Does anyone here have experience with any of the tires listed below and know how they with the typical extreme performance tires like the Hankook RS3 and Direzza Star Spec?

Nexen NFera SUR4
NANKANG NS-2R (120 TW or 200 TW)
GT Radial Champiro SX2
Federal 595RS-R
Federal 595RS-RR
Kumho Ecsta V720

Any others I'm missing?

This would be a track day/HPDE tire and not concerned with best lap time so I don't care about the 200 TW rating. However, relative durability and heat management is important.

The BFG Rival S and Bridgestone RE-71R are examples of tires I would consider too soft and wear too quickly. I'd like to use 245/40/17 but that seems to limit my options.

 

I've heard good things about the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 (not oval). These are rebranded Bridgestone RE003 in the rest of the world. I'm about to pull the trigger on these for occasional track/daily driven usage.

 

I think the RS3s are cheap enough on clearance right now to be included in that list.

 

The Firehawk Indy 500 is not in the "extreme performance summer tire" category so I didn't list it.

This post was mainly about the lesser known budget tires. The RS3 is a popular choice and is known to have soft sidewalls but wear well and handle heat better than the "cheater" tires (RE-71R and Rival S). The Star Specs have a stiff sidewall and wear well. I'm interested in knowing how the tires I listed compare to the well-known EPS tires.

The RS3 is high on the list for me but I was thinking about taking a chance with one of the less known options.

Is the Hankook RS3 v3 coming out? Is there a date they are planning to release it? I may consider holding off if the v2 are going to go to closeout pricing in the near future.

 

I wouldn't use V720's for HPDE use. Kumho advises against it also.

RS3 seems to be a good choice. Maxxis VR1 also seems to be a favorite.

 

Achilles 123s is another option in the field, but I have no idea if they are available in 245/40/17. I know they come in 255/40/17. I have never used not met anyone running any of these.
The Maxis VR1s aren't really cheap, I think they are right around the price of the ZII.

 

Ahh thanks. I thought I remembered seeing another option. The thing that had scared me away from those was this picture:



In this blog review: http://racings2000.blogspot.com/2015...ck-racing.html

The author seems to brush this off as possible user error and running too much camber but I would be a little bit more concerned about that type of failure.

Anyone that has first hand experience of any of these tires please let us know your thoughts.

About 80% of the mileage I see is at HDPEs or travel to the track so I am willing to sacrifice some comfort and road noise (daily drivability).

The Nankang NS-2R have me fairly interested. They have good reviews and people say they have stiff sidewalls and pretty good grip though they have a lot of road noise. They are said to run wide so I'd probably be looking at the 235/40/17 on my 9" wide wheels.

 

When I hear this it makes me think of an 'Achilles heal', which isn't good when it comes to tires lol. And "123", really? Under triple digit speeds/Auto X is about all id feel comfortable trying questionable/budget extreme tires out. I have always run the old kuhmo xs at the road course with favorable results, and wouldn't have a problem trying out the new v720. Performance wise Tire Rack deemed them 2nd to the cheater R-71 in grip and handling. Saw one example posted of some delamination from over heating on this tire, which im not entirely sure what to think about, other then it possibly was just pushed too hard for the tire width/camber and high ambient heat conditions. Wider is always better for heat management. 245 isnt really that ideal on this car, for any brand.

 

I could never trust a car on Nankangs. I trust those tires as much as I would a dependapotomus when she says she loves her husband.
Of all the options, the Nexen would be my choice. Reviews have it performing like the original RS-3. I have heard that it is the compound from the original rs-3, which is why it would perform like it. I would recommend spending a little extra for the rs-3 v2.

 

Again...Kumho advises against HPDE use with the V720.