Semi slicks on the road?
Discussion
Yeah I know, not another tyre thread, apologies.
The time has come to replace the front tyres on my car. I quite fancy some semi slicks as we are just coming into the better weather and it is something I really like seeing on cars.
First question is am I mad to have semi slicks on a road only car and is it just a waste or will they be beneficial. Also will I die when it rains.
I have been doing some research and have narrowed it down to a few options.
1. Nannkang ns2r
2. Federal 595 rsr
I have considered pilot sport 4's but they are more than I want to spend really. Rough budget is 100 notes a corner.
The car is front wheel drive with an lsd. It currently produces between 230 and 240 HP but this will be going up to 270-290 quite soon.
The current tyre size is 235×45 r18 although I would like to go down to a 40 profile. Also I don't know if you can do this but i would like to go up to 245 to try and protect my alloys and get some more grip.
As I said further up at the moment the car is a daily driver and is used in all conditions and when suitable is driven enthusiastically.
Any opinions and personal experience will be apreciated, also any other tyre sugestions will be considered. Thanks for your time.
The time has come to replace the front tyres on my car. I quite fancy some semi slicks as we are just coming into the better weather and it is something I really like seeing on cars.
First question is am I mad to have semi slicks on a road only car and is it just a waste or will they be beneficial. Also will I die when it rains.
I have been doing some research and have narrowed it down to a few options.
1. Nannkang ns2r
2. Federal 595 rsr
I have considered pilot sport 4's but they are more than I want to spend really. Rough budget is 100 notes a corner.
The car is front wheel drive with an lsd. It currently produces between 230 and 240 HP but this will be going up to 270-290 quite soon.
The current tyre size is 235×45 r18 although I would like to go down to a 40 profile. Also I don't know if you can do this but i would like to go up to 245 to try and protect my alloys and get some more grip.
As I said further up at the moment the car is a daily driver and is used in all conditions and when suitable is driven enthusiastically.
Any opinions and personal experience will be apreciated, also any other tyre sugestions will be considered. Thanks for your time.
littleredrooster said:
Shame - I've just disposed of a couple of bald 245/45 18s. If it is semi-slicks that you want, you could have had these FOC!
Seriously though - semi-slick ditchfinders during a wet British summer on a FWD with 250+bhp? Sounds entertaining to me!
Are those two choices not seen as decent tyres then? Seriously though - semi-slick ditchfinders during a wet British summer on a FWD with 250+bhp? Sounds entertaining to me!
From the reveiws I have read people seem to think they are both great, especially the ns2r. As I said if people have a better sugestion for a performance based tyre I am open to hearing it, that is what the thread is for.
Semi slick tyres do tend to be more generous on the stated sizes. So if you have limited wheel arch clearance with your current tyres the slick version may foul the arch.
Just an idea but maybe go down a wheel diameter size and less width to actually fit a wider tyre with the correct rolling radius. Sounds bizarre but will work.
Just an idea but maybe go down a wheel diameter size and less width to actually fit a wider tyre with the correct rolling radius. Sounds bizarre but will work.
The NS2R is a very good tyre for road use, I don't know anything about the other - you'll want the 180 compound for the road.
Another good option is the AD08R but its a little bit more expensive. Its a particularly impressive tyre in the wet.
Don't try driving any of them on snow!
Another good option is the AD08R but its a little bit more expensive. Its a particularly impressive tyre in the wet.
Don't try driving any of them on snow!
Edited by kambites on Saturday 14th April 09:30
littleredrooster said:
Seriously though - semi-slick ditchfinders during a wet British summer on a FWD with 250+bhp? Sounds entertaining to me!
Ditchfinders? Both the tyres the OP is looking at are really rather good, ignore the brand name and the rest of their range.OP I used NS2-Rs on the road perfectly happily, they're noisy but absolutely fine in the wet if not the best tyre out there. For a sensibly priced track/road hybrid tyre they're right up there IMO.
I've also run the far more extreme AR-1 on the road and they are even better, although obviously their abilities in the wet are much more limited. I wouldn't daily them, but for a weekend toy used appropriately they give more grip than you're ever going to need on the road.
charltjr said:
Ditchfinders? Both the tyres the OP is looking at are really rather good, ignore the brand name and the rest of their range.
OP I used NS2-Rs on the road perfectly happily, they're noisy but absolutely fine in the wet if not the best tyre out there. For a sensibly priced track/road hybrid tyre they're right up there IMO.
I've also run the far more extreme AR-1 on the road and they are even better, although obviously their abilities in the wet are much more limited. I wouldn't daily them, but for a weekend toy used appropriately they give more grip than you're ever going to need on the road.
Thanks, I know people say that semi slicks aren't ideal in the wet (whitch they obviously arent) but how bad are they. Is it only a problem when 'making progress' or do you still have to be mindful when driving normally?OP I used NS2-Rs on the road perfectly happily, they're noisy but absolutely fine in the wet if not the best tyre out there. For a sensibly priced track/road hybrid tyre they're right up there IMO.
I've also run the far more extreme AR-1 on the road and they are even better, although obviously their abilities in the wet are much more limited. I wouldn't daily them, but for a weekend toy used appropriately they give more grip than you're ever going to need on the road.
I’m using NS2 R’s as a road tyre on my Clio 172 race car and have found them to work well.
They’re pretty good on a dry track (if a fair bit slower than my 888R’s) and good in the wet.
I don’t push the Clio on the road but haven’t had an issue with tyres in any conditions including heavy rain.
I’ll be buying them again when these wear out.
They’re pretty good on a dry track (if a fair bit slower than my 888R’s) and good in the wet.
I don’t push the Clio on the road but haven’t had an issue with tyres in any conditions including heavy rain.
I’ll be buying them again when these wear out.
Tyres like this really have no safe place on the roads. I had some of these 'trackday' tyres on my old VX220. They were of course awesome in the dry, but were absolutely lethal in cold or wet conditions. I vividly remember the back-end stepping out on me as I crossed lanes on the M27 whilst doing less than 50mph in fairly average wet conditions (most cars were happily barrelling on at 70-80mph).
If you 100% guarantee that you will never be caught out in rain or really cold weather then fine, but doesn't that make it all a tiny bit restrictive, especially if it's your only car.
Just my 2p's worth of course and I'm sure millions would disagree.
If you 100% guarantee that you will never be caught out in rain or really cold weather then fine, but doesn't that make it all a tiny bit restrictive, especially if it's your only car.
Just my 2p's worth of course and I'm sure millions would disagree.
Yacht Broker said:
Tyres like this really have no safe place on the roads. I had some of these 'trackday' tyres on my old VX220. They were of course awesome in the dry, but were absolutely lethal in cold or wet conditions. I vividly remember the back-end stepping out on me as I crossed lanes on the M27 whilst doing less than 50mph in fairly average wet conditions (most cars were happily barrelling on at 70-80mph).
If you 100% guarantee that you will never be caught out in rain or really cold weather then fine, but doesn't that make it all a tiny bit restrictive, especially if it's your only car.
Just my 2p's worth of course and I'm sure millions would disagree.
That's doesn't sound good, what tyre was that on?If you 100% guarantee that you will never be caught out in rain or really cold weather then fine, but doesn't that make it all a tiny bit restrictive, especially if it's your only car.
Just my 2p's worth of course and I'm sure millions would disagree.
All opinions are welcome. I am just trying to guage what people think of this sort of tyre.
Also what do people think of going from 235 to 245 on the same alloy. Will this create problems or be fine? I am hoping for a bit of overhang on the alloy as my wheels seem to mark ridiculously easily.
If you encounter standing water on the motorway you’ll have to slow to 40mph. My weekend car runs Pilot Cup 2, which are still very much a road tyre, and I wouldn’t take it anywhere near a motorway if there was a chance of heavy rain.
Based on my experience then, I’d say semi-slicks are a really bloody bad idea on a daily driver, particularly if you intend to use them all year round. But others may disagree. There’s a few race drivers on here that run racing slicks on snow with no problems.
Based on my experience then, I’d say semi-slicks are a really bloody bad idea on a daily driver, particularly if you intend to use them all year round. But others may disagree. There’s a few race drivers on here that run racing slicks on snow with no problems.
Plate spinner said:
I ran R888 on my Caterham - used road and track.
Great on a dry track, phenomenal bite and traction.
Not good at dealing with standing water, to the point you are tip toeing home.
So as you would expect really.
Same here. Driving them in the wet is a bit of a tightrope job. Doable, but delicate, with the odd moment of unwanted excitement.Great on a dry track, phenomenal bite and traction.
Not good at dealing with standing water, to the point you are tip toeing home.
So as you would expect really.
Kenny Powers said:
If you encounter standing water on the motorway you’ll have to slow to 40mph. My weekend car runs Pilot Cup 2, which are still very much a road tyre, and I wouldn’t take it anywhere near a motorway if there was a chance of heavy rain.
Based on my experience then, I’d say semi-slicks are a really bloody bad idea on a daily driver, particularly if you intend to use them all year round. But others may disagree. There’s a few race drivers on here that run racing slicks on snow with no problems.
That's sounds like another vote for no. What sort of milage are people getting on these type of tyres?Based on my experience then, I’d say semi-slicks are a really bloody bad idea on a daily driver, particularly if you intend to use them all year round. But others may disagree. There’s a few race drivers on here that run racing slicks on snow with no problems.
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