I can now comment on the Nitto Invo vs PS2 question. I have been a PS2 fan since I got my ZHP Coupe and ran them in the stock staggered sizes, on non-staggered 17" track setup, and on a non-staggered 18" setup. I can say I really put them thru their paces and they were great tires, but very expensive. Plus, I was eating a set about every 12k miles, best case.

I decided since I had a dedicated set of track wheels with r-comp tires, that I no longer need to spend the big money on PS2s for the street. I've had my eye on these Invos for a while, but due to the very little chatter about them on the boards (and I mean lots of boards) I went with BFG KDW-NT's instead. These other tires proved to be good handling, but ran a bit wide for the size and I had some rubbing issues in the rear on my non-stock wheels.

So, I started using Google to find as much info as I could about the Invos after watching the video mentioned by the OP. I went to rennlist.com and read up on the GT3 forum, not much discussion there. Those guys seemed to favor the Kumho tires, but they were not available in my size. I found some articles of magazine tests that gave the Invos better than good reviews, their strengths being: low noise, comfy ride, good dry grip, good wet grip. After much internal debate, I decided to go for a set.

I run 255/35-ZR18's on 18x8.5 SSR Comp-H wheels with a +42mm offset. These tires are more true to size than the BFG KDWs (I read that all BFG tires tend to run large) and with the offset I have, I'm really pushing the limits of what I can stuff in the rear fender wells. The Nittos fit better with only minor rubbing under full compression with a full trunk and full tank of fuel. It's about what it was running PS2s in the same size. On stock ZHP rears, there would be no rubbing with any of the three tires I've tried on this car because the +50mm offset would push the wheel 8mm futher inside the fender well, which is enough to avoid contact, even slammed low like my car is.

After about 900 miles with the Invos, here are my thoughts...

Noise Level
These tires are super quiet, definitely quieter than PS2s especially on the concrete freeways of the Bay Area. Under hard braking they let you know they're doing their job, just as any other tire, but they don't shout at the top of their lungs like others do. Under hard cornering, same thing, just a little more noise. Normal driving, you can barely hear them.

Ride
The Invos have a smooth and comfortable ride quality about them. After install I adjusted the pressures to 37psi all around as this is what I ran in the PS2s and BFG tires. The ride was much more compliant with my racing suspension set at full stiff, but the handling characteristics of the tires weren't where I'd like them to be during spirited drives in the mountains. After a long freeway trip at 37psi, I decided to adjust them up to 40psi and see how they did. The ride is still very good, now more taught and more in line with what I prefer for my car. But the handling...

Handling
As mentioned, at 37psi I found the tires a little lacking in grip during hard corning maneuvers on mountain roads. I noticed after a fast run over a well known road near me that there was some minor roll-over on the sidewall of the tires, just about 3/8 inch. Turn-in seemed delayed somewhat, as I'd turn the wheel and a brief second later the tire would respond and start to grip, tenaciously. It was then I decided to pump up the pressure to 40psi and see how they responded.

This photo shows how perfect the 40psi setting is on this tire. I put tire dressing on prior to going for a spirited romp over the hill and you can clearly see the separation from the contact patch and the dressed sidewall... it's right where it should be. At 37psi the tires rolled over passed the wear indicator arrow, a bit too much flex.



The higher pressure puts the Invos in their happy place for sure. I now have razor sharp turn-in and they answer every demand I throw at them. With only 900 miles on them, they're still wearing in. I expect after another 1000 that they'll really come into their own. They're predictable, neutral, and soak up some of the bumps to give better mid-corner stick than a stiffer tire would. This is something I enjoyed about the PS2 once I got used to it. The first set of PS2s took me some adjustment due to the somewhat squishy turn-in feel compared to the PS1s and Bridgestone S-03's I had been running prior. I feel the Invos are somewhere in between the S-03's stiff sidewall and the PS2s less stiff sidewall. Again, at 40psi, the Invos are very up to the handling challenges I throw at them every time I leave the house.

Other thoughts
On grooved pavement the tires don't tramline at all. They track straight, give great braking feel, and don't get upset at uneven pavement surfaces. The sidewall is a bit boring to look at, but then again, no one's looking at them when you're driving. The tread pattern is certainly unique and purposeful in design. I like it!

So, for $935 out the door, mounted and roadforce balanced at America's Tire, I'm really happy with my decision to try the Invos. Even if they last as long as the PS2s I ran prior, I've saved a track day's worth of money going with the Invos over the PS2s. That's a bonus as is the extra quiet the Invos provide.

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__________________
Jeff

Right Foot Buried In The Carpet - California Speedway - October 7, 2007


"You drive like old people $#@%... slow and sloppy!" - George Carlin