Sickdayracing

I am in desperate need of new tires. I have a track car and a daily driver so the S2000 is used on the weekends. I plan to use it for track days that are to far to drive in the Miata. My plan was to go with a Star Spec Z1 or Kuhmo XS but the price Nitto NT01 is coming in around the same or less. I now the NT01 is the same compound as the RA1 which in the Miata world is a great overall tire. How are peoples experience running a NT01 against something like a hardcore "auto x tire"? Tire life is not a huge concern to me but 10k out of tires would be nice. Also, how do NT01s stand up to heat cycling and cold temps?

I know I want to go with 255/40/17 rear but would you guys suggest 225/45/17, 235/40/17, 215/45/17 front? I know the actual with is alot wider then the OEM tires and will change the stagger. The closest stagger to stock would be the 215 front which would maintain 2 inches between front and rear. The 235's are 1.1 inches wider then the 215 size. I'd like to dial out some understeer by running a larger front tire so the 225 is looking like a good compromise but how will it look and perform with a 45 sidewall vs the 40 on the 235?

SebRedAP1

What is the set up on wheels?

HiRpmVTEC

215

TubeDriver

225/45-17 and 255/40-17.

Sickdayracing

Stock AP2

rob.ok

Don't expect to get 10K miles on NT01s. I get about 3-6 days out of them (depending on what track and how hard I'm pushing the car). I do drive a 4 hour round trip to the track and back on them but that is the only time the car is driven.

The NT01 is 6/32 and the RA1 is 8/32 tread depth. If you plan on doing more miles on the street with the tire than at the track the RA1 is the best tire. It will last much longer.


NT01 is a race tire but its not like your A6s or V710s. It is designed for track driving and in a typical autocross you won't get the tire up to temp quick enough. On track though if its summer the tire is fast after the first couple of corners. Your first 3 hot laps will be the fastest as the tire slowly falls off after that but stays pretty constant (if you manage them) throughout a 30 min session. In the winter is may take almost a full lap to get them up to temp.


IMO R-Compounds are an investment. One that guarantees that you will go faster at the track. Its pointless to daily drive them on the street, your wasting your money. By a cheap set of street tires (since their preformance doesn't matter cause of those pesky speed limit signs that they keep posting around town) and use your R-Compounds for track and autocross. In the end you'll save money.

-Rob

Jim@tirerack

You can also look at tires like the Dunlop Diezza Star Spec or the Kumho XS. Both of these tires are going to give you the ability to drive on the street but they can handle the track as well.

Kinetic S2k

My NT-01s lasted almost the entire NASA AZ schedule in 2007 ( about 14 HPDE days)

205-40-17 on an Integra...., but I swapped them on and off at the track.

As NASA AZ tech chief, I'm at every event running both days.....

on OEM AP2 wheels 225 is as wide as you can go IMO.


I'd say if you are driving long distance then the Star Specs or Kumho XS would be a better choice.......

VitaRenovatio

There is absolutely no way you can get 14 HPDE days out of an S2000... and I'd guess that applies to any tire. Rob is correct, it is more like 3-6 days. I got almost 6 days out of my last set of NT01s, but that meant they corded on the 6th day in the middle of the track day.

Also, NT01s are fastest when they are brand new. You will lose quite a bit of speed as the tires wear and get heat cycled. Using these tires on the street (other than the necessary drive to the track) would be a waste of money. I feel bad as is using these tires to drive 100 miles to the track.

If you don't absolutely need the extra grip, it will be actually more economical for you to buy Z1 Star Specs. They will last just as long if not longer if you factor in street driving.