boqueron

I've made a search and only found one Rennlister that seems to have used Toyos R888. He states that the R888 uses the same compound than the RA1's which seem to be quite acceptable tyres for track days.

In Europe those R888 tyres are 55% LESS than MPSC's !
I am obviously tempted to give them a try but would love to have some previous advise...

Any help out there ?

Thanks in advance,

zoomzoom

They are an excellent tyre and quite good in the wet too. However, you need to run them at slightly higher pressures on track than usual... 35f/38r is the minimum. Also, because of the exceptionally stiff sidewalls, you can/need to run slightly less camber to avoid inside wall delamination. At the beginning of this past year, several (including me) were running them at 31/32 and although they seemed to be ok at first, later inspection showed excessive inside shoulder wear and the start of delam. A pyrometer test at one of the events with Toyo in attendance found that 35/38 was about the minimum if you were running a full trackday geo (typically approx -3.xx d f, -2.5d r camber).

boqueron

Thanks Zoomzoom,

How did they compare against MPSC's ? Were they faster, slower. Did they last more, less ? Did they behave differently ? Could you compare the lap times against the cups ? And, finally, could you trie them at different ambient temperature ?

Sorry for all those questions...

zoomzoom

They are a stiffer sidewalled tyre compared to MPSCs offering razor sharp turn-in. In fact, they feel almost as stiff as slicks. They offer about 98% top end grip compared to the MPSC and will go off slightly sooner due to the softer compound. I haven't tried them in very hot conditions, although I did notice that they were starting to go off after their 3rd consecutive laps of the 'Ring during the summer (ambient temp was only about 20deg C) - although it may have been my fatigue creeping in after about 3 consecutive laps! I found them very confidence inspiring and certainly worth the slightly lower limits compared to MPSCs given their competitive price. Breakaway is quite progressive. They are superior to Pirelli Corsas in the dry, and about the same in the wet.

DanH

I like mine, although only been out on them once. Breakaway is very progressive. Give them a shot, but as Adrien says, go easy on the rear camber or you'll kill em.

boqueron

THanks !

maximu5

I am a convert from MPSC to Toyo : not only is a set of Toyos much cheaper, but they last a lot longer and you can use them in the wet. I think the Toyos are almost as fast. The only drawback is that the Toyos are very noisy : on the motorway you'd think you are driving a Land Rover at 100 mph

Gus B.

Local Toyo rep claims that the compound on the 888 is different from the RA-1. On the Integra race cars that changed, they managed to drop nearly a second off a 70 second lap when they upgraded to the 888s from the RA-1. They also last approximately 50% more than the RA-1s.

DanH

Yeah that is the downside

boqueron

I have just comeback from the track were I tried for the first time the R888's. I have to say that I have also changed my front camber from -2º to -3,2 and REAR from 2,5 to 3º. THe Front pressure was 30 pounds COLD and Rear 32 COLD.

In short: not the best feeling.

I have lost straight line stability ( the front camber ?) and I do not have the feeling of grip that I had with the MPSC's. With the R888's I feel like if the rear was getting loose ( I have been driving at 85% and only for 5 laps ) much before the limit... Much less feedback than the MPSC's..

Could it be that the pressure was to high and/or the neg. camber excessive ?

Any clue..? Please...

GT3CS

My experience with the R888 vs the MPSC, is that the R888 requires/likes less camber due to the stiffer side walls. I have heard that the R888 might delaminate with excessive camber.

mooty

what was your hot temp? aim for 38-40 with R888.

boqueron

Just came from a track day. Light rain. At the begining of the day the track was wet finishing wet and dry. EXCELLENT TYRES !!! GREAT BEHAVIOUR ( specially when wet and dry ) . Lots of drifting pleasure and confidence.. We will see next time on a dry track day..

PS. IMPORTANT: I tried them first with -3,5º Camber Front and - 3º Rear... Impossible tyres. Going back to - 2,5º F and - 2,2º REAR they behave splendidly... I insist : splendidly.

Holger B

I checked with a local Toyo dealer earlier this week and was told by him that Toyo says they won't be available here until late this year. They told him they hadn't started making the 235 size yet, which we know isn't true.

DanH

Very important you use higher pressures than you would on MPSCs. Mooty's figures are about right. I'm using 36 all round at the moment, but it has been suggested I try 38 rear. At 36 I did overheat the backs a bit quicker than I'd like.