Tire selection is often overlooked, you mentioned grip and long life...I am not sure you can have both! I would recommend looking at AKAs, I have had great luck with them...also on their web site is a pretty handy tire chart that may help you out. The trick is to get a couple sets of racing wheels and only use them on race day...once they become worn they default to practice tires.
Goood luck and remember tires are a must...no sense in having top of the line anything if you can't maintain consistant control, check out the site...hope it helps.
I agree AKA makes great tires the guys I pit with use them and they win all the time, they have more control over anyone else I have less grip with new losi tires than there used AKA's. I have noticed big results with them