I like my R888's. I think age plays into diminishing grip in the r888. My current rears are only 6 months old and down to damn near slicks and they are still gripping nicely. I ran my originals down to shaved depth and let them sit on the shelf for a year. They weren't very good once I put them back on. They had been heat cycled out on top of the age. They don't make the RA1 if big boy sizes.