bossman429 Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Im going into my 3rd year with NASA, and am now in the 4th run group. All the while I've used Falken Azenis 615's. Mainly due to the value factor. Although they are great tires for the money, I've come to the point where I feel they are the limiting factor in how fast I can drive. Sure I could mod the suspension more, but I have the car running well, and don't want to drop a couple grand on a new suspension setup anytime soon. I plan on spending my budget on brake pads, tires, and seat time for the forseeable future. That being said, I am looking to invest in a stickier set of shoes for my car. I am thinking DOT legal R compound Such as a NITTO NT01, NT555RII, or something along those lines. I've a bit reluctant to get full slicks mainly b/c I dont know if I'll be able to get a new set of wheels and tires for the wet this year. So I'd like to have something with some treads on it at least for the first set. I'm sure this topic has been beat to death, but the search function on this forum is horrible. What do you all suggest and why? Obviously value is important but I also want a better performing tire. Car is a 00 Mustang, about 3300# with me in it, about 300hp at the wheels. Carbotech XP-10 pads in the front w/ 4 piston brembos, and Hawk HPS in the rear with stock cobra hardware. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philstireservice Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 Im going into my 3rd year with NASA, and am now in the 4th run group. All the while I've used Falken Azenis 615's. Mainly due to the value factor. Although they are great tires for the money, I've come to the point where I feel they are the limiting factor in how fast I can drive. Sure I could mod the suspension more, but I have the car running well, and don't want to drop a couple grand on a new suspension setup anytime soon. I plan on spending my budget on brake pads, tires, and seat time for the forseeable future. That being said, I am looking to invest in a stickier set of shoes for my car. I am thinking DOT legal R compound Such as a NITTO NT01, NT555RII, or something along those lines. I've a bit reluctant to get full slicks mainly b/c I dont know if I'll be able to get a new set of wheels and tires for the wet this year. So I'd like to have something with some treads on it at least for the first set. I'm sure this topic has been beat to death, but the search function on this forum is horrible. What do you all suggest and why? Obviously value is important but I also want a better performing tire. Car is a 00 Mustang, about 3300# with me in it, about 300hp at the wheels. Carbotech XP-10 pads in the front w/ 4 piston brembos, and Hawk HPS in the rear with stock cobra hardware. Toyo RA-1 Toyo R888 Nitto NT-01 shaved or full tread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooper93 Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 Im going into my 3rd year with NASA, and am now in the 4th run group. All the while I've used Falken Azenis 615's. Mainly due to the value factor. Although they are great tires for the money, I've come to the point where I feel they are the limiting factor in how fast I can drive. Sure I could mod the suspension more, but I have the car running well, and don't want to drop a couple grand on a new suspension setup anytime soon. I plan on spending my budget on brake pads, tires, and seat time for the forseeable future. That being said, I am looking to invest in a stickier set of shoes for my car. I am thinking DOT legal R compound Such as a NITTO NT01, NT555RII, or something along those lines. I've a bit reluctant to get full slicks mainly b/c I dont know if I'll be able to get a new set of wheels and tires for the wet this year. So I'd like to have something with some treads on it at least for the first set. I'm sure this topic has been beat to death, but the search function on this forum is horrible. What do you all suggest and why? Obviously value is important but I also want a better performing tire. Car is a 00 Mustang, about 3300# with me in it, about 300hp at the wheels. Carbotech XP-10 pads in the front w/ 4 piston brembos, and Hawk HPS in the rear with stock cobra hardware. With the advances in tire technology in today's world, any street tire with at tread wear rating around the 200 range isn't going to be much different than a DOT legal R compound. Your biggest jump will be between going from what you have now to a Hoosier A6 or R6 type of tire. I've researched this until my brain bled. I run Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Specs and I simply love them. I also wanted to make the jump to an R compound, but after learning this, I'm just going to stay with the tires I have until I can justify getting a different set of wheels to use with the Hoosiers. Oh yea...the Star Specs are great in the rain, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bukit Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 I have Nitto NT555 RIIs on my 2001 Z06. 275/40-17 front and 305/35-18 rear. I find them to be an excellent tire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feffman Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 Give Eric Frisby at Frisy Tire (www.FrisbyRaceTire.com) a call. He'll help you determine a suitable R compound for your car. Feff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bossman429 Posted March 6, 2011 Author Share Posted March 6, 2011 I have Nitto NT555 RIIs on my 2001 Z06. 275/40-17 front and 305/35-18 rear. I find them to be an excellent tire. I've these tires once before, but used them on the street prior to my track days... I loved them on the street, but obviously there is no way to compare that to what they would be like on the track. How did these hold up to higher temps and multiple heat cycles? I'm actually considering these more than the NT01's mainly b/c they are cheaper, same compound I beleive, and have a more wet weather friendly tread design incase I get bad weather for an event. Also, about how many days/sessions do you get to a set? The only downside I'd see is you can't rotate sides as they are directial. I should invest in a wet set of wheels/tires but I'm just not there yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sperkins Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 NT555 RIIs is an awesome arrive and drive tire. They handle heat cycles very well and are quick down to the cords. I found them to be very consistent until the very end. You'll know when they've given up their grip. It's a night and day change. I ran a whole season on a set without being able to rotate them front to rear and had thousands of street miles on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bossman429 Posted March 6, 2011 Author Share Posted March 6, 2011 NT555 RIIs is an awesome arrive and drive tire. They handle heat cycles very well and are quick down to the cords.I found them to be very consistent until the very end. You'll know when they've given up their grip. It's a night and day change. I ran a whole season on a set without being able to rotate them front to rear and had thousands of street miles on them. Thats good to know.. I trailer the car now so streetability is 0 concern to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brkntrxn Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 NT01s would be a great next tire for you in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedengineer Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 I was in the same spot as you last year. I had always run starspecs all through the hpde program. When I switched to TT last year, I went with the Nitto NT01 rather than a narrower Hoosier. This was primarily from a cost/longevity standpoint. I also found it A LOT easier to get used to the NT01's than it was Hoosier A6's (got to try some used A6's for a few sessions). So yes, I also recommend the NT01's. Good grip for its class, easy to drive, and after you factor in longevity, about 1/4 the price of Hoosiers or something similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoahstu Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 NT01s would be a great next tire for you in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbrew8991 Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 you can rotate directional tires side-to-side by dismounting them and remounting them (ie "flipping" them on the wheel). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bossman429 Posted March 7, 2011 Author Share Posted March 7, 2011 Thanks guys.. I'd flip them, if I could find someone who charged less than $25 a wheel.... The only thing that i'm not sold on is the wet traction of the NT01's. since I only have one set I may go with the 555RIIs.... same compound as the NT01, more tread incase its a wet day. Anyone ever use a NT01 in the wet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillB Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 Thanks guys.. I'd flip them, if I could find someone who charged less than $25 a wheel.... The only thing that i'm not sold on is the wet traction of the NT01's. since I only have one set I may go with the 555RIIs.... same compound as the NT01, more tread incase its a wet day. Anyone ever use a NT01 in the wet? I've used the NT01 in the wet and they are fine when new, but they are designed to have 1/2 the usable rubber with no tread so once you get halfway through the tire life you'll have to get rid of them. (I think its something like 3/32 tread and 6/32 usable rubber). The good thing is it takes about 5 or 6 weekends to wear down to the end of the tread so you still would get a lot of use out of them. They would be a Great tire for what you need if it weren't for the wet weather requirement, with it they would just be a good choice. You would probably be better off with something that has more tread depth for wet and dry use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosm3os Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Hey, Bill. Where you been? Gonna see more of you this year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillB Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Hey, Bill. Where you been? Gonna see more of you this year? Sent you a pm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ev Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 The only problem with NT-01's is if you get outside shoulder wear (common on street cars), you can't flip the inside to the outside like you can a toyo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brkntrxn Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 The only problem with NT-01's is if you get outside shoulder wear (common on street cars), you can't flip the inside to the outside like you can a toyo. Why not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ev Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 The only problem with NT-01's is if you get outside shoulder wear (common on street cars), you can't flip the inside to the outside like you can a toyo. Why not? Nt-01's are built to be directional (see pic) The left side in the pic above is meant to be on the outside the way the tread blocks were designed. I was told that if you run it counter directional to the way it was built (inside on the outside), it will cause a degradation of handling. Sure it will work, but performance will suffer. Performance is the entire reason to run R comps, so why do it? If you want to flip it, buy Toyos. Almost the same tire, and nearly the same price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillB Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 The left side in the pic above is meant to be on the outside the way the tread blocks were designed. I was told that if you run it counter directional to the way it was built (inside on the outside), it will cause a degradation of handling. Sure it will work, but performance will suffer. Performance is the entire reason to run R comps, so why do it? If you want to flip it, buy Toyos. Almost the same tire, and nearly the same price. While that is true that the tread is assymetric, by the time you will be ready to flip them you will be past the tread part of the tire and into the slick portion. The two grooves won't effect handling much at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cucamelsmd15 Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 The left side in the pic above is meant to be on the outside the way the tread blocks were designed. I was told that if you run it counter directional to the way it was built (inside on the outside), it will cause a degradation of handling. Sure it will work, but performance will suffer. Performance is the entire reason to run R comps, so why do it? If you want to flip it, buy Toyos. Almost the same tire, and nearly the same price. Where are you finding them for nearly the same price? Ive seen the NT-01s for around $500 shipped in 205-50-15, but the RA-1 is usually $10-$15 more per tire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoahstu Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 (edited) The left side in the pic above is meant to be on the outside the way the tread blocks were designed. I was told that if you run it counter directional to the way it was built (inside on the outside), it will cause a degradation of handling. Sure it will work, but performance will suffer. Performance is the entire reason to run R comps, so why do it? If you want to flip it, buy Toyos. Almost the same tire, and nearly the same price. While that is true that the tread is assymetric, by the time you will be ready to flip them you will be past the tread part of the tire and into the slick portion. The two grooves won't effect handling much at all. +1 On the NT01, the tread pattern is asymmetrical, but not directional. Like Bill said, the tire is basically a slick when down to 3/32nds and it doesn't matter which side or direction you use the tire. The underlying carcass is the same on inside and outside. Edited March 17, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gp2race1 Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Here's a great deal...i have 255/275 toyo Ra1 race tires $300.00 all 4 call 415-992-2935 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ev Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 While that is true that the tread is assymetric, by the time you will be ready to flip them you will be past the tread part of the tire and into the slick portion. The two grooves won't effect handling much at all. True enough if your outside wear from roll over isn't that bad. For most street cars with little camber, roll over is an issue. If you camber things up a bit, the roll over wear will be less of a problem. Yes, if the wear is fairly even till the tread blocks are gone, you can flip it on the rim. I found however, on a street car, with typical street suspension, rollover wear is excessive and you may have to flip the tire long before the tread blocks are gone. This is the HPDE forum after all.... Yes, Toyos are a bit more (I did say nearly didn't I), but deals in 205/50-15 can be found as that's the spec miata tire size, and likely the most popular size in RA1's. Just trying to add value to the thread, not trying to start a tire war. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cucamelsmd15 Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 Yes, Toyos are a bit more (I did say nearly didn't I), but deals in 205/50-15 can be found as that's the spec miata tire size, and likely the most popular size in RA1's. Just trying to add value to the thread, not trying to start a tire war. Oh no, I didnt think you were, I was genuinely asking. The cheapest I had found them was $10 more a tire, and then the charge to shave on top of that. I didnt know if there was a vendor I was missing somewhere that had a better deal on the RA1s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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