rmurph

I am looking to switch to "DOT track tires" for HPDE events. Car is an 87 cab with roll bar, lowered and corner balanced and recently added a camber brace. I run in the solo group and have been using street tires, rather hard compound with a 320 rating. I am considering going to the Toyo RA1's as i am overdriving the current tires and want to get a bit more grip. Anyone have experience with the RA1's? Was the upgrade noticable? thanks in advance.

g-50cab

Huge difference - the RA'1's are great upgrade. Hopefully you have done some suspension upgrades too - or you'll have to wait for the suspension to "settle" before transitioning.

BTW the Nitto NT01's are similar tire with reportedly the same compound.

ricster

Hoosier tires are awesome also

Jay Gratton

I personally wouldn't recommend the jump to Hoosiers from 320 rated tire. Try the R1's and maybe in a year or two try a set of Hoosiers, once you go Hoosiers you won't come back. But they wear out twice as quick.

whiskey52

i just have run 2 DE's on Nitto NT01's and what a difference over street tires. 225/45/17 (F) 255/40/17 (R) on an '81 narrowbody. great stick and they talk to you way before letting go. and i couldn't find any tire in this class that could come close to the price. seem to get very good wear after two events as well.
jmho

rmurph

I looked into the Nittos, but not available in my wheel size. Running 16's, 205 up front and 225 in rear. Looks like i may need to consider some suspension upgrades as well. Ahhhh, the slippery slope.
Thanks for the inputs.

Auto_Werks 3.6

Rmurph,
I would seriously consider some Bridgestone Potenza RE-11s. They are a step down from a "true R compound tire", but I have been autocrossing them on a friend's car and they are VERY impressive as far a grip for a street tire.

Tire Rack has them in your size:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....e&autoModClar=

You wouldn't maybe feel compelled to change the suspension right away.... doesn't mean you wouldn't want to

tyro

Also, it may be worth checking into a performance street tire such as:

Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Spec
Bridgestone RE-11
Yokohama AD-08

Good value if you're just running DE events.

What tire are you running now?

Ed Hughes

As Jeremy noted, the Toyos are great-they get better as they wear. Once you see a picture of your car leaning in a turn when you start running on R's, you won't be able to start the suspender upgrade fast enough.

I run R's full time, but we don't know how to spell RANE in SoCal.

RL911

If you can find the RA-1s in your size, jump on them. Otherwise, you should look at the Toyo 888s. Huge difference between street tires and track tires, much more grip and better control. Very slippery slope you are entering here....don't ask me how I know.

bart1

My 'tweener track tires are the Falken RT-615s. Good tire, 200 tread wear rating, and cheap.

MUSSBERGER

On a light, low horse car Hoosiers can last a while at the DE level and you can flip them. The Nittos and Toyos have a bit of tread that can help in the damp. I threw away a set of Falken's. I think they were rotten from the get go. I have a new set of Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Specs that I bought as "rain" tires. I plan to put those on the 930 with the new wheels.

pmason

+1 on Nitto NT01's, liked them better than the Kumho's for the 911 DE car.

TT Oversteer

I'm considering a set of Toyo RA1's also. The limiting factor for my car now during DE events is the street tires.

Tire Rack recommends shaving them before track use. They say the tires will actually last longer on the track because of less heat and scrubbing of the thicker tread. It seems like a shame to remove tread from a brand new tire.

For those of you that have experience in this area, what say you about shaving? (Tires that is)

joe1973

RA1s are perfect for your earlier 911. I've run my 1973T (3.2 engine) with RA1s for 2 years and extremely happy with performance and longevity. Over 10 events and still good but probably replacing at the end of this season even if there's plenty of tread as i'm worried about maxing on heat cycles. RA1s warm up quick even for light-weight car (my 73 weighs just 2200lbs) and will give you plenty of grip especially for our cars with relatively low power. Hoosiers are better but will leave you stranded on drives to/from the track and also at the track itself. RA1s with decent tread is able to handle decently in fairly wet conditions and best of all it's fairly cheap too !