I'm in love all over again.
 

Back in October I took advantage of the $100 off deal at Discount Tire to pick up a set of 225/45-15 Nitto NT-01s to throw on the 6ULs as a replacement for the 225/45-15 R-S2s. They arrived a couple of weeks ago and it finally stopped raining long enough to get out there and try them out.

Holy.

Fucking.

Shit.

I had driven on these tires at Buttonwillow this past summer (courtesy of Emilio) but it had been awhile, and I have another 20whp now as well. With the R-S2s, the turn-in was OK, but the front end always felt a little wishy-washy, like you weren't totally connected. It felt better than anything on stock suspension, but there was always something missing. The NT-01s fucking SNUFFED that feeling. You THINK about turning in, they are already a step ahead. You can feel every little bump, every little divet in the road, and it's so easy to adjust the slip angle of the car mid-corner. Then, on the exits, you can actually stick your fucking foot in it vs. having to wait and then roll into the power with the R-S2s. The mid-corner grip is unnatural, too; you think the car is way, way beyond its limits, and it just hunkers down, glides through the corner, and asks for more on the way out.

They are quiet enough on the highway to make them liveable, they weren't terribly upset by the occasional patch of damp pavement, although at 6/32nds of tread for the 2 main grooves and 2/32nds everywhere else I wouldn't really want to drive them in the rain.

Seriously, I do not understand why anyone uses street tires for a high-performance application. Try R-compounds ONCE, and you will never go back.

Sounds good. What's the treadware rating and expected mileage on your new tires?

Probably like 100 and 8k miles.

10 miles...its a race tire.

But seriously, its supposed to get great wear on the track, more so than the RA-1 and stick TONS better.

100 treadwear. If I get 6k out of them I'll be happy.

I need a ride!

If you get 6k from them my head will explode. I got that kind of mileage from azenis with stock power.

But the tires sound great! The grip must be unbelievable and the kind of pace you can keep up, ungodly.

You must drive like a total cock. I got 10k out of R-S2s with 12 track events.

hahaha, you're such an asshole :rofl: jklol

I am running 225/45 RA-1s now. The NT-01s will be my next purchase.

it depends on the tire... even among different generations of the same tire. 215 azenis were crap for wear rate. the 615s last much longer.

but who cares? isn't the experience worth an extra set a year?

Sav: why didn't you just get the new 15x9 6ULs? :D

So these are your new street tire, then? Schweet.

I really debated long and hard on my last set whether to go with an RA1 or NT-01 vs the RE-01R. I don't do track days, just DD with an occasional sprint through the canyons. I settled on the Bridgestone, and while I don't regret it (it is a great street tire) I occasionally wonder what I'm missing...

A integra type r with r compounds smoked the 04 NSX with F1's I was riding in at Gingerman last year. We even spun out trying to get out of his way. I am hoping to take on that NSX this year.:cool:

Sry... but people that feel the need to run R compounds on the street need to be hit in the head with a large bat wielded by a homerun hitter. If you are driving that hard on the street... please just end yourself and spare the innocents.

Hard driving is meant for the track... period.

(Comments obviously meant for anyone thinking of R comps as street tires... and using them for 'togue'/etc... drives)

I wanted to try the tire but am worried that it wont heat upfor autoX. But then I might not really care because if go turbo with the 99 then Ill be in SM2 and i really wont stand a chance against some of the corvette's that come out to play and I would just be doing it for fun.

interesting. I shyed away from Nitto long ago, i may have to look into these when its time for some new tires...

:hustler::hustler: These things give you the confidence to drive at what would normally be your 9/10ths, because at 9/10ths on street tires these things are at around 6/10ths.

The grip isn't even the best part. It's the feel and response that makes them so incredible.

:firedevil

^^^This is all your fault :magna:

Joe, I actually have a set of Falken 912s I'm using for true street. I do too many highway miles (at least 500 a month) to justify running NT-01s all the time. It pains me to see my car sitting on daisies and 185/60s :(

time to call emillio for a spare set of 6uLs!!