Nankang NS2-R Tyres

I've run these on all kinds of things. They are good for the money but obviously they don't work miracles. The best of the "budget" tyres IMO.

Ignore me, I missed the -R

I doubt most of you peeps have had NS-2Rs although I stand to be corrected and apologise if I am wrong. They are not cheap for sure; OK compared to a Toyo R1R they are cheaper but certainly not road tyre cheap. These are quite a different beast to the NS-2s . These are a track based tyre, with a DOT R compound. It's aimed to go against tyres like the Yokohama AD08R, Toyo R1R and Federal 595R

In comparison to Uniroyals these are awesome. They are also better IMHO than almost any road tyre. A few peeps have said their lap times on track days have slayed road tyres with the NS-2Rs on. On oldish well treaded Toyo T1-Ss the RST used to wheelspin in second in the dry and third in the wet. It will not only wheelspin in the wet if the tyres are not warm in 3rd (a motorway trip or pressing on cures this) and attempt to spin less in the dry. I reckon I can push them harder than I am TBH!

Are there downsides? Sure

1) Being a track biased tyre they are more expensive than other tyres. On my RST in 195/50R15 I paid £75 fitted per tyre. To put that into context a Michelin PS3 would have been £60 which I was seriously considering going with. I understand that without fitting they are close to the price I paid fitted due to their increasing popularity.

2) In extreme standing water they are interesting! Not quite R888 bad (but bar going to slicks not many things are!) however and on damp ground they are surprisingly surefooted. Granted I avoided most wet puddles on the way back from the very wet RRG but my friend in his Mitsi 3000 GTO 4x4 was surprised how planted my car was when he was struggling to stay on my tail!

3) They are a little noisy ; again not R888 bad but not far off what a budget tyre is. I am however running zero insulation in the RST so that is subjective!

4) They don't last long! I have the street compound on mine and if I am honest I have driven the car far harder than I could previously and surprised people with what the car can do, even myself! The Streets are meant to never die on track but do require warming. They are not terrible when cold however; probably on a par with a road tyre but to get the best they do love heat. The Soft tyres are better here but dissapear before your eyes.

5) A trait of any DOT R tyre I have had (I have had Toyo R888s previously) is the increased width over the equivalent road tyre. On my RST I had to redo the front axle (remove the 5mm spacers to clear the brakes and then change the brake setup). It previously used to only kiss the front wheel arches, and with the NS2-Rs it went to practically tearing chunks out of them upon seeing a bump in the road!

I shall let peeps know what these are like on a trackday, I have hoping they slay the R888s ; I could overheat the R888s with enough laps (15 mins of the 'ring GP circuit).

I'm debating getting these for the Clio but I'll probably chicken out and get some Michelins or Contis.

If you think I am lying, here are other opinions jackmorris:

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=18&t=1403755&mid=0&nmt=well+someone+had+to+try+them.Nankang+ns-2r+%2B+520hp+car+%3D%3F%3F%3F

And now some shots of mine :

Perfect response chaseR, just the info i was looking for! Price wise for the 'street' compound they're a good 30-40 pounds cheaper than R888s so I'm happier to try them at that price, considering i have spare wheels for RRG levels of water....

Came across that pistonheads topic which is persuading me more to go for them!

Let me know what you think on the trackday

Both of them are more expensive. IIRC the AD08Rs were close to £100 over the NS-2Rs. V70s are more like £130. I don't know of the V70as that well but I do know that the AD08Rs are meant to have the edge over the NS-2Rs.

@ettorbugatti, what experience have you had of track tyres? I'm toying with getting a set for the Clio now that shall be doing track duties for a while until I sort the Escort out more (oil surge being the main one).

correction, camskill have them at £56!!

no contest, ad08r ftw!!

its the ao48 race/rally tyre thats over £100 a corner in a 15"

That's well expensive!

I can get them delivered to your door for £48 each

Your price seem cheaper than Camskill and MyTyres even when fitted! It shall be something to bear in mind.

Your price seem cheaper than Camskill and MyTyres even when fitted! It shall be something to bear in mind should I be in the area