RA1's getting replaced? Pg 115 in GRM....

[AI#97]

Anyone else catch the small blurb about the RA1 getting replaced by the new R888? Any ideas when this change is going to occur and if pricing is going to change?

Thanks!

[marshall_mosty]

November 3, 2006

Toyo Tires® Introduces the New Proxes R888™
D.O.T.-Legal Competition Tire

CYPRESS, CALIFORNIA – Toyo Tires® introduces the new Proxes R888™ D.O.T.-legal competition tire. The design of the Proxes R888™ delivers outstanding grip and consistency for quick lap times, making it ideal for use while road racing, at track days and at high-performance driving schools.

A Wide Center Block delivers excellent traction and directional control for dry braking. Large, interlocked Shoulder Blocks maintain a large surface area during cornering for an immediate steering response and ultimate dry traction. The combination of the two provides a large overall surface area for optimized Contact Pressure Distribution during cornering, braking and acceleration. Another feature of the Proxes R888™ is a rounded shoulder which maintains contact area during suspension geometry changes in hard turns. A unidirectional Angled-Groove Tread features a 6/32-inch tread depth to help eject water and to avoid hydroplaning in wet weather conditions. The Proxes R888™ can be shaved to 4/32-inch for maximum dry traction.

Overall tire construction is critical for performance and reliability. The Proxes R888™ incorporates a High Modulus Filler located in the center of the tire bead structure to help reduce tire wall deflection under hard cornering. The addition of this “reinforcing material” results in quick transitional response for faster maneuvering. A Jointless Cap and Edge Ply ensure high speed dimensional stability around the circumference of the tire.

The Proxes R888™ from Toyo Tires® will be available in a variety of sizes fitting wheels from 17- to 19-inches with new sizes to be released throughout the 2007 calendar year. To learn more about the new Proxes R888™ for competition bred sedans and coupes, log on to toyo.com. During 2006, Toyo Tire (U.S.A.) Corporation celebrates its 40th Anniversary. Toyo manufactures and distributes a complete line of high performance and original equipment replacement tires for passenger car, light truck, commercial truck, bus, off-road and construction applications.

# # #

Media Contact: Ben Smith, TMC
Tel. 949-851-6313, Fax. 949-833-0253
themarketconnect@aol.com
Toyo Media Site: www.toyoeditor.com

http://www.mustangmods.com/ims/u/1280/3889/131305.jpg

[marshall_mosty]

In regards to pricing in general...

2006-09-26
Toyo Announces Price Increases

Toyo Tire (USA) Corp. will increase its dealer net price list by up to 5% for passenger, light truck and medium truck tires, effective Oct. 1.

In-line adjustments will be made. The tiremaker also announced that OTR tire prices will increase up to 7%.
“Due to the rapidly increasing costs of raw materials, energy, and transportation worldwide, Toyo Tires has to adjust our pricing accordingly. We will continue to deliver our same quality product and service to our dealers,” said Steve Weinger, senior vice president of sales and marketing.

[marshall_mosty]

In doing a bit of net digging, the R888 has been around since 2002 in Japan. Based on the reading I did, it appears that in the early days there were different compounds that could be used. I'm not sure if those are still available, but it would be interesting to see if we could use a soft compound "rain" tire and a harder "dry" tire.

That would really make tire selection in the rain intersting. Run a soft compound and if the sun comes out, you're screwed...

We'll have to see where this train leads us.

[Rob Liebbe]

The article states 17" to 19" - no 16" - staying tuned.

[Boudy]

I see 16's but no 255/50's.

Boudy

50 SERIES
225/50ZR16 92W
195/50R16 84V
225/50ZR15 91W
205/50ZR15 86W
195/50R15 82V

[Mike Bell]

Man, i gots no GRM yet. Any Texas race write-up in the NASA section??

[AI#97]

Any Texas race write-up in the NASA section??

You're joking right?! Thought that horse was done shot dead 1,379 times already.....?

[Mike Bell]

I thought our October race write-up was submitted??

[donovan]

I just assume they go back to the old NASA Speed News publication.

DD

[Mike Bell]

I just assume they go back to the old NASA Speed News publication.

DD

Huh? You mean the section in GRM or some other publication?

[jeffburch]

With my recent windfall
(4 @ 2/32, 4 @ 4/32, 4 @ 8/32 + 6 used 4/32)
if the RA1 goes away anytime soon I'm gonna cry.

jb

__________________________________
Cause I got a worried mind
Sharin' what I thought was mine
Gonna leave her where the guitars play

[mitchntx]

Jeff,

Wanna part with a set of used tires?

[jeffburch]

Mitch,
at this time no.
The used ones are really just scuffs.
I corded all my old stuff practicing at M.O.
I will be selling a whole set of new 4/32's to Boudy
if he doesn't aquire some soon.

thx tho,
jb

__________________________________
Everywhere I go
There's always something to remind me
of another place in time

[Todd Covini]

I thought our October race write-up was submitted??

The October race write-up was submitted...but submitted and published are 2 different things. :cry:

No GRM at my house yet, either Mike. If the last issue is any indication, I'll be getting mine ~2 weeks after you get yours!!! ;-)

-=- T

[Mike Bell]

Hey, if you submitted it that's all that can be done on our end. My GRM delivery is hit and miss it seems.

Back on topic, anyone heard an announcement of the Toyo program with NASA for 2007? A new tire might be tough for those with inventory already...

[jeffburch]

No sure what they call it,
but they publish only 8 per year.

jb

[CMC17]

I haven't received a GRM since 08/06. :(

[mitchntx]

Me neither, Eric.

[Todd Covini]

I talked to the NASA National office today regarding the Toyo tires, here's the skinny:

The 888 tires and RA1 tires will both be in production at least until 2008/2009.

RA1's will be our AI/CMC tire for the entire 2007 season.

NASA has a long term commitment with Toyo going past 2010.
If there were to be any major changes (like where one of our spec sizes would no longer be available), it would likely be phased out during the offseason/rule revision time.

We'll keep our eyes peeled for developments and maybe a few of us could get a set of 888's to test at a non-points event to get some preliminary data on their performance?

-=- Todd

[AI#97]

We'll keep our eyes peeled for developments and maybe a few of us could get a set of 888's to test at a non-points event to get some preliminary data on their performance?

-=- Todd


If you swing a deal for a set of 275/40/17's for free, I will offer up testing time once I get the car running again. :lol:

[CMC17]

We'll keep our eyes peeled for developments and maybe a few of us could get a set of 888's to test at a non-points event to get some preliminary data on their performance?

-=- Todd


If you swing a deal for a set of 275/40/17's for free, I will offer up testing time once I get the car running again. :lol:

Wheels with tires must remain on the vehicle. Unscheduled departures might exclude some from the testing pool. 8)

[AI#97]

Wheels with tires must remain on the vehicle. Unscheduled departures might exclude some from the testing pool. 8)

Yeah, but you have to watch the video carefully....I gave my own tire a point by! :lol:

Trust me, that lesson about talking to others while working on the car in the pits has been ground in stone....