Toyo T1-R
 

Tiretrends.ca (for us Canadians eh!) now has stock of the Toyo T1-R. I had the T1-S on my Miata and loved them. Hopefully this tire will be a good one. I am thinking about 245-40-18's all around. Anyone have experience with this tire?

I had the 225/45R18 on until the day before yesterday. They are very quiet, quite good in the wet but tend to give some understeer in corners. I will put mount my Toyos on my stock rims for long-distance rides (they are unbeatable in the rain).
I Just switched to 245/40R18 Michelin PS2s. A different car. They just say: "Attack! Attack! Attack!" all the time.
Seriously, the Toyos in 245 should be a very decent compromise between budget, performance and safety (rain).

Good information - thanks. The Michelin PS2's seem to be very popular with users on this forum, and may just be the way to go. Money is not really the consideration. I am wanting superior performance - especially in the bends.

How do you rate the dry performance compared to the RE040's? I'm considering these or the PZero Nero M+S's

Just like the stock RE040s the Toyos lack the feeling of precision when compared to the Michelin PS2's. Breaking and cornering forces are somewhat better with the Bridgestones, I guess (I only had mine on the car for ~250 miles before sending them in).

No flame, but I am surprised to hear that an RX8 owner would consider purchasing the RE040 again. Those stoneage-tires are made for two-ton vehicles. They are noisy, expensive, terrible below 20°C, uncomfortable and have problems with irregular wear on rwd-cars.
If you tend to stick to stock-size (225/45R18) get the Toyos or the Continental SpoCo 2s (Not sure if they are sold in the US, though).
In 245/40R18 the Michelin PS2s will keep you smiling. No-delay-cornering combined with one-finger-at-the-steering-wheel-at-140mph-smoothnes. Those are terribly expensive, though.
The Pirellis plainly suck. Funny to see that they are sold as all-season in the US.

I would be surprised too :p ... my post was ambiguous. I am debating between the T1-R's and the PZero Nero's. I was just asking for your comparison between the T1-R's and the RE040's because that is what I am used to on the RX-8.

I have the T1S's on my car & they are already way better than the RE040, let alone the new generation T1R's. The turn in is crisper, the ride is softer. Overall a better tire. I'm sure the new generation T1R is that much better. I'm not sure how many responses you will get on the T1r as most posters here are in the US, and it is not out here (yet).