Nankang NS2R Reviews - Page 4

Given 57% while driving a BMW 2002ti rally car (225/45 R17) on track for 1,000 spirited miles
I bought this tyre to replace our Yokohama A050 mediums. I got the R compound and they are a seriously hard tyre. Good price but no where near the grip. They were so hard I ended up using a tyre softener on them to try and get more grip.
Helpful 17 - tyre reviewed on July 7, 2016
Given 63% while driving a Honda Civic d sport (225/45 R17 W) on mostly motorways for 12,000 average miles
Realy good tyre, good grip.

BUT the noise !! its unbelivibel high, not recomended for every day use.
Helpful 16 - tyre reviewed on April 7, 2016
Given 93% while driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII 5SPD (265/35 R18 W) on a combination of roads for 10,000 spirited miles
Super grip, Dry or Wet. I had this tire on my Evo8(700hp) and BMW M4.
Both cars are for daily and track. About 10,000 miles or more.
In short, NS-2R treadwear 120 is almost identical to AD-08. This is not what I feel, data says so. Lateral G; AD-08 1.3G, NS-2R 1.3G. Braking G; AD-08 0.8G, NS-2R 0.8G. Best Lap time also was very identical within 0.1s. Which means its drivebility is about the same too.
This is insane performance when you think of the price tag.
Mileage is also crazy. Almost not understandable. I don't understand why NS-2R goes more than 30~50% more than AD-08. Why doesn't the other tire companies make like Nankang does?
For the money, I'd give the best rating except comfort. But Hey, No sport tires are comfortable.
Helpful 363 - tyre reviewed on March 18, 2016
What to know the BEST All Season Tyres for 2024? Click to find out!
Given 98% while driving a Honda Civic Type R (215/45 R17) on track for 168 spirited miles
Set my car up specific for my yearly trip to nurburgring, i decided to go for the 120 compound and i was very surprised with the grip level and feedback, i shall be purchasing more of the ns2r 120 compound for next years trip.
Helpful 10 - tyre reviewed on December 6, 2015
Given 89% while driving a BMW E36 M3 Evo Coupe (235/40 R17 W) on track for 2,000 spirited miles
i have fitted square set-up on my e36 m3 3.2 track car, specifically built for nurburgring. i ran (on recommendation to me from race drivers of same car), 4x 235/40/17, square setup - and was advised best to use the 180 street compound, rather than the 120 track. this apprently is the better tyre as grip is equal to the 120, but they handle the heat better.

the tyres, for the money, were fantastic. this was the first time i have used the car on track, since its been stripped etc, so i dont have much to compare to... but generally.... the grip was very good, maybe not quite as good as a r888, but certainly in line with federal 595-rs if not slightly better, but im comparing that to on another car so its not a fair comparison.

the tyres look great, and are quite wide tread pattern. they have a small rim protector too. they gripped well both in dry and wet. the broke away safely and progressivly, and didnt get overheated etc. i did around 40 fast laps of the ring (8.12 BTG is my best time on these tyres). i ran them quite hard pressures, again on recommedation. 32 cold, aiming for 40 hot. this seems high, but works.

best of all was the tyre wear. i did 1000 miles to the track and back on motorway, and 40x laps at a good pace... and they are hardly worn at all. infact they still look virtually new. i would expect less than 1mm had been worn away, and they come with 7mm from new i think anyway.

overall a very good tyre for the money, and certainly worth trying. they are half the cost of r888 and i think they are likely 90-95% as grippy... but thats just my expectation. would be interesting to compare them to other tyres in the future, but for the budget minded trackday, they are great




Helpful 18 - tyre reviewed on December 5, 2015
Given 90% while driving a Vauxhall (225/45 R17) on mostly country roads for 2,000 spirited miles
I went for these tyres as don't use the car every day, they seemed to offer great value for what you get which is pretty much a track/summer tyre. With the driving I have done in the car since having these fitted is mostly dry weather and not much rain.

The make the car so much better on the limit as the standard tyres tend to under steer pretty easy, these tyres don't unless you are a complete tool. they also get rid of pretty much all wheel spin, my car is stage 3 and so still doesn't spin up the wheels.
Helpful 8 - tyre reviewed on August 9, 2015
Given 89% while driving a Honda Accord iVtec Type S saloon (235/40 R18) on a combination of roads for 0 spirited miles
Went from Yokohama Advan V105 to Federal 595 RSR to Nankang NS2R 180tw/medium compound. On my 280HP Accord with race suspension setup after 8K miles I still can see another 5K !
On dry there are real race tyre like a Federal RSR which might have an edge in high speed race applications but you must be mad to use both of them on public roads in full potential.
On wet miles ahead of Federal RSR which I found rather dangerous then fun on wet roads.
Yokohama was the safest tyre on wet, lasted for 21K miles and offer surprising grip in corners. On dry public roads was 90% performance of semi-slicks, 140% of performance on wet, and 200% of performance in cold around 0'C conditions and much quieter and civilised ride. Very nicely balance tyre but for ultimate grip and feedback you can't beat semi-slicks.
These Nankang NS2R are the only semi-slicks I know, please correct me, that last long enough, is not utterly useless on wet and does not brake the bank. Its even 30Euro cheaper a corner then Yokohama and that's enough to me to buy the Nankang again but for the same price and daily driven car reason would tell me Yokohs but the rest of the body will disagree. Try them!
Helpful 15 - tyre reviewed on June 20, 2015
Given 54% while driving a Subaru Impreza WRX STI Type RA 1999 (205/45 R16 W) on track for 100 spirited miles
treadwear 180 piece of sh... compared to federal 595 rsr
Helpful 9 - tyre reviewed on June 10, 2015
Given 94% while driving a SEAT (225/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 200 spirited miles
what a great tyre sticks like **** to a shovel best tyre ever fitted even in the wet very good feedback. yet to find the limit and not for the want of trying
Helpful 8 - tyre reviewed on April 29, 2015
Given 81% while driving a Volkswagen Golf GTI Ed 30 (225/45 R18 W) on a combination of roads for 7,000 spirited miles
A great trackday tyre with superb grip in the dry and not too bad in the wet,wear was its downfall but thats what you get with softer compound trackday tyres,would definitely buy again.
Helpful 11 - tyre reviewed on February 28, 2015
Given 77% while driving a Toyota Celica GT4 (225/40 R18 W) on a combination of roads for 6,000 spirited miles
Put these on my Celica GT-Four ST205 with 280hp 6000 miles ago. They are XL so the sidewall is super stiff, perfect for a rather heavy car like mine. Dry grip is outstanding and surprisingly so is wet grip as long as they are not too cold. It might be the traction of the GT-Four but I have found these impossible to lose traction on public roads even on wet surfaces. Just watch out if it is too cold during winter and the tarmac is wet, but hey, these are semis so you can't ask for more. I reckon I can still do at least twice as many miles with them so very good for such a sporty tire. Treadwear of mine is 180. Unfortunately haven't had the chance to try them out on trackdays but I will, soon. In short, they are cheap, grip well in any condition and last more than many other similar tires. Just be sure to warm them up enough during cold winter days and you are free to go.
Helpful 10 - tyre reviewed on January 11, 2015
Given 69% while driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII 5SPD (235/40 R18) on mostly town for 1,000 average miles
Superb grip on dry. Tried once on winding road. I can attack those corners with much faster speed than previous tyres.

The sidewall are stiff and the tyre is noisy. But hey it's not for comfortable ride. I can live with the stiffness and the noisy (my exhaust note is louder than the tyre)

Tried once in pouring rain. The max I can step on my throttle is 60KM/H. More than that, the car is all over the road even the AYC/ACD is on tarmac mode. Again as expected for semi slick tyre.

Other than that, I'm really satisfied with this tyre. Best bang for bucks. Definitely will buy again.
Helpful 14 - tyre reviewed on December 22, 2014