That may be more of a training issue for you as the driver rather than a tire issue. I think I had a similar experience with these tires. The Nitto's don't vocalize as much as a street tire. You need to push them harder but you won't get the same aural feedback. They will start to slide before they lose grip entirely, so that's your cue that you are nearing their limit of adhesion. I wasn't too comfortable driving that way on track (I only have the one car and I am not prepared to total it, so I drive accordingly), so I am going back to 200tw street tires. I will probably try the A052's after I wear out my ZIII's to see if they last longer on track than the RE71R's did while offering a similar level of performance
I would agree with you. Was expecting an improvement in overall mechanical grip but did not get that communicative feedback and thus didn’t have confidence that the front end would hookup on turn in. Still feel that I don’t have the tire pressures dialed in and will look at upping my cold starting pressures.
Looking at my laptimes, I was consistently faster on the 235 MPS4S than the 245 section width MPS4S. A majority of that is down to my BBK upgrade, but there were gains in sector 3 and sector 5 at VIR which are high speed momentum sections (no brakes - carrying corner speed)
I was inconsistent with my laptimes on the NT01’s. Most probably ended up over-driving in my frustration to get the NT01’s dialed in. For the most part I can hold my own through the high speed momentum sections at VIR and generally gain time on other cars through these sections. My current driving style is to trail brake down to the apex then going to gas (most probably to aggressively). I’m not spinning my wheels but I know when I mess up as I get power understeer - Turn 5 being the one I tend to overdrive.
One of the changes I am planning to make is to try and roll speed through the apex and pick up the throttle after the apex. Been watching your Laguna Seca footage. Right now, I do not have confidence that the front end will hookup to roll more speed through the apex. Öhlins with 8k springs front & rear along with more camber should help in this regard. So going to work on be a little more patient. Change my driving style through the slower more technical sections and see how that translates into car speed.
This was on a wet to drying track on my NT01’s. Sector 1 is a slow corner after a big brake zone. Sector 2 is very technical. Sector 3 is momentum. Sector 4 requires a good launch out of T-12 for the longest straight. Sector 5 is a technical sequence of flowing corners onto the front straight.
This clip has my best sector 2 time.
https://youtu.be/W0nd9X1bVoo
Go to 3:42 for lap#7 which is my fastest lap around VIR. I have a rabbit in the 911 Turbo which gives me a target to chase. My exits onto the front straight are pretty good. Lap#8 the white Porsche kills my momentum through the uphill esses.
https://youtu.be/fzyN7yPQ1HU