hamdog

For those who have exprienced both, what are the advantages and disadvantages of each tire? Which do you prefer? I'll be using this 50% AX 50% HPDE. 305/35 18s and 275/40 17s on OEM Z06 wheels. Please keep other models of tires out of the discussion. I'm only interested in these two tires.

gkmccready

The RA1 is discontinued, so eventually you're going to be using the R888, anyway.

The R888s like higher pressures, do a search and you'll find one or more threads about it.

hamdog

I've done searches and found very little with people who have experienced both. I was hoping to get some input from that group.

hamdog

Just spoke with Toyo US headquarters about the discontinuation of the RA1. There are currently no plans on discontinuing the RA1. They will eventually discontinue that line as with most models, but it will be a minimum of a year before that happens. FYI

gkmccready

That's interesting news. AIM Tire & CCW are both saying the RA1 is discontinued.

In any case, I ran RA1s for a few years on my RX7. The R888 appears to wear at least as well, and once you find the right pressures they work at least as well. The road noise if you street drive the RA1s is insanely evil, though, where the RA1s were pretty quiet. The RA1s were also better in the wet, IMO.

What specifically do you care about?

yakisoba

I've run both, in road course environments. Happy to share what I found:
Sizes: I ran the 888 in 305/18 and 275/18. I ran the RA1 in the same sizes.
Grip: The 888 gripped the same or better than the RA1 when I first got them. However, long before the tread was gone on the 888, the grip was gone. I mean like totally gone, like old 1000 heat cycled Goodyear gone. Like republican presidents gone. Gone. The RA1 did not do this, and held a more or less constant grip level until they corded.
Longevity: The RA1 lasted longer.
Pressure: The 888 seems to have a different sidewall and likes a little more pressure than the RA1. That will subtly change your suspension, if you have lots of feel for that sort of thing.

jittrbugg

We are pretty much unable to get the common sizes anymore in the RA1. The R888 does not have as good a wet performance as the RA1. That is the biggest complaint so far I believe.

Melissa
CCW

cj68

The tread pattern on the 888 looks like it would be less likely to walk. Is that in fact the case? The RA1s and 555RIIs walk quite a bit. I referencing full tread, not shaved.

Thoughts?

cj

Last C5

I've run both the 555s and 888s and you are right the 888s walk less than the 555s. Actually, I don't remember any walking with the 888s at all (turn 1 at Thunderhill)

longdaddy

this has been exactly my experience and a reason I am going back to NT-01. I have never tried RA-1s, back when I considered them, they were impossible to find.

EvilBoffin

Glen - I assume you meant the noise from 888's is evil... ?? Otherwise, I agree with your assessment.

I drove to & from the track on RA-1's for 4 track days and 5 autocrosses last year. They still have at least half their tread left...

I specifically got the RA-1's over the then-new 888's because of their obvious wet performance advantage and long-wearing, consistent nature. This was also the recommendation of John at CCW.

It would really suck if we can't get the RA-1's in Vette sizes anymore. They never let me down, on track or off, dry or wet - though I could always use more tenacious grip, of course. They also rode better then the Goodyear runflats, and were at least as quiet on the street. RA-1's are certainly not a 'state-of-the-art' design, but I just don't know of another tire that can claim to be such a good overall compromise - not the best at any one thing, but seems to do everything reasonably well.

Guess it all depends on what your goals for the tires are: wet use, street use, dry track only, etc. And if you care more about longevity or absolute grip. Also note that both R888 and RA-1 have a treadwear rating of 100, so they will not qualify for the street tire classes in SCCA auto-x, if that matters to you...
.

gkmccready

Er, yes. R888s as compared to the RA1s have evil road noise (whir) on the street. I loved running the RA1s all the time. It still won't stop me from putting another set of R888s on my car, of course. There's nothing better for being able to drive to and from the track and still have a DOT-R on track...

SouthernSon

Just ran Road Atlanta on 2 year old, completely shot, cycled many times R888's. In my '03 Z06 I still managed a sub 1:40. They were sliding but always came back under me with little judicial corrections. Actually, could have probably done even better with new shocks and possibly a better driver (......nawh.....).

Currently, the wheels are at the shop being reshoed with new R6's. R888 carcasses are now going to the recycler. They did me good right up to the end..... can't complain.

hamdog

Thank you all for your input! Based on the advice here and the local shop, I ended up going with the RA-1's. It all boiled down to performance gains vs. longivity. Based on my reasearch the R888's just didn't perform well enough to justify a 30% lesser life expectancy than the RA-1's.
I've driven these tires on the street, raced at a SCCA AX event this passed Sunday and so far I'm happy with the choice. The grip is great! My only complaint is that the 305/35 18's on the 10.5" Z06 wheels have a bit too much flex in the walls. That dancing around at direction change is a bit distracting.
Anybody running the RA-1 315/30 18's on the Z06 OEM wheels? I'm curious if the lower profile makes much of a difference in that play.
I'll be at Summit this Friday for seat time. I'm anxious to see how they do on a road course.