Nankang NS-2R

Skeeter · 14 Apr 2014 at 20:24

Does anyone have any opinions on these? They seem to be gaining popularity as a decent middle ground choice between performance road tyres and full on track rubber. I'm considering a set to replace my Federal RS-Rs on my Clio 172, but most reviews I've seen pit them against things like R888s, where they predictability fall short as you would expect.

Skeeter · 14 Apr 2014 at 20:28

The RSRs are great, but I've struggled to find a like for like comparison with the Nankangs.

They do seem to be close enough that price is a key factor, and I think the RSRs have crept up recently due to popularity.

Skeeter · 14 Apr 2014 at 20:31

Don't Federal road tyres also suck?

Having Nankang on the side is a big turn off though, I agree

Skeeter · 14 Apr 2014 at 20:38

15s are up to 90 a corner for the Federals, but there are deals about where you can get them for 70. The Nankangs are 70ish.

I'm not averse to trying something new. I got the Federals when they were the 'in thing' expecting them to be rubbish, and have been surprised. They aren't without their issues though, hence not just defaulting to another set.

Skeeter · 15 Apr 2014 at 08:06

Gibbo said:
The Federals are OK, no more, tried them disliked them, only OK when they are hot and in dry/damp conditions. Cold they are terrible and poor in the wet, but in hot dry conditions they are ok and low cost.

But make no mistake a set of R888's or Michelin cups are far superior in all conditions, I'd even say AD08's are better as well, especially in the wet than all of them.

This is the problem I have with most reviews of these middle ground tyres. Of course the much more expensive, much more track focused R888s and Cups, etc are better. It would be pretty worrying if they weren't! So saying they aren't as good as something a league above doesn't really help.

I have 1 set of wheels so need something that covers all bases. Obviously there are compromises, like the Federals being borderline dangerous on standing water and useless in the cold, but on the flip side they have done 5 track days and still have life in them. I had some PE2s which were brilliant on the road, but gave up after 2 laps on track.

Skeeter · 15 Apr 2014 at 08:16

Will said:
The Nankang NS-2R is actually well rated amongst the MX5 community, its now the control tyre for the Max5 race series for both Mk1s and Mk3s, replacing the Federal 595RSR. Can't comment on road use but for the track its meant to be pretty decent.

Now for Max5 the decision to change the spec tyre was done in the close season, as an effort to keep costs down though those with existing Federal tyres (the 595RSR) are allowed to still use them if they want for the 2014 season (next year will be Nankang NS-2Rs only), so cars are racing each other with both Federals and Nankangs.

Some of the keener/better funded racers (who have left over Federals and the budget to buy some Nankangs to try) have done some testing to compare them, to see what advantage they could get....

Consensus from what has been written is that the 595RSR and NS-2R are very evenly matched, lap times on track were well within the margin for driver error and no tyre seemed especially faster or slower on identical cars throughout the test periods. The Federals warm up slower on track but go off quicker, the Nankangs last better at high temperatures.

Thanks for this. It does sound like they are on a par with each other. Do you know if the Max5 series is using the 180 or 120 compound?

Skeeter · 15 Apr 2014 at 19:42

Gibbo said:
Give them a try, the fact those who have tried both say the NS-2R warms up faster is something that will make them far better for road use.

Lets face it, they wont be worse than the Federals and for the same money you can only win, give them a go.

Can you not get AD08-R's for a similar price or are the NS-2R really a lot cheaper as the AD08-R really is a great all rounder for both road and track.

Actually having looked the Yokos are no more than 15 quid a corner more, which surprises me. I had initially dismissed them as being too expensive.

So now its NS2Rs vs AD08Rs. Hmm...

Skeeter · 15 Apr 2014 at 21:19

The Federals on cold or wet roads are utterly crap. But they make up for it on track.

Skeeter · 16 Apr 2014 at 19:30

The issue is my annoyingly unpredictable car use. In the last 5 months I have done little over 1000 miles, which includes 2 track days, so basically nothing on the road. Yet in the 6 months prior to that I was doing 130 miles a day up the M25 :s

I need to get a grasp on my expected use over the next 6 months to decide if I go for a test of the Nankangs on a track car, or the prooven Yoko on a road car occasionally used for track.

Or buy a second set of wheels...

Skeeter · 16 Apr 2014 at 19:34

sovietspybob said:
How much is a 2nd set of alloys? I'd never want a track car without a 2nd set after having them.

Any additional expense on a car worth nothing is hard to justify tbh. 300 quid on a second set of wheels and tyres is 2 track days, and I'd rather the latter.