TOYO R8888's 16"s unavailable.....with no end in sight

[kpbuck]

I am thoroughly disgusted with TOYO - anyone have another solution for the track (other than Hoosiers or the stock YOKOs)? I purchased a set of rears which are essentially useless with no ETA on the fronts. RQ_GT3 came to my rescue and loaned me his TOYO's for Sebring this weekend - very generous on his part but not a solution beyond this Sunday. If you guys dont have a better idea I guess I going to buy another set of those greasy YOKOs until TOYO can service its customers..... I would love to just switch to other track tire.....
suggestions?

[apk919]

I have a set of fronts back ordered for a month now... don't know if I'll ever get them...

[ZJChaser]

aww crap. I just placed an order for two sets today, haven't heard back yet.

[kpbuck]

so - we cant get TOYOs anytime soon, in fact it could be months according to Tires Direct - the YOKOs are really greasy on the track - I just talked to Sector111 and the only solution they have is buy more YOKOs ... called Lotus North America and got a recording.
So much for brand support. Maybe I should just bite the bullet and go back to Porsche - at least someone answers the phone & I have never been told consumables for my car were just not available...
Anyone want to buy a very nice black S 240 with no tires?????

[Amarao]

Well that makes me feel better... I just ordered a set and was told the fronts were back ordered. But was told they "should" be in this week. This thread doesn't give me much hope though...

[chotto]

Go RA-1's. They will last you about 3X as long.

[kpbuck]

Originally Posted by chotto

Go RA-1's. They will last you about 3X as long.

looks like a great street tire - and that's why they last three times longer. my Loti travels by Featherlite over the road and likes soft compound on the track

thanks though any ideas for an alternate to TOYO in a soft compound track except Hoosier?

[robains]

When you say Yokos are "greasy", can you be more specific and also provide what type of Yokohama tire you're talking about, starting pressures, hot pressures, temps, etc?

I've found the Yokohama A048 (60AA) to have more grip than the Toyo 888 (100AA) -- the downside is the A048 don't last as long on the street compared to the 888. I'm not a big fan of the 888s for track use -- I seem to be the odd one out on this as I know some folks swear by the 888s.

From my experience, when the car feels greasey, it's usually to high a tire pressure and/or excessive heat in the tires (too much camber and/or toe or even too much power).

Rob

[knucklehead]

Originally Posted by kpbuck

looks like a great street tire - and that's why they last three times longer. my Loti travels by Featherlite over the road and likes soft compound on the track

thanks though any ideas for an alternate to TOYO in a soft compound track except Hoosier?

TOYO RA-1s are the same soft compound as the R-888

[Just_Hayes]

Unless I am mistaken though RA-1s aren't available in a suitable 16/17 combo.

[SweetDaddyD]

I don't understand how Toyo being out of stock on a size would be an issue with LCU???

I do like the R888's and am thankful I'm not due for any right now. Hopefully it's a temporary problem and they will make a production run of them soon.

[knucklehead]

Originally Posted by Just_Hayes

Unless I am mistaken though RA-1s aren't available in a suitable 16/17 combo.

I thought the OP was looking for 16s

[apk919]

Originally Posted by knucklehead

I thought the OP was looking for 16s

Looking at Toyo's site, I don't see an equivalent RA-1 to the 195/50ZR16 R888...

The closest I see is 205/55ZR16, which is not really a close match... (much taller tire).

EDIT: Toyo, if you're reading this... you might be forcing some loyal and frequent customers to change suppliers...

[chotto]

Originally Posted by kpbuck

looks like a great street tire - and that's why they last three times longer. my Loti travels by Featherlite over the road and likes soft compound on the track

thanks though any ideas for an alternate to TOYO in a soft compound track except Hoosier?

Street tire, huh? You may want to let the SCCA know about your classification.

[EricH]

I ordered some 888s last Monday, was told on Wed they were not coming and had to scramble and get some A048s for an event that weekend. Got them mounted on Friday just in time for the rain to start.. all weekend.

[kpbuck]

Originally Posted by chotto

Street tire, huh? You may want to let the SCCA know about your classification.

I went back and read a detailed description of the tire & I stand corrected
"The tread compound on the Proxes RA-1 is designed to operate under racing conditions.
To achieve optimum adhesion levels the tread must operate within a narrow temperature range.
This temperature range is very difficult to achieve under legal and normal street operating conditions"

sounds like a possible solution - I take it you like their track performance on your Exige?

[kpbuck]

Originally Posted by robains

When you say Yokos are "greasy", can you be more specific and also provide what type of Yokohama tire you're talking about, starting pressures, hot pressures, temps, etc?

I've found the Yokohama A048 (60AA) to have more grip than the Toyo 888 (100AA) -- the downside is the A048 don't last as long on the street compared to the 888. I'm not a big fan of the 888s for track use -- I seem to be the odd one out on this as I know some folks swear by the 888s.

From my experience, when the car feels greasey, it's usually to high a tire pressure and/or excessive heat in the tires (too much camber and/or toe or even too much power).

Rob

the car came with Yokohama A048 s- I ran them til I corded the rears -- started at 30 psi heated them up and then bled them down to 28 psi.front and rear My personal opinion is when the YOKOs get hot they feel greasy - slippery

[Just_Hayes]

Originally Posted by apk919

Looking at Toyo's site, I don't see an equivalent RA-1 to the 195/50ZR16 R888...

The closest I see is 205/55ZR16, which is not really a close match... (much taller tire).

EDIT: Toyo, if you're reading this... you might be forcing some loyal and frequent customers to change suppliers...

Exactly. I couldn't remember whether it was the 16s or the 17s but either way it wouldn't have solved the OPs problem because he wouldn't have been able to get the same tire front and back. I have been looking into a RA-1 solution since I got my car. To run them you have to go with a 15/16 setup.

[Chili Red]

Originally Posted by Just_Hayes

Exactly. I couldn't remember whether it was the 16s or the 17s but either way it wouldn't have solved the OPs problem because he wouldn't have been able to get the same tire front and back. I have been looking into a RA-1 solution since I got my car. To run them you have to go with a 15/16 setup.

If you do the math, its worth it to go with the 15/16 setup to run RA1's as track tires... RA1's last 2/3x longer than R888's under the same conditions. Just one set of tires is about the same price as a set of Rota's.

RA1's have similar grip levels to R888's and will not heat cycle out on you. You do have to deal with a bit of tread squirm if you do not shave them, so as long as your not racing its not really that big of a deal. If racing just shave them and you will be good to go. On a side note, they do not have the odd wear that R888's get (wearing in the middle).

If you are just running HPDE's, RA1's are really a no brainer due to cost.

[apk919]

Originally Posted by Chili Red

If you do the math, its worth it to go with the 15/16 setup to run RA1's as track tires... RA1's last 2/3x longer than R888's under the same conditions. Just one set of tires is about the same price as a set of Rota's.

RA1's have similar grip levels to R888's and will not heat cycle out on you. You do have to deal with a bit of tread squirm if you do not shave them, so as long as your not racing its not really that big of a deal. If racing just shave them and you will be good to go. On a side note, they do not have the odd wear that R888's get (wearing in the middle).

If you are just running HPDE's, RA1's are really a no brainer due to cost.

Grrr... and I have two complete sets of RAC Monolites 16/17...