INQUIRY: Toyo RA1 - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

micro214_kp61 · 11-05-2003, 03:16 PM

SORRY IN ADVANCE IF THIS IS A REPOST

i'm trying to get a set of track tires for my car for next year, and they said the best time for me to get them is during the winter. so i wanna ask all you track-freaks, "Dude, where do u get u'r tires?" is it worth spending the buck for a new set right away or just get use one n try it out? i wanna hear some feedbacks comparing the toyos, yoks, kumho, and falken. this is gonna be in a small FR car, i'm leaning on getting either a 185-60-14 or 205-50-15, what u think?

thanks! again please don't shoot me if it's a repost!

Bensa · 11-05-2003, 03:53 PM

Okay first off...

RA1 only come in 205.50.15 in their "smallest" size

if you want to got 14" I think you'll might wanna consider the 032R from Yokohama in a 195/60/14

I've heard some good things about the Falken Azenis tires... they are between street and R tire... but I've also heard they're pretty slippery on streets in the rain!

As for what is good?

I've used some Toyo T1Plus tires on my Old Sentra and those were really grippy... not like the RA1 but still good!

I've had a complete set of Toyo RA1 at all four corners (Thanks Ken) and the car ran on rails!

My current track setup consists of BFG CompTA R1 up front and Toyo RA1 at the back... not bad just that the fronts are mounted the wrong way so the car sticks to the road but doesn't like turing LOL....

micro214_kp61 · 11-05-2003, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bensa
Okay first off...

RA1 only come in 205.50.15 in their "smallest" size

if you want to got 14" I think you'll might wanna consider the 032R from Yokohama in a 195/60/14

ooh sorry for the misinfo... i meant if i would use an RA1 i'd use 205-50-15 and if i go 195-60-14, i would get an A032. now the thing is i don't know where to get 'em at a decent price. another thing too is i don't know if the 205's would be too big for the kp, so i'm thinking maybe the 14's A032 would be perfect but someone was telling me that the yoks is more expensive than the 15 toyos. another thing that concerns me is that if i get the yoks the tirewall might be too high? i don't know how stiff the tirewall on the A032 is. so please help, any info would be great.

thanks bensa for the info!

Bensa · 11-05-2003, 05:49 PM

I've got two 205.50.15 mounted on 4x100 Steelies atm... if you want u can see if those fit the Starlet.

if you went with a 195/60/14 on the starlet they would be about 5% smaller than the 205/50/15 from my tire size calculator!

I believe Shaun has a set of 032R's in 14" from his AE92.... as far as I can remember they don look too "fat boy" and should fit the starlet. as for sidewalls I think they should be stiffer for sure! I mean compared to street rubber that is.

I notice that my EP hates any bump of any size when I run the R's on the street/highway

Lafora · 11-05-2003, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bensa
Okay first off...

RA1 only come in 205.50.15 in their "smallest" size

if you want to got 14" I think you'll might wanna consider the 032R from Yokohama in a 195/60/14

I've heard some good things about the Falken Azenis tires... they are between street and R tire... but I've also heard they're pretty slippery on streets in the rain!

As for what is good?

I've used some Toyo T1Plus tires on my Old Sentra and those were really grippy... not like the RA1 but still good!

I've had a complete set of Toyo RA1 at all four corners (Thanks Ken) and the car ran on rails!

My current track setup consists of BFG CompTA R1 up front and Toyo RA1 at the back... not bad just that the fronts are mounted the wrong way so the car sticks to the road but doesn't like turing LOL....

you be wrong spence

RA1s come in 185/60/13 205-60-13, 205-55-14 and 225-50-14

boroEF · 11-05-2003, 08:10 PM

advan 032r are not impressive track tires at all.

i have them in 185/60R14 and they're -okay- for track tires.....better than any street tire but compared to everything else out there, they aint up to par.

sidewalls on 032r isnt too stiff at all...if anything, i'd even venture out and say they're soft for r compounds.

ra1 i have heard nothing but good things from people who use them...but a downfall may be their price? i believe kumho victoracers are cheaper...and those are supposed to be amazing dry tires...so give those a shot. or even try to get some hoosier s502 or whatever...those are supposed to be AMAZING in dry.

or if u want to cheap out..get some azenis. that's most likely what i will do for my car. bad thing is that they suck balls in the wet

if u are concerned about wet performance, i say 032R! those were impressive in the wet....but dry they are just bleh.

wedge · 11-06-2003, 09:04 PM

I've got the perfect set for you man! Silverstone 575s racing tires. You probably haven't even heard of them. That's because Silverstone doesn't officially sell products in North America.
They're slightly used but still in great shape. They're great for use on the track during lapping days or whatever. These can easily outpeform any other r-compound you can buy in this country.
Here's some details of the set I'm selling:
205-50-15 tires
s5 (medium) compound
15x7 rims +38offset
4x100, and 4x113 bolt pattern

feel free to make me an offer. if you want more details or pics just let me know!

micro214_kp61 · 11-07-2003, 07:33 PM

wedge... i don't even wanna ask you how much, coz i know i can't afford it. homo tyres are freakin' expensive isn't it? plus it's not DOT approve, right? i'm just trying to get the rubbers coz i have a set of wheels already. but thanks for offering!

ice and solo racer · 11-29-2003, 05:58 AM

I have 205-50-15 victoracers for dry days and 185-60-14 32R's(soft compound)for the wet,(race only ae86)I was forced to use the yoks in the dry and despite their small size the grip was pretty good.
If you are doing lapping days I'd go with the toyo's as the wear is about the best of the R-tires and consistancy(in grip)is good thru the life of the tire.Ra1's are also very good wet tires when new as well.
I wouldn't buy used unless a good set with very little use pops up,most guys don't sell untill they only have maybe one track day left-not a good value.
I wouldn't use the falkens for a track tire,the grip goes down when hot.I used them for autoX in 2002,winning the class title for Ont. on them,they are amazing cold however(and I don't mean frigid weather).
Also depending on driving stlye and car weight the 185's might be a little small and quickly overheat on extended track time.I would go with 195/205's assuming they will fit(I have lots of room on the corolla with kosei's for the 205's,could fit 225's)

Bensa · 11-30-2003, 08:13 PM

Here its almost winter and we still talking about R-compounsd for the track.

Mike: Check out some of the other forums there's people unloading their R's of late two people on Club Si and Toronto Civics have tried to sell their RA1's maybe good for another 3-4 sessions ... or if you lucky u might find some really good ones!

Good Luck. and remember I want the keys to the starlet for a few laps next spring