Road Racing - What tire next for me?

There are so many options now in the 275/40/17 that I am very confused. The NT05 has served me well I guess as I dont really have anything to compare them to besides my Maxxis MA-V1's that I started on.

To be very honest they dont feel a whole lot better than the Maxxis I started on, of course I am faster now and if I put the Maxxis back on I would know for sure.

I have been preached to stay on the NT05 for another year to learn as this is a 200 treadwear tire and will warn me before cutting loose. An "r comp" tire will not warn before cutting loose, or so I was told.

So, get another set of NT05 or bump to something with more grip? More grip equals more speed equals killing brakes even faster.

Im thinking about trying the Kumho ecsta XS for autocross and such.

Im thinking about trying the Kumho ecsta XS for autocross and such.

I should have clarified, I do HPDE events that are much harder on a tire than autocross is.

I think the Kuhmo XS and NT05 are comparable aren't they?

I should have clarified, I do HPDE events that are much harder on a tire than autocross is.

I think the Kuhmo XS and NT05 are comparable aren't they?

XS are an aggressive street tire, like Star Specs. I use them for HPDE but no, they aren't comparable to nt-05

I thought they were pretty much in the same category. Ive been deciding between the XS and the NT05. Heard the Kumhos had a little more grip.

I thought they were pretty much in the same category. Ive been deciding between the XS and the NT05. Heard the Kumhos had a little more grip.

I've never run NT05's but Kumho XS's are my current street tire that for the most part I autocross with. My track events are typically time trials and I run R compounds. I instructed recently at the Daytona club course and decided to just drive the car there instead of dealing with the hastle of loading the car up on the trailer. I ran the event on my Kumho XS's and was really pleased with how well they performed. I turned the outside edges blue on them but they hung in there none the less and didn't seem to wear to badly. Here's some video and you can see me sliding it a bit but not bad at all. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmTnx_EslMc

I drive too hard at the track to use a set of street tires and not completely rub the edge off, as well as give up grip and braking. I have a set of dedicated track wheels/tires using NT01's. Will usually get me through a year of my 10-12 20 minute sessions and make a world of diff vs street tires. Depends on how often you track the car and how hard when you do. I personally would rather keep 2-3 years of tread on the street tires and gain more grip and braking at the track. And have not had them break lose, other then someone oiling the track down.

Im using Nitto NT-01 which shaved 5 seconds off of my lap times from my street tires. But now I'm looking at Hankook Z214's which has some vary good ratings and are very perceptible in corners.

Im using Nitto NT-01 which shaved 5 seconds off of my lap times from my street tires. But now I'm looking at Hankook Z214's which has some vary good ratings and are very perceptible in corners.

Wow, no shit?

I read a guy with a Porsche GT3 ran a set for 55! Heat cycles. Had no idea those tires would last that long.

I think I have 2-3 seconds I can get on these NT05's, just have to get my head wrapped around it.

I've run Kuhmo XS's for the past year or so and I'm very happy with them. I've gone all the way to HPDE 3 with them. Now I'm on my A6's for HPDE's, but my XS's are my street tires. Not so good in the cold or rain though.

I've run Kuhmo XS's for the past year or so and I'm very happy with them. I've gone all the way to HPDE 3 with them. Now I'm on my A6's for HPDE's, but my XS's are my street tires. Not so good in the cold or rain though.

A6s or R6s?

If A6s, are you getting much like on HPDEs with them?

When I was looking for some 275/35R15 for my Miata and the HR6 are about $300 ea, where these are around half the price http://www.americanraceronline.com/Asphalt-Track/modified.html. but has anyone used them before?