WA 2 FST

Recently purchased some new wheels for my ZR1. Along with the Forgeline wheels, I had some R888Rs mounted. Sizes are as follows: 295/30-19f, 345/30-19r.

I have no experience with the R888, or really much of any road-race tire. I take that back, I ran some R1s way, way back in the day when I had a 5.0 Mustang. I think that is what they were called... my memory fails me. Most of my race-inspired tire experience has been with various brands of drag radials, given that is more of the type of driving/racing I have done in the past. My C5Z is a LPE Stage 2 TT setup and runs Nitto NT05Rs.

I had heard the R888 was pretty loud in comparison to the OEM tires, but the tires on my ZR1 were 6 years old, even if they only had 700 miles on them (recently purchased this car in next-to-new, immaculately stored and preserved condition).

Decided on the R888R because I didn't want to default to the NT05R drag radial. Those tires are good, and from my experience have the least drivability/handling compromise of any of the DRs (not as sticky of a compound, either), but I wanted to try a road race tire. My ZR1 has been mildly modded from stock and now puts out 632rwhp/612rwtq. So definitely NOT crazy power, but plenty for my type/style of driving and intended use.

Initial impressions... well, I will have to wait and see how these things hook up after some heat cycling, but I may have found a new tire for my TT C5Z (which has a ZR1-spec ratio trans in it too). These things _hook_... even in 45^F air. I am shocked. Granted, the ZR1 trans gearing is tall, so that has to help. I haven't researched the different trans ratios in C6s, but my guess is they are closer to the MN6 I used to have in my C5Z, which is very short and helps you get out of the hole. Obviously, with the more powerful car, all that TQ multiplication goes to waste in tire smoke, so the taller gears help traction. But this car was downright scary with the 6yr old (tons of tread left, though) OEM tires. 80mph, 3rd gear... just boiling them off. Not with these R888Rs. It even hooks pretty well in 1st gear. 2nd gear... dead hook from a roll. They hook better than my NT05Rs in my C5Z... a lighter car that does make a little more power/torque, but not substantially more...and the gearing is identical between the two cars.

Obviously these things handle like it is on rails...and the car handles amazingly well with OEM tires.

Noise... they are not noticeably louder than the 6yr old OEM tires (which, undoubtedly are harder than brand new OEM tires). But with all the fuss about the older R888... I expected these to be very loud. I was on the highway today cruising between 85-95 and was not overwhelmed with road noise. Mostly an exhaust note, from the LT's with hi-flows and Akrapovic axle-back.

Again, I cannot speak to the life expectancy of these tires (have to be as good as a DR, if not better) or how they will hook once they get some wear on them. But I am _extremely_ pleased with my choice and am glad (for now) I went this route. These are my daily tires (don't drive the car daily, but you get the point), so I also cannot compare them to other race compound tires in a road race environment. Others here have much more experience in that realm.

Millenium Z06

I have them on my car (~600whp N/A) and they hook very well, you'll be very happy with them

Sean_C

Nice mini review!!.... I'm kind of on the fence right now about which tires to get....I was looking at the r888, cuz my cousin runs them on his c5z and loves them, but they're discontinued for the r888r.... as cheesy or funny as it sounds I kind of don't want to get the r888r because I don't like the tread pattern lol so that leaves me with the nt05R as my next best option.

​​​​​​​my car is a H/C c6z that is 90% street driven and will see some 1/2 mile action here and there.... it's a wknd toy so it will probably always never see rain.... decisions decisions

The

Do you have any more pictures?

Geo2JZ

Just for comparison I went from stock sized 19" Mickey ET Street SS to R888 and had to take them off 24 hours later. The R888 did not hook at all in first gear. Second gear rolls they hooked fairly well but the Mickey would dead hook in first gear from 35-40 mph roll so I went back to it.

The R888 is the overall better tire for a car that gets driven in the rain but if it's a "I only drive it to go beat on it" type car like mine the R888 was not a good choice for me. As far as power level my car goes 135 in the 1/4 so it's not the fastest but it's now slow.

WA 2 FST

That's interesting.

I would never expect them to hook like the MT DR. And I have not done hard 1st gear launches with them.

I expect my car at its current power level to run 135+, as well. My TT C5 runs 139, and it isn't much faster than my ZR1.

Sean_C

thanks for the response!

​​​​​​​i knew the r888 wouldn't grip better in a straight line compared to the nt05R, or any drag radial for that matter.... but didn't think it would be that bad.... that makes me feel like the better choice is in fact the nt05R

Millenium Z06

I went from Nitto NT05R's which i couldnt get to hook for S to the R888R's which hook very very well for me. I spin about 10 maybe 15' from a dig in 1st @3000 rpm. The NT05R's never did that, just painted 11's everywhere I went even at 18lbs.

For me, the R888r is a better tire especially when driving in corners, I hated the secondary movement of the soft sidewall NT05R's in corners or under hard braking. I only drive my car to beat on it and the 888R's are a far better choice for me, haven't tired the MT ET SS's but I know they have a similar sidewall as the Nitto NT05R

Millenium Z06

Mine far out perform my previous NT05R's, by a wide margin. I'd have no issues choosing the R888R again. I dont think it will outperform the MT ET SS DR in a straight line but it but overall, its a better tire for the way I use the car, runway events

Sean_C

sorry for the thread hijack OP, this is just really good info and I'm in a predicament of what tire to get.... and as u all know none of these tires are cheap so I want to make the best decision possible for my needs.

​​​​​​​thx for the input Millennium!....I like to hear from ppl like u and geo, that go to events and put ur cars through the ringer

Geo2JZ

I'm sorry I just noticed this is for the new R888R. What I used was the previous model R888. So maybe I need to give those R888R a try. On a good surface with the tires being good and ready can you hook from 40?

Yes I agree if you are looking for all around including turning then the R888/R888R is the better tire.

WA 2 FST

FWIW... I have experience with both the NT05R (which I have run for _years_ on my 650+rwhp C5Z) and just recently these R888R on my ZR1.

The R888R hooks extremely well on good concrete surfaces in 45^F air from a 40 roll in 2nd for sure. Extremely minimal spin, if any. In 1st, I have not launched from a dig yet... still getting used to the car. But from a roll-on in 1st (20mph or so), the car accelerates well through some spin, grab 2nd and I'm gone.

I have no experience at all with the R888.

simnova6

Very nice info. Thank you. I can't wait for my set up to come in

no0one718

Thanks for the review. I was on the fence on which tires to get, as my Pilot Super Sports are shot. I want something a little more aggressive, as I also only take my Z06 out to have fun...

Sean_C

pulled the trigger this morning and just went with 345 r888r....can't wait to get them on and be able to use second gear again lol

TXGS507

Romped on my Z for awhile yesterday out on GB, 121, then to the Tollway... Still love the NT05R's.... But then again my power is nowhere near yours Wes.

Millenium Z06

If your C6Z isnt making 402 rwhp, then you got some issues. Did a retune yesterday, picked up about 10hp everywhere so i finally broke 400

Apocolipse

Nt01 would be better than comparing against nt05

TXGS507

Making right at 401.7 @ the tires Wes... Thrilled w my C6Z...

TXGS507

and you base this opinion off of what?