Cup S Tyres

I thought the Cup S came with PS2s ?

Depends how much track work you'll do - I was a big fan of the MPSS as they're bound to be the stickiest road tyre, they last and they're fine in the wet. Which is an impossible combination in theory.

The sidewalls are too soft for me and the outside shoulders don't survive much track abuse though so my choice atm would be the ADVAN 105 for road use http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=174

Or NS2-R 180 if you do regular track days. Which you should do with such a great car!

 

To recommend a tyre you need to say what you need them for.

Example, you would be a loon to change from RE050 to MPSS just for road use.

 

You have 050a on 18's ?

 

Yes but very expensive option compared to retail. For track work I would avoid MPSS - not stiff enough sidewalls. Cup2 would work but NS2-R seem a better bet. Is it too late to change your spec and upgrade to 18s ? A better idea for track use for a number of reasons.

 

The RE050 gets good reviews and the 265 Trophy did a great lap time on them at Bedford and also nailed the FWD Ring record on them at the time. Change your views?

 

ISTR our old MX-5 had those bridgestones as well, no complaints really the grip potential was fantastic and they lasted pretty well. Frankly on a new car that you don't know it is bordering on insanity to think about ditching the tyres without at least trying them for a few months. Track work can be OK on road spec tyres like my PS2s as long as you keep the pressures up (hot pressure same as book cold pressure) and do short sessions, slower in faster out and I bet you won't be killing the outside edge either. Common mistakes that everyone and I mean everyone does on track is turning in to early, too lazily on the steering, braking to late, not using the full track width on entry (starting to turn before the turn etc. rather than one single swift committed movement of the wheel), not committed enough on the throttle from apex through the exit. Takes years and tuition to work all those traits out. I have been on track days with guys running 10 seconds slower than the quick guys yet they have managed to kill the outside of the tyres, I bet that for 9/10 of the people doing such on track days its down to poor track driving technique above all else.

 

Years of tuition? Couple of hours more like ;-). Running higher pressure does help a bit but overheating does happen quicker too if you're on it and however smooth you are. The inherent problem with Michelins' road tyres is how soft the sidewall has been for years compared to some competing road tyres of the same load rating.
Of course you can always drive around any limitation including road pads but it's not very good fun and defeats the object IME.
Having said that, a PSS will survive some tracks with longer straights like the Ring. I hit the sweetspot with them there last year over 4 laps but couldn't replicate at Spa !

 

Certainly, if you get the chance, drop your order to 18 inch wheels for track work.

Renault wants way too much for Cup 2 tyres from the factory. As said, avoid.

If you really know your stuff on circuit, then get 4 extra 18 inch rims, chose a decent track tyre and drop them on as required for the circuit.