Yokohama A048's V Toyo R888's

[MikePMC]

I've been meaning to bring this up for a while but always forget until I get back in the car...... Anyway...

 

I have an Exige S which came with Yoko A048 tyres as standard. I was very impressed with the A048's in the dry but was warned of them being "dangerous" in the wet. Granted, in standing water they just aquaplane as they have less tread than my bald head, but be it damp or wet, I was still impressed how they held the road and let go progressively without snapping or infact causing any trouser moments!

I did the evo triangle after a rain shower on the second day of ownership and did not hold back at all!!

 

All in all, the point I want to make was that I was so impressed that I would have recommended them to anyone and everyone!

 

However, me being me, I had to change the rears at 3500 miles as 2 track days and a few long distance trips had taken their toll. I bought a set of Toyo R888's as advised by Steve Jones, as getting the A048's was difficult and twice the price of the R888's if I went to Lotus (who seemed to be the only ones with them in stock at the time). I would normally change all 4 but the fronts were still only half worn (if that much) so I just opted for the rears as if they didn't grip as much as the front then it was oversteer which I can live with (and in fact encourage).

 

Much to my surprise, in the wet the rear is planted and it is the front (the A048's) that are letting go much much earlier!! I am not talking marginal amounts here, I am talking Vauxhall chassis type under steer!! In the dry, there is little between them although I still think the R888's are better in the dry (just).

 

My point is, the Toyo R888's seem to be (IMO) marginally better in the dry and loads better in the wet.

 

I was interested in anyone elses experience and point of view on this???

 

Mike

[Steve J]

I have no opinion on this

 

Glad you like the R888s. Cost benefit, it's a no brainer.

[Martin R]

Cost wise no brainer as Steve says. The grip is good even in the wet though Mike when new. I will say watch what you do once they are more than about half worn in the wet

[ConMcL]

I have no opinion on this

 

Glad you like the R888s. Cost benefit, it's a no brainer.

 

Agreed - have ran both and its 888s for me from now on. The yokos just aren't worth the extra IMHO.

Nothing between them grip wise on track, although I do find the toyos take a few laps more to scrub from new.

[PeterField]

Mike, i've gone through a few sets of 48's but last time i needed them all changed i went for a set of 888's (largely due to cost and easy availability). In my opinion the 888's are just as good as the 48's in the dry and better in the wet as the tread pattern goes right to the edge of the tyre whereas the 48's do not.

 

Prior to this on a trip to Wales i'd been running 48's in the damp with Steve all over my back end as he was on 888's.

 

As Martin says, a no brainer i think!

[Lakey]

I've got a slightly different view on this.

 

I've run both, and preffered the grip in the dry of the 48's. That said they were terrifying in standing water (aquaplaning at 50 on the motorway is scary!), and the rate at which they ware is stupid! as such i'm running the 888's and will continue to do so.

 

They are just an all round better option for me. That said if i had the money, i'd be putting a set of 48's on a spare set of wheels, and putting them on when the sun came out.

 

Thats on an S2 Elise not an Exige

[chris_h]

I think the 888's start to squeal a little earlier and are a slight bit more predictable when at the limit, but i think total limit is very slightly less than A048's.

 

I've found i've had to replace the front tyres before they get to the wear indicators as they've been through all there heat cycles and started to go hard/off. I noticed i was starting to get understeer (new front tyres instantly cured it)

 

Of course all in my opinion

[Ladders]

Mike, I'll be interested to see what you think of the 888's on track compared to the Yoko's.

 

Still not had the chance to try my 888's on track to compare them to Advans and Bridgestones (well tried them at Curborough but didn't really make the most of them that day).

 

TBH I'm not sure if I like the 888's for the road driving as i think they give you too much grip, if you see what I'm saying!

[daz-man]

how much roughly are the 888,s . ive just repaced the front 2 on my s2 elise and put potenza,s back on. is it adviceble to stick with the same make , or could i put 888,s on the back ,seeing as there a little cheaper. i dont do track day,s, just for road.

 

 

chers daz....

[chris_h]

you really can't mix track tyres and road tyres. They have very different grip levels to road tyres in the dry and in the wet.

[fentuz]

I have been wondering about r888...

 

On car like ours, if you it some yoko a048, it seems advised to put M compound on front and MH on rear as it is similar to the LTS compound (or so I understood)

 

If you go for R888, would it logic applicable?

 

Fit GG in front and harder gum on rear? does Toyo make harder compound thanGG

So what do you fit and how does it compare regarding handling and wear?

 

Ta

Bill

 

 

Edit: Also found some R888rain

http://toyoracing.fr/pages/12.html

[Neil_C]

Run GG's all round. The SG is designed for sprinting so would overheat and wear out in double quick time on the road/track.

I'm running R888's as they're cheaper although I'm considering switching to road tires to save wear on the car. If money was no object i'd probably run A048 M's all round.

[HRT]

I have run with both 48s & 888s - I found the following;

 

Both lasted about the same mileage - 4000 ish on rear

Both gave the same grip in the dry - as far I pushed them

The 888s give better grip in the wet

The 888s are cheaper

The 888s are readily available

I found the 48s were difficult to balance - I always had a vibration about 75mph despite numerous attempts in re balancing

As Chris says, the fronts are difficult to wear out, they just get harder. With the majority of circuits being clockwise, the front nearside gets the most grief - Bedford last week was quite benificial to balance up the fronts as it runs counter clockwise.

[andywolf]

I have run with both 48s & 888s - I found the following;

 

Both lasted about the same mileage - 4000 ish on rear

Both gave the same grip in the dry - as far I pushed them

The 888s give better grip in the wet

The 888s are cheaper

The 888s are readily available

I found the 48s were difficult to balance - I always had a vibration about 75mph despite numerous attempts in re balancing

As Chris says, the fronts are difficult to wear out, they just get harder. With the majority of circuits being clockwise, the front nearside gets the most grief - Bedford last week was quite benificial to balance up the fronts as it runs counter clockwise.

 

 

I may give the the Toyos a try when replacing my tyres

[stockhome]

I may give the the Toyos a try when replacing my tyres

 

Forgive me if i am wrong but i thought you could not put AO48's 888's on Elise's due to toe link failure.