TOYO R1-R's

[HarryW]

Browsing recently I noticed there is a new Toyo tyre coming out early 08. I think it sits between the R888's and the T1-R, sort of like a R888 but with better wet performance, apparently.

Anyone seen them or better still tried them yet, TVR Monster perhaps . I like the idea as I've been a bit wary of R888's in our dry (not) climate.

Linky http://www.toyoproxesr1r.co.uk/

[900T-R]

They look identical to my Japanese-spec Toyo Trampio R1Rs so I must assume this is the E-marked (and maybe updated) version. Have 15,000 miles on them on the bonkers Saab and the short of it is that they perform exactly as described. Full depth rain tread makes them a lot more useable on the road than R888s, Yoko A048s and the like, wear is remarkably good for such a soft compound tyre, grip when warmed up is awesome, not so good however when it's cold outside but not lethal either, unlike the true semi slicks. I use them as my only set of tyres on the Saab for road and track.

Edited by 900T-R on Friday 11th January 20:44

[HarryW]

Sounds like you are making all the right noises, do you know what the wear rating is out of interest.
I really don't know how you could possibly get 15k out of any tyre tbh

[cloggy]

Eric,

You seem to know what you are talking about.
My 1999 Chim has the origional Bridgestones at 12k Miles (of which 6K is mine since Oct 2006).

Should I change my tyres which now are nearly 9 years old (the wisdom seems that they should not be over 6 years old),but they have loads of thread, or should I wait for something like these new Toyo's.

By the way I have Griff estorils on my car.

Thanks for your opinion, much appriciated.

Klaas.

Edited by cloggy on Saturday 12th January 07:45

[cerbfan]

They are my next tyre, sound perfect. Look good as well.

[3doorPete]

cloggy said:

Eric,

You seem to know what you are talking about.
My 1999 Chim has the origional Bridgestones at 12k Miles (of which 6K is mine since Oct 2006).

Should I change my tyres which now are nearly 9 years old (the wisdom seems that they should not be over 6 years old),but they have loads of thread, or should I wait for something like these new Toyo's.

By the way I have Griff estorils on my car.

Thanks for your opinion, much appriciated.

Klaas.

Edited by cloggy on Saturday 12th January 07:45

I'm also on my original tyres on my 98 Chim 450 that has done 10.5K miles. They are fine in the dry once they have a bit of heat in them, but in the wet or cold, they are.... entertaining. They are pretty hard. Perceived wisdom is about 3-5 years on a tyre before it needs changing as the compound goes hard where the plasticising agents leave the tyre.

I'll probably be changing mine this year as there are a few fine cracks forming in between the tread blocks.

[900T-R]

cloggy said:

Eric,

You seem to know what you are talking about.
My 1999 Chim has the origional Bridgestones at 12k Miles (of which 6K is mine since Oct 2006).

Should I change my tyres which now are nearly 9 years old (the wisdom seems that they should not be over 6 years old),but they have loads of thread, or should I wait for something like these new Toyo's.

By the way I have Griff estorils on my car.

Thanks for your opinion, much appriciated.

Klaas.

I would change nine year old tyres ASAP, especially on a high performance car. TBH for a road driven Chimaera or Griffith I wouldn't go as hardcore on the tyres - wet weather performance and progressive on-limit behaviour (especially in adverse weather) are arguable more important than ultimate grip and response for keeping out of the ditch. The R1Rs are a lot more useable on the road than the usual track day fodder, but they still don't like standing water too much for starters. When I chose new front tyres for the TVR I reverted to Dunlop SP9000s - by no means cutting edge dry performance tyres by 2008 standards, but out of the very few choices left for 15" fronts, by far the best and most progressive wet weather behaviour plus that elusive ZR rating.

The R1Rs I would choose for a TVR that has been modified for track work and a driver who's very familiar with its characteristics in all weathers.

Edited by 900T-R on Saturday 12th January 14:05

[900T-R]

HarryW said:

=
I really don't know how you could possibly get 15k out of any tyre tbh

I'm rather surprised too, I must say. 300-odd horsepower on the front wheels and five track sessions (one of them with a pro racer behind the wheel who proceeded to set the highest lateral g at Brunters - his words 'it's very controllable when it's sideways!') would normally be a recipe for disaster concerning thread life. I think this may be a combination of factors - the Saab is my general private runabout so it does see a relatively high proportion of sedate(ish) motorway miles with a chunk of model railroad or other stuff (a TVR V8 springs to mind) in the back, the R1Rs are meant to be a sort of 'recreative track use/club racing' tyre specified for competition on a tight budget where tyre wear quickly becomes a monetary issue, and the car's set up is such that when hooning about, the rear tyres do slide about as much as the fronts...

[cloggy]

Eric,

bedankt.

Klaas

[Chimjunkie]

Went along to the Toyo stand to have a look at them and ask some questions! Not there, no pricing information, and the guys at the stand didn't really have much to say

[JonRB]

I ran R888s on the road during the summer on the Corrado. Ok, the truth is I put them on for a track day and loved them so much I didn't take them off until the weather turned and I put the T1-Rs back on.

Absolutely loved them to bits, so a tyre the sits between the R888 and the T1-R would be of real interest to me, on the Corrado at least.

[bogie]

they look great and just what I need...I contacted Toyo UK though and they have been delayed until "mid 2008"

[jon-]

Eric,

Soft compound sticky track tyre covering 15,000 miles in a bonkers Saab? Have Toyo done the impossible?!

Can't wait to try a set.

Jonathan
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Toyo/R1R.htm (just in case )

[HarryW]

bogie said:

they look great and just what I need...I contacted Toyo UK though and they have been delayed until "mid 2008"

Very strange that must be logistics in the UK then as I've seen threads from Australia as far back as 04 discussing the R1R

[morebeanz]

Are they available in Europe at all? i.e. is it a Euro problem or just our sunny isle?

[900T-R]

morebeanz said:

Are they available in Europe at all? i.e. is it a Euro problem or just our sunny isle?

No, mine were special order from Japan as a favour to a motoring journo in distress... They were a control tyre for one or two minor race series here, but so far were never available with E-markings, which is why Toyo chose not to make them part of the official line-up (my car is Dutch-registered which up to and including last year meant I could legally buy and run tyres with a non-European certification, but other countries like Germany have required E-markings for a bit longer).

[Chimjunkie]

So the delay suggests they dont comply!

[900T-R]

Chimjunkie said:

So the delay suggests they dont comply!

The original R1Rs date from 2002, so I think the Proxes version will be an updated one anyway (although the tread design looks identical - in fact the illustration is the one they used for the Trampio R1R all along). Apart from that, I'd say compliance in itself isn't the issue - the Japanes or US DOT Type Approval for tyres aren't any different from the EU one really; it's just a matter of whether you want to go through the trouble and expense of certification for the EU market given the relatively tiny number of tyres you'll be selling. A few years ago, Toyo decided that the R888 would be the one road legal track tyre design for Europe; apparently (and fortunately) there's been a rethink on that front.