* Proxes RA/1 tires - pics and initial impressions

[Craig 930 RS]

1) These are WIDE tires for their given size.
The 245s are about 1/2" wider than the 245 A032Rs I've been running for 6 years.

2) The 225s are almost an inch wider than the 225 A032R
One wide mother of a tire. Yet they fit very well on a 7" rim - see pic.


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These are a quiet tire. (anything is quiet compared to a A032R)
I like the looks, FWTW. Not as bulgy on the sidewalls, with a tread stance that is nice and flat. More tread width in pavement contact compared with the A032R.

[Jack Olsen]

They're a hard tire not to love. I wish they made them in a 315.

[Craig 930 RS]

Jack - How would you characterize them on the track?

I see from past searches that you used them on your cars a few years back -

[Jack Olsen]

They're very good track tires. Comparable to Victoracers, but with a much longer and more consistent lifespan. For lighter cars, they're probably a better choice than the Michelin Pilot Sport Cups -- and they're cheaper.

[chrisp]

any experience in the wet?

[Bill Verburg]

For the records, How wide are they? to the nearest 16^th please?

Width x height on what rim widths?

Weights would be nice too

[LARRY SHARP]

I ran in a down pour at sears point in feb and they worked fine ..almost as good as full tread street tires

[dpriebe]

Craig-
I'm really curious to see how long they last for you.
Did you go out and play in the rain today with them on?

[rjay]

Originally posted by chrisp
any experience in the wet?

I started running RA-1s toward the end of last season. My first session on them was at LRP in the rain and I can say that at full depth they're pretty darn good. This season I plan to get rid of my streets for rains and keep a set of Toyos instead. I'll rotate them into dry surface when the first set is dead. Personally, while they're not as grippy as some tires, I find them to be one of the most controllable and enjoyable tires I have driven on. They seem to telegraph slip better than others I've used and they release smoothly, not like Hoosiers. I really love them.

[Craig 930 RS]

Went out and took exact measurements:
225s are 9 1/2" inches wide front on 7" Fuchs;
245s are 10 1/2" inches wide on the 9" Fuchs.
Actual tread width is exactly 9 1/4" front/10 1/4" rear.
Height is 3 1/2" tall for the 225 fronts, 3 1/4" tall for the rears

Great to hear the experiences of other RA/1 owners.
Though they are both fairly close, I'm glad I chose these over the Victoracers.

Haven't played in the rain yet - in fact, the mold release is still present so no hard play days - yet.

On the advice of several who have run these, I didn't have them shaved

RJay - your web site pages are very nice; excellent mods to your car. Love that 3.6? Take a look at his pages, great stuff!

[beamonk]

Craig, do you have the 944T offset fuchs on the front?

[smstcoach]

Had track day #2 on my RA1's today at Thunderhill and I love this tire. Very consistent through the day, even though it started off in the high 40's and ended up near 80. Heats up fast, stays predictable. Those that use them say they last longer than comparible tires. I'm a happy camper
Craig, I've actually heard that shaved RA1's work better (except in the rain) and last longer because they generate less heat. What's the rationale to leave them unshaved?
-Jeff

[Craig 930 RS]

www.frisbyracetire.com said no to shaving.
These guys are har core track junkies who provide trackside support -

&

Practical experience. I've had quite a few PMs and e-mails (as well as another thread here) that said to skip the shaving.
Just make sure to put a couple hundred street miles on them.

[smstcoach]

Craig,
Nice! Looks like I might be able to save a little $$$ next time if your right.
-Jeff

[Bill Verburg]

Craig thanks!, Now for some more detail. Your #s are somewhat different from Toyos posted #s so could you please measure[list=1][*]OD measured horizontally thru the axle center[*]SLR measured vertically from ground to axle center line[/list=1]

[rjay]

Originally posted by Craig911

On the advice of several who have run these, I didn't have them shaved

RJay - your web site pages are very nice; excellent mods to your car. Love that 3.6? Take a look at his pages, great stuff!

There does seem to be some contraversy about whether to shave or not. I didn't, and probably wouldn't the next time around, although if I was AXing on these tires, I would definately shave them as they squirm a bit when newish (although they are extremely fun....I recall running them once last year to break them in and the slides and tail out attitude in the slaloms where apparently spectacular...so much so that the AX chair offerred to go as my co-driver if someday I can afford to do Targa Newfoundland).

Thanks for the kind words about the site Craig! And yeah, unlike most material posessions that you think you want only to discover that they're a bit less than you imagined, a well prepped 2100lb 911 with a 3.6 is truly one that delivers the goods. Changed my life.

[Craig 930 RS]

DaveP -

Next time out at the track:
If you want, we can trade wheels/tires for one session.
Try out my RA/1s, I can try the Victoracers
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BV -

Here are the numbers:
Front 225/50/16:
24 1/2" tread to tread
12 3/16" height from ground to centerline

Rear:
24 1/4" tread to tread
12 3/16" height from ground to centerline


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RJay -

To shave or not with the RA/1........for track use it seems the consensus is to not shave, run on the road for a bit, and then not hammer them the first track event. Which works perfectly for my intentions this time (track day not for 12 days, first track event in months so I'm a bit rusty anyway)

You captured the essence of the 911 3.6 as I exactly have experienced it. Mine is at 2,400 with no lightweight trickery...yet...and 280 at the wheels. It may possibly go down another 100-150 lbs. A lower 3rd gear and higher 5th, combined with an 80% ZF LSD and the WEVO setup makes for blissful track use. Feels like a Cup Car; the up and down shifts are just so easy and smooth. Revs so quickly. It is one hell of an experience every time I go for a ride.

[Plavan]

If you do not shave them they CAN blister. Shaving takes away the tread wobble and releases heat better. This is a must for racers..... If your just time trialing, or having track days then you probably do not need to shave them.

[Craig 930 RS]

In general that is a good philosophy.
JCP, can you tell us if you run Proxes RA/1s?

[lateapex911]

I have raced on them and shaving is the way to go ....and even shaved they will get great life...20 heat cycles easy...and they will get faster each cycle! I even drove ON them to the track in my first racing season. I WISH we could outlaw Hoosiers and just all be happy running these!