Sticky Nankangs

1. ESD1711 Infrequent Poster Joined: Aug 2015 Edinburgh Posts: 217 2006 Audi A4 Avant 1999 Saxo VTS

   #1 25th January 2016, 06:56

   Just wondering if anyones got any experience, be it good or bad or indifferent with the sticky 'R' version of the Nankang NS2??
   
   I've used the road going NS2 ultra sport on my last four sets of wheels for my road cars - and to be fair, I've always found them to be great value for money in terms of what you get.
   
   So naturally, now that i'm in the market for some sticky track day tyres - I've found myself looking at their R version.
   
   I can get them at around £65 a corner, which is what £20-30 a corner cheaper than say an 888.
   
   So - is that a good saving? Or would it be money wasted?
   
   Real life experience of these would be appreciated folks!
2. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

   #2 25th January 2016, 18:31

   Ns2r are apparently an awesome tyre compared to the usual offerings from nankang lots of the Clio lads use them so I'd say they'd be good on a saxo too. Never owned a set myself however but 30 quid a corner is a big saving over 888s or the Yokohama equivalent, I'd say go for them
   
   
   Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
3. user_65821 Frequent Poster Joined: Oct 2013 Bridgend, South Wales Posts: 948 Mk1 VTS, FF BG 182

   #3 25th January 2016, 18:59

   Hi, I'm one of said Clio lads!
   I used the NS2R last Summer, and despite the phrase 'ditch finders', they were fucking awesome in the dry. I don't push it in the wet, so I can't comment.
4. MartinObviously Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Dec 2012 Perth Posts: 3665 Peugeot 106 1.1 Turbo Peugeot 106 1.5D Turbo Peuge

   #4 25th January 2016, 19:56

   STOP!
   
   There's a new nankang coming out in a few months. Not suitable for wet, but it does work in the wet. They're an e marked slick for the road. Softer than NS2R.
   
   They make the NS2R look like linglongs.
   
   Can't remember the name, here's a pic of it:
   
   
   
   
   Anyway, if not interested NS2R are far better than NS2's
5. ESD1711 Infrequent Poster Joined: Aug 2015 Edinburgh Posts: 217 2006 Audi A4 Avant 1999 Saxo VTS

   #5 26th January 2016, 06:57

   Those look mega! Couldn't find anything about them with a quick google.
   
   Think i'll probably give the NS2-R's a bash to be honest, for the money theres not much to lose in giving them a shot.
6. user_46658 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2010 Little Mill, South Wales Posts: 7547 Mondeo ST TDCI Saxo VTS

   #6 26th January 2016, 09:11

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by SimpleJoee Hi, I'm one of said Clio lads! I used the NS2R last Summer, and despite the phrase 'ditch finders', they were fucking awesome in the dry. I don't push it in the wet, so I can't comment.

   He was referring to the 172/182 owners not the 1.5 DCI model.
7. user_4681 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2004 Grimsby United Kingdom (England) Posts: 5489 SUPERCHARGED saxo vts

   #7 26th January 2016, 16:44

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by MartinObviously STOP! There's a new nankang coming out in a few months. Not suitable for wet, but it does work in the wet. They're an e marked slick for the road. Softer than NS2R. They make the NS2R look like linglongs. Can't remember the name, here's a pic of it: Anyway, if not interested NS2R are far better than NS2's

   The kind gentleman from Nankang really wanted me to be using these tyres in time attack this year. Sadly i cant as we have a new control tyre.
   
   however i may be doing some testing for them as they are desperate for some feedback...

   1 user thanked this post: user_65821
8. Duffy Xsi L-plater Joined: Jun 2014 Posts: 94

   #8 27th January 2016, 12:51

   Anyone know the code for these yet
   
   Sent from my E2303 using Tapatalk
9. MartinObviously Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Dec 2012 Perth Posts: 3665 Peugeot 106 1.1 Turbo Peugeot 106 1.5D Turbo Peuge

   #9 29th January 2016, 17:36

   I still can't remember what they're called. I remember nothing coming up when I searched. not even on the Nankang site unless it's been updated,.
   
   
   AR-1 rings a bell. ding-a-ling
10. user_65821 Frequent Poster Joined: Oct 2013 Bridgend, South Wales Posts: 948 Mk1 VTS, FF BG 182

    #10 29th January 2016, 18:08

    Some dude was repping them at the NEC show wasn't he Martin? Heard on Facebook some talk about that newer one coming out.
11. MartinObviously Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Dec 2012 Perth Posts: 3665 Peugeot 106 1.1 Turbo Peugeot 106 1.5D Turbo Peuge

    #11 29th January 2016, 18:24

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SimpleJoee Some dude was repping them at the NEC show wasn't he Martin? Heard on Facebook some talk about that newer one coming out.

    Oh aye, he was very clued up (or maybe just convincing!)
    
    I have some nankang dustcaps on my Volvo
    
    I had a grope of the tyre and it does feel very nice. You can actually feel it's softer than the NS2R (which they had on display also).
    
    The sidewalls are WAY thicker too.
12. user_65821 Frequent Poster Joined: Oct 2013 Bridgend, South Wales Posts: 948 Mk1 VTS, FF BG 182

    #12 29th January 2016, 19:33

    The ovloV needs all the grip it can get with those ponies
13. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

    #13 30th January 2016, 00:25

    Those tyres look very good, Nankang have their sights set on the big players
    
    
    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
14. MartinObviously Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Dec 2012 Perth Posts: 3665 Peugeot 106 1.1 Turbo Peugeot 106 1.5D Turbo Peuge

    #14 30th January 2016, 11:48

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SimpleJoee The ovloV needs all the grip it can get with those ponies

    haha, I think NS2R will be fine. Or RE070R Bridgestone.
    
    

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Gandi699 Those tyres look very good, Nankang have their sights set on the big players Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

    for sure!

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15. Andy_206gti L-plater Joined: Jun 2013 Posts: 56 Saxo Furio 1.4 (work horse) Saxo VTS (if all goes

    #15 17th February 2016, 13:48

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by MartinObviously STOP! There's a new nankang coming out in a few months. Not suitable for wet, but it does work in the wet. They're an e marked slick for the road. Softer than NS2R. They make the NS2R look like linglongs. Can't remember the name, here's a pic of it: Anyway, if not interested NS2R are far better than NS2's

    
    Just been on to Nankang website, under motorsport tyre and they mention the AR-1, MSA approved, list 1C tyre. Will be available in 15"-18" to start with.
    
    Just incase people wanted to know.
    
    I might go with the NS-2R as i've seen for just over £50, which will do for this year hopefully.
    
    Unless I get my hands on a decently priced set of used track day tyres.
16. ESD1711 Infrequent Poster Joined: Aug 2015 Edinburgh Posts: 217 2006 Audi A4 Avant 1999 Saxo VTS

    #16 17th February 2016, 14:26

    I do like the look of those.
    
    I wonder how they'll compare price wise to the very reasonable NS2-R.
17. Andy_206gti L-plater Joined: Jun 2013 Posts: 56 Saxo Furio 1.4 (work horse) Saxo VTS (if all goes

    #17 17th February 2016, 15:40

    Probably be priced more like the 888's or A048 I bet. Will have to keep any eye out for them
18. MartinObviously Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Dec 2012 Perth Posts: 3665 Peugeot 106 1.1 Turbo Peugeot 106 1.5D Turbo Peuge

    #18 18th February 2016, 17:42

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Andy_206gti Probably be priced more like the 888's or A048 I bet. Will have to keep any eye out for them

    Nope. They will be priced "below the 888 and A048" He said on average they'd be about £20/£25 more than an NS2R a corner. if I remember correctly, I wasn't exactly paying attention hahah so many shiney things on show at NEC.
    
    
    Besides, R888 are getting really expensive now :O
19. ESD1711 Infrequent Poster Joined: Aug 2015 Edinburgh Posts: 217 2006 Audi A4 Avant 1999 Saxo VTS

    #19 22nd February 2016, 06:56

    That would stick them at around £70-80 a corner...... Probably still a fairly reasonable price.
20. welshpug Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jul 2010 South Wales Posts: 3078 ZX 16v, 205 GTI, 309 Goodwood, 405 MI16.

    #20 22nd February 2016, 08:30

    love the "they look good" comments, its thinking like that which helped the sales of toyo t1r snd yoko parada!! naff tyres compared to anything actually decent.
21. ESD1711 Infrequent Poster Joined: Aug 2015 Edinburgh Posts: 217 2006 Audi A4 Avant 1999 Saxo VTS

    #21 22nd February 2016, 11:13

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by welshpug love the "they look good" comments, its thinking like that which helped the sales of toyo t1r snd yoko parada!! naff tyres compared to anything actually decent.

    Or maybe, given that the tyre isn't actually out yet to give us any sort of meaningful review of it, the 'look' of the tyre and the description of its intended use and price bracket it all we have to go on at the moment.
    
    The ns2-r receives generally very good reviews across the board and represents great value for money. Being intrigued as to whether or not it was any good or not was the very reason I started the thread after all.
    
    I said I thought it looked like a good tyre. Based on the information I have, I stand by that. If it turns out to be an awful tyre, im not gonna go spend £300 on a set of tyres that look good but don't work.
    
    For now though, it's a good looking tyre which has a lot of potential based on the chatter about it so far.
22. welshpug Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jul 2010 South Wales Posts: 3078 ZX 16v, 205 GTI, 309 Goodwood, 405 MI16.

    #22 22nd February 2016, 14:50

    AD08R's are better than the current Nangkang R tyre.
23. MartinObviously Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Dec 2012 Perth Posts: 3665 Peugeot 106 1.1 Turbo Peugeot 106 1.5D Turbo Peuge

    #23 22nd February 2016, 22:27

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by welshpug love the "they look good" comments, its thinking like that which helped the sales of toyo t1r snd yoko parada!! naff tyres compared to anything actually decent.

    Well guess what, they FEEL good as well. I groped it.
    
    T1R is a good tyre, it's soft and all round grip levels are fair if you get heat into them.
    
    Paradas are just all round terrible AND I think they look shit haha!
    
    anyways, what makes the AD08R "better". cornering? traction? under braking? Sidewall strength? available sizes?
    
    
    No point being as blunt as that, sounds like you're just talking a good tyre
24. welshpug Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jul 2010 South Wales Posts: 3078 ZX 16v, 205 GTI, 309 Goodwood, 405 MI16.

    #24 22nd February 2016, 23:02

    all the above :lol
    
    I found t1r to be pretty poor tbh, too soft and wallowy, didn't last either, not much extra and I had michelins, not bothered with budget tyres since

    1 user thanked this post: MartinObviously
25. ESD1711 Infrequent Poster Joined: Aug 2015 Edinburgh Posts: 217 2006 Audi A4 Avant 1999 Saxo VTS

    #25 23rd February 2016, 07:04

    Cheapest I can see the yoko in a 195/50/15 is £58+vat
    
    NS2R can be found in the same size for £45+vat
    
    Yoko only comes in one compound, NS2R gives you a choice of two (although I believe the performance difference between the two is fairly close).
    
    4 of the nankangs for the price of 3 or the yoko's.
    
    I don't doubt for a minute there are better tyres out there - but for my needs (ie a bit of track day fun, not competing to get every last tenth of a second) I think the NS2R gets good enough reviews to make it at least worth a punt.
26. user_39461 Super Moderator Joined: Nov 2009 Cambridge(ish), UK. Posts: 10581 BMW 5x M50d.

    #26 23rd February 2016, 08:34

    R888r's are only £85 a corner and are basically better than anything else out there in the same market currently. Not sure why someone would spend money on a nankang when the r888r is available.
    
    We're running 595RSR's on the Clio and they're amazing - but nowhere near as good as an r888. But they're half the price still at £45 a corner.
27. Nimix Regular Poster Joined: Jan 2015 Naestved, Denmark Posts: 281 ex-Blue 106 Rallye 1.6 '97 Black 106 Gti '99

    #27 23rd February 2016, 09:05

    What 16" tyre would you recommend?
    Currently using 195/40 Contisport 2
    
    Sendt fra min SM-G920F med Tapatalk
28. user_39461 Super Moderator Joined: Nov 2009 Cambridge(ish), UK. Posts: 10581 BMW 5x M50d.

    #28 23rd February 2016, 09:24

    I'd recommend moving to 15" if a track car and that's an option. I also have 595's in 16" though.
29. ESD1711 Infrequent Poster Joined: Aug 2015 Edinburgh Posts: 217 2006 Audi A4 Avant 1999 Saxo VTS

    #29 23rd February 2016, 12:15

    One thing worth remembering is that whilst the R888 tyre is pretty much 'the daddy' of trackday tyres - it wasn't really all that long ago that Toyo were just another average producer of naff road tyres at the budget end of the market......
    
    Nankang (and I guess you could count the likes of Federal in the same group) have made a conscientious decision to make there way in to the track day tyre market.
    
    The reviews of the NS2-R are encouraging - and whilst they might not be able to match the R888 blow for blow right now, the performance they give for a price which isn't a kick in the backside off half the cost of the R888 is admirable.
    
    Have found one place which has the AR-1 as listed for sale and priced at £70 a corner in saxo friendly 15's. That's super competitive. Not sure whether the company actually have stock yet or not or whether they are taking orders or whatever - but sounds like they should be appearing pretty soon.
    
    Whether or not they live up to and exceed their predecessor remains to be seen, but i'd imagine that they are definitely worth a punt.
    
    The decision for me is whether to go with the cheaper NS2-R which I know gets good reviews - or spend a bit more and take a chance on an unproven tyre which 'should' be better.......
30. user_39461 Super Moderator Joined: Nov 2009 Cambridge(ish), UK. Posts: 10581 BMW 5x M50d.

    #30 23rd February 2016, 13:16

    Hold on - you've said:
    

    Quote:

    half the cost of the R888 is admirable

    Then said:
    

    Quote:

    Have found one place which has the AR-1 as listed for sale and priced at £70 a corner

    So that's not half the price, it's 4/5ths of the price of R888r's.
    
    R888r's are £84 a corner.
    Nankangs are £70 a corner.
    I know what I'd rather be on:
    

    Quote:

    R888 tyre is pretty much 'the daddy' of trackday tyres

    
31. ESD1711 Infrequent Poster Joined: Aug 2015 Edinburgh Posts: 217 2006 Audi A4 Avant 1999 Saxo VTS

    #31 23rd February 2016, 13:43

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Ross Hold on - you've said: Then said: So that's not half the price, it's 4/5ths of the price of R888r's. R888r's are £84 a corner. Nankangs are £70 a corner. I know what I'd rather be on:

    You might want to go back and read what I said Ross.
    
    When I made mention to being not a kick in the arse off half the price of the 888, I was referring to the NS2-R, which can be had for £45+vat.
32. user_39461 Super Moderator Joined: Nov 2009 Cambridge(ish), UK. Posts: 10581 BMW 5x M50d.

    #32 23rd February 2016, 14:46

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ESD1711 You might want to go back and read what I said Ross. When I made mention to being not a kick in the arse off half the price of the 888, I was referring to the NS2-R, which can be had for £45+vat.

    Apologies
    
    I think at £55 for NS2-R's or £85 for R888r's it's down to budget at that point. £220 vs £340 for a set.
    
    Be greatful you're not spec'ing tyres for my Audi which I'm doing today... Not seeing change from £1000 a set!
33. Nimix Regular Poster Joined: Jan 2015 Naestved, Denmark Posts: 281 ex-Blue 106 Rallye 1.6 '97 Black 106 Gti '99

    #33 26th February 2016, 06:24

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Ross I'd recommend moving to 15" if a track car and that's an option. I also have 595's in 16" though.

    Cheers Ross.
    It's my road car
    
    How do you find the 595 in the wet?
    From what I can see, both the 595 and 595 Evo suffer from very poor performance in the wet
    
    Sendt fra min SM-G920F med Tapatalk
34. user_39461 Super Moderator Joined: Nov 2009 Cambridge(ish), UK. Posts: 10581 BMW 5x M50d.

    #34 26th February 2016, 06:56

    Honestly ... They're ... "Ok". There's plenty of better rain tyres but these are a semi-slick track day oriented tyre. As with that in mind, they're surprisingly "ok". I've done a full wet track day on them and whilst I wished I was on something else(!) they got us through the day.
    
    On the road they're fine I'd say for mixed driving but once the roads dry, they're awesome - probably 90% of the ability of 888's for 1/2 the price.
    
    Try some. They're cheap enough that if you don't like them it's not a huge outlay.

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35. user_65821 Frequent Poster Joined: Oct 2013 Bridgend, South Wales Posts: 948 Mk1 VTS, FF BG 182

    #35 26th February 2016, 11:18

    I think I'll be going with the 595's for my first track day. I want a good recommended tyre, but I don't want to go all out as I want to see where I need improving, not just jump in and trial the best of the best. Heck, knowing me I won't even use the full potential of T1R's on track, but I'd rather be at least moderately prepared!
36. Ben-James Newbie Joined: Mar 2015 Posts: 13

    #36 26th February 2016, 21:57

    considered AD08R's? i ran them last year and was very happy
37. MartinObviously Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Dec 2012 Perth Posts: 3665 Peugeot 106 1.1 Turbo Peugeot 106 1.5D Turbo Peuge

    #37 28th February 2016, 18:12

    All the cars you hire at the nurburgring used Federal RSR when I was there. "good price and long lasting".
38. user_39461 Super Moderator Joined: Nov 2009 Cambridge(ish), UK. Posts: 10581 BMW 5x M50d.

    #38 28th February 2016, 18:45

    How did you find the time to check every one?
39. MartinObviously Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Dec 2012 Perth Posts: 3665 Peugeot 106 1.1 Turbo Peugeot 106 1.5D Turbo Peuge

    #39 3rd March 2016, 21:02

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Ross How did you find the time to check every one?

    Its not exactly a big car park, I think after looking at 10 cars it's a safe assumption the rest are the same
    
    Apart from the Porsche and a few others! They have their own tyres. iirc Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2? But the GT86's and the swifts etc all had RSRs