Season: summer | Price from: 131,19 € | Type of vehicle: auto | Labelling: E - E - 71db
The semi-slick tire escaped from the tracks!
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£ 13119
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Pneumatic manufacturer Toyo Tires has a solid reputation in the field of sports tires, and with the new Proxes R888R, all the know-how of the Japanese brand was once again highlighted. Indeed, it is nothing more or less than a competition tyre, developed for the circuit, and approved for road use. This semi-slick Toyo required several years of development within the manufacturer's Research & Development centre, and as we will see later, this delay was undoubtedly well used. Certainly, the R888R Toyo pimples are not free of defects for daily use, but for amateur track day pilots, the performance of all it provides and its performance on dry ground will be highly appreciated.
Among the many brands of car tires, some are more specialized than others in particular fields. As a result, the Osaka-based company has earned a reputation for designing and producing "sport" tires, providing exemplary handling - at least on dry surfaces. No one will be surprised to learn that the Toyo R888 provides a exceptional grip, both in acceleration and in corners, and it is not surprising that this tyre is the delight of many rally drivers - amateur or professional -. In fact, even beyond the extremely difficult level of grip to overcome, driving sensations also benefit. In a way, the R888Rs Toyo enhance the qualities of the vehicles on which they are mounted, allowing them to express the full potential of what the chassis engineers had envisioned. Evolution of the Proxes R888, the "R" version, however, adopts a different structure, in the asymmetrical profile, and responsiveness is one of the major strengths of this tire. This allows fast and accurate heading changes, thanks to a fine "transcription" of each tire's grip level in the steering wheel. If this results in increased manoeuvrability, which is particularly useful in a series of tight turns, stability is perfectly preserved at high speeds.
All semi-slicks are designed to provide the best possible grip, but many tires lack consistency when the temperature of the rubber is not ideal. In this respect, the Japanese manufacturer's expertise is beyond doubt, as the R888R has a wide rubber strip - type GG - that not only improves cornering performance, but also promotes a rapid rise in temperature. In addition, while several laps of the circuit put most of its competitors to the test - due to the heating due to friction forces and proximity to the braking system - the R888R shows a outstanding high temperature resistance. It therefore allows, during a day on the track, to try to improve his lap times, lap after lap, without feeling restricted in his momentum because of "baked" tyres. It should also be noted that, for a tire in this category, the mileage life on the road is quite correct, with a much better controlled wear than on the previous iteration.
If you browse the Web looking for essays - from journalists or independent organizations - involving the R888R, you will quickly Toyo find that the judgments made on this tire are very dependent on the framework in which it was evaluated. In practical terms, when faced with "classic" summer tyres, its limited wet performance severely penalises it. The same applies to the fuel consumption and noise level that this tyre induces, through its wide ultra-adherent tread pattern. The rigidity of its carcass also does not plead in its favour when it comes to measuring ride comfort. Of course, in terms of grip on dry pavement - and ideally smooth - the R888R appears Toyo to be well ahead, but versatility is clearly not its strong suit.
Put in context, namely the sporty driving, we see that it is a question of a very good tire able to shine on the track or in competitions such as hill climbs. When compared to its closest rivals - and in particular the premium offer, embodied for example by the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup - the R888R is fully up to the challenge. This is how he is regularly on the podium, even before addressing the question of the quality / price ratio - a field in which its positioning is remarkably competitive. Surprisingly, it is another sports tire from the same manufacturer, the Toyo R1R R1R, which is often brought face-to-face with the R888R, both seeking to push the limits of dry road grip. However, the rubber height of the R1R is slightly higher, as is its notch rate. The result is a slightly easier daily use, to the detriment of an ounce of pure performance.
As with the results of the tests conducted by the automotive press on the R888R, the opinions of its users vary according to their expectations. In fact, some people complain about its limited lifespan, but it is obvious that a semi-slick tyre cannot align the kilometres in the same way as a "traditional" summer tyre. In the rain, his faculties are also greatly diminished, but here again, can we really blame him? It would be like complaining that a snow tyre cannot keep up with the pace on the track... With 25% notching, it is indeed certain that water drainage is not its strong suit. However, it will prove to be more than sufficient to drive on wet ground
Therefore, if we stick to the principle that a tyre must be judged in the context of the use for which its manufacturer has developed it, the following observation can be made much more favourable for the descendant of the Proxes R888. The driving pleasure - even the driving pleasure - that it provides thus returns almost systematically in the opinions of motorists. What's more, its original equipment installation on the famous - albeit ephemeral - Mégane II RS R26.R is still a hot topic, and the R888R is still the tire of choice used by driver Ken Block in his Gymkhana videos, creating a positive buzz around this sporty tire.
Available in many sizes - which is not the case with all road-approved competition tires, far from it - the R888R is of course not displayed at a single price. In addition to the different sizes, ranging from from 13 to 20 inches, sellers do not have the same pricing policies at the same time, so it is simply not possible to give THE price of this tire. To find the price of the R888R suitable for your car, simply search above for all available tire sizes. While these rates may seem high at first glance, within the semi-slicks category, they are quite reasonable, even "cheap" given the level of performance of the signed product.
Thus, count about 120€ for the specific case of the 13 inches, a size found on the Mini of yesteryear. If you need 16-inch tires, which are widely used on small sports cars on the track, plan on approximately €150 per tire - or €600 for full equipment. For mounting on 17-inch rims, the price increases logically, to an average of 175€, then to 200€ for one of the most popular rims in sports compact cars today, the 18 . The larger size often marks the entry into the elite GT clan, and the price of the R888R then stands at nearly 250€, to cap it over 300€ in 20 inches.
The fact that the R888R is one of the best tires in terms of price / performance ratio should in no way deter you from compare prices, because substantial savings are at stake. In addition, thanks to our online tyre comparison system, Tiregom.co.ukAs a result, this process has never been so fast and efficient. Each seller whose offer is present on our site has been previously "audited" and approved by us, so that we can guarantee that you will make a transaction with a trustworthy merchant. In addition, with our search engine, you will only need a few clicks to obtain the list of relevant results - enter the dimensions you are looking for and compare prices the next moment, with ease.
Of course, in-line tires are generally more advantageous, in the sense that they are tires less expensive than in a garage or physical point of sale specialized, but the supply is so abundant that it can make decision-making very complex. Through the platform Tiregom.co.ukwe wanted to remove this "lock", and consolidate all relevant proposals on a single site. Moreover, as soon as a seller launches a sales promotion, it is immediately included in our comparator, and on average, our customers carry out a 39% savings on their new tires compared to the manufacturer's recommended price. To take the example of the Toyo R888 195 45 15, the prices range from just over 100€ to over 145€, i.e. almost 30% discount. Finally, it should be noted that if you are looking for the assembly center closest to your home, Tiregom.co.uk also offers you a particularly useful locator.
