100 Treadware

[walt mckenna]

I plan to invest in a new set of tires during the off season. My Nitto NT-05's have been good performers at the track, but would like to go with 100's this time around. I have been researching various options including: NT-01's, R888R's, and Proxes RA-1's. On paper, the RA-1's look like a good choice, but since I have plenty of time before the purchase, I would like to get opinions from those of you that have experience, at the track, with this type of tire. I use 255/40-17's in the front and 275/40-17's in the back.

[Jeff Kleiner]

I’ve run both the NT-01s and the newer design R888R. I put them pretty much dead even performance wise however the Toyos heat up a bit faster. The RA-1 is an old design and my only experience on them was auto crossing a friend’s Mk2 way back about 2004.

Jeff

[walt mckenna]

I’ve run both the NT-01s and the newer design R888R. I put them pretty much dead even performance wise however the Toyos heat up a bit faster. The RA-1 is an old design and my only experience on them was auto crossing a friend’s Mk2 way back about 2004.

Jeff

From what I have read about the RA1, it was a very popular tire at one time, then Toyo dis-continued production in favor of the R888. The fans of the RA1 were noisy enough about the change that Toyo brought it back and is now considered an old but very capable design with performance consistency and treadwear being the strong points. The other thing I like about the tire is its performance when the track is still a little damp in the morning or during a light shower.

[Mike N]

I have been running NT-01's for the past 5 or 6 years and have been very happy. They are grippy and not noisy. One thing with all these types of tires is that they like warmer road surface temperatures. When the temps get down into the 40's and below be very careful as they tend to lose a lot of grip and it can catch you out.

[7tvette]

I am running the NT-01 on my Daytona and they are just fine. I admit I don't run the car hard though.
I am also running the R888R on my dedicated BMW M3 track car. 1000 pound heavier car and I drive it hard. Very sensitive to camber/castor and tire pressure settings.
I am getting about 400 miles (200 laps on our 2 mile layout) on the fronts. It's getting expensive.
Going to try the Potenza RE-71 next year and/or go back to a 200 treadwear.

Troy

[Hacksaw84]

I have read people liking the falken azenis both the 615 and the new 660s. I don't have experience with them though.

What I can say after buying tires recently is to buy them when they are available and be looking before you need them. Many were on national backorder.

[Jeff Kleiner]

I have read people liking the falken azenis both the 615 and the new 660s....

But those are 200s which is a whole different ballgame.

Jeff

[Hacksaw84]

But those are 200s which is a whole different ballgame.

Jeff

True. I guess just an alternative idea to going full 100 from the NT-05. A couple of the reviews I saw on the 660s talked about them being somewhat less than a true 200. More in between the two. But I wasn't really looking for a track tire so I didn't research it all that much.

My point was more about the backorder of tires. Seemed pretty common that tires were limited right now.

[Rdone585]

It seems the low treadware rating tires are somewhat seasonal. I had to skip 2 track events because I couldn't find 17" tires to run. I wound up having to get 18" rims and use BFG R1S, but they have a treadware rating of 40. I like them for the track. I have 17" NT01s for the street. They are also good tires. Since I don't put too many street miles on tires they should last long enough. When you find the tires you want buy them, they may not be there if you wait. The best time appears to be over the winter months.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

FWIW. Have been running 100 tread ware since new about 15,000 miles. NITTO 555R & now NITTO NT01. Live in North Carolina so the ambient temperature is generally good for them most of the year. Under 40*F they get slippery & progress dangerously worse as the temperature drops.