I've run A032R's and Victoracers previously.

I tend to overdrive, and yes, you feel the Victo's going off and getting greasy, and need at least a cool down lap to get them performing again. I also wore them out (outside front edge, even with aggressive front camber) fairly quickly. Once the edge started to wear, the tread just peeled right off the tire. On the A032's, the rears center was the first to go...

RA-1's sound like they might be worth a try. Vilven tire quoted me $162 for 225/50-16 fronts and $174 for 245/45-16 rears, shaved and delivered to Colorado. $672 for a full shaved and shipped set.

Tire Rack wants $638 for the same size Victo's, also shaved and delivered. $60 less if you don't shave them (I didn't last time).

Are the RA-1's usable for track days unshaved?

Any reason to go with the 205 front vs. 225? I have a Mugen bar and GC/Eibach springs, so oversteer wasn't much of a problem with the 225 Victo fronts.

 

Too bad this offer isn't available for the RA1's

[QUOTE]At Toyo we are committed to product quality and customer satisfaction. We're confident that once you experience the quality of our tires, Toyo will be your brand of choice. And to prove it to you, we invite you to take advantage of our "Experience the Difference in Quality Trial Offer."

Buy a set of eligible Toyo tires and try them on your car for up to 500 miles. If you're not completely satisfied with the performance of the tires, just return them to the dealer where you purchased them for a full refund or replacement. The choice of refund or replacement is yours. Visit your Toyo dealer for complete details.

 

for racing, xcept standing water:

a dry tire is better in the wet than a wet tire is in the dry, if you want to go fast.

new Kuhmo's + Sears Point + Torrential rain = FUN.

NOTE: drive around the puddles...don't turn in them. hyroplaning
thru puddle at apex of #1 and #10....should be avoided for maximum un-clenching.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by pfb
[B]
Are the RA-1's usable for track days unshaved?

Any reason to go with the 205 front vs. 225? I have a Mugen bar and GC/Eibach springs, so oversteer wasn't

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Gloffer
[B]

Yes that size combination on the RA1's maintains a tread width stagger of 1.5 inches (r 9.0 - f

 

Any idea what Vilven's turn-around time will be for getting a set to CA? If I order on monday, will they get them to me before the weekend?

 

Get the RA1's shaved. They come with 8/32's, which is near street tire tread depths. Even Toyo recommends shaving to 3/32's for max perf. dry use. I get them shaved to 5 to 4/32.

In addition, many have found the RA1's to last *longer* shaved than unshaved, as they don't generate all that tread squirm and heat of the unshaved tire.

Like others have said, they can be overdriven and tend not to get greasy, and if they do, you can get them back pretty easily. This was not my experience with the Kumhos.

I'll be comparing the Toyos to the Hoosier GAC compound this year (Grand Am Cup), which is more of an endurance oriented compound (I have two sets of them in the garage, waiting for a hall pass from the wife ).

Jeff

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Schatten
on a side note... very soon I'll be carrying Toyo Tires.

 

I'm with Tedster, as I have 17" CE28N's and would like 225/45-17 RA1's too.

 

Ted, thanks for the pointer to this thread. I was heavily persuing the Toyo dealer route. However, because of the quality and service you can get from Vilven with their great prices (yes, they are that good), its best to go through them.