Nitto-05 in the cold and rain...

[Candide13]

Some two weeks ago I went for a 2-day HPDE event with NASA at Watkins Glen. It was the first time giving the new Nitto-05 a proper track tryout. Forecast was pretty cold and rainy, but the first day was dry and and all went well.

The second day it was pouring with rain, temperature 50 and a bit below, and then there was dense fog, which stopped everything for an hour or so. But then the fog lifted and we could drive on the rapidly drying track!

The new surface at WG is great with drainage, there were essentially no puddles, but a lot of moisture of course. The newness of the surface also meant that the race line was not yet polished so it had better wet traction.

But the big surprise to me was how well the Nitto-05s gripped in the wet! It felt really comfortable, on this surface hardly different from my trusty Michelin A/S 3 tires, which are superb in the rain. It certainly made a noticeable difference, because in the wet I could catch up and stay with a bunch of Corvettes (Nemesis!) that had been quicker than me on the dry tarmac!

Overall a great experience and I am very pleased with the tires. Also tried my Schroth QFP for the first time and that felt great too.

And of course, no other car at the end of the event swallows all the tools, helmet, travel bag and four 275-35-18 track wheels inside and allows you to cruise home in comfort...

What a machine!

[///Mobbin]

Sounds like a fun weekend, congrats on a successful outing!

///M3 is made for this! And LOL at 'Nemesis' reference.

[Candide13]

Originally Posted by ///Mobbin

Sounds like a fun weekend, congrats on a successful outing!

///M3 is made for this! And LOL at 'Nemesis' reference.

Yeah, you must have seen the video, right?

With some help (like the weather) I can keep up with something like a 06 Corvette (faster in the corners, slower on the straights), but nothing doing when it's a recent one.

[///Mobbin]

Originally Posted by Candide13

Yeah, you must have seen the video, right?

With some help (like the weather) I can keep with something like a 06 Corvette, but nothing doing when it's a recent one.

Oh yeah! For those who haven't seen it (volume up):

NEMESIS on YouTube

[dparm]

Originally Posted by ///Mobbin

Oh yeah! For those who haven't seen it (volume up):

NEMESIS on YouTube

I will literally NEVER get tired of that video.

[Longboarder]

Nice. I used to daily drive and track with NT05's. Recently I went to a dedicated daily drive (Michelin Pilot Super Sport) and track (Bridgestone RE71R) tire. I think the PSS is a little better daily tire, but not by much. And the NT05 is actually superior to the RE71R at the track. My only gripe is that the NT05 comes in 245 35 19 and I prefer 255 35 19 in the front.

[Candide13]

Originally Posted by Longboarder

Nice. I used to daily drive and track with NT05's. Recently I went to a dedicated daily drive (Michelin Pilot Super Sport) and track (Bridgestone RE71R) tire. I think the PSS is a little better daily tire, but not by much. And the NT05 is actually superior to the RE71R at the track. My only gripe is that the NT05 comes in 245 35 19 and I prefer 255 35 19 in the front.

Yeah, I use Michelin A/S 3 for street duty all year round, including winter trips, and put the Nittos on for the track. That I have the option to drive home after a track event on the Nittos even if it rains is a nice bonus!

I also struggled with the size options but in the end went with the square 275-35-18 set up, which is an easy choice with track wheels.

[Kong Sheng Han]

Originally Posted by ///Mobbin

Oh yeah! For those who haven't seen it (volume up):

NEMESIS on YouTube

I forgot about his video. I am at peace now.

[Candide13]

Originally Posted by Kong Sheng Han

I forgot about his video. I am at peace now.

Hehe, a minor classic; if it didn't exist one should have to invent it..

[E90beemerfan]

Originally Posted by Longboarder

Nice. I used to daily drive and track with NT05's. Recently I went to a dedicated daily drive (Michelin Pilot Super Sport) and track (Bridgestone RE71R) tire. I think the PSS is a little better daily tire, but not by much. And the NT05 is actually superior to the RE71R at the track. My only gripe is that the NT05 comes in 245 35 19 and I prefer 255 35 19 in the front.

I support your view that 255 in front is preferable to 245. Better contact and feel with the road in my opinion. I'm running PSS for daily driving, but considering cup 2 next time. For the track I will test Toyo Proxes R888 R in 275/35-18 square.

[chamba002]

I like my NT-05, been running them for over a year now. I felt like Nitto grips better than Michelin PSS. They get slippery over 40psi hot but I noticed it grips better at 38psi.

[IMG]Untitled by Chamba, on Flickr[/IMG]

[apecush]

For guys living in cold climates, don't leave NT05s in an unheated garage over the winter. Mine turned to hockey pucks and had zero grip the next track season.