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Nankang NS2 Owner Reviews

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What owners say summarised from 197 reviews

The Nankang NS2 is most often praised for dry grip and value, with 90 favourable dry-grip comments against 13 critical ones. Overall, 90 of 197 written reviews are positive, with an average score of 63.7%. Wet grip is the main concern, criticised in 63 comments, roughly a third of reviews, although 46 are favourable. Noise also draws more criticism than praise, with 37 complaints, around one in five reviews, against 18 positive comments. Tread-life feedback leans positive, but later-life accounts include both long service and short wear. Several repeat reviewers became less satisfied over time, while others remained steady or improved their scores, so deterioration is not universal.

What owners mention most counted across 194 reviews

Tap one to read only the reviews that mention it.

Owner ratings averaged from 212 ratings

  • Owner score 65%
  • Dry Grip 76%
  • Wear 73%
  • Road Feedback 65%
  • Comfort 62%
  • Handling 62%
  • Wet Grip 58%

Nankang NS2 Reviews - Page 4

Score spread across 192 written reviews
43%
Member
Honestly, worst piece of rubber I have ever mounted on my car. I bought them one summer when funds were tight, and I regretted it the whole time. DO NOT BOTHER WITH THESE. Trust me.

These things can't grip worth shit in the dry weather. I get wheel spin in 5th gear trying to pass on the highway. Wheel spin at every stop light. Wheel spin coming out of a turn. I have a FWD car with just over 200hp....not exactly a powerhouse.

Surprisingly they are a bit better in wet weather. Noticeably less wheel spin.....but it still happens.

Comfort wise, they are on the sportier side, but I don't mind. I like my tires firmer with good feedback.

Wear was pretty good....until one of the front tires blew.....probably from too much wheel spin.

Basically, what I am saying, spend the extra couple hundred bucks and get a good set of tires. These are not worth the savings. All you'll get is frustration and wheel spin.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 2
  • Wet Grip 4
  • Road Feedback 6
  • Handling 3
  • Wear 7
  • Comfort 7
  • Buy again 1
Helpful 495
Member
Awful tyre based solely on the amount of road noise.
So loud thought it was a wheel bearing.
Only isolated it to the tyres when I put on some different wheels and tyres.
I would never buy these tyres again, sold them with 6mm of tread remaining they were so bad
Member
  • Ford
  • 215/35 R18
  • A Combination of Roads
  • Average
These are a decent tyre and people that normally say bad things about these tyres have no doubt never bought them or have enough money to buy a premium brand, found the tyre performed perfect for all my needs and would buy again no problem

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Own the Nankang NS2?
56%
Member
I had these tyres when I brought rip speed alloys from Halfords many years ago - they came fitted to the alloys. They were in 15" guise and we had the "big freeze." In the snow they did really well and I was impressed for a budget tyre. In the rain they were good but not so impressive. Dry weather performance was acceptable but not exceptional. After about 8000 miles of spirited motorway driving they were down to 3mm. The more they wore out the worse they became and were eventually replaced with a set of Rainsport 2's. Grip in tight corners was near pathetic. It was like the tyre would not react and then all of a sudden they would find some grip but it was too late. At motorway speeds they were fine below 70mph but anything about would make you lose confidence in its abilities - you would not be able to trust the tyre. For a budget tyre they are pretty good if you are pottering around town. However, if you are looking for budget performance and an all round above average performer then look elsewhere. If you are a driver and like testing the limits of your car, fast corners and over taking then this is not the tyre for you.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 7
  • Wet Grip 6
  • Road Feedback 5
  • Handling 5
  • Wear 6
  • Comfort 6
  • Buy again 4
Helpful 364
33%
Member

I have these tires for 4 years on my car Fiat Stilo 1.6 16v , 35000km . After all this time I can say that are loud on dry road . They are dangerous in the rain , in addition were split after two years of use. I do not recommend these tires !
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 3
  • Wet Grip 3
  • Road Feedback 6
  • Handling 4
  • Wear 5
  • Comfort 1
  • Buy again 1
Helpful 412
47%
Member
AROUND TOWN TO WORK AND BACK FINE HIT A MOTORWAY AND SOUNDS LIKE WHEEL BEARINGS AND DIFF ARE ABOUT TO PACK IN.3 YEARS OLD AND 15th MILES LATER RUBBER VERY HARD.TODAY BUYING AVONS BANG GO'S MY BEER TOKENS!!!
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 7
  • Wet Grip 5
  • Road Feedback 6
  • Handling 4
  • Wear 8
  • Comfort 2
  • Buy again 1
Helpful 380
63%
Member
This is my last review with these tyres and I have reviewed them at various mileages on my A5 3.0 tdi Quattro sport.

After 32000 miles the fronts are down to 2.5 - 3mm but the inners of the tyres are worn to almost slick but 75% of the tread across the tyre is fine. The rears are worn down to 4-5mm so still have life in them, I should have rotated them at 10k intervals and I would easily have hit 40000 miles wear on these tyres.

At the time I bought these tyres money was a bit tight and I took a punt and to be fair these nankangs have been fine. The dry grip is acceptable and the wet grip is acceptable too, but this is down to the Quattro system on the car. Now that the fronts are almost shot in the wet the front end has very limited grip and slides easily when pushed gently on small roundabouts, so no high speed bends for me now. Even in the dry the front end is now skitterish at low speeds into bends and I know the tyre is almost at the end of its life but in the dry a premium tyre would not do this. I feel this is down to the very hard compound the tyres have and it seems to be getting harder as they wear.

The tyre noise from day 1 was loud and they have been getting progressively louder as the tyres have worn, it's a deep humming sound which simply is not acceptable. I feel this tyres would be great for lots of town driving at low speed and the noise is acceptable, but step into a motorway and it's a different ball game. My mum even commented on the tyre noise on a recent trip to Southampton and that says it all.

I won't be buying budget tyres again and will go for mid range to premium like Avon, hankook, vredestein etc.

This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 7
  • Wet Grip 5
  • Road Feedback 6
  • Handling 6
  • Wear 10
  • Comfort 5
  • Buy again 5
Helpful 343
39%
Member
These tyres are OK on dry.
But how can one say these tyres perform well on wet?! They are a DEATH TRAP on wet. Don't buy this, unless you want to die when the rain comes.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 5
  • Wet Grip 2
  • Road Feedback 5
  • Handling 3
  • Wear 4
  • Comfort 5
  • Buy again 3
Helpful 426
67%
Member
Considering I paid £190 for a full set I was expecting poor shabby quality but in all honesty I cannot say that I found for the price I paid for the tyres they are very good the handle nicely for a budget tyre and there not as loud as some mainstream tyres at 71db very pleased and would consider them again
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 6
  • Wet Grip 5
  • Road Feedback 7
  • Handling 8
  • Wear 8
  • Comfort 7
  • Buy again 6
Helpful 415
74%
Member
I have now done 18k on these tyres and I have mixed opinions on them, yes they are very cheap and have a good sidewall and treadpattern and are now 5.6mm on the fronts and 6.8mm on the rears.

However they are becoming very noisy to the point that the noise seems to overshadow anything you do from putting the stereo up to not concentrating on the noise. I can hear a humming sound at 70mph and above and it sounds like my wheel bearings are gone, but I know its the tyres and on my last service the Audi specialist pointed out how loud they were and checked my wheel bearings on the teast drive just in case and they were fine.

Grip in the dry is fine and also in the wet with no issues, but I have come to the conclusion that cheap tyres do have a tradeoff and on this occasion its the noise as the wear rate is brilliant, and ill at least get 40k out of them no doubt which is legendry, but then again they are a hard compound tyre hence the noise.

Sorry nankang but ill go premium next time.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 8
  • Wet Grip 7
  • Road Feedback 8
  • Handling 8
  • Wear 10
  • Comfort 5
  • Buy again 6
Helpful 379
37%
Member
I bought brand new tires Nankang NS2, the first year were fantastic, soft and stability of the car is very good, but after a year they became very loud and hard as a rock, never again would not buy this tire.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 7
  • Wet Grip 3
  • Road Feedback 4
  • Handling 4
  • Wear 4
  • Comfort 3
  • Buy again 1
Helpful 412
46%
Member
Average budget tyres. I had recommendations for these tyres. They were decent to drive for the first 5000km's and after that the noiselevel started to go up and inner surfaces start to wear unevenly. First I thought the wheel alignments was to blame, but they were perfectly ok.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 9
  • Wet Grip 7
  • Road Feedback 5
  • Handling 5
  • Wear 2
  • Comfort 2
  • Buy again 2
Helpful 446
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