R888's - temperature range...

[Jonny]

Hi,

I've acquired a set of R888's on the cheap - basically they are non road legal, but have a couple of trackdays left in them :)

I'm off to Abingdon this friday, and it's looking to be a bit on the parky side (~7C, showers forecast) - if it stays dry, are the 888's going to be OK when it's this cold?

The reason for asking is that I want to administer some good old hairdresser whoop ass on a few of my colleagues that are also going - in a 320BHP type RA impreza, an (alleged) 400BHP atw R34GTT (auto) and a new v8 M3...

I've got the legs on the impreza on the straight, was faster round combe than the R34, the M3 is way faster but heavy so I should do pretty well on the corners...

So - R888s or stick with the hankook RS2s... (or try and ram both sets in the car and swap if it rains!)

Cheers

Jon

[BBB]

The r888s warm up really quickly when you get them on dry tarmac so I suspect the air temperature will be irrelevant once you've done a lap. Not much fun, even when new on really wet surfaces though, let alone with non-legal tread depth, so might be worth having some others handy.

[Jonny]

I'm going to have to take some to drive to the track on anyway - it's just if I go to the hassle of taking a second set of wheels though - it's pretty difficult to fit 4 wheels and tyres as well as tools in an MX5 :wack:

[scimmy ben]

you need a boot rack http://www.classictrials.co.uk/0803MarchHareFalconsFollyDavidManning.jpg

[StuyMac]

Yeah, as long as the surface is dry you will be able to get some temp in to them.

The 888 is our series control tyre (Medium Compound), and the Honda has had them on all year - in the damp / wet you'll need to run them at normal pressure, if its dry, drop about 5psi when cold and see how you get on.

..if they aint road legal, they wont last long in the dry either - especially on an abrasive air field. Ive killed a set on the Honda in a season and thats rotating the tyres round teh car too :eek:

[BBB]

Well you can't drive to the track on the 888s as they've not got a road legal tread level, so how about putting just a pair of them in the boot and putting them on whichever axle you decide when you get there? Front for great steering grip and let the tail slide or rear for putting the power down but suffer understeer?

[Jonny]

in the damp / wet you'll need to run them at normal pressure, if its dry, drop about 5psi when cold and see how you get on.

..if they aint road legal, they wont last long in the dry either - especially on an abrasive air field. Ive killed a set on the Honda in a season and thats rotating the tyres round teh car too :eek:

What kind of pressures do you run in them - I guess the honda is a similar weight to the 5 - a shade under 1000kg?

I paid £30 for all four of them, if I get one trackday out of them it's still good value :D They still have the grooves in them, so there's a bit of meat left - just not enough across the whole width to be road legal :)

I might get them stuck on my spare rims and convince one of my mates to take them there for me :D

[StuyMac]

Would depend on the circuit and conditions.

In the wet 30psi all round, the last dry race at pembrey was around 23psi front, 26psi rear (Cold) and yeah, the Honda is just over 900kgs.

As you get them up to temp look at how they are wearing - the 888's have an arrow at the top of the side wall where the tread starts - you want the tyres to be rolling to that marker. If its not, reduce the pressure, if its rolling past it pump them up :)

[mattyd]

if you have the option of taking both it seems like the logical choice to me. Any good at jigsaws?

[SM]

Not really relevant to exactly what you asked, but semi slicks shouldnt be stored, or used, at too low of a temperature.

The import bits down the bottom I have highlighted in blue.

General Proxes R888 setup guidelines:

* Operating Temperature: 140°F to 220°F, optimum around 200°F
* Hot Inflation Pressures: High 30s to Low 40s (psi)
* Camber: -2.5° to -5.0°
* Caster: As much positive as possible

Recommendations on the
Proper Use, Handling, and Storage of Toyo Tires
This advisory applies only to the following products:
All Proxes® R1R™
All Proxes R888™
All Proxes RA1™
This advisory addresses the proper storage of these tires in colder climates. As seen in the picture below, tires stored and operated at sub-freezing temperatures, i.e., at or below 32°F (0°C), will lose rubber compound flexibility and may experience cracking when operated under such conditions.

http://www.sxoc.com/vbb/attachment.php?attachmentid=58550&stc=1&d=1228691265

The rubber compounds used in these tires have unique properties that, when compared to other tires, can cause them
to lose some of their flexibility when stored and operated at sub-freezing temperatures. This loss in flexibility can lead to
potential cracking and other damage to the tire.
TO MINIMIZETHE CHANCES OFTHIS HAPPENING, CONSUMERS AND INSTALLERS ARE ADVISED TO FOLLOW
THESE INSTRUCTIONS DURING SUB-FREEZING CONDITIONS:
1. Do not operate the car with these tires, as the tires may suddenly fail.
2. Always store these tires indoors at temperatures above 32°F (0°C).
3. Before mounting or dismounting, store these tires for at least 24 hours in a temperaturecontrolled environment
of 68°F (20°C) or warmer.
4. Remove these tires from the vehicle and deflate to half the normal air pressure during prolonged periods of nonuse
or storage.
5. Do not move a car that is in storage with these tires, as the tires may crack.

[calicagesracing]

good tip's there sm, cheer's

i never realised the tyres didn't like frost:eek:

must take them off the car and stick 'em in the shed

oh and i've never had any trouble with r888's on a wet track(in fact they knocked 3 sec's off my quickest wet time over rs2's), it's just standing water that will upset them:nod:

[Jonny]

I went with the RS2's in the end, and to start off with it was ****ing slippery. At the safety briefing they said that they had problems standing up on the track in order to put the cones out as it was so icy :wack:

I think my missus will kill me if I put the r888's in the house though, they are currently outside (and probably sub zero) in the shed :(

[Si]

I'll look after them for you Jon. 15's, right? ;) :D

Very interesting info there Kev - cheers, didn't know that!
Wonder if that's the case with a lot of the softer compound road/track hybrid tyres? I've got some RE070's sitting outside at the mo - perhaps i'd better dump them in the loft.

[Jonny]

I'll look after them for you Jon. 15's, right? ;) :D

Very interesting info there Kev - cheers, didn't know that!
Wonder if that's the case with a lot of the softer compound road/track hybrid tyres? I've got some RE070's sitting outside at the mo - perhaps i'd better dump them in the loft.

There were a set of JDM ITR 15's on fleabay with nearly new r888's on last week - I thought of you... ;) Only £350 too...