Track day tyres - what are people's recommendations?

AR1 is better than R888R. I run AR1 or Direzza in 255/40-17 and 225/45-17.

 

I used AR-1s on my MKII 225. They were really really good however i only got 3 track days out of the fronts.....albeit all 3 track days were very hot days and the 225 doesn't have an LSD fitted so the fronts were working much harder than they should have

In the wet they are pretty poor and just about use-able on the road to get too and from track

 

The toyos come out better in the reviews, a lot better in the wet.

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Nankang/AR-1.htm

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Toyo/R888-R.htm

If money was no object Direzza's

 

I run Federal 595's, i feel they are great for the price, they do go off a bit but then stay at that point for a long time.
I have run AD08r's and R888's but there no where as good as the 595's after 3-4 laps as they go off pretty quick.

Just my experience, i do run 255-35-18's

 

I've run R888rs and AR1s on my mk 2. Unfortunately there was several months and some engine work between the switch over so it's not a direct comparison.

I would say the AR1s edge it and at the same price I would stick with them. For £100 less I'd go Toyo.

 

What are people running in the wet?

I'm thinking of getting some Michelin ps4 or something similar for wet days?

 

I'm also considering the Goodyear supersport.

Definitely something that will be more at home in the wet compared to the ns2r which are terrible in the cold/wet.

 

I used to run Rainsport 3's on the mk2, my mk3 came with Goodyear asymmetric 3's (great for road use as well) used them in the wet and they were fantastic, going to try the asymmetric 5's this year as there supposed to be better in the wet than the 3's, Rainsports need a lot of water on track or they wear very quick.

 

I always used to fit the asymmetric 2s to my Alfa (going back 10 years), always found them to be awesome but never took it on track.

 

apparently the 2's have great grip but wear quickly, the 3's lasted me quite well, used them to drive to the track and only used them if it was wet

 

Thinking about it, the wear was pretty horrendous!

I went through at least 4 tyres (rotated regularly) and had a pair of cheap falkens inbetween, as well as the pirelli that were on it. Had it from new and sold it with 23k miles lmao!

Seriously considering the supersport now!

 

Compared to the price ... AR1 still better than R888R money wise? Could you explain why you're running 225 at the rear, rubbing the wheel archers?

 

Also cheaper! They do the PS4 S in 18 now to.

 

Federel 595RSR`s are also half decent in the wet/damp on the road to.So at least you are not worried about going straight on at the first corner.Obviously you cant take liberty's,but at least you can still drive to track days with them on,saving having to take a second set of road tyres with you.

 

Total Newbie here, why are you running not just different width but profile also front to rear?
What is the biggest tires we can fit on the front and rear on the mk3 with either 17's or 18's

I just purchased a 250 but i believe it has the 8.25" cup trophy wheels that are limited to a 235 tire is this correct so looking to upgrade to as wide as possible

 

I´ve just ordered AR-1 and I´m courious....but something apart from topic: My car MRS 275 has tire pressure detecting and display. What do you think, would this work as well for determining the right pressure even for Semis? I´ve got one more set of expensive pressure sensors for my new wheels. If you did do any experiences with detecting Semis tire pressure, would be appreciated. If this detecting is not exactly enough, I would refrain from using them and would do the oldschool way with checking with the pressure gauge.....I´ve seen that even with the road tires the pressure figures are changing sometimes by 0,1 bars confusingly, I´ve not that big confidence into.....

 

No ideas?

 

the megane tyre sensor has a Hi and LO parameter setting regardless of which tyre you fit if the pressure falls outside the parameter then the system will trigger dash notice or warning is severely out.

for ref typically track tyres run considerably lower pressure then reg road tyres so expect the dash alert to be constantly displayed if using car on track

if you remove the sensors the system will give continues dash alert, to eliminate the warning you would need CLIP to switch off the TPMS or to maybe re-calibre the sensors parameters

 

@bobsan: My Nankang AR-1 pressure recommendations are 1000-1400 kg 1,9-2,55 bars, 1400 kg + 2,34-2,89 bars. It´s all hot pressure recommendation. So I think I will start with 2,2 bars cold, it will raise up to at least 2,5 when hot, then I will reduce to maybe 2,3, depending on temps and grip. It´s not so much less than regular tires. I will use the TPMS and will see, however it gives a hint what the tire does on track. Anyway, it has to be checked preciously at the paddock with the gauge.

How can I switch off the warning ?

 

With Megane I’d be more inclined to start at 1.9 bar cold and that should rise to around 2.2, these parameters are outside TPMS

Even though 2.2 bar in within the sensors correct range it will not delete the warning as it wants the tyre to start at that pressure

switch off the dash warning by pressing one of two small buttons at tip of right side stalk

however once on track the TPMS will give good accuracy as to how tyres pressure are changing which you should of course monitor with own hand-held device

 

Do you use AR-1 as well or did you? Experiences?

 

i've long given up on tyre and brake pad personal choice as it so unique to the individual ask 12 ppl and get 12 different opinions, there's lots media vids of t/d tyres then just but and try

 

...you are completly right, what some are telling BS about, maybe best in opinion of others....as well in Germany

 

Got my Nankang AR-1 last week and put them on just for a ride to get a feeling, not yet on track, just around the home corners. I´ve a feeling that they may use a lot of time to get hot, Nankang says 71-104°C, seems very hot to me, but it couldn´t definitly not been confused with °F....I have no possibility to measure the temp right now, but would you suggest that this temp ist really required? I could touch the tires after the ride, I reckon it has been maybe 35°, so i believe it´s hardly possible to get them work on public roads even after pushing hard. Just now I would says they are a little more grippy than my Michelin SP4S, but I would have expected much more…..pressure was hot 2,0-2,1 bars. The car handles nice so far, but grip level far from expectations…..any thoughts, experiences?

 

not sure what expecting, you can get AR1 up to a suitable temp on public road but clearly not pottering around in traffic, out on a open B road they should offer massive amount grip with a relatively warm tyre surface, used on track that temp would elevate and offer even more lateral grip to accommodate the extra G force generated, they are for all intents and purpose a very sticky tyre

 

I dont think you can drive hard enough on a normal road to get everything out the tires... Go to a real track and try. I run 2.3 bar hot pressure and the grip is very good.

 

this is true but then on dry public road you'r not asking for everything out of the tyre as you would on track, a warm AR1 will out-grip any regular road tyre in dry conditions that's what they're designed to do, a road tyre has other priorities such as longevity, curbing, soft comfort wall and dispersing huge standing water rivers along motorway something a track tyre would fail to do. If want to use AR1 on public highway its fine just remember what its designed do and not do, fantastic tyre in right conditions.

 

ok, my intended question was if it´s possible to get the AR-1 on public roads ( maybe early or late when traffic is none or low) even hot enough to show the expected additional grip over the Michelin Sport Pilot S4 (my regular tyre)? In the moment, I´m not disappointed but as well not that delighted about the grip level over the Michelin. The Michelin is a UHP tyre, no semi, TWI is 300, TWI of AR-1 is 100. In August, I will do some slaloms and will see whats about the grip when tyre temp is a lot hotter and I´m pretty sure that it shows the improvement I´m looking for about the Michelin.
You can see it vice versa: Maybe the Michelin is a fantastic tyre, some guys compare it to Semis, so the AR-1 will not be a huge jump. That doesn´t minimize it´s qualities. What I´ve figured out is that the AR-1 is very confidable for a Semi, it doesn´t surprise not even over the limit, very smooth transition to sliding. Can´t wait the trackday....

 

Direzzas are hugely impressive running in the dry or wet (as long as you have a couple of mms of tread left)

AR1s if like me you run 19s just cos you can’t get the direzzas in 19’

On track either of these b compound tyres hand you a massive grip advantage

 

I was end of August in Hockenheim for free riding 2 Stints, each a quarter hour. means about 7 laps. I never drove there, in the first stint I had to find the line and struggled with some guys in front of me who wouldn´t let me pass....ended up with being place 15 or something from 25 guys,…..and with 2,7 bars of pressure in my AR-1....Then i corrected the pressure to 2,2 bars (still hot) and it started to rain. I´ve got happily 2nd starting position out of the pits, overtook the first (friend of mine) and won the race whilst leading all the time with 4 Porsche behind me, could gain half a lap to them, Whats the bottom line? The Nankangs are in the wet surprisingly good, as long as there´s not to much ponding. The car was perfectly to control. The backside is - unfortunately - that I´m disappointed about the AR-1 in the dry compared to my Michelin SP 4S. Usually, I do much more Slalom because it´s Always long travel to real circuits. On Slalom, I´m on a small 800 m loop 1,5 sec. slower with the AR-1 as with the Michelins. Since I use the AR-1 , nothing works on Slalom. Furthermore, I have no feeling of better grip of the AR-1 over the Michelin. I can display and measure max. G Forces with both tires, with AR-1 I´ve no more than 1,35 g as well as with the Michelins, and also the subjective perception shows not more performance than the Michelins, very similar. The Michelins are outstanding street tires, no doubt, but shouldn´t semi race tires not outperfom them? I did some changements in pressure, I had 66°C all over the tire patches in Hockenheim what shows that the camber ( 2°- front) is perfect. Disappointing to get not the added grip what I was looking for. Will try them next time in Hockenheim again for one more chance with correct pressure in the dry......any thoughts?

 

Congrats on winning the race!

I'm amazed that the ar1 performed well in wet conditions! My ns2r are absolutely terrible in even damp conditions.

Last time out (Anglesey) we were one of the fastest out on track in the damp using the Goodyear supersport whilst everyone was trying to get various semi slicks working! We tried a stint on the ns2r but there was no comparison compared with the Goodyear in those conditions.

 

It wasn´t a real race, sort of "free riding on a track" . Anyway about 25 cars in a group, Porsches, BMW M3, Hyundai i30, Ford focus and some more hot hatches, almost everyone with Semis. And everyone obviously prepared to go as fast as possible.....unfortunately no times taken, but fastest is fastest....

Anyway, I´m wondering about the amazing judgements about the AR-1 everywhere and how it seems to perform, unless on my car, or my expectations are too high.....surely it´s not a bad tire, but the Michelin is no way worse, isn´t noisy as the AR-1 is (for Semis quite usual) and in the wet it would be yet better supposedly.

 

If you can get and maintain a bit of heat in the NS2r's I find they're not that bad on a wet track to a point but beyond that point I've experienced the odd dodgy moment (foxhole aquaplane = not pleasant... eschbach looooong sideways slide scary and funny in equal measures). Rather be on rainsports if it's awful.