Toyo R1R

Jon · Post by **Jon** » Tue Sep 07, 2010 5:56 pm

My R888's have finally ceased to be road legal (although I'll get another couple of track days from them), So I resorted to fitting my road wheels with Conti 3's on today.
Christ! That was a shock! I've got so used to the R888's on road that the Conti's (best road tyre imo) felt bloody awful by comparison. Fair enough the road noise was at a minimum and the ride was superb, But the hardcore element just wasn't there.
So..
In the next couple of days the scoob will be wearing a set of R1-R's. I'll report my findings then. As sad as it sounds, I'm really quite excited to try these out

PS
I have seen a few threads here and there that suggested that R888's can be recut and errrmm...
They can't, Not even using the cutter set at half mm meant cord was exposed in the tread centre.

Post by **Stuart** » Tue Sep 07, 2010 6:00 pm

You're saying that they can't Jon, but I was at Donington watching the RCM boys doing it about two feet away ( I stood next to one of the lads whilst he did it, and I snapped his design on my phone at the time)

Maybe the old ones had more rubber?

Good luck with the R1-R's. I hope they are as good as they are supposed to be.....

On another note, I sat there after Marham and thought what will life be like when R888's are no longer road legal? I can't help feeling they will be sorely missed as a road legal track tyre.

Jon · Post by **Jon** » Tue Sep 07, 2010 6:11 pm

My bad, What I meant is that it's not possible to re-cut the original pattern, But it's certainly possible to re-cut a pattern of one's choice in the remaining rubber.
I didn't choose that option as theres still 3mm+ on the outer 30% of the tyres and doing so would create tread blocks which would get too hot and ...

Jon · Post by **Jon** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 8:30 pm

The R1-R's have been on for a couple of days now and I have to say that they really do sit perfectly between the T1-R and R888.
As a daily drive they are quiet and unobtrusive but when pushed hard they far exceed any other dedicated road tyre I've tried. Not wishing to state the obvious, But they do take a certain amount of warming up to perform! From cold they're shocking.
I've not had the chance to test them in the full wet, But on damp greasy tarmac they are a revelation and inspire a great deal of confidence.
In summary, I'll stick to R888's on track, But for those looking for a tyre that gives the best of both worlds, You won't go far wrong with the R1-R imo.

Post by **Stuart** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 8:41 pm

Thanks Jon

Let us know what you think when they are fully scrubbed and wet weather approved

ScoobieWRX · Post by **ScoobieWRX** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 9:26 pm

That's really good to know. As Stuart says, when they're properly scrubbed in they might be better from cold. Nice one!!

Jon · Post by **Jon** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 8:12 pm

As it's been pissing down with rain for the last few days, I've finally had the chance to test these in the best of British weather and...

Damn, They're really really good!
Still bloody awful from cold, But when warmed up they're easily on par with my Conti 3's and dare I say it better than a T1-R in the wet.
One thing I will say is that (imo) the compound is very soft and wears/damages very easily on dry rough tarmac. Thankfully the sidewalls are super stiff and don't roll over like the T1-R.
This is a pic from a five mile round trip to the supermarket the other day (although I'm still scrubbing them in)...

I think when I scrub off another 2-3mm of tread the R1-R's will come into their own. At present they take a while to heat up and the tread blocks squirm around a little too much for my liking.
All in all though a pretty damn good tyre (albeit an expensive one). That said, I'll be replacing them with like for like when they're worn out, But wouldn't dream of using them as a dedicated dry weather track tyre.

Post by **Stuart** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 9:10 pm

Thanks Jon, great to have the feedback.