Track testing old vs new tire tech

Summary of the video (Track testing old vs new tire tech)

In 2024, Porsche used a Carrera GT at Buttonwillow Raceway to compare lap performance against its 2004 baseline, finding nearly a 16-second improvement. The video attributes much of that gain to major tire technology advancements over two decades.

The presenter argues that a fair A/B tire comparison requires:

• New production of the older tire design (because rubber degrades with age)
• A current modern equivalent for a like-for-like comparison

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Tires selected for testing

• Old tire: Toyo R1R (mid-2000s design; positioned as a top autocross/track performer of its era)
• New tire: Toyo Sport R, replacing the R1R The test notes construction/compound changes and claims the contact patch can deform more to stay in contact with the road.

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Vehicle setup and test approach

To reduce variables caused by vehicle balance differences, the presenter tests on two cars:

1. Time-attack supercharged GR-86 using 265/35R18 Toyo R1Rs first, then switching to the Sport Rs.
2. Stock Honda Civic Type R (FL5) to stress the tires harder, especially due to weight distribution:
   • ~400 lb heavier than the GR-86
   • >60% weight on the front

Additional context:

• A team makes setup adjustments between runs.
• Garmin Catalyst lap timing/data is used for measurement.

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Key results on the supercharged GR-86

R1R run impressions

• The driver describes the R1R as slippery and constantly moving, making precision difficult.
• Targeting sub-2:00 laps, the driver records a 2:00.9 (called potentially the fastest CW-13 lap they’ve seen on Toyo R1Rs).

Sport R run impressions

After switching to the Sport R, the driver immediately feels:

• The car goes exactly where commanded
• Stronger grip and more stability
• More confidence during transitions, especially exiting sections where the R1R required catching the rear

Lap timing:

• With Sport Rs, the driver is already in the low 1:50s (improvement relative to the R1R’s 2:00.9).

Notable corners and performance factors

The biggest improvements are described in:

• A late-lap sweeper near the end of the course
• A high-speed long right-hander at Riverside

In these areas, the driver often carries ~8 mph more through the corner on Sport R.

Temperature effect during the test

• Track temperatures rise over 20°F during later sessions.
• Supercharger/ECU heat pulls power, so the driver feels grip fade.
• This makes comparisons harder later in the session, though the direction of improvement remains clear.

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Key results on the stock Civic Type R

Sport R first on the Civic

• The Civic on Sport Rs feels stiff, precise, and stable.
• The driver is confident on throttle and curb transitions.
• A recorded benchmark lap: 2:03.25.

Switching to the old R1R (18-inch wheel adaptation)

Because the Sport R isn’t available in the same 19-inch size at the time, the test uses borrowed Apex wheels so both tires run on the Civic at 18 inches (matching where Sport R availability existed).

On the R1R:

• The driver reports more understeer and less predictability.
• During braking-and-turn-in, the car “does not like it.”
• Exits require more careful throttle application.

A summarized data takeaway:

• Sport R enables later braking, higher mid-corner speed, and earlier gas
• The older tire is less consistent

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Final conclusions: how much better is the new tire?

• Toyo predicted Sport R would be about 1.4% faster.
• Actual improvement:
  • GR-86: about 2.5% faster
  • Civic Type R: about 1.6% faster

The presenter also emphasizes that tire performance isn’t just peak grip—it’s also how the tire communicates and feels, including:

• Consistency
• Stability when landing on curbs
• How quickly the driver can apply power

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Grip characteristics / slip angle feel

• R1R: described as preferring less slip angle (a smaller “happy” window)
• Sport R: described as tolerating much larger slip angles Analogy: older tire “happy” around ~2°, newer tire around ~7°.

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Closing takeaway

The video concludes that, while many things worsen with time, tire technology is the opposite: modern design and construction meaningfully improve both speed and drivability/consistency.

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Presenters / sources mentioned at the end

• Toyo Tires
• Apex (wheels lending support)
• Steven Ellis (lending the GR-86)
• Honda (lending the Civic Type R)
• Garmin (Catalyst 2 data recorder)