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CR-S is a street tire, it's a 200tw max performance tire. The Cup2's and AR-1 are both track focused tires.
I would not take the CR-S on a track day, they most likely will start to overheat and not last long.
But on the street, or AX the CR-S is the best tire you can get on a GT3.
Are you speaking from experience having driven all 3 tires on a circuit? From my experience, the CR-S is way stickier, heats up faster, and can put down more consistent laps than the Cup2 on a sub 2 minute road course. 200tw doesn't mean a thing these days, it's a category that allows tire manufacturers to produce very fast tires to meet "200tw" class requirements.
Last edited by DiscoWagon; 04-05-2022 at 12:30 PM.
Are you speaking from experience having driven all 3 tires on a circuit? From my experience, the CR-S is way stickier, heats up faster, and can put down more consistent laps than the Cup2 on a sub 2 minute road course. 200tw doesn't mean a thing these days, it's a category that allows tire manufacturers to produce very fast tires to meet "200tw" class requirements.
Yes, however I have not driven the AR1 on track. CR1 do indeed heat up quickly have great grip and may have more max G than the cup2. CR1 do also overheat much quicker and start to go away much quicker than the cup2. The best operating temp window of the CR1 is also quite narrow, they are great, then they are not. They also are very subject to tire pressure.
On my local tracks, I can get over 1.5g on cup2's, and pretty much stay there all day long, temp and pressure stabilizes, unless I overdrive the car.
On CR1 max G is around 1.44, however, CR1's are much better at putting power down, they work better then Cup2s in a straight line grip, but lack a bit in lateral grip. They also have less feel and slower turn in. However, they are also nice and progressive, and I can let the tail move around more with them. But they start to overheat quicker and grip falls off. They also do not last, I get almost 1/2 the life out of the CR1 vs Cup2, but the CR1 is also a bit cheaper.
For me, the CR1 is my AX and drive around tire (quieter, smoother, better in wet and low temps), and the Cup2 is my track tire. That's what has ben working for me. FWIW, my last set of rear CR1's lasted about 2500mi, and are getting swapped out this week.
I've been going through sets of Cup2 with my last set of rears delaminating during the first event last year, so am really happy to try out a "budget" alternative. Went with the OE size CR-S 245/305 20" set up for my first DE event this year and was very happy with the performance. Biggest issue for me was pressure swings: laps 2 and 3 were excellent, then they gradually got greasier due to rising temps. I started off at 26/27 F/R and typically ended at 39/36 F/R. Fronts have seen temps at 40C coming into the hot pits for quick pressure checks. I can feel the tires get greasy, and a quick peek at the TPMS gauge confirms the reason, and my session is pretty much done. Next session would be about 50mins later, and pressures come down to high 20's. Yes, lots of late/heavy braking involved but I didn't get these types of temps with Cup2s. On the street, TMPS generally report +4PSI all around when "hot" on the CR-S. Any of you guys experiencing similar swings?
Setup: OE Carrera S wheels, AP road & track f/r BBK with DS1.11 pads all around, Tractive suspension. -3.1F and -2.1R camber (need to get a rear kit) (Oh and this isn't a GT car, just a T)
Other than the temp issue, I'm really happy with the tires; better grip than Cup2, and just enough audible to keep me posted on what's going on. Turn in isn't as sharp/quick as Cup2 though, but it's a non-issue to me. I'd continue using these, durability over heat cycles has been better than Cup2 (12 so far).
Are you speaking from experience having driven all 3 tires on a circuit? From my experience, the CR-S is way stickier, heats up faster, and can put down more consistent laps than the Cup2 on a sub 2 minute road course. 200tw doesn't mean a thing these days, it's a category that allows tire manufacturers to produce very fast tires to meet "200tw" class requirements.
I will chime in on this post, albeit a bit late. I recently ran the CR-S at an HPDE, coming from a set of AR-1 before them. I would say that the CR-S, for me, is probably one of the worst tires I ever ran and I've been doing HPDEs for 15+ years. Whereas the AR-1 would stay consistent throughout the whole session, the CR-S started getting greasy after only 7-8 minutes, making the car feel like it was floating and very hard to predict. For reference the RE-71R, a 200TW tire, usually would get greasy after 15 minutes... Target hot pressures were 31psi square (on a GT4, not a GT3) meaning I had to start at like 24-25 psi. Sidewalls are stiff but somehow didn't feel as stiff as the AR-1s. As the day got hotter the tires degraded earlier in the session too. Would not recommend vs the AR-1. AR-1 is a phenomenal tire for HPDE, not so much the CR-S. Great for AX and feel great on the street though.
I have been a long time Michelin fan but found the Cup 2's lacking in wear and longevity on the track. The Cups were greasy in 20 heat cycles. I was very disappointed.
Surprisingly, I have found the NANKANG CR-S's to be OUTSTANDING! I'm on my 2nd set. First set stayed sticky for 9 HPDE days and had meat left on them, even then. Bought them from Phil's Tire Service and the last set I had heat cycled. Predictable, sticky and long wear. My wet experience was disappointing but it was some serious wet so Ill probably give them another try.
I have kept a log on each heat cycle and the performance vs. psi. I'm finding my best feeling and rotation at 30/31 psi FULL HOT. Sometimes I'm going out at 24 psi cold first run of the day and I simply do 3 laps @ 7/10's staying off the kerbs, then hammer it.
Camber=-2.9 front/-2.5 rear
Toe= 2 out front/2 in rear
Bars set 2 front and rear
I am not affiliated with NANKANG or Phils but dang happy to have this option.
I had always felt like I was headed for Hoosiers. Now, I'm not so sure.
+1
Last edited by daddyrabbit; 07-11-2022 at 10:54 AM.
I ran Cup 2's and then Dunlops and then AR-1 on 991.2 GT3RS. Went through 3 sets of AR-1 as they were far superior to the other two tires. I recently got a 2020 AMG GTR Pro and am bummed the AR-1's arent available in OEM sizing. Cup 2's are and the CR-S's are as well so I'm going to try out the CR-S and hope for the best!
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04-05-2022, 08:10 AM
