Track Tyre Mega Review

[rossint]

NT01 has been my go to tyre for years, they last really well and are super consistent even when running 1.5hr sessions. Haven’t seen them at the cheap prices they use to be for quite a while though, not sure what I’ll do when I kill my A050s, doubt I’ll be able to afford another set.
I ran a friends car at the last 6hr with old medium A050s on it, found the rears would go off if I pushed to hard and I’d have to back off to get traction back. I assume they’d just had to many heat cycles.

[Guran]

Be careful with the Nitto NT01 if your vehicle class requires tyres from the CAMS Production Car Tyre List in Schedule E. They are NOT on it and several supersprinters have been caught out in recent years. They were told they had to change to a higher/faster class if they wanted to use them.

[rossint]

Fortunately SA sprints don’t have those stupid rules. If you can run a faster tyre (A050) I can’t see any reason you shouldn’t be able to run an NT01. Surely the only reason the Nitto isn’t on the list is politics?

[Luke]

Regarding Nitto NT01 eligibility issues for people in other States.
Its A CAMS NSW Supersprint rule that Nitto NT01's are deemed a race tyre and cannot be used where treaded road tyres are required.

This was deemed from the NSW SS Rule book.
See whole rule book for CAMS NSW Supersprints.
http://supersprintnsw.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/SSP-03-Technical-Regulations.pdf

Race Tyres means and includes: -
(a) Racing slicks and/or
(b) any tyre marked "for racing use only”, or words to that effect and/or
(c) any tyre where the manufacturer has stated in writing that: -
(i) it is suitable for racing use only and/or
(ii) it is suitable for use on the race track only and/or
(iii) it is not suitable for use on a public road or highway.

As Nitto's have "Recommended For Competition Events Only" on the sidewall all of a sudden they become a race tyre and are ineligible.
I argued with the Panel and eligibility officer for months but got nowhere. My main sticking points were that they were DOT and E code compliant so therefore are road legal.

Nitto done them self no favours either.
From what I can work out, NT01's are grey imports, ie not through the Australian official Nitto distributor. I was told that Nitto Australia has no interest in registering the tyres on the CAMS approved production tyre list. That would solve everything.

Where it gets a bit technical is in the CAMS Speed event rules.
This should cover all sprint/time trial events is Australia.
It says the tyre has to be on the CAMS approved tyre list or either have DOT, E or AS Codes if not on the list with a few conditions.
The NT01 may fall over in the 8.1 (c) requirement in the worn out state of requiring 5% tread. When they get to tread markers they only have the 2 circumoral grooves.
Link below for CAMS rules.
http://docs.cams.com.au/Manual/GeneralRequirements/2018%20Edition/GQ06-Schedule%20E-2018-2.pdf

[Guran]

Adding my 2 cents of experience over the last two and a half years with my stock 2006 NC1 using race pads (Hawk Blue, Carbotech XP12 and now Carbotech XP10).

Wakefield Park (average of best times / PB)
Kumho KU36 1:12.41 / 1:12.410
Yokohama AD08R 1:12.73 / 1:12.701
Hankook RS3 1:12.33 / 1:12.142
Hankook RS4 1:12.11 / 1:11.894

SMP Amaroo (average of best times / PB)
Yokohama AD08R 1:07.24 / 1:06.831
Hankook RS3 1:06.30 / 1:06.159
Hankook RS4 1:05.95 / 1:05.908

This is why I'll never buy another set of AD08Rs. RS4 FTW!