Im sure alot of you guys already know this, but im sure many do not.
I learned a very expensive lesson this year... be careful who mounts your RA-1s!

Ive never had a problem in the past, but this year, not the case.
Feb- bought my first set (for the year) from vilvan tire, shaved 5/32nds... had them mounted at my buddys father in laws gas station/garage

went to a 3 day event at VIR... worked great until my first session on the third day... I had a big bubble on the sidewall of my front left (most stressed tire)

I had the guy at the track dismount it, and he showed me what the problem was... whoever mounted the tire, cut the inside bead. Not the area where the tire touchs the wheel, but inside the tire. It looked like it was cut with a razor blade.

So I get a new tire... and that one blows at summit main.

so now I take it to a "speed shop" down the street from me, they just bought a new tire machine. they take all my tires off and all are cut, except one of my rears. Sooo... I buy 3 more RA-1s and have them mount them.

tires worked fine at shenendoah (I also am running a set a hoosiers, so the toyos didnt get used much)

finally at summit this last weekend I blow another tire (a rear) while on track and spun.

I finnally drive the hour and a half to DC to a place that knows what they are doing....

Point is... Toyo RA-1s are great tires... but ONLY let someone mount them that knows what they are doing.

 

Radial?

 

I have mine mounted by some guys that do it out of their home garage.

 

Did the guy that mounted a new tire at the track use any kind of bead lube when he did it?

 

Mine were mounted by the neighboorhood tire shop

With what appears to be incredible odds maybe you should buy some lottery tickets

 

Im only going to Radial Tire now...

It seems to be only RA-1s, but two tire shops cut 4 tires each... They used lube, but obviously not enough...

If you go to any shop that mounts alot of RA-1s, they will know about it. all the experienced guys I showed the tire to knew exactly what was wrong...

it doesnt happen taking off the tire, just putting it on. and the tire has to be cut bad for it to happen

 

I had numerous sets of RA1s mounted for both the Miata and the S2000 at my local Discount Tire. I also had a few sets mounted at the tire shop at Buttonwillow Raceway on their fancy Italian tire changer robot. Never had a problem with either, and honestly with all the RA1s in use around here you think someone else would have had similar woes as you given the variety of places they're mounted.

Very strange.

 

Maybe there is something wrong with your wheels. Tires too big or small for the rim? RA1s are just tires. Nothing really different than mounting any other street tire.

 

nothing wrong with the wheels or sizes



I cant believe none of you have had problems with this....

When I get home this weekend ill take some pictures... but all the experienced Toyo installers all knew what was wrong before they even took the tire off the wheel... 8 tires, two installers, ruined.

 

Maybe people outside of the DC area are just generally better at mounting tires.