A thread on spec tires for SM here on the IT site reminds me that I've been meaning to ask a question about Toyo tires. Always looking to cut costs, I'm considering the Toyo RA1's for my ITB car. Everything I've read says the Toyos last longer than Hoosiers, but they are slower. But I can't seem to find the answer to the obvious question... exactly how much slower are they? Does anyone know of available hard data that will give me the difference in these two tires (RA1 vs R3S04), in terms of lap times on a typical IT car? And while I'm at it, I'll ask the other obvious question... how much longer do they last?

Please... no guesses, no generalizations, no second hand stories. Just good data.

Gary L.