Need help with tire and size

[Nliiitend1]

I really wish people would stop quoting that Car & Driver article as if it's the bible...

And yes, while the Hankooks "placed 2nd" in their (largely subjective) comparison test, they do state unequivocably that the Dunlops and Kumhos kicked the other tires' figurative asses in the dry:

Both the Dunlops and the Kumhos felt head and shoulders above the other tires...

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...sts/dunlop_direzza_sport_z1_star_spec_page_11

Also, it's worth noting that the reviewers stated that the Hankooks didn't "feel" as good as many of the other tires, and to me this is extremely important. There's a certain amount of numbness I'm willing to put up with for a really grippy tire, but when their absolute grip limits are lower than other tires that also feel way better, there's rather limited reason to accommodate such numbness.

That's just my $0.02.

 

[Design]

The Star Specs and Ecsta XS are really in a different class over the V12 Evo's. Expanding on my previous statement, I find it hard to justify going with an EP class tire primarily for street use unless you're in an environment where you're constantly driving at the limits.

I'd imagine EP's would perform very well the first 7-10K, then taper off sharply as the exterior tread pattern wears down. Because UHP tires like the V12 Evo's and SPT's have a slightly harder rubber compound, they are more likely to perform consistently for longer periods of time. At least that's my experience with these classes of tires in the past. We'll see if that's the case this time around; V12 Evo's are going on my car soon enough.

 

[Nliiitend1]

The Star Specs and Ecsta XS are really in a different class over the V12 Evo's. Expanding on my previous statement, I find it hard to justify going with an EP class tire primarily for street use unless you're in an environment where you're constantly driving at the limits.

I'd imagine EP's would perform very well the first 7-10K, then taper off sharply as the exterior tread pattern wears down. Because UHP tires like the V12 Evo's and SPT's have a slightly harder rubber compound, they are more likely to perform consistently for longer periods of time. At least that's my experience with these classes of tires in the past. We'll see if that's the case this time around; V12 Evo's are going on my car soon enough.

Exactly...which is another reason that I'm not really fond of that comparison test...

 

[jabba]

Exactly...which is another reason that I'm not really fond of that comparison test...

The problem with trying to choose tires is that everyone of the forums has an opinion, and often it is contradictory because of their driving preferences. So then you try to depend on magazine testing as a somewhat authoritative source. But yet, again there are contradictions. I looked at the C&D ratings, thinking that it represents a more aggressive driving style (they have an 'autocross' rating), then looked at Consumer Reports ratings (yeah, don't yell at me), thinking it represents a spirited driving style (they have a 'handling' rating):

1. Car and Driver seems to put Michelin PS2 in the middle of the pack when you look at each individual rating (except for dry autocross, where it excels), but Consumer Reports rates the Michelins in 1st place, where in their test they like the wet performance.
2. C&D puts BF Goodrich g-force middle of the pack. But CR puts them right near the top in 3rd place (out of 21 tires tested)
3. Both magazines agree that Nitto Invo are near the bottom of the pack.

So what does this tell us? Sadly, I'm not sure, except that maybe I shouldn't buy the Invos. Otherwise, my gut feeling is that you go with the C&D ratings if you like to drive hard and to the limit (i.e. autocross), and you go with C&D if you want a good all-around performing tire (i.e. spirited driving).

btw, CR did not test the same Hankooks as C&D (they tested the Ventus S1 EvoK07, which placed on the lower end of the ratings), so no useful comparisons there.

 

[Hirudin]

I just ordered myself a set of the Hankook V12s, thanks to your guys' comments. Thanks!

If you're still on the fence you might want to know that starting today there is a $50 rebate on these when you buy four at once. $87.50 seems like a pretty darn good price for these tires! Offer is for purchases between 4/01/10 and 5/31/10, see PDF for all the fine print.

Here's the rebate PDF (it's on TireRack's site, but I don't see the "TireRack" name printed anywhere on it, I plan to use it with Discount Tire).

 

[08cosmic3]

I just ordered myself a set of the Hankook V12s, thanks to your guys' comments. Thanks!

If you're still on the fence you might want to know that starting today there is a $50 rebate on these when you buy four at once. $87.50 seems like a pretty darn good price for these tires! Offer is for purchases between 4/01/10 and 5/31/10, see PDF for all the fine print.

Here's the rebate PDF (it's on TireRack's site, but I don't see the "TireRack" name printed anywhere on it, I plan to use it with Discount Tire).

The rebate comes from Hankook, You have to send it in with proof of purchase. It only took me three weeks to get my rebate check.

 

[Tronspeed3]

do you guys think I could fit 235/40 on my stock rims? I'm looking at the Hankook V12

 

[Saskatchewan17]

Meh... they might with a little hoping and praying... but I really wouldn't go any bigger than a 225 on the stock rim. A 215 is already as wide as you should go.

 

[GhostMercury]

Well I got the v12's in 225/45/18 on my 18x7.5 with 52 offset, 5Zigen wheels. The tires and REALLY nice and not worth all the bad reviews they get. I'm running 36psi front, 34psi back and response is really nice. Plus THEY DON'T RUB!!!

 

[skallen]

Just out of curiousity...How come I never see anybody rolling 35 series on their 18's? With all the rubbing issues that people have, I would just assume that someone would have tried the 35 series. Just a question...I'm rolling 225/40's on my 18's so I have no need for 35 series. But I will when I get my H&R coilovers

 

[GhostMercury]

No need to ride rubber bands when there is no need. Plus it looks better when there is some tire on the rim IMO.

 

[skallen]

I just figured instead of rolling the fenders, why not just get a lower profile tire. I know the ride may suffer a bit, but could it really be that much? I was thinking about going to 35 series when I put my H&R coilovers on. Do you thik that would be a mistake?