From what I understand, the RE-71R is an autocross tire that will not last in a 20-minute track session. But I don't know. AJ (@solonsx) runs them in 225/45-17 for the front with some rub at full lock. When you care about autocross rules (200 TW), that's something you just have to accept. He reports no TCS issues though, so at least they have that going for them.
Exactly.
I really don't like blanket statements like
"street tires are better for beginners than R-comps" because there's always exceptions.
The argument that
"Street tires are safer than R-comps" is invalid since the
RE71R "Street Tire" is as fast as an NT01/R888 "R-comps" in cold weather, but on a hot day with high track temps, it loses a lot of grip, becomes greasy, vague, and unpredictable. This is compounded on a heavy car with small tires. This characteristic is similar to the original Falken 615 or many lower performing tires with tall skinny tread blocks, which are NOT GOOD for a beginner. In this situation, a full tread NT01 or Toyo RA-1 would be more heat resistant, consistent, and predictable.
An experienced driver can drive a car on worse 'street' tires faster than a beginner on stickier 'R-comps'. You don't have to go that fast to get hurt, so it's not completely accurate to correlate a tire's grip and speed potential to danger.
A beginner and more experienced driver alike are more likely to make a mistake on overheated and vague all-season tires (or even some "maximum" or "extreme" performance tires that are out of their operating range and get greasy) than they would on a good predictable R-comp (like the RA-1 or NT01) that stays in its operating temperature range an isn't overheated. Personally, I would rather a beginner to have the most consistent and predictable tire for their conditions than a vague all-season tire that will overheat on a hot day, if they're serious about tracking their car.
A lightweight Miata will work tires differently (for handling, longevity, etc...) than a heavy M3 with undersized tires, so it depends on the car's weight, tire size, tire model, and the weather conditions you're going to be using them in.
I agree with the idea of going going to the track for the first time on whatever reasonably good condition street tires you may have as long as its safe, you do some homework and make sure you're on top of your tire pressures (you don't have to buy new tires just to dip your toes in and get some experience), but if you're actively going to go purchase tires and you're a beginner, there's a lot more to it than just "street" vs "R-comp". You should look at your situation and conditions to make the best decision.
There will almost always be a tradeoff in selecting a tire. Tire SIZE, Compound, ride quality, noise, speed/grip (when cold), speed/grip (when hot), predictability/communication, consistency, longevity, wet performance, dry performance, weight, sidewall stiffness, steering response, etc... If you haven't read it, this is a must read:
http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArtic...LY-select-and-size-TIRES-for-PERFORMANCE.aspx
Having said all of that, for the lightweight NSX, I don't think you can go wrong with the AD08, Z2 StarSpec, and the Pilot Super Sport. Keep in mind the more experienced and faster you are, the heavier your car, and the narrower your tires, the more you are going to put heat in your tires and be prone to overheating them.
Something to consider:
Another thing to keep in mind is that the 235/40-17 & 275/35-18 combo is 11.12% larger in surface area (width x circumference) than the factory 215/40-17 & 255/40-17 sizes. This increase will make the tires last longer before they overheat, which becomes more important the fast you are as a driver, the more prone your tires are to overheating (Dunlop ZII, Sumitomo HTR ZII, Yoko S.Drive), and the hotter the track conditions.
If you overheat your tires half way through a session, you're:
- slower
- working harder behind the wheel and likely struggling
- more prone to make a mistake (simple or significant)
- not learning as much
To maximize learning, track time, and safety, not only is choosing a tire (for your situation, IE: more heat tolerant tire if you live in the desert) but considering the tire size (width, diameter = surface area) is also very important.
Now if you're looking to break track records 1 lap at a time in cold climates, your needs (and tire decision) will be different from someone who wants a consistent tire that lasts an entire 30 minute session.
