[CapnCook]

Hi all,

I haven't been on in a while but since I was already on posting another question I thought I would get round to making this thread!

*This is in the UK thread btw since most slagging-off threads I see about budget tyres are related to budgets on wet UK roads*

2 months ago (MOT Time) I had to get 4 new tyres on my 18" MV3s. The tyres currently fitted were Michelin Pilot Sport 3 non RTFs.

I have always used budget tyres on all my cars (even on my VX220 and I had 20" budgets on my last X5) without issues. I did once have a set of 'Triangle' tyres on my E46 coupe once which was the only time I have been a little dissapointed.

This time I went with Nankang NSII, I had read tons of people slagging these tyres off on forums all over the place (as I always do when researching budgets) but as always these posters usually finish off with "I would never even consider anything other than premium tyres for my premium car" (Meaning basically they have never even tried budget tyres and their opinion is based solely on other forum users, who usually also haven't ever tried them)

**Discalimer, Please don't turn this into a slagging off of budget tyres, or even see the phrase 'ditchfinders/widowmakers' plastered all over this thread, it's been done to death***

I ordered the tyres online and had them fitted at the local garage, in total for a full set of 18" 225/20/18 & 255/35/18 it came to just under £300.

I have been using them daily and I must say I'm pretty impressed with them. My daily journey is approx 40 miles each way, 25 of which is motorway. I was holding off reviewing until I had tried them in heavy rain, but now I've driven hundreds of miles in the pouring rain on them (even all the way to Legoland in a torrential downpour) I can confirm I am very impressed and will definitely be going Nankang again.

I had seen these particular tyres slagged off for dry grip, wet grip, road noise etc etc, but I honestly can't see what the reviewers were taking about? The grip in the dry seems as good as any tyres I have had before (even the PS3s I've just taken off) and I don't exactly drive like a nun...

For reviewers to say that these tyres are "dangerous in all conditions" is just plain madness. I live on a large new housing estate full of roundabouts, and even in the wet on a flooded (deserted) roundabout I have actively tried to force the tyres to let go and they haven't...not once. I honestly don't know what these reviewers are doing to their cars to give them these reviews? or what they were expecting? If you're absolutely nailing your car at 90mph in the pouring rain around a roundabout, you can't blame 'the tyres' if you end up in a hedge backwards...that's going to happen regardless of your tyre brand.

There are loads of good reviews on the Nankang NSII, but every time I see one it is quickly followed by a barage of "they are crap...you will definitely be killed if you use budgets" esque comments.

For those of you that are 'premium only' this thread is not for you. But those who are looking at budget tyres and considering which ines to go for, I highly recommend these tyres, and for £300 all round, that's a bargain. They even have a rim-protect lip on them to keep your wheels curb-free and a pretty nice tread pattern too.

A few pics for good measure:

[djgandy]

I'm tempted to give them a try.

They are rated better than the shit run flats you get stock anyway!
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Br...A-Run-Flat.htm
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Nankang/NS2.htm

My worry is the wet performance though. More recent objective reviews would be nice. Cheap clones are always improving so it is only a matter of time before they are near par with the big makers.

[AWBimmer]

I think what alot of people refer to is the longevity of 'budget' tyres in comparison to premium. I believe premium tyres age better than budget ones... brand new comparison is like for like to begin with I suppose..but I can't really say much.. Just buy what you can, consider safety and be happy

[P 5UML]

wow what a brilliant review - nicely done and i am sure many people will appreciate this review myself included

[djgandy]

Originally Posted by AWBimmer

I think what alot of people refer to is the longevity of 'budget' tyres in comparison to premium. I believe premium tyres age better than budget ones... brand new comparison is like for like to begin with I suppose..but I can't really say much.. Just buy what you can, consider safety and be happy

Yeah but for a set of these I can buy one premium rear tyre. If they wear in half the time I've still doubled my money.

[Marshall878]

Nankangs are certainly on the up....as are most budget brands tbh.

The worst budgets i had were Wanli's, they lasted 50k and were hard as nails, no grip what so ever (first car, dont lay into me)

I ran Hankooks on my Clio 200 which are also considered budget compared to the ContiSports that come from factory, and was very pleased with them, certainly werent £100 worse per corner than the Contis thats for sure! Wore well too.

Id certainly consider Nankangs etc...

[Reece]

I had these stretched my on my mk4 golf and they were brilliant then.

Ive now got 2 cracked wheels so have bought a new set of 19"s and gone for the nankang ns 2's , have a really nice tread pattern from behind aswel.

I will be fitting my new wheels next week so il give a review aswel in a months time.

I got 2x 235/35/19 + 2x 265/39/19 for £320 , i was looking at eagle f1's and the cheapest i could get them was nearly £600

[M4rius]

Had ns2's on my tt and there where great on the track and regular roads.

[tmarshall57]

I'm on my second set of 4. The first set lasted 40,000 miles. I don't do track or hare around country lanes as most of my drive is motorway. Wet performance was fine in the context of the occasional emergency stop. They do get a bit noisy when reaching the last couple of mm trade. Otherwise they are quiet and economical and of course low cost = good value overall.

[DaveyB]

I had NS2s on my Octavia vRS. I thought they were excellent until they started getting a bit more (10k miles) worn and you could notice them start to lose traction every now and then despite still having a decent amount of tread.

For the price though, no complaints. I actually err'd away from them this time with the BMW because of the reviews and went with some Hankook Ventus V12s which seem to get really good reviews but they were £500.

[AdzC]

I have had these tyres in 235/35/19 and 265/30/19 on a 335d for over 18 months and can concur with what the OP has said.

The car was remapped last week and still the grip is great with no twitchy moments to speak of. Although I haven't driven in the wet with the remap yet.

Definitely a good value option.

[Jon335d]

+1 here, had a full set of ns2's on mine for a few weeks, no problems to report so far and no noticeable difference to the bridgestones they replaced

Jon

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by Marshall878

Nankangs are certainly on the up....as are most budget brands tbh.

The worst budgets i had were Wanli's, they lasted 50k and were hard as nails, no grip what so ever (first car, dont lay into me)

I ran Hankooks on my Clio 200 which are also considered budget compared to the ContiSports that come from factory, and was very pleased with them, certainly werent £100 worse per corner than the Contis thats for sure! Wore well too.

Id certainly consider Nankangs etc...

One should go for hankook considering their wet grip is 'B' and difference is only fiver per corner.

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m55b0s341p..._Noise%3A_71dB

Nankangs with 'C' wet grip... no thanks...

[Reece]

Originally Posted by makkan00

One should go for hankook considering their wet grip is 'B' and difference is only fiver per corner.

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m55b0s341p..._Noise%3A_71dB" rel="ugc" target="_blank">http://<a href="http://www.camskill....se%3A_71dB</a>

Nankangs with 'C' wet grip... no thanks...

As i said in previous post i had these 5 years ago stretched to hell on my porsche rims on my mk4 had them on there for 8 months and i used to drive my cars really hard and they were as good as any other tyre ive had

[Reece]

Pictures as a reference to how stretched they were so if they had grip then in the wet/dry im sure run normal and being 5 years on they have improved

[M2RTY]

I bought 4 for my mv4s as they come in the odd bmw sizes, was about 300 for all 4 i think

Really good tyres, would have them again BUT the front 2 cracked all the way round and was spotted by my local garage

In all fairness i sent them back after a year and had a full refund, i bought 2 more and they were fine ever since

[ahenners]

Originally Posted by makkan00

One should go for hankook considering their wet grip is 'B' and difference is only fiver per corner.

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m55b0s341p..._Noise%3A_71dB

Nankangs with 'C' wet grip... no thanks...

Those Hankooks look like a bargain!! Good spot

[djgandy]

Wow, they are near twice that on Blackcircles
http://www.blackcircles.com/catalogu...5/30/R19/Y/93/

Shame there are no fronts to match that price.

[E90325iM-SPORT]

Good review thanks. I had budget tyres only ones(fullruns) and they were terrible. Maybe these are better.

[bamboostk86]

I have em, and love em

[windymissile]

I had all the same nay-sayers when I put Kuhmos on my modded 335i. £400 for all 4 delivered in 19".
They have been faultless. Comfortable. Progressive. Predictable, even in the heaviest of rain. And offer loads of grip in the dry.
I have had all the premium brands on various cars over the years and I will definitely have another set of these.

WM

[Digitalize]

I'd be hesitant to call the Nankang NS2 a budget anymore, they've worked on the compound and the price has gone up a bit. They're a decent mid range tyre IMO.

I'd have no problem running them if I couldn't afford better tyres.

I'm seriously considering the NS2-R for my track car, heard nothing but good things.