Hoosiers and run these instead. What a value.

If you never see rain, just shave them and be done with it...you won't run the risk of chunking, and they will last plenty long. The Miata guys are getting 20 plus heat cycles from them..they just don't heat cycle away like a Hoosier, they will finally wear down.

They are a good rain tire as well, but tread depth is everything in a rain tire, so don't expect much if they aren't full tread.

[jyl]

Hmm, these aren't cheap - $160 F $163 R in stock size for my 911 (Frisby). SO-3s are $155 F $152 R with a $100 rebate if you buy four tires (TireRack). I understand you guys are using the RA-1 s for the track, I was thinking about trying them as a replacement for my S)-3s for the street - but now I'm less interested.

[Doug E]

I converted to RA-1's last DE season and highly recommend them for the track.

[Craig 930 RS]

What pressures should I be starting/ending with?
I'd love to hear track experiences -

TIA,

[wastintime]

I just switched to the RA-1s myself, and while I'm not quite as enthusiastic as you guys, but they are great tires.

As for the tire pressures... the two sources I've gotten this from are a TOYO engineer, and Bob Woodman of Woodman Tires:

For my car, which is an RSA, and weighs I think just under 3000lbs with me in it Toyo says, you should never go out with less than 30lbs cold or you will damage the tire (they also said this for almost all weight cars). 28lbs cold was the limit... at or below that you are going to induce a tire failure. As for hot Pressures, I was told 41lbs in the rear and 36 in the front.

Woodman recommended 39-40lbs hot in the rear, and 4-5lbs less in the front.

For a friend of mine's '78 SC track car he recommended 37.5lbs hot in the rear and 33lbs hot in the front

personally I've never liked the way 911s feel with that much pressure in the rear, but after seeing a "severely underinflated" RA-1 come apart on a friends car on the track...

So it's a scale based on the weight of your car, but the RA-1s do take an awful lot of pressure for track tires.

[dd74]

Do tires like the RA/1s and A032Rs affect the ride of a car on the street? In other words, is there better road feel? Are they more severe over poor surfaces? I have Yoko EVS-100s now, but will be looking to update sometime soon. I would expect the RA/1s and A032Rs to have a much harder ride than the EVS-100s. Any insight? Thanks.