Pilot Super Sports compared to NT-01s

[SROC5]

I'm thinking of switching my track tires to NT-01s vs. PSS. I like PSS, they worked well for me last year without any issues. I wanted some people to chime in on any differences going from PSS to NT-01s. They are about the same price and it would seem PSS tires could last longer, therefore, if the performance difference isn't widely different, then I might just as well stay with PSS tires for longevity.

Brief pros and cons would be great and your personal recommendation.

[bigjae1976]

NT01s - far superior dry grip. Work well in the rain as long as you can see the horizontal tread. Dangerous in standing water. Can handle the heat better. Need to get heat in them.

PSS - I don't think they are any better in the rain on the track than the NT01s, can go through puddles. Might last a little longer but are more prone to chunking.

If you're OK with switching tires, go NT01s. If not, I'd go with the PSS.

[SROC5]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

NT01s - far superior dry grip. Work well in the rain as long as you can see the horizontal tread. Dangerous in standing water. Can handle the heat better. Need to get heat in them.

PSS - I don't think they are any better in the rain on the track than the NT01s, can go through puddles. Might last a little longer but are more prone to chunking.

If you're OK with switching tires, go NT01s. If not, I'd go with the PSS.

Very helpful, thank you. I'm ok switching tires and intend to when I'm on the track. I am planning for APEX EC-7s (18x10s) square and NT-01 275/35/18.

[CanAutM3]

I use PSS as my DD tires and wet track tires. NT01s are my dry track tires. So here's my opinion:

The NT01 is a great track tire with pretty decent grip, reasonable wear, good at the limit predictability and excellent heat cycling resistance. It is not the grippiest tire out there, but it is a reasonable compromise. On the dry, it is 1 to 2 seconds faster on a 2 minute circuit compared to the PSS. However, in my opinion, the NT01 really suck in the wet, standing water or not. Especially if it is relatively cold. In this case, I am 1-2 seconds faster with the PSS in the wet compared to the NT01.

The PSS is reasonable as a dry track tire, with decent grip and predictability. However, when you push it hard and put heat into them, they degrade extremely fast. They almost seem to melt away. If you are getting reasonably fast as a driver, you will find that they do not last long on a dry track. I find them excellent in the rain though. When they were new, I could follow 4WD drive cars (STi, Evo, R8) in heavy rain without too much struggle.

[Brainofjjj]

I run PSSs on the street only. I think RS3s are the best bang for your buck tire. Can't see running a premium street tire on the track. Just run Michelin Cups.

[SROC5]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

I use PSS as my DD tires and wet track tires. NT01s are my dry track tires. So here's my opinion:

The NT01 is a great track tire with pretty decent grip, reasonable wear, good at the limit predictability and excellent heat cycling resistance. It is not the grippiest tire out there, but it is a reasonable compromise. On the dry, it is 1 to 2 seconds faster on a 2 minute circuit compared to the PSS. However, in my opinion, the NT01 really suck in the wet, standing water or not. Especially if it is relatively cold. In this case, I am 1-2 seconds faster with the PSS in the wet compared to the NT01.

The PSS is reasonable as a dry track tire, with decent grip and predictability. However, when you push it hard and put heat into them, they degrade extremely fast. They almost seem to melt away. If you are getting reasonably fast as a driver, you will find that they do not last long on a dry track. I find them excellent in the rain though. When they were new, I could follow 4WD drive cars (STi, Evo, R8) in heavy rain without too much struggle.

Thanks, and to your point, last season I was at a point where I got chunking off the tire and the tires started to wear quicker towards the end of the season. Looks like you're confirming in dry conditions NT-01s would wear better and last longer performance wise than PSS. When I go to the track I'll have street tires that would be my rain / wet tires. I would then only use NT-01s for dry conditions.

My goal last season was to drive until my abilities would be close to overwhelming my street tires, and I was wary of jumping the gun to R-Comps too quickly, but now I think it's time.

Originally Posted by Brainofjjj

I run PSSs on the street only. I think RS3s are the best bang for your buck tire. Can't see running a premium street tire on the track. Just run Michelin Cups.

Would love to run Michelin Cups actually, but too pricey for me. I think it will be NT-01s for me this season.

[Sleeper519]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

I use PSS as my DD tires and wet track tires. NT01s are my dry track tires. So here's my opinion:

The NT01 is a great track tire with pretty decent grip, reasonable wear, good at the limit predictability and excellent heat cycling resistance. It is not the grippiest tire out there, but it is a reasonable compromise. On the dry, it is 1 to 2 seconds faster on a 2 minute circuit compared to the PSS. However, in my opinion, the NT01 really suck in the wet, standing water or not. Especially if it is relatively cold. In this case, I am 1-2 seconds faster with the PSS in the wet compared to the NT01.

The PSS is reasonable as a dry track tire, with decent grip and predictability. However, when you push it hard and put heat into them, they degrade extremely fast. They almost seem to melt away. If you are getting reasonably fast as a driver, you will find that they do not last long on a dry track. I find them excellent in the rain though. When they were new, I could follow 4WD drive cars (STi, Evo, R8) in heavy rain without too much struggle.

^^ This. totally agree.

Get the NT-01s, you'll love em. I have PSS for my DD and use them for wet track tires but I've stopped pushing the car real hard in the rain, just don't need to do that anymore.

But with the Nittos I dropped 2 seconds immediately, and with the 275 square setup you get much more neutral handling and the ability to rotate the car = loads of fun.

[bigjae1976]

Question, do your NT01s make a loud and annoying humming sound when you get above 70-80 mph?

[1MOREMOD]

i think nt01s are a good choice. just got the same ec7 nt01 combo you are looking at but havent run them yet. pss get greasy as others have said once you push them hard in the dry. ive been on ad08s for 3 years and am now making that move to rcomps. should be fun.

[paradocs98]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

I use PSS as my DD tires and wet track tires. NT01s are my dry track tires. So here's my opinion:

The NT01 is a great track tire with pretty decent grip, reasonable wear, good at the limit predictability and excellent heat cycling resistance. It is not the grippiest tire out there, but it is a reasonable compromise. On the dry, it is 1 to 2 seconds faster on a 2 minute circuit compared to the PSS. However, in my opinion, the NT01 really suck in the wet, standing water or not. Especially if it is relatively cold. In this case, I am 1-2 seconds faster with the PSS in the wet compared to the NT01.

The PSS is reasonable as a dry track tire, with decent grip and predictability. However, when you push it hard and put heat into them, they degrade extremely fast. They almost seem to melt away. If you are getting reasonably fast as a driver, you will find that they do not last long on a dry track. I find them excellent in the rain though. When they were new, I could follow 4WD drive cars (STi, Evo, R8) in heavy rain without too much struggle.

Ditto.

Originally Posted by Sleeper519

^^ This. totally agree.

Get the NT-01s, you'll love em. I have PSS for my DD and use them for wet track tires but I've stopped pushing the car real hard in the rain, just don't need to do that anymore.

But with the Nittos I dropped 2 seconds immediately, and with the 275 square setup you get much more neutral handling and the ability to rotate the car = loads of fun.

Ditto ditto.

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

Question, do your NT01s make a loud and annoying humming sound when you get above 70-80 mph?

Yep. It's a very characteristic sound, and one of many reasons why you wouldn't want to run NT01s on the street/highway as your daily drivers. It's such a distinct sound that I identified it from a track video on here a few months back. Another member posted a track video, but didn't include any info about his setup in the message or his signature, and I heard that distinct sound I've listened to for two seasons now. I replied, "Are you running NT01s?" "Yes. How did you know?"

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by paradocs98

Yep. It's a very characteristic sound, and one of many reasons why you wouldn't want to run NT01s on the street/highway as your daily drivers. It's such a distinct sound that I identified it from a track video on here a few months back. Another member posted a track video, but didn't include any info about his setup in the message or his signature, and I heard that distinct sound I've listened to for two seasons now. I replied, "Are you running NT01s?" "Yes. How did you know?"

funny i remember that and was suprised you picked that up.

[apecush]

have you guys been finding that a 275 NT01 is quite a bit wider than a comparable 275 tire? I've heard rumors of this, but have never really confirmed it.

[ortho281]

The NT01's are significantly wider than most tires. Here is a comparison btw the RS3's and NT01's, both in 275 widths.

[apecush]

great, thanks for that.

[SROC5]

that explains a lot. Also wondered how the wheel gaps was so "filled" with 275 / 35 series.

[DallasBoosted]

275/35-18 PSS vs. 275/40-17 NT01

[apecush]

care to host that somewhere other than imgur?

[turbo8765]

Originally Posted by ortho281

The NT01's are significantly wider than most tires. Here is a comparison btw the RS3's and NT01's, both in 275 widths.

In the pic it looks like the RS3 is mounted and the NT01 is not. Are both tires mounted on a wheel and, if so, is the wheel width the same?

Otherwise the comparison is invalid.

[DallasBoosted]

Originally Posted by apecush

care to host that somewhere other than imgur?

..

[chili cheese]

Originally Posted by SROC5

Very helpful, thank you. I'm ok switching tires and intend to when I'm on the track. I am planning for APEX EC-7s (18x10s) square and NT-01 275/35/18.

Do it! I have the ARC-8s with the NT01 275/35/18 square and love it. I'll probably be getting the EC-7s soon.

[ortho281]

Originally Posted by turbo8765

In the pic it looks like the RS3 is mounted and the NT01 is not. Are both tires mounted on a wheel and, if so, is the wheel width the same?

Otherwise the comparison is invalid.

Your observation is correct! In the photo the NT01 is unmounted. However, after mounting on the same rims 18x10, the results were the same. On identical rims the RS3's appear stretched while the NT01 appear wider than the rim. Also fender gaps were reduced significantly after switching from RS3's to NT01's. It is also now a struggle to fit NT01 tires 4 across in back seat, where as the RS3's had room to spare.

[DallasBoosted]

Originally Posted by ortho281

Your observation is correct! In the photo the NT01 is unmounted. However, after mounting on the same rims 18x10, the results were the same. On identical rims the RS3's appear stretched while the NT01 appear wider than the rim. Also fender gaps were reduced significantly after switching from RS3's to NT01's. It is also now a struggle to fit NT01 tires 4 across in back seat, where as the RS3's had room to spare.

Stack them like this