Nankang AR 1 review
The Nankang AR-1 is widely regarded as a high-performance, budget-friendly semi-slick tire that excels in dry track conditions. While it offers impressive grip, feedback, and value compared to premium competitors, users note that it is prone to heat-soaking during extended sessions and performs poorly in wet conditions.
Two scoring systems, side by side
Owner scores come from reviews on retailer and review sites; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.
By owner reviews
75%By road tests
69.4%What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 38 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.
The Nankang AR-1 is widely regarded as a high-performance, budget-friendly semi-slick tire that excels in dry track conditions. While it offers impressive grip, feedback, and value compared to premium competitors, users note that it is prone to heat-soaking during extended sessions and performs poorly in wet conditions.
Pros
- Exceptional dry grip and cornering speed
- High value-for-money ratio compared to premium semi-slicks
- Predictable and progressive handling characteristics
- Quick warm-up time in most conditions
- Strong steering feedback and turn-in response
Cons
- Significant performance drop-off in wet weather
- Tendency to become 'greasy' when heat-soaked during long track sessions
- High levels of road noise and drone for street use
- Inconsistent longevity depending on vehicle weight and driving style
Worth knowing
- Lightweight vehicles (e.g., Mazda MX-5, Lotus Elise) report excellent durability and predictable handling.
- High-horsepower, heavy vehicles (e.g., F80 M3, 992 GT3) are more prone to rapid heat-soaking and greasy performance during consecutive hot laps.
- Users note that specific sizes, such as the 205/45/15, often run wider than their nominal branding suggests.
1 published test appearance
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick tire Test · 235/35 R19
3rd of 10
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 10th of 10 | |
| Wet Handling | 10th of 10 | |
| Wet Circle | 10th of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 2nd of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 2nd of 10 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 9th of 10 | |
| Straight Aqua | 10th of 10 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 10th of 10 | |
| Noise | 9th of 10 | |
| Price | 8th of 10 |