you are comparing apples to oranges.

R888 and RA1 are rcomps. The R1R is a street performance tire. IMO for the Elise, the R1R is the grippiest street tire with treadwear rating of 140 and above when shaved. it should make a great track rain tire in full tread as well.
BTW, these are the tires that i did 1:58 on at BW#13 and 1:54 at ACS Roval