I mostly autocross the car and it sees may 100 miles per month of street time. Maybe. I have 225/255 Hankook RS3s on it now which are nearing the end of their life. When I do drive it on the street I have a different set of wheels/tires. I do plan on doing a track day or 2 at Sebring this upcoming year. Do you guys think its worth it to spend the extra money and get the NT01's over the Hankooks? Here is the current set up on my car now.

2000 AP1
Koni Yellow shocks with Swift Spec R springs
Stop Tech drilled rotors with OEM Honda AP2 pads
Apex Steel Brake lines
I/H/E

 

I am in the same boat because my RS3's are near their end. Will you be faster on R-compounds? Yes. Would it be more fun? That is subjective. For me right now I will probably stay on street tires because:
1. I do not want to drive to events on my R-compounds.
2. Even if I do a switch of tires at the track that means, I need to buy a trailer and hitch. Pay for annual trailer registration and store the trailer at home somewhere.
3. R compounds will have half the life and cost more.
4. Higher g-loads, and I don't have an accusump or the soon to be released Canton oil pan (if they ever get around to doing it)
5. R-compound hugely masks errors in driving. Sliding my RS3 and having to be gentle on the throttle is teaching me tons.

Nonetheless, I will probably go R-compound in the future, but I will do that when I have the extra $$$$ to spend (assuming I still have my car... it is up for sale

Also my car is FAR more modified than your car. I would do more track oriented modifications before going to R-compound tires.

 

Are you willing to deal with suspension arm tear-out?
http://www.gotuning.com/product_info...roducts_id=328

 

NT01's aren't significantly faster than the rs3's. Also, they will not last on the street (ask me how I know hah)

 

I think you can just weld the mounts to the frame without spending $700 on gusset plates.

 

Your car setup doesn't really seem well suited for r-comps IMO

 

I agree.^
Stick with street tires, until the car prep and driver prep matches, you wont be able to tell the difference. RS3's are fast tires.

 

I was not impressed with my experience with NT01s. In fact, I ran faster times on RS3s than I did on a fresh set of NT01s. The Nittos transition quicker and have a tad bit more absolute grip, but I really like the slip characteristics of an RS3 and they last a lot longer than the Nitto.

 

NT01s aren't much of an upgrade. And if you're on OEM brake pads I wouldn't try and increase overall speeds.

 

if you are gonna mostly autocross with your set up as is go with the RS3. they will last longer from what i have read. and if you are gonna be mostly autocrossing it seems your set up will land you in STR. you might as well spend money for a sway bar and some squared up wheels, this will serve you double duty anyways.

im not sure about needing gusset plates (unless you suggested this for road racing). many s2k's run B Stock with r comps and the car seems to do just fine. please enlighten me and pardon me for my noobiness. i am not very well versed in track day prep.