Yokohama ADVAN A052 vs Toyo R888 Tyres Review by Luke Beardmore Racing
Image courtesy: Isle of Wight Sport Photographer Andrew Cooper Photographer | Moral Rights Asserted | All Rights Reserved
Yokohama A052 vs Toyo R888 – Real-World Comparison From the Track
If you’ve spent any time in motorsport forums or track day groups, I often see people online asking about how the Toyo R888R compares to the Yokohama A052, but rarely do you find a proper head-to-head review. And I think there’s a good reason for that—while the R888R is a solid tyre in its own right, it simply isn’t in the same league as the A052 when it comes to outright performance.
This review aims to give you a direct, back-to-back comparison of both tyres—based on real-world racing experience in the 750MC Roadsports Championship.
I’ve used both tyres extensively. While the Toyo R888 is a solid, reliable semi-slick, it’s fair to say it’s not in the same league as the Yokohama A052 when it comes to outright performance.
That said, the R888 is still a fantastic tyre, especially if lap time isn’t your top priority.
🔧 Car & Race Setup
- Car: Mazda RX8 (1190kg)
- Series: 750MC Roadsports Championship
- Race Format: 45-minute mini-endurance
- Tyres Raced (tested) price at time of writing:
- Toyo R888 – 225/40/18, Motorsport List 1B – £790/set
- Yokohama A052 – 225/40/18, Motorsport List 1B – £1,004.99/set
🏁 Track Test Context
At Round 1 (Croft), I ran the Toyo R888s. By Round 2 (Silverstone), I’d switched to Yokohama A052s, and the improvement was immediate. At Round 3 (Anglesey), we had both tyres available on the same day for a near back-to-back comparison in practice and qualifying. Both sets had one race meeting of wear.
Result?
From P7 pace at Croft to podium contention at Silverstone and Anglesey—the tyre change made a big difference.
📊 Head-to-Head Comparison
🔥 Warm-Up
- A052: Instant grip from lap one. No need to build up—it just hooks up immediately.
- R888: Takes 1–2 laps to come alive. At Croft, I was a sitting duck for the first couple of laps.
✅ Winner: Yokohama A052
⚖️ Consistency (Feel & Lap Times)
- R888: Very stable. Once it’s up to temp, the feel doesn’t change much. It also handles minor pressure variations well.
- A052: More sensitive. If you overheat it, the rear can get greasy. However, lap times remain consistent, and feedback is excellent. At Silverstone we had overheating issues, but at Anglesey—with better tyre management—it stayed sharp for 40minuets until our race ended due to mechanical issue.
✅ Winner: Toyo R888 (for consistency in feel)
💡 But the A052 is still faster, even when not perfect.
⏱ Lap Times (Anglesey Coastal)
- Yokohama A052: 1:19.7
- Toyo R888: 1:21.8
Both tyres were consistent over a stint—but the A052 is clearly faster.
✅ Winner: Yokohama A052
🛑 Braking Performance
- A052: Exceptional under braking. The car remains stable, and ABS rarely kicks in.
- R888: ABS kicks in more often—clearly less overall grip under heavy braking. This would indicate can’t brake as hard or as late into the corner
✅ Winner: Yokohama A052
🚀 Traction
- A052: Incredible out of the box. Pulls hard from lap one. Great out of slow-speed corners.
- R888: Decent once warm, but lap delta shows the A052 is noticeably quicker out of slow speed corners.
✅ Winner: Yokohama A052
🔁 Wear & Heat Cycles
- A052: The grip is like a cheat code—but it comes at a cost. Wear is high. It performs even when worn, but don’t expect long life.
- R888: Much better wear rate. You could likely run a full 6-round championship on one set. A052 might last 3 rounds.
✅ Winner: Toyo R888
🚗 Road Use
- R888: Excellent on the road in dry conditions—quiet enough, plenty of grip.
- A052: Not personally tested on the road, but based on track performance, I’d expect it to be good, though faster wearing.
✅ Winner: Tie (not enough road use data on A052)
🏆 Summary
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Warm-Up | A052 |
| Consistency (feel) | R888 |
| Lap Times | A052 |
| Braking | A052 |
| Traction | A052 |
| Tyre Life | R888 |
| Road Use | Tie |
🎯 Final Thoughts
If you’re in competitive motorsport and lap times matter, the Yokohama A052 is the clear winner. It’s quicker in every meaningful way—grip, braking, traction, and lap time.
However, if you’re reading this review to choose a tyre for your track or road car where chasing lap times isn’t the priority, then I want to be clear—the Toyo R888R is absolutely a solid choice. It’s a very competent semi-slick that delivers a consistent, predictable feel and gives you a great understanding of grip levels. It’s more than capable for track days, offering strong performance with excellent longevity.
But if outright performance is what you’re after, then the Yokohama A052 is the tyre to go for.
I’ve been genuinely stunned by just how good the A052 is. It’s every bit as capable as people claim—and maybe more. The grip it delivers, especially for a road-legal tyre, is nothing short of remarkable. I’m honestly in awe of what it offers.
💬 Your Thoughts?
This review is based purely on my own experience. I’d love to hear your feedback—
- Did this help your tyre choice?
- Want to see future comparisons?
- Anything you’d improve in this review?
Thanks for reading—and see you on track!
Image courtesy: Isle of Wight Sport Photographer Andrew Cooper Photographer | Moral Rights Asserted | All Rights Reserved
Image courtesy: Isle of Wight Sport Photographer Andrew Cooper Photographer | Moral Rights Asserted | All Rights Reserved
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