I have been using the A032R tires but they are now discontinued. The reason I used them is because I could drive to the track on them. They handled long drives on the freeway just fine. Also they seemed to be fine in the wet.

I tried Vicotoracers but they don't handle the freeway driving well. They get hard. Also they suck in the wet.

Now I would like to try the RA1s. How do they do on the track Unshaved? How do they handle freeway driving? Do they get hard like the Vicotos? I have heard that they are ok in the wet.

I know many of you guys are using the RA1s so I would like to get you opnion on these.

 

Ra1's shouldn't heat cycle like the victos. The ra1 only start getting fast when they are shaved or worn down. They will ride like hell (like victos on the street). Personally I may do the same thing next year, and I'd actually shave the ra1 even if I was driving on the street some, they are that slow full thread. Good news is that they will get faster as they they wear.

 

I can only answer part from experience - The Toyo RA1s were excellent in the rain (unshaved) - better by far than my old Kumho Mx street tires. They rode just fine in combined highway/city driving in Ny/NJ (not glass smooth roads so YMMV). Can't speak to how well they wear, but a significant part of why I bought them was to do my NY/NJ events and schools on them while driving to events - they are supposed to take considerably longer to heatcycle out than victos etc.

I track another car on other tires so I can't speak to the Toyos track prowess, but I think I would go that route since I don't need the 'fastest' tire for the track and really love their wet weather capability.

 

I run RAs on the street and on the track on two cars and have to say that they're an awesome tire that have an impressive amount of durability and resistance to heat cycling considering the amount of grip they have. On the street they seem like any other tire (not harsh or noisy). Of course they seem unlike any other street tire when you throw the car into a turn. I've run them shaved at 4/32nds and 6/32nds and have also run one set unshaved. The unshaved are a little bit squirmy, but they've still got a ton of grip and are never greasy if you're running the right pressures. Unfortunately by the time the tread blocks are all gone, the tires aren't as grippy as they would be had they been shaved to 4 or 6/32nds.

 

RA1s are good choice. You could also try the 032R replacements... the 048s.

I'll have more input on those after the Thunderhill 25 Hour next weekend. Yoko says they are better than the 032s in every way. BTW Yoko also told us that 048 medium compound equals 032R soft.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?ti...odel=ADVAN+A048

 

[QUOTE=jlucas,Nov 27 2005, 11:59 AM] RA1s are good choice. You could also try the 032R replacements... the 048s.

I'll have more input on those after the Thunderhill 25 Hour next weekend.