Piston rings for Nikasil

[1meansc]

Hi guys,
I am using JE pistons with Nikasil sleeves. Are there any better rings than the JE rings. Are there any problems with the rings supplied with the pistons.
If this topic has come up before, I appologise for the inconvenience.
Please give alternatives and there sources. The piston rings are 98 mm 1.5mm, 1.5mm, 3.0mm.
Thanks

[asphaltgambler]

JE offers several different styles/types of piston rings. One type is for general street use, one type for blown, nitrous, one type for short duration (drag race) and so on.

The main enemy of an efficient engine is lost HP due to friction. The single largest friction point is the piston rings. Many manufacturers use thinner (cross section), lighter tension, alloys to limit friction. Problem is there is a point of diminishing returns.

In an everyday street engine, you can only reduce the cross section and tension by so much until the rings stop doing what they are designed to do. Maintain combustion pressure; minimize leakage and control oil from the crankcase.

JE has a tech line and you could ask them for alternatives. Best guess by me is that you already have the optimum ring style for a street engine with that piston

[ChrisBennet]

I don't know if they are "better" but I've used Mahle Racing rings on 98mm pistons. Motor didn't last long enough to know how the rings would have held up.
-Chris

[asphaltgambler]

Usually "race" rings are very low tension, especially the oil rings. Even a road race engine does not run that long until teardown is needed for maintenance.