R compound tires

[Camshaft82]

Hey guys,

I started off this autocross season with a second hand set of 235/35/17 R-888 on the stock 17" rims. They are starting to get rather worn and I was wondering what you guys suggest I should replace them with.

Not many of the guys run the R-888 and I was wondering if there was any reason for this.

Just for the record I run in DSP and because of my mods I can't really switch to a lower class so I really want to stick with R compound tires.

[daigo]

I never used R888.
To me Yokohama A048 Medium compound was better compaired to Dunlop 03G M2 compound. Well, wish I could try Bridgestone Potenza RE-11S, hope someone will leave a comment for you.

[TXBDan]

R-888s are a track tire and one a lot of ppl don't like at that. I think it was/is the spec tire for SpecMiata as well, about the opposite car from a GTI.

If you go with a proper autox rcomp like a Kuhmo V710 or Hoosier A6 you'll be in a different world.

[miamirice]

Originally Posted by TXBDan

R-888s are a track tire and one a lot of ppl don't like at that. I think it was/is the spec tire for SpecMiata as well, about the opposite car from a GTI.

If you go with a proper autox rcomp like a Kuhmo V710 or Hoosier A6 you'll be in a different world.

I agree regarding the Hoosiers. I use a lot of R888 on Hondas for racing- not auto-x. They are the tire in a number of classes allowed.

The good: in some sizes can be found cheap, they need very little warm up, decent in the rain

The bad: they tend to heat cycle out fairly quick. I often have 50 % tread and they lose their magic.

Can't speak for auto-x but for road course I like nitro-nt01 and Hoosier.

[berndonfat]

kuhmo v710 rcomps. cheaper than hoosiers and they will last longer. not as fast as ho hos but they will do the job for a few hundo less

[turbotrucka]

Go for a set of Hankook C71's. They're almost as fast as the A6's from Hoosier, but will have better life. Plus they're 784.00 a set compared to the A6's at 1128.00 a set. That is in a 245/40-17.

Honestly, you're in a 3000lb car, so the extra money for the HoHo's would just be wasted. You may clean up locally, but Nationally you'd have your ass handed to you. No disrespect.

[Camshaft82]

Thanks for the replys guys. the Hoosiers, Hankooks and Kuhmo's seem to be what most people are running but I just wanted to get opinions from the guys that are running these cars.

And Turbotrucka no disrespect taken I still dont have the driving ability to be competitive at the provincial level but that doesn't stop me from going. I am mainly competing with a buddy of mine in an 07 eclipse gt and we are consistantly less than .5 sec apart.

[GTI_Speed]

The R888 is like a weird in between tire as far as aggressive tires go. They are faster than an Extreme Performance Tire like Star Specs but slower than a true r-compound tires. From what I've heard they only last slightly longer than a true r-compound which is also why I think a lot of people stay away from them. I've heard of the heat-cycling issues with them too.

I would take a look at the Hankook C71 tires and maybe step up to the larger 245/35/17 size. These will be a lot faster than the R888's especially at AutoX and from what I've seen it will cost you less.

[turbotrucka]

I'm pretty sure the r888's target audience was mainly the spec Miata crowd. This year the series has switched to Hoosier, so I guess that will determine the real demand for them.

[Camshaft82]

I would love to step up to a 245 but because I am only runnung the stock 17"s i dought they will work well and i dont have the funds at the moment for new wheels.

[GTI_Speed]

R comps typically have much stiffer sidewalls than street tires so you can run something much larger on a stock wheel without having to worry about the tire breaking the bead or whatever. You could probably go even bigger if it fit under your fenders.

[turbotrucka]

I run a 225/50-14 on a 14x6 on my Miata in ES. It does just fine. There was a guy last year in Blytheville running 275/40-17's on the stock 17x7.5 portos too. It looks a little goofy, but it's not a beauty contest.

[LOUCFUR]

I got some r compounds for sale ... Wheels r 17x9 ... Tires 245/40/17

[TDICup902]

I'm running R888 this year for auto-x. I bought them with a wheels already mounted together and they were about 50% life left. I have done two auto-x's with them and going from an all season hi-perf tire to these is night and day for me.

Only thing I have an issue with these tires is getting heat into them and keeping them hot. The morning session for me, depending on conditions, is almost all warm up until the afternoon.

I must say though they're quite consistant and allow me to push my car to new limits and be not to far behind more modified GTI's, and I'm in an all stock TDI Cup.

[bostonaudi]

I've only tracked with them but I would think Direzza's would make a good autox tire, the formula is designed to grip quickly without a lot of warmup.

[TDICup902]

Originally Posted by bostonaudi

I've only tracked with them but I would think Direzza's would make a good autox tire, the formula is designed to grip quickly without a lot of warmup.

Oh and I do agree. A good chunk of my friends run the Direzza's. And they're a perfect match for DD and then auto-x. Especially since they're great in the dry and wet.

I am honestly surprised with how well the R888 have been working for me without getting them to proper heat levels. Hopefully as the air temperature gets hotter this summer it should really make things fun!

[miamirice]

Originally Posted by TDICup902

Oh and I do agree. A good chunk of my friends run the Direzza's. And they're a perfect match for DD and then auto-x. Especially since they're great in the dry and wet.

I am honestly surprised with how well the R888 have been working for me without getting them to proper heat levels. Hopefully as the air temperature gets hotter this summer it should really make things fun!

They are good right out of the pits if pressures are in the ball park. Don't know what camber you are running, but they recommend -2.5 degree - -5.0 degree. Click on the "set up and care" tab.

http://toyotires.com/tire/pattern/pr...petition-tires

[TDICup902]

Originally Posted by miamirice

They are good right out of the pits if pressures are in the ball park. Don't know what camber you are running, but they recommend -2.5 degree - -5.0 degree. Click on the "set up and care" tab.

http://toyotires.com/tire/pattern/pr...petition-tires

Running bone stock won't allow me to get that kind of camber as recommended by Toyo unfortunately.

[berndonfat]

star specs are perfect for camber challenged mac strut fwd cars

[TDICup902]

Originally Posted by berndonfat

star specs are perfect for camber challenged mac strut fwd cars

Yeah I'll probably go with the Direzza's once my R888s are done, but I got a really good deal on the wheel/tire set so I couldn't pass it up

[18bora]

What about the NT01's?

[GTI_Speed]

^
It's basically in the exact same boat as an R888, better than a street tire but gets less life, slower than an Rcomp but gets slightly better life. Nitto and Toyo are the same company so I'm sure the compound is quite similar.

As a side note, I'm pretty interested in trying out the new Nitto NT05 as it looks to be in the same class as the Direzza, RS3, Ecsta and at my last TT event there was an EVO that was absolutely flying on them.