Does anyone have a good, reliable source for some Toyo RA-1s at a reasonable price? Ihave a local dealer that can order them but I want to have an idea of how hard I'm being hosed.

Thanks,
Steve

 

www.onlinetrires.com

www.etires.com

I used etires when I bought my T1-S , and plan on getting RA1's next year from either....

I used online tires to get my KDWS that are my winter tires.... had good dealing with both...check prices with both groups....varies

-Shahul

 

I bought mine from Frisbee Tire, check out www.Frisbyracetire.com. Tswift is a silver vendor on the boards here. He can also shave them, but I would expect all dealers who sell RA-1s could.

 

Tom hooked me up with a good deal onthe RA-1s. Hopefully they'll get their stock in soon so they can ship.

 

are the RA-1s much better than stock? what's the tread life? is it much grippier? what does shaving do?

 

Call Adam @ Z1.

www.z1auto.com


I got my T-1S from him at a great price.

 

Debating some of these myself.

I have heard that RA-1 grip is bad when they are cold (meaning not warmed up track-style) - can someone characterize just how "bad" it is, relative to stock when cold? (in G's if you happen to know )

Also, how is their breakaway behavior vs. stock?

 

The RA-1s are "on/off" like most R-compounds. I just read about how the Yoko A-048s are near useless in cold weather, for example.

Sidenote: The T-1S has RIDICULOUSLY high limits. I drove the hell out of them a couple of weeks ago on dry and damp on/off camber roads and they performed like champs. They are a good sub for the stock A-046s (esp. since A-046s don't come in 18"... )

I know MachV Dan is running RA-1s. Maybe PM him.

 

Says on their website they don't sell the RA1. I will probably be getting a set of these for track use. They are supposed to last longer than the Kumhos, and just about everything lasts longer than Hoosiers.

 

There are a lot of things that Z1 sells that are not on the site. Just call and ask...

 

Okay, bear in mind that my intention for these tires is for track use only.
It depends on the intended use, but for track duty, the RA-1s should be far superior.

The RA-1s have a tread rating of 40 versus the stock Advans which have a rating of 160. While legal for street use, the RA-1s are not intended as daily drivers.

They are much grippier once heated to their correct operating temperature (160deg f - 220deg f). However, as Chris said, most R-compound tires are "on/off". In other words, once they are warm, they stick like mad but when they decide to break loose, they tend to be unforgiving and do so with less warning.

From what I was told by tswift shaving helps grip by shortening the tread block so there is less flex and squirming. It also helps improve track wear since there will be less rubber being rolled off and shed. I guess the process is more aggressive and rapid with full tread depth tires. I didn't have mine shaved. Instead I'm going to drive them on the street for a little while before my first event. Hopefully I'll get a feel for the tire and wear it down a little. Then again maybe not since I probably won't get them up to temperature on the street. We'll see.

I decided to go with the Toyos since at the last track event I attended all the other Evo guys had them and seemed to love them. Oh, FWIW, Frisby Tire had the Toyos for $193 including shipping. I didn't shop around too much but that seemed like a good price.

http://www.toyo.com/tires/tire_lines/high_perf/ra1.html

 

Tireswap.com has them. I don't know anything about them. I saw the URL on a competitor's car at an SCCA National Tour Solo II event this weekend and see that they have our size for $175 each.

 

Used the Toyo's at a recent track event with a 911. I was very unhappy with the performance. I would not buy them again.

Just my opinion.

 

What didn't you like about them?

 

Hi,
I recently wore down the yokos and I got a set of unshaved 255/40 RA1's for the stock wheels for street/track use and I'm very happy with them. Although grip is phenomenal I won't be using them for competition racing, just track days like PCA's. Bought them at http://www.frisbyracetire.com/. I also ordered a set of R3S04 from them.

BTW, I don't use my car everyday and I wouldn't recommend these tires for everyday use. The RA1 is a race tire with a treadwear rating of only 100 and have written on the side "RECOMMENDED FOR COMPETITION EVENTS ONLY". They howl pretty loud at the limit, so none of the on/off behavior (maybe until the tread blocks wear out?)