Driving in the (RAIN) with Toyo Proxes R888 tires ...

[tigerhonaker]

Driving in the (RAIN) with Toyo Proxes R888 tires ...
Information,

As many of you know I changed tires not long ago.
I changed from the Continental DW Extreme Tires to the Toyo Proxes R888.
One of my main concerns was driving with them in the, (Rain).
Most of us running these tires probably would not intentionally jump out there in the rain.
But once we are out there and get caught in a down-pour you only have a couple of choices.

(1) Stop at next off ramp/exit and wait.
(2) Slow down and keep driving with Caution.

On with my story.

This past Saturday I drove to Louisville, Ky. and then to Sadieville, Ky. from there.
I met up with Family in Louisville, Ky. to watch my Niece Ice Skate in a Christmas program.
Then from there drove to their home in Sadieville, Ky. and spend the weekend.
I drove back home to Franklin, TN. on Monday morning leaving at 5.30 am.

The miles covered were like 500 plus round trip.

Now to get on to the real point of this Thread/Post.

Driving in the rain with the Toyo Proxes R888 tires.

This was done with (New Tires) with hardly any miles on them and No-Burn Outs at all or Drag Racing passes on them.

Tires had 32 psi in all four.

And weather conditions temperature wise was like Low 40's to mid 50's.

If you don't know these tires are not designed for Cold Weather driving.

These are Summer Performance tires ..... Only !!!


Now to give you the information with not to many useless words.
Here we go .......

You can definitely drive in the rain with these tires but here is what you need to know.

(1) As long as the road smooth and the water is (Not) standing.

(2) Watch your Butt if you are on a road that has the (Ruts) in it.

(3) If you try driving in those ruts where the water is standing you won't for long.

Your Mustang will start moving around on you as the (Tread Depth) cannot get rid of that much water.

(4) Water standing on the road will have your Mustang, (Hydroplaning).

(5) Also passing Semi-Trucks is sometimes Scary as they push a lot of water into your lane as you are passing them.

The rest of the story.

The above is what I personally observed while driving in the rain.
Sometimes it was raining pretty darn hard.
Other times it was a mild rain.
Almost all the time I was driving on a wet surface going and coming back home.

I actually made this trip to find out just how bad it would be to drive with these tires in rain.
And also when it was Cold outside which these tires are actually designed for Summer Use Only.

So if any of you have been wondering about these tires and driving in less than ideal conditions.
You can as long as you use Common-Sense.
My opinion is you would be much better off driving with them in the Daylight hours.
You can much better see what is in your lane on the road surface as long as it is not just "Pouring-Down".
If it was raining so hard you cannot see the vehicle in front of you I think I would pull over at that point and wait until it lightened up some.
I think you would be taking your Life in your hands if it was trying to drive with these in the above condition.

I took a few quick pictures I will post to show you what I was driving in.
They are not great but give you the general idea.
I wish after seeing these Pics. enlarged I had left the windshield wipers on taking them.

Here is another Thread Link on these tires if you are not familiar with them.
http://www.s197forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93351

Terry

 

[vertigyn]

Thanks for the information.

 

[Jefe]

So...you made it fine? Or?

 

[FromGTtoSVT]

dude you have balls driving in the rain, taking pictures while going 75 with tires that are sketchy in the rain in a ten second street car.

 

[tigerhonaker]

Thanks for the information.

Your welcome it might come in handy as time passes.

So...you made it fine? Or?

Yes I made it just fine Mustang is sitting in garage, (Dirty).
I set the Cruise on 75 MPH and away I went.
The comments I made are based on that 75 MPH cruising speed.
It might just be me but I think the majority of Mustang owners would want to know how the tires perform at an interstate speed.
Not running 80-90 MPH but at a reasonable speed to get where you are going.
That once again is why I chose the 75 MPH speed as I feel it is a more reasonable test for a real world test.

dude you have balls driving in the rain, taking pictures while going 75 with tires that are sketchy in the rain in a ten second street car.

Well I do have a set that is for sure. :-D

Keep in mind I had the cruise set and was on a divided 6-lane interstate.
So I chose the center lane on my side with 3-lanes.
That put me in the center of the left & right lanes beside me.
And I picked the appropriate time to take those few pictures.
No one right on my ass-end and no one on either side of me right then.
So figured others that read and saw the Thread/Post would like to get a rough idea of exactly what were the conditions I spoke of.
Pictures add a lot to text I think.
You can post text all you want but add a few pics. and they open up the story line immediately IMHO.

Your right that this Mustang is not the normal little Stock machine cruising down the interstate.

That is why I did the Post to let others see and read for themselves that if mine could be driven in those conditions probably the majority of others can be as well.

More a common-sense sort of thing really.
Don't get in those Damn Truck Ruts they make.
Don't try to drive where you can see the Water is Standing Deep on the road.
Don't try to fly by Semi-Trucks if it is Pouring down as they PUSH a Hell of a lot of water into your lane.

Hope the Post helps others as I know it has me now I know what to expect.

Terry

 

[shb5007]

I set the Cruise on 75 MPH and away I went.

You were using cruise-control in the rain?

 

[tigerhonaker]

You were using cruise-control in the rain?

That is correct a lot easier to stay at a constant speed.
Keep in mind I was not in (Bumper to Bumper) traffic.
If I got into traffic I simply took off Cruise.

And also for the majority of the drive I was on the interstate which has wide lanes and I stayed for the most part either in the center of the 3-lanes my side with less water.
Or in the right slow lane on a divided 4-lane interstate.

All depends on the amount of traffic really.

Keep in mind I was NOT driving in a Storm.
It was raining true enough but not like Pouring Down and water running across or sitting in the lanes.

I'm somewhat brave but not {Stupid} by any stretch of the imagination. :beer:

I have a lot of dollars invested in this Bullitt Mustang so I don't take crazy changes.

Terry

 

[20redfire03]

I learned the hard way using cruise control in the rain so I don't risk it. And it may just be me but I definitely wouldn't drive 75 mph in the rain or pass transfer trucks. I wouldn't do those things in all season tires or winter tires alone summer tires in the winter but I guess that's where everyone is different. Just seems like you took some unnecessary risks just because.

 

[tigerhonaker]

I learned the hard way using cruise control in the rain so I don't risk it. And it may just be me but I definitely wouldn't drive 75 mph in the rain or pass transfer trucks. I wouldn't do those things in all season tires or winter tires alone summer tires in the winter but I guess that's where everyone is different. Just seems like you took some unnecessary risks just because.

As you point out everyone is different in the decisions they make.

This Thread/Posts by me was to let others know what could be done driving with the Toyo Proxes R888 tires in the rain.
Certainly not saying others should do the same thing.
Just telling what I did with basically little to no issues.

I also would add this to the above Post & Comments on them by me.

Experience has a lot to do with what a driver can do so be (Careful).

 

[JSTBCUZ]

Had these out in the rain today, and they seemed to be doing fine. I have 315/17's. The front end wanted to hydroplane more than the rear did. Weird.

 

[tigerhonaker]

Had these out in the rain today, and they seemed to be doing fine. I have 315/17's. The front end wanted to hydroplane more than the rear did. Weird.

That is strange for sure with the front moving around more than the rear.

In my case I have since Sold my Boss Racing 19" wheels with the new Toyo Proxes R888 tires.

So only had them for a very short time.

I had been waiting for M/T (Mickey Thompson) to come out with their new SC-5 wheels & street Comp tires.

So sold what I had and that helped some with the new complete M/T set-up.

M/T New SC-5 wheels & Street Comp tires Pics.
http://www.svtperformance.com/forum...t-new-sc-5-wheels-street-comp-tires-pics.html

New Changes,

I decided to change my 2012 Boss Race Gloss Black wheels & Toyo Proxes Tire package.

I just took a look at one rear M/T New SC-5 Wheel & Street Comp tire.

I liked what I saw so Discount Tire installed it on my 08 Bullitt Mustang so I could see if I wanted to order a set.

Turns out they look bitchin so they ordered the complete set for me.

They might come in this week and hopefully will get them installed.

Below are some Pics. of them.


There are a Total of 44-pictures.
Below are a few of them.
If you are interested click on the link below to view all 44-Pics.

http://www.imboc.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2311202#post2311202


Terry

 

[Blacksmoke]

Question...
I have a 2008 GT500.

The stock tires aren't getting me traction
as I am now at 535RWHP.

I was thinking about Nitto 555r or NT05R for
the back of course.
Then I read how bad they were in rain.

I use this as my DD and have been reading
about the 888's.
From what I gather they grip better than the
555 DR and are safer in rain.
Is this correct?

How do they fair in rain compared to the stock
08 GT500 tires?

Also...what size would be best for a 08 GT500
with stock wheels?
I like a wide tire and would like them to stick out
a bit but not a sick amount.

Thanks!

 

[10splaya22]

Question...
I have a 2008 GT500.

The stock tires aren't getting me traction
as I am now at 535RWHP.

I was thinking about Nitto 555r or NT05R for
the back of course.
Then I read how bad they were in rain.

I use this as my DD and have been reading
about the 888's.
From what I gather they grip better than the
555 DR and are safer in rain.
Is this correct?

How do they fair in rain compared to the stock
08 GT500 tires?

Also...what size would be best for a 08 GT500
with stock wheels?
I like a wide tire and would like them to stick out
a bit but not a sick amount.

Thanks!

If it's your DD get summer tires. They won't grip as well but you can at least drive them in the rain. If going to the track get another set of rear wheels with some DR or slicks, etc.

 

[TBCobra]

My car hydroplanes so bad in the rain. I was driving through Dallas and I had to pull on the shoulder it was so bad.

Glad you made it alright.

Word or advice, take your cruise control of in the rain. It doesnt matter if no one is around you, you're just asking for trouble.

 

[tigerhonaker]

Question...
I have a 2008 GT500.

The stock tires aren't getting me traction
as I am now at 535RWHP.

I was thinking about Nitto 555r or NT05R for
the back of course.
Then I read how bad they were in rain.

I use this as my DD and have been reading
about the 888's.
From what I gather they grip better than the
555 DR and are safer in rain.
Is this correct?

How do they fair in rain compared to the stock
08 GT500 tires?

Also...what size would be best for a 08 GT500
with stock wheels?
I like a wide tire and would like them to stick out
a bit but not a sick amount.

Thanks!

I'm not sure if your asking me these questions or just asking anyone in general. ?

But ........

I will give you a (Factual) reply as I always try my best to do.

Yes I drove hundreds of miles as you saw in the pics.in the rain as I posted.
I did this on the interstate as well as 2-Lane roads.
So .......
That is very true as I wanted to know if it could be done if I got my butt caught traveling.

I'm sure or I would think you have read what I had to say in those Post already.

And yes they (Toyo R-888 tires) had traction as best I could tell.
(It was not Summer so the streets were (Not) Hot yes when I ran the tires the short time I had them.

The Rest of the Story from my point of view.

The Toyo Proxes R888 tires can be driven in the rain and in fact in moderately heavy rain.
But ...........
That was with a {Brand-New Set} of those tires with no miles on them.
That was the test I did to see if they could be driven in the rain (New).
Meaning with all the tread depth intact !!!
They have 6/32" tread depth when Brand-New.
They also have a wear rating of 100.
So where this is going is right here.
Jump on the interstate with these tires in the heat of the summer at say 75-80 MPH.
And I can assure you they will wear very quickly.
And with ONLY 6/32" tread depth to start with.
If you simply wore 2/32" off what does that leave ???
ONLY 4/32" of actual tread depth.
And IMHO if you got your butt out on the interstate traveling at any (Normal) speed
that GT500 of your's would more than likely be all over the road.
And I can tell you this even when I drove with them (Brand New) I had to pay very close attention to {Standing Water}.
Very-Very DANGEROUS ...
Or passing rolls of Semi Tractor Trailer Trucks pushing the water over in your lane.
(Bad News) !!!

Traction:

As I pointed out I did not keep them long enough to drive with them in summer heat.
However it did get hot enough and the sun being out that on Concrete I could do some test for traction.
I did several take-offs with them and a few times under POWER.
(Keep in mind I run a TCI Tranny)
They do have IMHO more traction than the Continental Extreme DW tires I was running.
Was it like ... Daylight to Dark .... No
But it was a noticeable amount of greater traction.

The Negative side of them.
They picked up (Everything) off the streets and highways and threw it up under and backwards on the car.
And I do mean anything at all loose on the street or hwy. they would throw that loose grit, gravel etc. and that was not a good thing.
If you think of the areas right behind your rear tires, (Rear Lower Fender areas) and all that crap being thrown back to them.
They even did it in my subdivision and honestly there is really not that much noticeable stuff you can see with your eye on these asphalt streets.
As soon as I pulled out of my drive I started hearing things being thrown under the car.

To Summarize:

You are asking about running those tires on a (Daily Driver).
You are also asking about safely driving with them in the rain.
You also want to know if they have Traction.

Yes to everything you wanted to know as long as you keep in mind what I just pointed out above.
In my case once I realized what I posted above concerning them I Sold them !!!
Just way to expensive of tires for their Very-Very Limited (Safe) use on the roads if you put miles on them.

I hope this post helps with your decision for using them in a Daily Driving situation.
If you have tons of Dollars and don't mind spending it (Frequently) to keep new Toyo Proxes R888 under the ass-end then they are probably one of the best choices out there.

Terry aka "tigerhonaker"