^ This ^

Sub-par equipment can be lots of fun - just don't do it on the street.

Just to take a step back for a moment to put this into perspective (I think perhaps I wasn't clear) ... I'm comparing the experience with a bit lesser tire on the Z to a BRZ/FRS with their stock tires, which even according to top gear are a hoot because it allows you to have some fun.

You don't see warning threads telling every BRZ/FRS owner that they have sub par equipment so don't drive on the street. It's not like I'm planning doing what they did in that Chris Harris video either. Hell even cheap all season tires would still be better than the stock BRZ/FRZ tires. I'm looking to exploit the Nismo's phenomenal chassis on a street level. I don't plan on taking it to the track or driving at speeds that I could utilize a semi-track tire.

I do fully agree that a semi-track tire would give you the best response in an emergency situation so +1 for that, but comon its fun to kick the tail out a bit pulling away from a stop sign on to those those 40 mph ish back roads :D To do that on even the stock tires you really have to commit. The Dunlops according to tire rack have a less extreme compound than the stock tires and seem predictable which is why I am leaning towards them.

But I wouldn't put poor equipment on my car that would leave me a chance of having a crash just to do this. I'm basically reiterating what Chris Harris is saying at the end of this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPh90yNX-mY

Saying more basic tires is dangerous is somewhat like saying a BRZ or Sport-Compact is dangerous.. With this mentality you are basically saying that you should put the biggest extreme summer tire on your VW Beetle that you can so you don't get "caught out" and sure, I can understand that philosophy.

If you get caught out doing something stupid or put into a situation where you need maximum mechanical grip and are going to be pushing a full lateral load, yeah the best tire you can buy (RE-71R) is going to save your ***. An example would be If you go over a crest and didn't see a tight bend was coming up and you are driving to fast for the road or conditions.

Most bad accidents though are going to be traffic accidents, and swerving to avoid uncoming traffic or having to slam on your brakes isn't going to make that large of a difference because in most of those quick-react situations you aren't pushing the tires envelope that far.

I know from owning an older Z and now a 370, is that if you try to get close to the limit on public roads, it is much more risky. If you want to feel the 370 get close to the edge of grip on an empty country road even with some hard slower bends with the stock tires, you are going to be murdering the speed limit every where and if you know the limits of your machine, you will be safer in a car that has skinnier and less grippy tires when you do find and go over that limit.

If you don't know how to find the limit of your car regardless of how much tread is on them, well then I do hope you have the grippiest tires you can find. :)

Also, as per the Chris Harris video, you could always add more power to decrease the effectiveness of your tires when on throttle!

Lol yeah reminds me of when I got my last car, it was a base 3 series with square setup, 17" wheels and stiff runflats. Add to that the fact that they were new tires (well new car), the rear was stepping out on every turn. Have to admit I did have some fun with it :).

Having said that, I wouldn't consider actually going out and buying a tire like that.