New TOYO Product Introduction!!

[Tire Guy]

Yes, there's been speculation, but now it's official. TOYO is bringing the Proxes R888 DOT-legal competition tire to the US! Here's the official press release:

Cypress, Calif. - Toyo Tires has introduced the new Proxes R888 D.O.T.-legal competition tire for use while road racing on track days and at high-performance driving schools. Features: a wide center block; large, interlocked shoulder blocks for optimized contact pressure distribution; a rounded shoulder; a
unidirectional angled-groove tread with a 6/32nd-inch tread depth to help eject water; a high modulus filler in the center of the tire bead to help reduce tire wall deflection; and a jointless cap and edge ply. The tire will be available in a variety of sizes, fitting 17- to 19-inch wheels, with new sizes to be released throughout 2007.




As more information becomes available, I'll post it up here.

[Mazda Gremlyn]

Only 17-19"??? Useless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[arch4life]

yeah, i woulda been hopin for 16's. the only cheap wide lightweight wheel combo for our cars.

but toyo arent cheap tires either, so yeah, if your cheap you wouldnt buy them anyway.


im interested in how they perform, tho, looking forward to some reviews.

[Tire Guy]

Only 17-19"??? Useless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[/b]

Colin, the R888 is available in sizes 13-16" overseas. I would imagine if demand warrants it, we'll bring those sizes over as well. I've been told that we will have both the RA1 and R888 available in 2007, so there'll be some overlap, with the RA1 being phased out in 2008, except for sizes we are contractually obligated to produce. As I hear more information, I'll let you guys know, but I would hope that we'll make the R888 available in the smaller rim diameters as well. I just don't have confirmation yet.

im interested in how they perform, tho, looking forward to some reviews.
[/b]

arch, like the RA1, the R888 isn't optimized for autocross. It's intended for continuous-lap road racing. The test results I've heard indicate a very good improvement over the RA1, with no loss of durability. Incidentally, I've been running the R888 on my BMW since March and I love them! Very predictable in the handling and progressive breakaway characteristics.

[arch4life]

neat!

[Mazda Gremlyn]

I was hoping for some to put on the 323, it's got 15's. Who do I need to write to?

[Tire Guy]

I was hoping for some to put on the 323, it's got 15's. Who do I need to write to?
[/b]

Contact Toyo

[dawei213]

What's the reasoning for it's not being optimized for autocrossing? You mentioned it's good for ccontinuous-lap road racing. Is it because it needs heat and a lot of it to maintain that grip?

[Wiggum]

Sounds like it...

ToyoGuy, what is the projected life of these on the streets?? Can you get 3-5K out of them? I would have thought you would be able to get decent life if they are for road racing....

[Tire Guy]

What's the reasoning for it's not being optimized for autocrossing? You mentioned it's good for ccontinuous-lap road racing. Is it because it needs heat and a lot of it to maintain that grip?
[/b]

Autocross compounds tend to heat up more quickly and have a lower optimum operating temperature (around 180 degrees). Road racing compounds heat up more slowly and have a higher optimum operating temperature (typically 200-220 degrees). You could use autocross tires on a road course, but after several laps, will overheat and lose grip (once you get beyond the optimum range, grip decreases). Conversely, you can use road racing tires on an autocross course, but you don't have enough time to get the heat into them that you need to get the compound sticky. They're better than street tires (for autocross), but not as good as autocross tires.

Wiggum, that's a difficult question to answer. So much depends on your driving style and the conditions of the roads in your area. On some cars, they will wear very quickly (like the 3-5k you mention). On other cars, the heat cycling of the tire being used daily will actually harden the compound. I've heard of people getting 20k miles on RA1s that are driven daily for that reason. Problem is, once the tire compound gets hard like that, they lose all elasticity and don't grip worth a flip. It's better to use them just for the track to get the most life out of them.