Nankangs...?

[AlpineTurbo]

I do need to add that I am neither a driving God nor a Michelin fanboy. So many people bleat on and on about Michelin being the only choice. I really don't get it. Check the new issue of evo magazine for this year's tyre test.

There's a simple reason why. If you are keeping the car and driving it alot Michelins IME make alot of sense. On my 944 Turbo with 300BHP the rears lasted well over 10k, if not 15k ; I covered 10k in that car and did not touch the rears. I changed the front Michelins but they were worn on the edges due to underinflation from the previous owner.

I have Falkens on the E46 M3. They are a good tyre but Jesus you can hear them inside the car. And considering how much cheaper they are than Michelins (£140 vs £180 ; No, you did read those prices right per tyre!), the rears have already worn down to about 3 mm with less than 5k on on them.

I admit the KWs may have improved the experience on the Turbo but I can say something else. The KU31s on my S2 felt 'so so', and my Turbo was 205s up front, not 225 like the S2 was either. For some strange reason despite that handicap the Turbo was a very quick car in the bends ; maybe not trustworthy (but my S2 was not even close to being that), but certainly quick.

Make no mistake, I don't like spending money, but I hate wasting it too. That and I am too busy to be down the tyre shop so often, especially on cars I drive often. The 951 did 9k in a year once . Once I bought some T1-Rs for my 306 GTi-6. I was gutted when they were near illegal by 5k, and before anyone says anything I didn't thrash it either. It cost me a few notes come sale time. Yes I could have called him a timewaster but in his position I would have wanted money off for something that was close to illegal as well.

And no I'm not a Michelin fanbwoi either. I had Nankang NS-2Rs on the Escort RST. For the money they are a very hard tyre to beat unless you look at something like a Yokohama AD08R. A Mondeo I used to drive quite a bit was on Goodyear F1 Asymettric 3s, mainly because the 2s wore so well on it (2.5T (the ST engine) is not the kindest on tyres!), and it really gripped lovely for what was basically a barge on wheels.

[AlpineTurbo]

I had falkens 452 on my A8 utter useless aquaplaned like hell. Going on about Champiro G.T. i had them on a diesel Peugeot 505 with a big turbo on went like stink drove it like it was stolen very impressed with them that was years ago did not know they are still available.

How often have you experienced aquaplaning? In 29 years of driving (mostly in Cornwall where it rains a lot) I can honestly say I have only experienced aquaplaning once, on a Pistonheads run (curiously enough) in very, very, heavy rain. In a BMW, on Michelin Pilot sports. Sliding around in the damp is something totally different, however...

What size? On the M3 they are fine in wet weather .

[rapidstu]

I switched to NS2R's from P Zeros to save money and im very impressed, i have not done a track day on them yet as i have a set of R888's to shred first.
But they are half the price of P Zeros, and i am seeing them more on track day cars, so they cant be that bad!

[AlpineTurbo]

If you can put up with a reduced wear rate and slightly more tyre noise there is not a grippier tyre for the money than the NS-2R IMO. Saying that I am sure they didn't wear horrifically on my Escort RS Turbo with 230BHP up front ; traction was always a problem with that car.

I'm considering them for my car but I am fairly sure they don't exist in the sizes I need.