Nankang NS-2R Sportnex

Nankang NS-2R Sportnex – Semi-Slick Street and Track Tire for Precision Driving

The Nankang NS-2R Sportnex is a high-performance semi-slick tire designed to offer the perfect balance between road usability and track capability. Engineered for enthusiasts, amateur racers, and weekend warriors, the NS-2R delivers impressive dry grip, responsive steering, and consistent lap performance—without compromising daily drivability.

As a DOT street-legal R-compound tire, the NS-2R is ideal for dual-purpose use: take it to the track on the weekend and drive home with confidence. With multiple compound options and a competition-focused tread pattern, it provides a versatile solution for sports cars, hot hatches, and track-prepped vehicles.

Competition-Inspired Semi-Slick Tread Design

The NS-2R features an aggressive directional semi-slick tread pattern that optimizes contact patch for superior dry traction. The minimal void ratio and broad center rib enhance high-speed stability, braking power, and cornering grip, allowing you to push your vehicle to the limit during spirited drives or circuit sessions.

Deep circumferential grooves help with water evacuation in wet conditions, making it safer in variable weather compared to full slicks. The result is a tire that provides performance-focused dry handling with a margin of wet-weather safety for road use.

Motorsport-Derived Rubber Compound

Available in multiple compound options (including 120 and 180 treadwear), the NS-2R lets you tailor your tire to your specific driving needs:

• 120 TW (Soft Compound): Best for circuit use, time attack, and autocross where maximum grip and heat tolerance are critical.

• 180 TW (Harder Compound): Ideal for fast road use and occasional track days, offering longer life and better heat cycling.

Both compounds provide rapid warm-up times, excellent heat resistance, and consistent grip throughout sessions—delivering confidence lap after lap.

Reinforced Construction for Enhanced Cornering and Feedback

The NS-2R’s reinforced internal construction and stiff sidewalls give it exceptional response under aggressive cornering. The tire maintains shape and stability at high loads, offering precise steering input and a solid on-center feel. Whether you’re trail braking into a corner or accelerating out of one, the NS-2R delivers the feedback you need for exact control.

Its carcass and sidewall design also contribute to even tread wear, making it a reliable choice for those who want longevity along with performance.

Built for Street and Track

Unlike full racing slicks or extreme track-only tires, the NS-2R is fully street legal and engineered to withstand the challenges of real-world driving. That means it handles heat cycles better than many ultra-soft competition tires, resists chunking, and maintains performance over a longer life cycle.

From canyon roads to HPDE events, the NS-2R is the go-to tire for drivers who want track-day performance without the need to trailer their car. You can mount a set on your vehicle and use it every day, or run them hard on the weekend and enjoy their road manners during the week.

Ideal Fitments

The Nankang NS-2R is available in a wide range of sizes from 13″ to 18″+, making it a popular choice among:

• Mazda MX-5 Miata (NA, NB, ND)

• Honda Civic Type R / Si / EG-EK builds

• Subaru BRZ / Toyota GR86

• BMW E30 / E36 / E46

• VW Golf GTI / Jetta

• Nissan 350Z / 370Z

• Ford Focus ST / Fiesta ST

• Toyota AE86 / Starlet / Yaris GR

• Time attack and grassroots motorsport builds

Whether your car is FWD, RWD, or AWD, the NS-2R supports aggressive driving across a variety of platforms.

For Drivers Who Want:

• A semi-slick tire that’s still road legal

• High grip in dry conditions with solid wet road safety

• Quick warm-up and repeatable lap performance

• A tire that can last through multiple heat cycles

• A track-day-ready option at an affordable price

• Excellent value in the 120–180 TW category

Summary

The Nankang NS-2R Sportnex is a proven performer in the world of semi-slick tires, offering an impressive mix of dry grip, handling precision, and real-world versatility. Whether you’re chasing podiums in grassroots motorsport or just want sharper response and control in daily driving, the NS-2R delivers performance where it matters most.

With a motorsport-inspired tread pattern, dual-compound choices, and reinforced structure, it’s a tire built for both speed and resilience. The NS-2R continues to be a favorite among performance drivers for its predictability, durability, and all-around value.

Choose the Nankang NS-2R Sportnex for a tire that dominates at the track and stays composed on the road.