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Hey Rob, nice reviews. I am just wondering, your fastest time at SOW on the RA1's was on very old, almost cording tires (but when you got used to the track), and on different shocks (?) and wing. So I am thinking that if you had fresh RA1's you would be equal if not faster than the Nittos in a back to back test in same track conditions. Even the handling characteristics of the RA1's might be different than you recall?
I'm also not sure how you manage to not slip RA-1s. They have a pretty high slip angle IIRC and slide very controllably. I've got a new set of 235/255R17s waiting for me at BW. It will be interesting to compare but I do think that they must be way better or way cheaper if Nitto intends to dip into the RA1 market share. I don't see either of those things being true.
Decisions.... The Toyo's have worked very well and are drivable to the track. But the nitto's offer different sizes like that 245/275 combo that sounds interesting.
I'm also not sure how you manage to not slip RA-1s. They have a pretty high slip angle IIRC and slide very controllably. I've got a new set of 235/255R17s waiting for me at BW. It will be interesting to compare but I do think that they must be way better or way cheaper if Nitto intends to dip into the RA1 market share. I don't see either of those things being true.
Again, let me re-state this: I am not saying RA1s do not / did not slide for me.
I feel that the Nitto feels more natural on how and when you can make it slide. Its similar to what I felt when I drove on Yoko A048s.
To me, the Nitto already proved that its fast enough out of the box. If it last as much or close to my previous RA1s, I will be using these as I can save money on shaving and get them though my local regular tire store. (America's Tire Company)
Originally Posted by rlaifatt,Feb 21 2006, 08:41 PM
Hey Rob, nice reviews. I am just wondering, your fastest time at SOW on the RA1's was on very old, almost cording tires (but when you got used to the track), and on different shocks (?) and wing. So I am thinking that if you had fresh RA1's you would be equal if not faster than the Nittos in a back to back test in same track conditions. Even the handling characteristics of the RA1's might be different than you recall?
Those are very fast times regardless
Hey Richard,
Your right. Its not a apple to apple comparison with my previous setup. My previous best with KW V3, RA1s & Regular Wing was 1:29.145. RA1s were not cording when I ran Streets in CW format. (They were pretty worn out when we swapped trunks going CCW though.. but can you belive I got two more track days on the same tires after that day!)
For this reason, I tried to stay away from comparing my previous time on my review.
Since then I changed my suspension to Tein SRD and Wing to Voltex. I may have gone faster or slower with a freshly shaved RA1s.
Anyone want to let me borrow a non-staggered RA1s at Buttonwillow for testing?
If the Nittos can withstand heat cycles like RA1s, then there's surely no need to bother shaving them -- those tread blocks are ginormous! Only reason to shave is if the rubber gets slow before you wear them down to 3/32".
02-21-2006, 07:41 PM
