[ReverendDexter]

<long intro>
So, last minute I found out I was going to a track day at Thunderhill. I still had my beat-to-crap Kumho allseasons on, and suddenly found myself needing new tires.

I had planned on buying some Federal SS555s from Les Schwab. I like LS, and they've always done me well despite being a little more expensive. They didn't have 245/45s in stock. Bastards!

So I go home... Costco has BFG T/A KDWs... but none in my area. Bastards!

I call Big O/Discount tire... they carry Kumho ECSTA MXs and XSs... but not in stock. BASTARDS!
</intro>

Finally I say screw it, and go out to Wine Country to buy a helmet (mine was WAY out of date). While I'm there, I head up to AIM tire... who has a set of Toyo RA1s in 255/40 he let go for a little under his usual price. AWESOME.

Now, normally I wouldn't have got a DOT-legal R-compound due to this car being street driven, and my wanting tires to last more than 5k miles, but the time was right, the price was right, and gal-darnit, I wanted me sum new tars!

These tires flat GRIP. I could get the rear to come out, but it wasn't nearly so tailhappy as before. Understeer was still present (I am on stock suspension), but much more managable.

I can't wait for autox season to start! I'll probably have to pick up another set of rims/tires to DD with, but that's the cost of grip!

And for those who ask why I went with RA1s instead of R888s, it's because the trip8s were ~$50 more/tire, and the RA1s were already about $50/tire more than I was budgeting to spend.

[Jazzer The Cat]

Congrats, Rev

I wanted the RA1's, but were discontinued in my size. I mentioned earlier that I went around Infineon a few times with Bruce Griggs over this past weekend (running the RA1's in the S197 TT). The track was wet, but wasn't raining at the time. I was AMAZED how hard he could push them in the rain. I highly doubt I could run my R888's that fast in the wet, maybe

We did spin out TWICE on 3a though. Right afterward, while sittin' in the grass 20' from the track and facing the wrong direction. He says, "hmmmmmm..... I never lost that turn in 3rd before" . When we got back, one of the other guys shows us a pic from his camera taken while he was passenger driving past us. There we were digging a hole in the grass strugglin' to get back on the course.

Good times!

Jazzer

[ReverendDexter]

weird, according to AIM's site, the R888s are a better rain tire than the RA1s due to the better water channeling.

I dont' have any experience with R888s other than drooling on 'em once or twice, though, hahaha.

[Jazzer The Cat]

Maybe they are better, but not real excited to find out how much on the street

I have really got to take them to a wide open parking lot and put some lat G's on them and see how they do. I tend to drive VERY conservative in the wet, but push them HARD in the dry.... go figure

One reason I want to do more autoX is do a little more drifting in a controlled area with room to spin out, if needed. I am also going to sign up for some driving course training out at Infineon this year. I have been wanting to do so for MANY years and just haven't done it. I think I will set one up and run my 3/4 dead PS2's. I want to get my Winter wheels widened to match my Summer ones and just now realizing this is a good way to finish them off for the swap

*rubs hands together as would an evil scientist*

Jazzerstein

[ReverendDexter]

Originally Posted by Jazzer The Cat One reason I want to do more autoX is do a little more drifting in a controlled area with room to spin out, if needed.

Not sure if you're actually going this direction or not, but one of my better friends runs Thunderdrift up at Thunderhill. Monthly skidpad drifts and quarterly full-track events...

[Jazzer The Cat]

Originally Posted by ReverendDexter Not sure if you're actually going this direction or not, but one of my better friends runs Thunderdrift up at Thunderhill. Monthly skidpad drifts and quarterly full-track events...

Drop me some knowledge, bra

I will PM ya

Jazzer