Semi Slick Tyres Explained: Nankang vs Vitour for Road & Track
Semi slick tyres are one of the most effective upgrades you can make to a performance or track car.
Compared with a conventional road tyre, a good semi slick can provide considerably more dry grip, sharper steering response and better resistance to the heat generated during repeated hard driving.
That can improve almost every area of a car’s performance, including braking, cornering and acceleration.
However, not every semi slick is designed for the same purpose.
Some are aimed at road cars that occasionally see track use, while others are developed specifically for serious track days, time attack and competition.
Two increasingly popular choices in the UK performance tyre market are Nankang and Vitour.
In this guide, we’ll look at the Nankang NS-2R, AR-1 and CR-S alongside the Vitour Tempesta P1 and Tempesta Sonic to help you choose the right tyre for your car.
What Is a Semi Slick Tyre?
A semi slick tyre sits between a conventional high-performance road tyre and a full motorsport slick.
Compared with a normal road tyre, semi slick tyres typically use:
- Larger tread blocks
- Reduced tread void
- Stiffer sidewalls
- More performance-focused rubber compounds
- Greater resistance to heat
- More direct steering response
- Increased dry grip
The reduced tread movement and more aggressive construction help the tyre remain stable under heavy cornering and braking loads.
The compromise is that semi slick tyres can be noisier, wear more quickly and offer reduced performance in standing water compared with a conventional road tyre.
The more track-focused the tyre becomes, the more important those compromises become.
Are Semi Slick Tyres Road Legal?
Some semi slick tyres are road legal, while others are supplied specifically for motorsport use.
This can even vary between different sizes and versions of the same tyre.
For example, Nankang sells both road-labelled and motorsport-only versions within parts of its semi slick range, so the exact tyre specification should always be checked before road use.
Vitour lists both the Tempesta P1 and Tempesta Sonic as road legal 200TW tyres.
Road legal does not necessarily mean ideal for every road condition, though. Track-focused tyres can still be significantly less forgiving in cold conditions or heavy standing water.
Nankang Semi Slick Tyres
Nankang has become one of the most established names within UK track days and club motorsport.
Its current motorsport range includes the NS-2R, AR-1 and CR-S, giving drivers several levels of performance depending on how the car is used.
In terms of outright performance, the range can broadly be viewed as:
- Nankang CR-S
- Nankang AR-1
- Nankang NS-2R
That does not mean the CR-S is automatically the best choice for every car.
Each tyre has a different balance between road usability, track performance, cost and operating characteristics.
Nankang NS-2R
The Nankang NS-2R is the most road-oriented tyre of the three.
Nankang describes it as approximately 50% road and 50% track, making it particularly well suited to drivers wanting to move beyond a conventional performance road tyre without going straight to an extremely track-focused setup.
It has also been widely used within UK club motorsport and track day applications.
The NS-2R is particularly suited to:
- First-time track day drivers
- Fast-road cars
- Occasional track use
- Cars driven to and from circuits
- Drivers looking for good value
- Cars where wet-weather usability still matters
Its comparatively broad operating characteristics make it a sensible starting point for drivers new to semi slick tyres.
Nankang AR-1
The Nankang AR-1 represents a substantial step towards dedicated circuit use.
Nankang positions it as approximately 90% track and 10% road and describes it as a tyre aimed at track enthusiasts chasing lap times.
Compared with the NS-2R, the AR-1 is much more focused on dry circuit performance.
It is particularly well suited to:
- Dedicated track cars
- Serious track day builds
- Club motorsport
- Time attack
- Cars with limited road mileage
- Drivers prioritising dry grip and consistency
The AR-1 has also been used as a control tyre in multiple championships and has become a familiar choice across UK track days and club racing.
For many years, it was the obvious step above the NS-2R within the Nankang range.
That changed with the introduction of the CR-S.
Nankang CR-S
The Nankang CR-S is now the highest-performing road-legal semi slick within this part of Nankang’s range.
Nankang developed the CR-S specifically as a step up from the AR-1, with the aim of making it both faster and more consistent while also improving road comfort, noise and wet-weather behaviour.
It uses a 200TW compound, asymmetric tread pattern and aramid-reinforced sidewall to improve rigidity, steering response and consistency under hard use.
The CR-S is particularly suited to:
- Serious track day cars
- Time attack
- High-performance road and track builds
- Modern performance cars
- Drivers chasing outright lap time
- Cars requiring strong steering response
- Drivers wanting more performance than the AR-1
Interestingly, despite being faster than the AR-1, the CR-S is also designed to be more road-friendly.
That makes it particularly attractive for powerful modern cars that still see road mileage between events.
Nankang NS-2R vs AR-1 vs CR-S
The simplest way to understand the range is:
NS-2R – Best balance for road use and occasional track days
AR-1 – Highly track-focused and proven circuit tyre
CR-S – Fastest and most advanced of the three
In terms of outright performance:
CR-S > AR-1 > NS-2R
In terms of road usability:
NS-2R > CR-S > AR-1
That second comparison is particularly interesting because the CR-S was specifically developed to improve road manners compared with the AR-1 despite offering greater performance.
Vitour Semi Slick Tyres
Vitour has become another increasingly interesting option within the UK performance and motorsport tyre market.
For serious road and track use, the two most relevant options are the Tempesta P1 and Tempesta Sonic.
Both use a 200 treadwear rating and are listed as road legal, but they are aimed at slightly different types of driver.
Vitour Tempesta P1
The Vitour Tempesta P1 is the more endurance-focused option.
Vitour describes it as a 200TW competition tyre designed for track days, time attack and motorsport use, with a particular emphasis on maintaining consistent grip during longer sessions.
Its construction includes:
- Competition-focused compound
- Extra-wide shoulder
- Reinforced sidewall
- Heat-management grooves
- Stiff construction for steering response
These features are designed to maintain stability and consistency under repeated hard use.
The Tempesta P1 is particularly suited to:
- Regular track days
- Longer circuit sessions
- Fast-road and track cars
- Time attack
- Cars driven to and from circuits
- Drivers prioritising consistency and longevity
For someone looking for a serious 200TW track tyre that can cope with repeated sessions, the P1 is a particularly appealing option.
Vitour Tempesta Sonic
The Vitour Tempesta Sonic moves further towards outright lap-time performance.
Vitour describes it as a fast-heating tyre designed around sprint racing, qualifying, time attack and drivers chasing ultimate lap times.
It uses a racing-derived compound, slick-style shoulder and aramid-reinforced sidewall to maximise dry grip and steering response.
Heat-management grooves are also incorporated to help maintain temperature stability during hard use.
The Tempesta Sonic is particularly suited to:
- Time attack
- Sprint racing
- Qualifying-style sessions
- Shorter, high-intensity track sessions
- Highly focused track builds
- Drivers prioritising outright lap time
Compared with the P1, the Sonic is designed to reach its working range quickly and prioritise maximum performance over shorter periods.
Vitour Tempesta P1 vs Tempesta Sonic
The P1 and Sonic are designed for slightly different purposes.
The Tempesta P1 is the more endurance-oriented tyre, making it ideal for longer track sessions and drivers wanting consistent performance throughout the day.
The Tempesta Sonic is the more aggressive option, designed around faster warm-up and maximum lap-time performance.
A simple way to look at them is:
Tempesta P1 – Longer sessions and consistent performance
Tempesta Sonic – Sprint, qualifying and outright lap time
Nankang vs Vitour: Which Semi Slick Should You Choose?
There is no single tyre that will be best for every car.
The correct choice depends on your vehicle, experience, usage and priorities.
| Intended Use | Tyres to Consider |
|---|---|
| Fast road + occasional track | Nankang NS-2R |
| Road + regular track days | Nankang CR-S / Vitour Tempesta P1 |
| Serious track day car | Nankang CR-S / Nankang AR-1 / Vitour Tempesta P1 |
| Longer track sessions | Nankang CR-S / Vitour Tempesta P1 |
| Time attack | Nankang CR-S / Vitour Tempesta Sonic |
| Sprint / qualifying | Vitour Tempesta Sonic / Nankang CR-S |
| First semi slick | Nankang NS-2R |
| Outright dry performance | Nankang CR-S / Vitour Tempesta Sonic |
Nankang CR-S vs Vitour Tempesta P1
The CR-S and Tempesta P1 are likely to appeal to similar drivers.
Both are 200TW tyres aimed at serious road and track use.
The CR-S is designed around outright performance while still maintaining good road manners, while the P1 places particular emphasis on consistency and durability during longer circuit sessions.
For a powerful road car that attends regular track days, either could make a very strong choice.
Nankang CR-S vs Vitour Tempesta Sonic
This becomes a more interesting comparison for drivers chasing lap times.
The CR-S is designed to combine high outright performance with strong consistency and improved road usability.
The Sonic is more specifically focused on rapid warm-up and maximum performance during sprint, qualifying and time attack-style sessions.
For longer sessions, the CR-S may be the more rounded option.
For short, intense sessions where getting up to speed quickly is critical, the Sonic becomes particularly interesting.
Nankang AR-1 vs Vitour Tempesta P1
The AR-1 remains a very track-focused and proven tyre.
The P1 offers another option for drivers completing repeated circuit sessions, with Vitour placing particular emphasis on consistency and endurance.
The AR-1 has a long track record within UK club motorsport, while the P1 provides an alternative for drivers looking at the newer generation of 200TW performance tyres.
Semi Slick Tyres for Track Days
Fitting semi slick tyres should be considered as part of the overall setup of the car.
A semi slick can generate much greater cornering and braking forces than a normal road tyre.
That extra grip can expose weaknesses elsewhere.
Before heading onto circuit, check:
- Brake pad condition
- Brake fluid
- Brake discs
- Suspension joints and bushes
- Wheel bearings
- Engine oil
- Coolant
- Wheel alignment
- Wheel bolt or stud torque
- Tyre condition
- Tyre pressures
A balanced car on the correct tyre will generally be faster and easier to drive than a poorly prepared car fitted with the most aggressive tyre available.
Semi Slick Tyre Pressures
Tyre pressures are particularly important when using semi slicks.
As the tyre heats up during a session, the pressure increases.
That means the pressure you start with when the tyres are cold may be significantly different once the tyre reaches operating temperature.
Nankang publishes both cold and hot pressure guidance for the NS-2R and recommends adjusting pressures according to vehicle weight.
A typical track day routine is:
- Set sensible cold pressures.
- Complete several laps.
- Check pressures immediately after the session.
- Adjust as necessary.
- Continue monitoring pressures throughout the day.
Manufacturer guidance should always be used as the starting point.
Wheel Alignment and Semi Slick Tyres
A good alignment becomes even more important as tyre grip increases.
Track driving places significantly greater load on the outside tyres through corners.
If the car does not have enough negative camber, the outside edge of the tyre can become overloaded.
A well-chosen performance alignment can improve:
- Turn-in
- Mid-corner grip
- Steering feedback
- Tyre temperature distribution
- Tyre wear
- Stability
There is no single ideal alignment specification for every car.
Geometry should be chosen around the vehicle, tyre, suspension setup and intended use.
Do Semi Slick Tyres Wear Faster?
Generally, yes.
Semi slick tyres use softer, more performance-focused compounds and are designed around grip rather than maximum mileage.
Driving style, vehicle weight, alignment, tyre pressure and track surface all have a significant effect on wear.
This is why the fastest tyre is not necessarily the best-value tyre for every driver.
Someone completing thousands of road miles between track days may be better served by a more versatile tyre than someone using a dedicated track car.
Are Semi Slick Tyres Good in the Wet?
This varies considerably between tyres.
Semi slick tyres generally have less tread void than conventional road tyres, which means there is less space available to disperse standing water.
The NS-2R, for example, is specifically designed with a stronger road and wet-weather bias than Nankang’s more aggressive track tyres.
Nankang also states that the CR-S was designed to provide better wet performance than the AR-1.
Even so, caution is always required in heavy rain or standing water when using track-focused tyres.
Are Semi Slick Tyres Worth It?
For the right car, yes.
Tyres influence almost every area of vehicle performance.
A good semi slick can improve:
- Braking
- Cornering
- Acceleration
- Steering response
- Stability
- Driver confidence
However, tyres should form part of a complete chassis setup.
Fitting an extremely aggressive tyre to a car with tired suspension, poor alignment or inadequate brakes will not necessarily produce the best result.
Which Semi Slick Tyre Should You Buy?
For drivers taking their first steps into track days, the Nankang NS-2R remains an excellent starting point.
For dedicated circuit use on a proven and very track-focused tyre, the Nankang AR-1 remains a strong option.
For drivers wanting the highest-performing Nankang of the three, the CR-S is the clear choice. Nankang specifically developed it to outperform the AR-1 while also improving consistency and road usability.
Within the Vitour range, the Tempesta P1 is particularly suited to longer sessions and drivers prioritising consistent performance.
For sprint racing, time attack or drivers chasing outright lap time over shorter sessions, the Tempesta Sonic becomes the more focused option.
Ultimately, the best semi slick tyre is not simply the tyre with the highest outright grip.
It is the tyre that best matches your car, driving style and intended use.
Shop Semi Slick & Motorsport Tyres
Explore semi slick and motorsport tyres for fast-road, track day and competition use, including performance tyres from Nankang and Vitour.
Whether you're preparing for your first track day or chasing faster lap times in a dedicated circuit car, choosing the correct tyre can make a substantial difference to grip, consistency and confidence.
