Toyo R888Rs are super cheap... are they good for noobs?

[SmoothIsSlow]

Originally Posted by ZDan

In stock for cheap $$$ where? Tire Rack seems to have more normal prices for them...

While i'm here I'll just restate that as an instructor at the track, I don't think these tires or similar (NT01 etc.) are any problem at all for just about any noobs at the track. I'd rather have my students learn on track-appropriate tires than on OEM tires. That said, Hoosiers I would consider a waste of $$$ but most Extreme Performance and the more "streetable" R Comps I think are a good idea and better to learn on than OEM tires.

Thanks! But better than PS4S from a learning perspective?

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by SmoothIsSlow

Thanks! But better than PS4S from a learning perspective?

I don't have direct experience with the PS4S, but given the tread pattern I suspect it would generate more heat and not stay at peak performance for as many laps, and also wouldn't provide the same kind of direct feedback from the contact patches as a good Extreme Performance or streetable R-comp tire. That said it's surely "close enough" that anyone casually/occasionally tracking an FT86 that came with PS4S could just use them and not bother with EP or Rcomp tires.

[steverife]

I'm not a track guy, but I've autocrossed quite a bit.

I get not starting on bias ply slicks or something, but I'm not sure I totally buy into the learn on crappy tires theory.

1) It is supposed to be fun.
2) You'll never stop learning. When is it appropriate to run the fun stuff?
3) If you don't pick a decent tire, you'll probably get frustrated pretty quickly. You may even pick up bad habits from trying to throw around a car on really bad tires.

[pcs]

less grippy tires ARE more fun... lap times aren't the fun part, unless the fun part to you is buying the way to faster lap times. The fun part is being at the limits as much as absolutely possible.

The fallacy in tracking is the thought that if you have a faster time, you did something right. This is only the case if all other conditions are the same. Fun stuff for me is still the cheaper / less grippy, but predictable tires... this is after running through the old PSS, ZII Star Spec, RS3, Z214, V12 Evo, SX2, RE71r, Toyo RR, V710s and RC1s (i think that runs the gamut of what I've run?).

At this point, I get whatever is most cost effective without being a safety concern (not doing 600tw all seasons that are going to chunk all over the place). I'd rather drive than spend more money on tires. Besides, it's more fun passing people, having them come up to you... and then all you have is a stock car with street tires on when they have _______ with _____ WHP and r-comps.

But... if you just need the faster lap time for bragging rights and have the money to burn, go for it!

[SmoothIsSlow]

Originally Posted by pcs

less grippy tires ARE more fun... lap times aren't the fun part, unless the fun part to you is buying the way to faster lap times. The fun part is being at the limits as much as absolutely possible.

The fallacy in tracking is the thought that if you have a faster time, you did something right. This is only the case if all other conditions are the same. Fun stuff for me is still the cheaper / less grippy, but predictable tires... this is after running through the old PSS, ZII Star Spec, RS3, Z214, V12 Evo, SX2, RE71r, Toyo RR, V710s and RC1s (i think that runs the gamut of what I've run?).

At this point, I get whatever is most cost effective without being a safety concern (not doing 600tw all seasons that are going to chunk all over the place). I'd rather drive than spend more money on tires. Besides, it's more fun passing people, having them come up to you... and then all you have is a stock car with street tires on when they have _______ with _____ WHP and r-comps.

But... if you just need the faster lap time for bragging rights and have the money to burn, go for it!

I like the sound of that. So once I wear out the PS4Ses, should I hop on Indy 500s then?

I do want to get RE71Rs finally for autocrossing though

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by pcs

less grippy tires ARE more fun... lap times aren't the fun part, unless the fun part to you is buying the way to faster lap times. The fun part is being at the limits as much as absolutely possible.

One of the funnest track days I ever had was recently in the rain. Especially the early part of the day were it was not raining hard and the track was just kinda wet, no standing water. Tons of fun

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by SmoothIsSlow

I like the sound of that. So once I wear out the PS4Ses, should I hop on Indy 500s then?

I do want to get RE71Rs finally for autocrossing though

RE71R's are fun, they're just more expensive per smile.