The setting for our test was Brainerd International Raceway. Located about 2hrs north of Minneapolis, BIR offers a few things no other tracks in the US offer – a 3/4mi straightaway followed by a nearly flat out banked right hand turn one. A recently paved circuit added an additional challenge for the tires. All of which test a tire in ways not typically seen on most tracks, let alone on the street.

Since the beginning of our program in 2008, we’ve ran nearly an identical wheel and tire setup – an 18×10.5 +18 wheel with a 275/35/18 tire. The NT05s we run are no different, however they do run a slightly narrower than most 275 tires we’ve had on the 10.5” wheels. The narrower NT05 is actually preferred in the case of the 311RS – fitment on the 10.5” wheel is slightly stretched offering an additionally stiffened sidewall and it helps us fit the wheel and tire setup under the Evo X’s fenders with less modification. Note – seen above is the finalized 311RS production ride height. A blend of form and function without compromise.

The premise for our test was to determine whether Nitto’s new soft compound, 140TW vs the original NT05’s 200TW, was not only an upgrade for track focused driving, but really we wanted to know if it was a worthy tire for our 311RS production units. Meaning a) would it offer the performance characteristics our cars require and b) how well do they wear?

We packed #09 with all the tools necessary to conduct this tire test – a jack, a set of jack stands, pyrometer, tire pressure gauge, basic hand tools, fender roller, and of course, Wizards (www.wizardsproducts.com) detailing supplies.

First up was a baseline session on track to get the tire pressures dialed in and lay down a base lap time. We aim for a 38psi HOT number all around with NT05s, and it seemed that was the place to be with this new compound as well. In the first session we set a 1:53 on BIR’s long course. It’s worth noting #09’s modifications for this test – JRZ RS1s, Girodisc brakes, front and rear aero lips, Ti cat back and an AMS e-Tune good for about 275whp.

Throughout the day we monitored the tires as we went about our business on track.

We did have some help from the shop dog, Lulu. Her main job is moral support, but also comes in as a great moderator during our discussions about the future of battery technology.

We ran a total of 6 sessions over the course of the day, monitoring data throughout and evaluating the overall performance and “feel” of the new NT05. The results spoke for themselves – the 140TW NT05 was consistent during each session, providing excellent feedback and wear characteristics during each session. The new compound provided a noted boost in overall grip for our setup. It acted much more like an NT01 than an original NT05, which to us was the ultimate compliment.

In #09’s first official test it was given no special treatment, we wrung it out for a full day and it didn’t skip a beat. The 2hr drive home would provide us with even more data and feedback for the 140TW NT05, which is also very valuable for both Nitto and 311RS, as ultimately these tires and cars are destined for mostly street use. The tires surpassed our expectations and were approved for use on the 311RS production units. However, due to demand and short supply, it looks as though we may not be able to run these!! Nitto has informed us of their focus on light truck tires and as such, they do not have much, if any, in the way of 275/35/18 tires. This leaves us in an odd place, we’ll see where we end up. **Edit: We struck a partnership deal with Michelin. Pilot Super Sports for all!