89
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
94/100
2 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Avon CR500 vs Toyo R888 R — Compared (September 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
VS
68
/ 100
Objective (60%)
70/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
74/100
29 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Avon CR500 — better comfort, dry and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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Category breakdown
5 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Score (0–100)
CR500 leads by 23
Why this score
| Source | CR500 | R888 R |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 69 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 100 | 90 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
CR500 leads by 17
Why this score
| Source | CR500 | R888 R |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 63 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
CR500 leads by 38
Why this score
| Source | CR500 | R888 R |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 100 | 62 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
CR500 leads by 20
Why this score
| Source | CR500 | R888 R |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 60 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
CR500 leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | CR500 | R888 R |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 100 | 85 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Avon CR500 | Toyo R888 R |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 89 | 68 |
| Dry | 100 | 77 |
| Wet | 80 | 63 |
| Comfort | 100 | 62 |
| Treadwear | 80 | 60 |
| Handling | 100 | 85 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
89
/ 100
Tire A
68
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Avon CR500 is highly regarded by Caterham owners as a premier performance tire that excels in both spirited road driving and track environments. Users consistently praise its exceptional grip, precise turn-in feel, and surprising durability given its performance-oriented compound.
Pros
- Exceptional dry adhesion and cornering grip
- Precise and communicative steering turn-in feel
- Impressive tread life for a performance-focused tire
- Efficient water clearance and better-than-expected wet weather performance
Cons
- Tendency to become greasy when pushed hard for extended periods
- Limited feedback on wet-weather performance beyond light use
Observations
- Highly specialized for lightweight, high-power vehicles like the Caterham Superlight R.
- Users report an average lifespan of approximately 4,000 miles even when subjected to frequent track day usage.
The Toyo R888 R is a polarizing semi-slick tire that excels in dry track conditions, offering sharp steering response and high levels of mechanical grip. While enthusiasts praise its performance on lightweight vehicles, many users report significant noise, rapid tread wear, and inconsistent performance in wet or cold conditions, leading to a mixed consensus regarding its value for street-driven vehicles.
Pros
- Exceptional dry grip and cornering stability
- Sharp, communicative steering feedback
- Strong, stiff sidewall construction
- Predictable handling once the tire reaches optimal operating temperature
Cons
- High levels of road noise, particularly at highway speeds
- Rapid tread wear and short lifespan
- Poor performance and potential for aquaplaning in standing water
- Performance degradation after multiple heat cycles
Observations
- Lightweight, track-focused vehicles like the Caterham or Clio 197 report significantly better satisfaction than owners of modern, heavy vehicles exceeding 1400kg.
- High-horsepower applications (700whp+) may experience accelerated wear and reach the tire's thermal limits quickly.
- Users note that the tire requires specific alignment settings to maximize longevity and prevent uneven wear.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Avon CR500 | B · Toyo R888 R |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Trackday and Competition tires | Summer Trackday and Competition tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
89
/ 100
Avon
68
/ 100
Toyo
Winner: Avon CR500 — better comfort, dry and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Avon CR500 scores 100 vs 62 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Avon CR500 scores 100 vs 77 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Avon CR500 scores 80 vs 60 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Avon CR500 scores 80 vs 63 on wet.
Tire A · Avon CR500
Tire B · Toyo R888 R
More comparisons
Also compared with
Avon CR500 also compared with
Toyo R888 R also compared with
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.