well someone had to try them.Nankang ns-2r + 520hp car =???
Discussion
e21Mark said:
Just looking for some new 235/40r17 fronts for my e30 M3 and at £100 each the Nankang are an attractive proposition. It's availability that's an issue. Does anyone know a UK supplier with stock?
I've been browsing about myself, and have come to the conclusion that demon tweeks are the cheapest at £90 a corner. Although it doesn't say whether the tires are the 180 or 120 compound.As a supplier, you should know that Tweaks isn't the only place to get them.
I have been running this tyre since 2013, in fact I still have the original test set that were used at Oulton to test on BRSCC Mazda back in April if that year, they are still going strong although are now only on a 560Kg car. They are the harder compound, which on a light car take some time to get heat into. You can feel the grip coming in though and the braking improving also. However on a car this light, they are 195 50's, they never feel fully to temperature, although that does not stop a 120bhp car being flat in 4th almost everywhere in the dry. IN the wet on this car, it is too light and the tyre too hard to work.
On the other hand, my MX-5, which I would guess at being 400Kg heavier loves the harder compound. Of course any of these tyre of tyre benefits from warming, but the Old Hairpin can be taken without feeling embarrassed on the first lap out of the pits on anything but a cold day. At Combe recently, on a Scorchio day, they held up very well easily competing with RS-R's. On that point to be precise, the soft compound is a touch down, on an RS-R on a dry lap, about 2/3 second, but 1 1/2 seconds quicker in the wet. They are also very durable.
I can't say I have noticed then sounding like 888.
On heavier cars, and the more powerful I would recommend the harder compound, the soft can go away quickly. There are some good results coming back from tyre shaving as well.
I have been running this tyre since 2013, in fact I still have the original test set that were used at Oulton to test on BRSCC Mazda back in April if that year, they are still going strong although are now only on a 560Kg car. They are the harder compound, which on a light car take some time to get heat into. You can feel the grip coming in though and the braking improving also. However on a car this light, they are 195 50's, they never feel fully to temperature, although that does not stop a 120bhp car being flat in 4th almost everywhere in the dry. IN the wet on this car, it is too light and the tyre too hard to work.
On the other hand, my MX-5, which I would guess at being 400Kg heavier loves the harder compound. Of course any of these tyre of tyre benefits from warming, but the Old Hairpin can be taken without feeling embarrassed on the first lap out of the pits on anything but a cold day. At Combe recently, on a Scorchio day, they held up very well easily competing with RS-R's. On that point to be precise, the soft compound is a touch down, on an RS-R on a dry lap, about 2/3 second, but 1 1/2 seconds quicker in the wet. They are also very durable.
I can't say I have noticed then sounding like 888.
On heavier cars, and the more powerful I would recommend the harder compound, the soft can go away quickly. There are some good results coming back from tyre shaving as well.
Not much to contribute to the thread in terms of experience, however I will be watching with interest. Want to find some good track day rubber for the MR2 that doesn't cost the world but gives good performance. Next year it'll be running around 350bhp after the winters work so sticky rubber is a must but we don't have an endless budget to run premium rubber all the time. It will make a real difference to costs with changing tyres a few times compared to say the cost of the Toyos.
I have however been to a track day with a mate in a supercharged MX5 with the Federal RSR fitted running 200bhp+. They were good, really good. Was a little taken a back the first corner he threw the car into at silly speeds and it just bit, turned in and made no fuss. Getting the power down on the exit didn't unsettle the car and they didn't drop off during the session. He was able to get in a lot of laps, over 60, with good wear and meat left on them. Certainly opened my eyes to them for how much they cost/performance.
I have however been to a track day with a mate in a supercharged MX5 with the Federal RSR fitted running 200bhp+. They were good, really good. Was a little taken a back the first corner he threw the car into at silly speeds and it just bit, turned in and made no fuss. Getting the power down on the exit didn't unsettle the car and they didn't drop off during the session. He was able to get in a lot of laps, over 60, with good wear and meat left on them. Certainly opened my eyes to them for how much they cost/performance.
DottyMR2 said:
Not much to contribute to the thread in terms of experience, however I will be watching with interest. Want to find some good track day rubber for the MR2 that doesn't cost the world but gives good performance. Next year it'll be running around 350bhp after the winters work so sticky rubber is a must but we don't have an endless budget to run premium rubber all the time. It will make a real difference to costs with changing tyres a few times compared to say the cost of the Toyos.
I have however been to a track day with a mate in a supercharged MX5 with the Federal RSR fitted running 200bhp+. They were good, really good. Was a little taken a back the first corner he threw the car into at silly speeds and it just bit, turned in and made no fuss. Getting the power down on the exit didn't unsettle the car and they didn't drop off during the session. He was able to get in a lot of laps, over 60, with good wear and meat left on them. Certainly opened my eyes to them for how much they cost/performance.
I am running the Kumho V70 on my MR2 Turbo in the hard compound, four trackdays this year, 5th this coming Saturday at Bedford and I think they are pretty decent tyres, wear well, grip well and are not too bad in standing water. £500 for a set of four.I have however been to a track day with a mate in a supercharged MX5 with the Federal RSR fitted running 200bhp+. They were good, really good. Was a little taken a back the first corner he threw the car into at silly speeds and it just bit, turned in and made no fuss. Getting the power down on the exit didn't unsettle the car and they didn't drop off during the session. He was able to get in a lot of laps, over 60, with good wear and meat left on them. Certainly opened my eyes to them for how much they cost/performance.
I am presently loving Federal 595 RS-Rs on my Chimaera - I seem to have so much more confidence in what the car will do, and my ability to catch the 101% moments. I am actually preferring them to my Toyo 888s. The Kumho V70 sound like another good alternative to the Federals for our lighter cars - I imagine that the MR2 Turbo is about the same weight at the Chimaera, around 1100 kg
Just to chip in with my experiences of federal RS-Rs now I've had them on track too. They performed very well on a hot day at Blyton, very little wear and lots of grip. The limits of traction where progressive too, a little tyre squeal before any loss of traction but generally very quiet and grippy. Not sure I'd have been that much quicker on my cups to be honest.
Cold pressures where about 27psi to get back to my hot pressures of 34psi, running a 1300kg Porsche 944 Turbo with 310bhp.
The only hairy moment was on the A1 on the way home in end of the world rain when they got a bit aquaplaney at 60mph but I pulled into a garage and realised I hadn't re-inflated them, they were ok after that but I proceeded with caution.
Cold pressures where about 27psi to get back to my hot pressures of 34psi, running a 1300kg Porsche 944 Turbo with 310bhp.
The only hairy moment was on the A1 on the way home in end of the world rain when they got a bit aquaplaney at 60mph but I pulled into a garage and realised I hadn't re-inflated them, they were ok after that but I proceeded with caution.
Finally booked a track day in October - we'll see what the lardy S4 does to a set of soft compound NS2Rs! 
So far I've done a couple of thousand road miles on them and they've not really worn more than a regular road tyre. As mentioned; they're noisy and stiff ... just about bearable on a daily driver.
So far I've done a couple of thousand road miles on them and they've not really worn more than a regular road tyre. As mentioned; they're noisy and stiff ... just about bearable on a daily driver.
Good track, been there a number of times. Two quite fast straights for relaxing and checking the car, nice mix of fast and slow corners, quite good run off.
Suggest you get together with a mate and book a pit garage. You can get two cars in nose to tail, and it's a definite benefit this time of year. If no mates going with you, there will be someone there on the day who will happily give you a few quid to share. I would!
Suggest you get together with a mate and book a pit garage. You can get two cars in nose to tail, and it's a definite benefit this time of year. If no mates going with you, there will be someone there on the day who will happily give you a few quid to share. I would!
Dakkon said:
DottyMR2 said:
Not much to contribute to the thread in terms of experience, however I will be watching with interest. Want to find some good track day rubber for the MR2 that doesn't cost the world but gives good performance. Next year it'll be running around 350bhp after the winters work so sticky rubber is a must but we don't have an endless budget to run premium rubber all the time. It will make a real difference to costs with changing tyres a few times compared to say the cost of the Toyos.
I have however been to a track day with a mate in a supercharged MX5 with the Federal RSR fitted running 200bhp+. They were good, really good. Was a little taken a back the first corner he threw the car into at silly speeds and it just bit, turned in and made no fuss. Getting the power down on the exit didn't unsettle the car and they didn't drop off during the session. He was able to get in a lot of laps, over 60, with good wear and meat left on them. Certainly opened my eyes to them for how much they cost/performance.
I am running the Kumho V70 on my MR2 Turbo in the hard compound, four trackdays this year, 5th this coming Saturday at Bedford and I think they are pretty decent tyres, wear well, grip well and are not too bad in standing water. £500 for a set of four.I have however been to a track day with a mate in a supercharged MX5 with the Federal RSR fitted running 200bhp+. They were good, really good. Was a little taken a back the first corner he threw the car into at silly speeds and it just bit, turned in and made no fuss. Getting the power down on the exit didn't unsettle the car and they didn't drop off during the session. He was able to get in a lot of laps, over 60, with good wear and meat left on them. Certainly opened my eyes to them for how much they cost/performance.
The sizes aren't bang on what I'd want, ideally I'd have 205/50/R16 front and 235/45/R16 rears, but for the Kumho I'd have to run 205/45 on the front and 245/45 on the rear. I suppose it won't make too much of a diference, just a slightly larger stagger ratio than on the 15s. Do you reckon it would affect the balance greatly or are these the sizes you run?
The price certainly makes them more appealing and having another '2 with good experience isn't such a leap of faith on a new set of tyres too.
DottyMR2 said:
Dakkon said:
DottyMR2 said:
Not much to contribute to the thread in terms of experience, however I will be watching with interest. Want to find some good track day rubber for the MR2 that doesn't cost the world but gives good performance. Next year it'll be running around 350bhp after the winters work so sticky rubber is a must but we don't have an endless budget to run premium rubber all the time. It will make a real difference to costs with changing tyres a few times compared to say the cost of the Toyos.
I have however been to a track day with a mate in a supercharged MX5 with the Federal RSR fitted running 200bhp+. They were good, really good. Was a little taken a back the first corner he threw the car into at silly speeds and it just bit, turned in and made no fuss. Getting the power down on the exit didn't unsettle the car and they didn't drop off during the session. He was able to get in a lot of laps, over 60, with good wear and meat left on them. Certainly opened my eyes to them for how much they cost/performance.
I am running the Kumho V70 on my MR2 Turbo in the hard compound, four trackdays this year, 5th this coming Saturday at Bedford and I think they are pretty decent tyres, wear well, grip well and are not too bad in standing water. £500 for a set of four.I have however been to a track day with a mate in a supercharged MX5 with the Federal RSR fitted running 200bhp+. They were good, really good. Was a little taken a back the first corner he threw the car into at silly speeds and it just bit, turned in and made no fuss. Getting the power down on the exit didn't unsettle the car and they didn't drop off during the session. He was able to get in a lot of laps, over 60, with good wear and meat left on them. Certainly opened my eyes to them for how much they cost/performance.
The sizes aren't bang on what I'd want, ideally I'd have 205/50/R16 front and 235/45/R16 rears, but for the Kumho I'd have to run 205/45 on the front and 245/45 on the rear. I suppose it won't make too much of a diference, just a slightly larger stagger ratio than on the 15s. Do you reckon it would affect the balance greatly or are these the sizes you run?
The price certainly makes them more appealing and having another '2 with good experience isn't such a leap of faith on a new set of tyres too.
In fact, I've 2 of the hard compound V70A sitting in my garage looking for a new home!
jon- said:
DottyMR2 said:
Dakkon said:
DottyMR2 said:
Not much to contribute to the thread in terms of experience, however I will be watching with interest. Want to find some good track day rubber for the MR2 that doesn't cost the world but gives good performance. Next year it'll be running around 350bhp after the winters work so sticky rubber is a must but we don't have an endless budget to run premium rubber all the time. It will make a real difference to costs with changing tyres a few times compared to say the cost of the Toyos.
I have however been to a track day with a mate in a supercharged MX5 with the Federal RSR fitted running 200bhp+. They were good, really good. Was a little taken a back the first corner he threw the car into at silly speeds and it just bit, turned in and made no fuss. Getting the power down on the exit didn't unsettle the car and they didn't drop off during the session. He was able to get in a lot of laps, over 60, with good wear and meat left on them. Certainly opened my eyes to them for how much they cost/performance.
I am running the Kumho V70 on my MR2 Turbo in the hard compound, four trackdays this year, 5th this coming Saturday at Bedford and I think they are pretty decent tyres, wear well, grip well and are not too bad in standing water. £500 for a set of four.I have however been to a track day with a mate in a supercharged MX5 with the Federal RSR fitted running 200bhp+. They were good, really good. Was a little taken a back the first corner he threw the car into at silly speeds and it just bit, turned in and made no fuss. Getting the power down on the exit didn't unsettle the car and they didn't drop off during the session. He was able to get in a lot of laps, over 60, with good wear and meat left on them. Certainly opened my eyes to them for how much they cost/performance.
The sizes aren't bang on what I'd want, ideally I'd have 205/50/R16 front and 235/45/R16 rears, but for the Kumho I'd have to run 205/45 on the front and 245/45 on the rear. I suppose it won't make too much of a diference, just a slightly larger stagger ratio than on the 15s. Do you reckon it would affect the balance greatly or are these the sizes you run?
The price certainly makes them more appealing and having another '2 with good experience isn't such a leap of faith on a new set of tyres too.
In fact, I've 2 of the hard compound V70A sitting in my garage looking for a new home!
What is the tread/age of them like? I'm thinking of starting a part worn rehoming centre
I'm still over here at Spa having done 2 full days with RMA. My Evo 6 rs weighs just 1240kgs with a 2.2 strokered engine giving 580bhp/603ft lb torque. I dressed a set of 18" track rims up with a new set of NSR's & in the dry, very impressed....
Grip came in within the first lap & progressively improved over the next 2-4 laps (4.2 mile lap).
Tyres only started to "move" after circa 6 quick laps but easy to feel.
Car was pushing healthy GT3 RS's as well as some very tasty out and out race machinery, most on full slicks...
Times (mainly due to traffic) were 2min 52's - 2min 58's
Only concern was yesterday we had a light sprinkling of rain and the tyres really did catch me out with virtually no grip...
How they fair in full wet from the off Ive no idea but Im certainly not disapointed with them, very little wear also...
Ran 27psi all round and only increased by circa 4psi max.
Will be using them at Cadwell 1st October :-)
Grip came in within the first lap & progressively improved over the next 2-4 laps (4.2 mile lap).
Tyres only started to "move" after circa 6 quick laps but easy to feel.
Car was pushing healthy GT3 RS's as well as some very tasty out and out race machinery, most on full slicks...
Times (mainly due to traffic) were 2min 52's - 2min 58's
Only concern was yesterday we had a light sprinkling of rain and the tyres really did catch me out with virtually no grip...
How they fair in full wet from the off Ive no idea but Im certainly not disapointed with them, very little wear also...
Ran 27psi all round and only increased by circa 4psi max.
Will be using them at Cadwell 1st October :-)
I will be at Cadwell on October 1st too. It will be interesting to compare your grip with ours - 4 x 1100 kg TVRS, ranging from 220 to 380 bhp. As you I am sure know, Cadwell is a handling track.
Last time out three of us, ranging from 210 to 430 bhp and all on Federals, ran around together on Federals, and all kept together despite driving as fast as possible.
Look forward to meeting you
Last time out three of us, ranging from 210 to 430 bhp and all on Federals, ran around together on Federals, and all kept together despite driving as fast as possible.
Look forward to meeting you
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