Region: Indy
Car #: 33
Year : 1994 Posts: 422
Status: Offline
posted
Getting ready to purchase my first set of R888's and I was wondering if anyone has run them unshaved. Given the wear stories, I'm wondering if it's even worth it to shave them at all? Has anyone tried this and can offer advice. Also, I'm guessing 6/32 is slower...but how much?
Thanks, Jay
-------------------- "In our sport if you go out of bounds you're most likely not coming back" Michael Waltrip
Region: OVR
Car #: 88
Year : 1991 Posts: 2401
Status: Offline
posted
I ran "almost" full tread R888s at the Mid-Ohio National 2 weeks ago. Ran my slowest lap times in 5 years, and finished DFL. Felt like drifting every corner.
The history of the tires is they were purchased last year unshaved and used as rain tires for 3 rain races and 3-4 wet qualifiers. My wife used them at the Daytona National in May in dry conditions with no complaints, but then I didn't hear any complaints about the R888 at Daytona. Mid-Ohio is a different animal.
After Daytona the tire still measured 5/32s.
Also, I think I was over driving them the first 2/3s of the Mid-O race. Once I calm down a little they didn't slide 'as much'. Still, I ran 2 sec. a lap faster in the afternoon regional race just bolting on my 2 year old, who knows how many heat-cycle RA-1s.
Sooooo, for me at least, running full tread R888s in the dry was a miserable experience.
Region: STL
Car #: 35
Year : #795 SRF Posts: 1209
Status: Offline
posted
Slower by 1.5+ seconds compared to a "perfect" tire on a tight track. Probably half a second slower than new a 4/32" shave. Might be less on a longer more open track but I doubt it. I have 8 sessions on a couple of my 4/32" tires and they're still somewhat usable, including 3 races. The 3/32" sets are lasting abuot 5-6 sessions and I haven't tried the 2/32" yet. Very similar wear to what I got out of the RA-1 in terms of life. Unfortunately, the groove of doom is really bad on the fronts. I'm thinking these tires need to be rotated off the fronts every time they're used to help mitigate this. I'm seeing much more even wear on the rears.
Region: OVR
Car #: 88
Year : 1991 Posts: 2401
Status: Offline
posted
I should have mentioned pressures. At Daytona I started Deb at 25 psi cold and measured 36 psi hot. I started at 25 psi cold at Mid-O too, but didn't bother to get hot readings.
Region: Lone Star
Year : 1990 Posts: 4253
Status: Offline
posted
quote:Originally posted by d mathias: I ran "almost" full tread R888s at the Mid-Ohio National 2 weeks ago. [snip] Sooooo, for me at least, running full tread R888s in the dry was a miserable experience.
-Denny
Same story (2 sec slower) for me with new 3/32 RA1's compared to old RA1's at MO.
-------------------- "Your victory is tainted! Asterisk! Asterisk!!!"--Lisa Simpson
Region: Indy
Car #: 33
Year : 1994 Posts: 422
Status: Offline
posted
Also.....I have a old set of mounted Hoosiers in the trailer....is anyone aware of any venues these could be run in SCCA regionals? I'm pretty sure the answer is no but maybe someone has seen an open tire note in some supplemental regs in the Midwest. Thanks, Jay
-------------------- "In our sport if you go out of bounds you're most likely not coming back" Michael Waltrip
Region: SFR
Car #: 70
Year : 1990 Posts: 768
Status: Offline
posted
Definitely avoid full tread. Last race at Thunderhill I was a full 5 seconds slower over 20 heat cycle RA-1's. First hot lap was the faster than all downhill from there.
Region: Mid-Div
Car #: 43
Year : 1995 Posts: 605
Status: Offline
posted
Rich,open tires in midiv for regional spec miata??????not sure I heard that.
It is so nice that the tire issue for spec miata is so clear. I really don't mind the r888's and really don't want to go into the whole Toyo tire debate but open tire would just clear things up instantly.
Region: Cincy / Great Lakes Div
Car #: 10
Year : 1991 Posts: 503
Status: Offline
posted
Jay,
As Denny indicated, all the races in the GLD that are part of the Regional Championship Series are open tire for SM. Remaining this year are double regionals of OVR at Mid-Ohio (9/5-6), WOR at Bluegrass (9/12-13), and another OVR at Mid-Ohio (10/10-11). In addition to these there is the IT/SPEC*tacular at Mid-Ohio (8/1-2)that is open tire. You should also watch the supps of other restricted regionals within the division that may also be open tire.
Jerry
-------------------- Just driving SM until the F-1 car is ready.
Region: NeOh
Car #: 45
Year : 1991 Posts: 858
Status: Offline
posted
I got my set at 2/32 and ran 1 Nat.race weekend at Nelson Ledges and 1 Nat.weekend at Mid-O with the same set.
Nelson Ledges was ruff on the tires and had to rotate them after the 2 practice's(about 10-15 laps each).I wasn't able to heat cycle them at all because I only had 1 set of tires.When I went to Mid-O I looked at the tires before I started the weekend to see how much wear they would get.The tires looked almost the same at the end of the weekend as when I started.
I will say that they are slower then the RA-1.I would say at Nelsons and Mid-0 they are about 1 to 1.5 sec.slower.
The other thing is,I used to like to throw the car into a corner at the last min. and let the tires scrub off speed.The R888 don't like that at all and the car will slide everywere.You will have to change your driving habits to adjust to the tire.