Toyo RA-1 update
07-09-2001, 06:04 AM
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Toyo RA-1 update
Update to my earlier impressions of these tires (http://www.s2000online.com/forums/showthre...&threadid=19162)
I used my Toyo RA-1 tires at the track this weekend and they worked very well overall. Really grippy. Not nearly as much feedback as the OEM tires and not as loud at the limit, but I felt there was generally enough feedback. The tread seemed to hold up better than the OEM tires after they got hot. The OEM's "feathered" pretty bad last time I was out and wore down noticably in one weekend. Definitely more grip and faster than OEM.
I use these tires on the street and they work well there as well. Not quite as good in the rain but better in the dry. Not too loud either.
The sizes I chose turned out to be really bad, however. 225/50 in the front and 245/45 in the rear. As cdelena correctly pointed out, the front to rear ratio is not the same as stock. I tried this because I felt the car was pushing in a few turns at the track. The experiment didn't go well. The front tires are way too grippy compared to the backs and I had a lot of trouble with oversteer. I think a better driver could be faster with this setup but I can't react fast enough to keep the car from spinning. I made a couple of mistakes and spun out twice. I think I might have been able to recover from my mistakes if I didn't have so much oversteer. The spins were defininely driver error, not the tire's fault though. Fortunately, I just did 360's and never left the track or stalled. I should have listened to cdelena about the tire sizes.
I just ordered new 205/55 tires for the front, which should bring back the stock ratio.
Anybody in Houston want two slightly used RA-1s, 225/50 16? Could be used on the rear. I don't know what I'm going to do with these.
I used my Toyo RA-1 tires at the track this weekend and they worked very well overall. Really grippy. Not nearly as much feedback as the OEM tires and not as loud at the limit, but I felt there was generally enough feedback. The tread seemed to hold up better than the OEM tires after they got hot. The OEM's "feathered" pretty bad last time I was out and wore down noticably in one weekend. Definitely more grip and faster than OEM.
I use these tires on the street and they work well there as well. Not quite as good in the rain but better in the dry. Not too loud either.
The sizes I chose turned out to be really bad, however. 225/50 in the front and 245/45 in the rear. As cdelena correctly pointed out, the front to rear ratio is not the same as stock. I tried this because I felt the car was pushing in a few turns at the track. The experiment didn't go well. The front tires are way too grippy compared to the backs and I had a lot of trouble with oversteer. I think a better driver could be faster with this setup but I can't react fast enough to keep the car from spinning. I made a couple of mistakes and spun out twice. I think I might have been able to recover from my mistakes if I didn't have so much oversteer. The spins were defininely driver error, not the tire's fault though. Fortunately, I just did 360's and never left the track or stalled. I should have listened to cdelena about the tire sizes.
I just ordered new 205/55 tires for the front, which should bring back the stock ratio.
Anybody in Houston want two slightly used RA-1s, 225/50 16? Could be used on the rear. I don't know what I'm going to do with these.
07-09-2001, 07:56 AM
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The main problem I've found with trying 225's on the front is that the rim just isn't wide enough. The tire doesn't sit properly, so it doesn't react properly while you turn and gives sudden loss and gain of grip, which makes it nearly impossible to control the car at the limit.
07-09-2001, 08:32 AM
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Do you have a front sway bar? Those who I know that run 225's on the front say the mugen or comptech front sway bar is a MUST.
I am also runing the RA-1's and just got back from my first day on the track w/ them (Willow Springs). I have to say that I am very happy with the tires so far, and am liking them better than the A032R's (last set).
I run 205's on the front.
I am also runing the RA-1's and just got back from my first day on the track w/ them (Willow Springs). I have to say that I am very happy with the tires so far, and am liking them better than the A032R's (last set).
I run 205's on the front.
07-09-2001, 10:20 AM
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Anybody in Houston want two slightly used RA-1s, 225/50 16? Could be used on the rear. I don't know what I'm going to do with these.
I am interested in them bud...can I check them out sometime?
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