7x17 rim toyo tire choice

[jhelgesen]

I need to order new tires for my next DE weekend. I like my RA-1's but think I need more rubber in the front of the car. Currently running 205-50's in front. RA-1's don't have anything bigger to run on a 7x17 rim. Choice is to go to the 215 or 225-45 r888. I'm running 255's on 9" rims in the rear.

Any reason to not to go r888's?

Thanks!

Obligatory track day spin picture.....

[Tom '74 911]

John -
I don't think the R888 has many (any?) fans. I used them this season and thought they were fine - my first foray into the world of sticky tires though so I have nothing to compare them to. Compared to my street tires, they were great! From the folks I spoke to at the track and from the reading I've done on-line, nobody has been able to figure out the R888 in terms of what the optimum settings (alignment and air pressure) are. In the words of the "tire guy" at the last club race I went to, "the R888 lose grip as they wear and wear twice as fast as the RA-1's; while the RA-1s get faster as they wear and last twice as long". I have no personal experience, but this is the word on the street.

Tom

[Tom '74 911]

Just a little more. . .

I did have some wear issues that I posted about Reading tire wear

I attribute it to compromised alignment and not having the correct air pressure numbers. Finally, I decided to go with the R888 despite the negative initial feedback because I could get them locally and the RA-1s I couldn't.

Tom

[jhelgesen]

So my other choice is to find some 8x17 rims then?

[175K911]

I run R888's on my 17's:
225/45 front on 17x7.5 rims
255/40 rear on 17x9

I suspect you could get away with the 225/45 on a 7" wheel though it won't be ideal. However, as other have said, the R888's sit on my tire rack for all but an occasional run session. They're lousy tires. My 50 heat cycle old RA1's had more grip than the R888's new. I muchy prefer my Nitto NT01's and they're anywhere from 1-2 seconds faster than the R888's.

Can you find a 225/45 RA1 to run on the front? I know Nitto offers it. And as a bonus they're cheaper than the R888.

[jhelgesen]

You're the second one to suggest the nittos today....I'm looking into them. Can't get the ra's in those sizes.

[911st]

Nitto NT01's. Many feel they are equal to the RA-1's for less dollars. Believe they are sister companies and there could be something to the thought they use the same compound.

If you have 17's this seems the most are running unless they are extream then it is Hoosers or V710's..

225/255's on you 7&9's. Nitto Tire - High Performance Tires for Car and Truck Enthusiasts

[htron435]

Originally Posted by Tom '74 911

John -
I don't think the R888 has many (any?) fans. I used them this season and thought they were fine - my first foray into the world of sticky tires though so I have nothing to compare them to. Compared to my street tires, they were great! From the folks I spoke to at the track and from the reading I've done on-line, nobody has been able to figure out the R888 in terms of what the optimum settings (alignment and air pressure) are. In the words of the "tire guy" at the last club race I went to, "the R888 lose grip as they wear and wear twice as fast as the RA-1's; while the RA-1s get faster as they wear and last twice as long". I have no personal experience, but this is the word on the street.

Tom

8's were the spec tire in Spec Miata this season. Unlike the RA1, they will heat cycle out. Not ideal for the budget conscious (like myself). Toyo and Nitto are sister brands -- word on the street is that the Nitto is made from the old RA1 compound. Incidentally, the 8's were so disliked in the SM community that they are going back to the RA1 as the spec tire next year. I imagine that Toyo will continue to make them in other sizes as well.

[jhelgesen]

I've got a set of 225 and 255 nittos on order, will be here next week. We'll see how they look.

JH