So I've been searching the web for ages now looking and researching which track day tyres to get. I'm currently running Federal RS-R's as my first set of track tyres and while they are very cheap (less then $160 each new) they only last a few laps before they over heat and go off. They also don't have anywhere near the grip of guys on R compounds so I'm looking to upgrade. They are fun to drive on before they go off but at the same time, not very grippy like R compounds. I'm running 18x9 rear wheels and 17x7.5 fronts currently. From what I've read and gathered, medium R compounds will be the go for club sprint days as the soft compounds will also go off after a few laps (faster but only last a  few laps). If anyone can confirm that it will be good, will the A050's in soft go off very quickly like 2-3 laps? I've basically purchased a second set of rims now, I'll keep the RS-R's just to use in the wet and for some fun. So the second set of rim's I got are 17x8 front and 17x9 rear. I was thinking of getting the Nitto NT01's does anyone have experience with these? My choice for these is because they cost around $1000 for a set or less and from what I read last heaps of heat cycles and don't fade out after a few laps. From what I read the A050's and Dunlop Direzza are really, really good (fast) in medium compounds but they are about $2000+ a set which is too expensive for me. :( So if anyone has some advice and experience would be great! Also if anyone know's how the NT01's compare against say a A050 in lap times would be great. I really don't want to make the wrong tyre choice again as I regret getting the RS-R's even if they were $650 a set, so would love to hear from people before I get the NT01's.
 

A050's do go off after about 3 laps, and after 3-5 sessions, they start to lose grip. Also depending on the size, you might not be able to get them in medium compound.

Personally i don't rate nittos at all.

Dunlops are great, but are really really expensive.

Have you considered hankooks? They are 90% as good as dunlops and advans, and are light years ahead of the nittos and the federals.

I can get the A050's in Medium but just too much money. The sizes I was planning to run is 255/40/17 rear and 235/40/17 front. (Currently on 255/35/18 rear and 215/40/17 front) on the other rims.
Why don't you like the Nitto's NT01's? What about them don't you like?
Yeah I looked at the Hankook's I read both the Z221 and Z214 are really good but again they are about $1600 a set in my sizes/similar sizes (i.e 245/40/17). They were my next choice if the Nitto NT01's aren't any good. So what makes the Nitto NT01's bad?
 

Interesting, I'm just about to get a set of NT01 only heard good things about them. The guys at the track are getting better times on them.

Currently running Nitto neo gen as a street tyre and they work well on and off the track.

When my car was running, I ran NT01. They are ok but not great. They are a lot slower than the A050, Hoosier A6.
They just do not have a ton of grip. They do not meld with the road like the other tyres. The A050 or Dunlop are more expensive but a far better tyre. They completely destroy the NT01. 
When they get up to operating temp they cannot handle being pushed for more than a few laps.
At Winton I run 1.37-1.39 consistently but after five or six laps they would start to protest so I had to take a little out of lap times (est 1-2 seconds) for a few laps then get back into it. At Wakefield they would be at least three seconds slower than the Hoosier/Dunlop/ Yoko and not as consistent.  I had work out, five year old hoosier which were way quicker than these tyres.
 

Awesome! exactly what I was looking for. So the NT01's are off my list then. Have you tried RE55's? Are they as good as the Dunlop, Yoko's? I heard the Hoosier can't do many heat cycles? Also how about the Hankooks?
 

They still make re55's?? I though they were being discontinued for the re11s? We used to run the re55 over the a048 (before the a050 came out) good tyre, and did quite a lot of heat cycles. Not as good as the a050 or z221 hankook, but a lot better than nt01 and rsr.

In high powered cars, the nt01 was destroyed, and in lower powered cars, we found the tyre had too soft a carcass, and it feels like it was squirming on the rim when pushed through corners.

The RE11's have taken over from the RE55s and because of that there are some brand new ones floating around for a bit cheaper then normal. So about $1700 in reasonable sizes for a set.
I was almost convinced to get a set of the NT01's but glad I asked here first. Almost every review online only say positive things about them but I saw much of the same for the Federal RSR's and was disappointed when I got them, though they are good for what they are, a non r compound and cheap. When I saw the NITTO's being an r compound and under a thousand dollars I was a bit worried because over the years with most things I've leant you get what you pay for. Cheap tyres are usually cheap for a reason....so I guess I will just have to hope for a second hand set of dunlops, advan's or bridgestones.
 

Okay so I've got another question. I managed to get rear tyres second hand 255/40/17 in Dunlop D03G medium compounds, a set of 4 for $600 with heaps of tread left. Now I need to get some front tyre. Here are my options:
Dunlop Star Spec Z2 (235/40/17) $290 each new
Nitto NT01 (235/40/17) $200 each new
Hankook Ventus TD Z221 (215/45/17) soft compound $200 each
 
Ideally I would get some D03G for the front in 235/40/17 but they are $400 plus a tyres.....So out of the above what is my best option? I was being recommended the Star Spec 2 but from what I read everywhere on the interweb seems to say NT01's are faster??? I know the Ventus TD221 are the fastest tyre but is a 215 better then the others in 235? I've got 8inch wide fronts so a bit worried it won't handle well with them on.