No matter the situation, today’s tire market seems to offer a solution. Are you willing to trade some of your track rat’s pace for durability and consistency but want something faster than an endurance tire? Or are you maybe competing in the Gridlife Touring Cup, where the latest Super 200 hotness is on the banned list? If so, we have …
Kumho Ecsta V730
fastest lap: 1:27.5
Kumho has long been a player in this market segment, offering competitively priced tires that are among the best performance values out there. Great feel, long life and consistently good performance are the brand’s hallmarks.
These Kumhos are a good option for turning lots of laps with very good pace. We’ve tested this model before, so it was a natural choice to serve as our bracket tire.
- on the road: The V730 delivered a sporty and light feel, though with little self-centering.
- on the track: It took a strong out lap to get the compound turned on, accompanied then by good audible feedback nearing the limit. While easy to drive hard, breakaway was a little more sudden than we’d prefer. But just look at that consistency! Lap after lap, it delivered.
Yokohama Advan Neova AD09
fastest lap: 1:28.4
Yokohama has two entries in the 200tw arena. One is the pointy-end Advan A052, which is the latest in a long line of streetable track-focused tires, some of which came as OE fitments for circuit-oriented cars like the Lotus Elise. That tire is very fast but inconsistent and not particularly durable.
Yokohama’s other 200tw line is more street-oriented but still track-capable. In fact, we took a class win in the One Lap of America running its AD07 on our CRX a few years back. So we were anxious to see how this latest version, the Advan Neova AD09, performed.
- on the road: The AD09’s street performance focus was immediately apparent, as it was the most athletic-feeling of the bunch. It was responsive but not overly so–very natural. And while some washboard surfaces did elicit harshness, elsewhere the ride was typical of a 200tw tire.
- on the track: This one required a lot of steering input and was edgier at the limit, but recovery was intuitive and quick, assisted by strong audible feedback. Taking a full lap to come in, its ultimate grip was not quite as high as the other tires’, and the edginess made it hard to hit all our marks every lap. But the tire itself hung in there, losing no performance over the full session–though it was a solid second slower than the Kumho’s pace.
Nexen N’Fera Sport R
fastest lap: 1:27.3
We’ve been anxious to try this one for quite some time, and we were not disappointed. Nexen has been dabbling in the 200tw category for several product cycles, and the Sport R is its latest offering. Alongside the Kumho V730, it is one of the preferred tires for 15-minute sprints that make up the Gridlife Touring Cup.
- on the road: The Nexen delivered a relatively quiet ride over small irregularities but did complain when it encountered highway expansion joints and dips. This is typical of softer tread compounds overlaying a strong carcass.
- on the track: The compound turned on immediately with a strong, grippy feel. Breakaway was very progressive with a wide plateau of grip, though it came with little audible feedback. Steering had a bit of a dead zone, then ramped up nicely as loads increased. In short, the tire was fast and a blast to drive, laying down the quickest laps of the day. But all good things must end, and the Sport R eventually heat-soaked and fell off a bit. Some tire management would likely be needed to stay in front in a race situation, making maximum asks only when threatened. Shaving may also help keep heat in check.
Kumho Ecsta V730 (retest)
fastest lap: 1:27.4
Back on the Kumhos to bracket our test, we again cracked off consistent laps for the duration, similar to those at the start of the day. Confident that neither track nor driver had improved, we knew our data was good.
Who Won This Round?
This is one of those tests where everybody wins. All these tires will deliver consistent results on track over a long lifetime.
While the Yokohama delivered a little less pace, it had better street manners and would be our choice for a car that sees more road use. But at close to $260 each in our size, it costs the most, too, as building a tire that can multitask so well takes development.
If turning lots of fast laps is your jam, both the Kumho and Nexen can deliver in spades–and cost a little less, too, going for closer to $200 in our size.
Road, track or somewhere in the middle? These three could fit the bill.
