Whereas our common tire checks normally function new rubber, we additionally cycle by way of the quicker ones for our personal monitor days and competitors–similar to all of us do.
Over the previous 12 months, nonetheless, we added one thing particular, periodically checking in on these tires with measured testing so we may monitor their life cycles: What occurs to our …
Tread Depth Take a look at: April 3, 2025
The Vitour P1 delivered the identical lap occasions each when new at 7/32 inch and when worn to 4/32, but the Nankang CR-S clearly ran a lot faster with much less tread. We additionally discovered that the full-tread Vitour P1 may solely ship a single flyer earlier than falling off, whereas the 4/32 model may persistently do at the least three. Nankang’s consistency was tread depth-agnostic.
To substantiate this end result, we did yet one more new-versus-worn comparability of the Vitour P1 in early August. We noticed the identical outcomes: comparable single-lap flyer tempo for every, however much less consistency thereafter with full tread. That very same day, the Yokohama A052 delivered super-consistent laps at 2/32 inch–fairly superb given the nice and cozy summer season ambient temps.
Tread Depth Take a look at: August 3, 2025
To see all of this in a graphic, we normalized every check information set utilizing the Vitour P1 as the usual. This made sense given its long-term consistency, validated by these two new-versus-worn comparisons.
This graphic exhibits how every of the opposite tires carried out relative to the Vitour P1 over time. The Vitour P1 begins off quickest, whereas the others get faster as they put on. By 5/32 inch, the Yokohama A052 and Bridgestone RE-71RS are quickest, with the Nankang CR-S lastly matching the Vitour P1 at 4/32. Ultimately, the Nankang CR-S turns into the quickest.
Tempo isn’t every little thing, although, ought to a tire put on too rapidly. What number of fast laps can it ship over time?
This subsequent chart exhibits laps versus tread depth. The Vitour P1 is the sturdiness king, adopted at equal intervals by the Nankang CR-S, Bridgestone RE-71RS and Yokohama A052. Total, the Vitour P1 delivers 50% extra tread life than the Yokohama A052, however a lot of that’s at a slower single-lap tempo.
Consistency inside a session can also be essential, because you may not have the ability to join the dots on the one flyer alternative the tire presents. The Nankang CR-S is essentially the most constant proper out of the field, with the Bridgestone RE-71RS and Yokohama A052 catching up by the point they’ve worn to 4/32 inch.
The Vitour P1 is all the time quickest on the primary lap the place the compound has turned on, however decrease tread depth or cooler monitor temps generally give it one other shot or two. It doesn’t fall off that a lot, however delivering absolute max tempo is a tough train in warmth administration for that tire.
Prime 200 Treadwear Tires: A Consumer’s Information
Let’s take our Ultimate Track Tire Guide for motorsports tires a number of steps additional by summarizing our findings from the previous 12 months’s testing. Plus, we’ll embody some more information, like wet-weather efficiency, from our trusted companions at Tire Rack.
All of those tires can get the job executed when put into their optimum temperature window and saved there. Tread depth has so much to do with that, with full-depth tread squirm producing extra warmth than shaved or worn rubber.
That may be an excellent factor for purposes like autocross, the place the tire must activate rapidly in between copious cool-down occasions between runs. However with the relentless pounding of monitor laps, that extra warmth is normally unhealthy for consistency and supreme tempo.
Vitour Tempesta P1 P-01R
- $295 from Tire Rack (245/40R17)
The Vitour P1 is ideally fitted to monitor days and time trials. Its compound wants some power to activate, nevertheless it hangs in there for subsequent laps even in endurance racing conditions.
It’s additionally fairly constant on single-lap tempo over the lifetime of the tire, with decreased tread providing much less drop-off as a result of warmth soak. Cooler ambient temps additionally assist its session consistency.
Whereas an important monitor weapon, the Vitour P1 shouldn’t be a sensible selection for autocross besides in sure circumstances the place warmth could be constructed rapidly: on the entrance finish of front-drive automobiles, in sizzling ambient circumstances, on two-driver automobiles or at occasions with fast turnarounds.
The Vitour P1 had the quickest single-lap tempo of the group when new, however the others caught up and handed it as tread wore off. Even with a gentle preliminary warmth cycle to situation the rubber, some beauty graining was evident in the course of the first couple of makes use of.
The Vitour P1 is available in a wide range of extra-wide, motorsports-friendly sizes. On condition that it’s pretty tolerant of pinching, which will lead to extra rubber on the bottom for a lot of purposes. It additionally wants much less camber than some others, working properly on camber-challenged automobiles.
The Vitour P1’s sturdy compound lasted the longest, tying it for finest per-lap value. All of this dry efficiency comes at a worth, although, as its freeway experience is harsh and its moist efficiency is beneath par.
Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RS
- $290.34 from Tire Rack (245/40R17)
Because of its super-stiff sidewalls, the Bridgestone RE-71RS delivers crisp response and fast tempo even with slim wheels or lack of camber. This makes it very best for SCCA Avenue class autocross and Sport class time trials.
Its compound is extra heat-tolerant than the Yokohama A052, so it may well ship extra high quality runs or laps with out as a lot want for cool-down–particularly at decreased tread depth. Preliminary full-tread use can even lead to middle rib graining that robs efficiency till it’s worn off.
Along with its dry prowess, the Bridgestone RE-71RS has robust moist efficiency–one of the best of this bunch. Its high-silica compound grips moist pavement even when chilly. Solely deep water and excessive speeds can defeat it.
Whereas a profit on the monitor, the Bridgestone’s stiff carcass leads to a harsh freeway experience, particularly because the tread wears. It’s extra sturdy than the Yokohama A052, nevertheless it does get edgy earlier than the tread is all gone. Until you’re a drifter, you’ll sometimes pull them out of service earlier than any twine seems.
Sizing is considerably restricted with few extra-wide, motorsports-oriented fitments. However a few of these have a repute for being onerous to mount due, once more, to the very stiff sidewalls.
Yokohama Advan A052
- $295.99 from Tire Rack (245/40R17)
The Yokohama A052 has been on the pointy finish of the sphere for nearly a decade now. Its grippy compound activates rapidly–particularly at full tread–which makes it very best for autocross. However on a highway course, squirm will heat-soak the tire rapidly. Decrease tread depths enhance each tempo and consistency and are really useful for optimum time trial use.
The Yokohama A052 can also be very delicate to wheel width and camber–the extra, the higher. It can underperform relative to the others when pinched on a slim wheel or with inadequate camber.
The compound can also be fairly good within the moist, with solely the shallow 7/32-inch tread depth limiting its rain efficiency–larger speeds and deep water can lead to hydroplaning.
Whereas mushy and numb at full tread, the Yokohama A052 will get extra responsive because the tread wears. This compliance does give it a clean and quiet experience on the freeway, although.
Whereas very fast, the Yokohama A052 is the least sturdy and least cost-effective tire of the bunch, particularly when shaved to optimum tread depth for competitors. On the intense facet, it may well sometimes be run to the cords with out heat-cycling out if saved correctly between makes use of.
Nankang Sportnex CR-S
- $253 from Tire Rack (245/40R17)
The Nankang CR-S is just like the Vitour P1 in lots of regards: wants warmth to activate, tolerates it properly, lasts a very long time and is available in a variety of motorsports-oriented sizes. This makes it good for highway course use, however much less so for autocross.
As with many of the tires in our group, single-lap tempo and consistency enhance as tread depth decreases, although the Nankang CR-S was by no means the quickest for many of its life. Of be aware, earlier check units of this tire have carried out proper on the high.
[Has the Vitour Tempesta P1 earned its place among 200tw benchmarks?]
Priced beneath the others, the Nankang CR-S tied with the Vitour P1 as essentially the most economical per lap, so it’s an important monitor day selection.
Street experience high quality is tender and clean, very similar to the Yokohama A052 it resembles visually. This makes it an important dual-duty road/monitor selection so long as important precipitation shouldn’t be within the forecast. When cooled by water, its compound won’t develop full grip.
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