What do you guys think about RA-1's?
 

I have an opportunity to get some very slightly used RA-1's for cheap. They are 205/55/14 and I would run them on my stock daisies. Anyone have experience with these tires? How do they compare to other r-compounds? Would you guys run them?

thanks

They are great track tires. Probably the best lifespan of any R compound tire. Not the best sticky wise... but they are a great compromise for the weekend hpde track warrrior.

quoted for truth. I really want a set.

Ya, after doing some reading on them it sounds like they are pretty long lasting, get better as they age but they aren't the absolute fastest tire out there.

Should be a good tire, I think I'm ready to step up to R-compounds and the price is good.

Supposedly they were heat cycled and then used for one event. I talked them down to $55 a tire, is that a good price for RA-1's that have one event on them?

Great tire for the track, like said if not one of the best. Daily ride around tires might not be so promising.

that's half price...I sure as hell would not pay a cent more.

what are you planning on using them for. For autoX not worth it as they take for ever to heat up, for open track good buy

For HPDE stuff, the RA-1 is probably the best bang for the buck. I have been running a set for about a year now and hope to get 8 weekends out of a set.

Most racers shave them, but I ran mine full tread. They are fast up to the point they cord and they aren't truly fast until you cant see the tread pattern anymore.

I wouldnt be scared to buy takeoffs from race teams, that's probably what i'll do after these are dead.

I second the YES vote and the comments. It's the perfect tire for track events.

Thanks guys, I'm planning on buying them. I'm going to try to talk them down a little bit more.

I'll be using them for track days, I don't really autocross much.

How long do they take to warm up though? We have an "autocross" that we run on a .6 mile "road course" (kart track) and we do three laps, 1 warm up and 2 timed laps. Do you think I could warm them up in that first lap? This is the only autocross event I do and am wondering if I should try and run the RA-1's or just use the RS2's I have.

Thanks

Run the RA-1's. I have autocrossed my RA-1's and they were actually pretty good.

at least 2 laps at hallett or MSRc to get heat in them. Many people say not to use them for autox...which differs from many in this thread.

I will say this, If they are FULL tread, I probably would not autox on them. If it is hot, they may chunk the out outside edges. Other than that, they worked fine for me at a "fun" day autox where times really didnt matter.