Tyres you use(d) and how u would rate them

[jmac]

Just wondering if anyone has tried the Hankook Ventus RS-2 Z212's.

The tyre supplier who I usually get my tyres from was explaining today that they are a semi slick, but further investigation to me looks that they are more an aggressive street tyre, rather than a semi-slick.

I'm about to start entering my car into track days, I hardly drive it on the street, so I'm wondering if these would be a good tyre for me to buy, or should I buy what I seem to think is a proper semi slick?

I have not used these tyres, but it looks as though they are a street-oriented tyre.

There are some comments about these (RS2) vs the Falken tyre (615) at the top of this thread:

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthr...230#post1153230

Also they tested the RS2 in with other street tyres in the recent Car and Driver magazine test. Basically the comment was that they're cheap and their results were up with the best (Yokohama AD07, BFG T/A KD and Michelin PS2) in the dry. PDF thingy attached, also link here;

http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?se...rticle_id=10252

CandD_gy_f1_gs_ds.pdf

[wilch]

Just spoke with chatswood payless for tyres - they dont have the 595's in but havwe the 535's - they say they are almost as good, not as noisey and hold up pretty good. anyone know for sure?

seem a good price

We've got 535's on Amanda's R32. They're not as good as the 595's, but they're a decent tyre for the money.

[wilch]

Federal SS 595's here and yes they lack grip in the dry, are useless in the wet and have no feel to them.

But for the price.. not too bad.

Is this track driving or on the road?

I've driven with these tyres on all 4 corners at Eastern Creek (dry). Cold, they're not that good. But once warmed up they're fine.

[Do-Luck]

I have not used these tyres, but it looks as though they are a street-oriented tyre.

There are some comments about these (RS2) vs the Falken tyre (615) at the top of this thread:

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthr...230#post1153230

Also they tested the RS2 in with other street tyres in the recent Car and Driver magazine test. Basically the comment was that they're cheap and their results were up with the best (Yokohama AD07, BFG T/A KD and Michelin PS2) in the dry. PDF thingy attached, also link here;

http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?se...rticle_id=10252

I ended up getting them Yet to give them a decent drive yet, because my car is too low and the guards are rubbing I'll definately give them a decent go at the Calder Track day coming up soon though

I compared them with the other street performance tyres, and they look more orientated to grip, so it'll be good to see how they go on the track.

[jmac]

Cool, let us know how they go. I'm in the market soon-ish for similar street (weekend-use only) tyres, looking at the Falken RT615, Hankook RS2, Federal RS595, Kumho Ecsta MX or maybe Yoko AD07's if I can get 'em....

Happy new years everyone!

[West]

Cool, let us know how they go. I'm in the market soon-ish for similar street (weekend-use only) tyres, looking at the Falken RT615, Hankook RS2, Federal RS595, Kumho Ecsta MX or maybe Yoko AD07's if I can get 'em....

Happy new years everyone!

Have you try TOYO RA1? The best for dry, wet and it almost feel like semi slick with much less noise. I've driven on it.

[Fixxxer]

The Hankook Ventus Z212's sound good (and did well in that car/driver magazine test). The SS595's didn't get that good a review at all from that other link on the previous page.

I think I'll be looking at either:

Federal SS595, or

Hankook Ventus RS-2 Z212 (if they are available yet)

Whats the pricing on these tyres, it seems like the SS595's are about $280ea for 235/40/18.

Fixxxer

[BAMR33]

Firenza ST-03 (235/45ZR17)

Dry: 2/10

Wet: 0.5/10

Value 4 $: 9/10

These Tyres are downright dangerous in the wet, at 100k’s the car starts stepping sidewayz by its self according to the camber of the road. I rated them 9 for value as no matter how much you torture these tyres the tread level never seems to reduce.

[Cubes]

I definitely agree with BAMR33.

I ran Firenza ST-03 (225/50 16's)

Dry: 2/10

Wet: 2/10

Value: 5/10.

I've ran the cheap similiar priced Simex tyres. Much better dry grip, on par wet grip so I consider Simex to be the best cheap of cheap tyres.

They did last BUT Simex do last longer with better dry grip and less tramlining.

Spend another $15 per tyre will get you in to a nice Toyo that all round has so much more grip.

[Do-Luck]

The Hankook Ventus Z212's sound good (and did well in that car/driver magazine test). The SS595's didn't get that good a review at all from that other link on the previous page.

I think I'll be looking at either:

Federal SS595, or

Hankook Ventus RS-2 Z212 (if they are available yet)

Whats the pricing on these tyres, it seems like the SS595's are about $280ea for 235/40/18.

Fixxxer

I just got the Z212's this week, and they were priced at $275 for 235/40/18. You can probably get them a little cheaper though I'd imagine.

[Lazy-Bastard]

Just got some Federal SS595's

Front - 235/45/17 - $149 fitted and balanced

Rear - 255/40/17 - $200 fitted and balanced

Compared to the Ventus 104's I had on the back previously (lasted 10 - 15K k's) they are a world apart in terms of grip....ie: much better

Previously had Falken Zeix 326's on the front and couldn't wait to get rid of them. They are f**king dangerous.

Went for a spirited mountain run last night and the SS595's have way more grip, both front and rear, than my old tyres.

They feel solid and inspire confidence at normal to high speeds, but feel a bit wishy washy at 170+

Will reserve rating until I have given them a more thorough test, but initial feeling is very impressive....and you can't beat the price

[a20089]

Is this track driving or on the road?

I've driven with these tyres on all 4 corners at Eastern Creek (dry). Cold, they're not that good. But once warmed up they're fine.

Street work only, yet to try the track. The last set of tyres I had on feed more information back to me and seemed to grip slightly better though they were well worn. Will agree that a warm up helps them with grip but still limited feeling for me.

I'm keen to try another brand when the time comes. Will the other brand be twice as good for twice the money? probably not. For the money they are OK.

R33 GTR 255/40/17 on all fours.

As for others comparing old worn out tyres to new SS 595's, it's real hard to make an objective comparison given the amount of rubber difference between the old and new tyres. The semi slick 595's (not SS) may be a better performer as well.

I just assume that the SS 595's will wear well, as most people have not commented on the no# K's obtained on a set of tyres.

[J_Red33]

Well here's an interesting trick that some of you may not know about. I went to 1 tyre store today to get a quote for a pair of Dunlop Sport Maxx's (sized 235/40/18) & I got quoted $395. Righto not bad for their top of the line tyre in such a big size I thought.... but then I rang another place that I have gone to on more than 1 occasion when I got home & found out there's 2 types with different load ratings in that size - 91Y & 95Y (95 being the higher load rated one of the two).

When I got the price it turned out that the one with the lower load rating was $395 as quoted by the other dealer, but the higher load rated tyre was actually CHEAPER at only $349 a tyre! So chances are, I'll probably end up going for the higher load rated tyre unless it's considered too hard in the sidewalls. The guy then went on to say that I'd probably been quoted on the lower load rated tyre price, but would be sold the higher rated one anyway if I went to the other workshop, which is more than likely!

Having said that I had a look at my K104's on the back & they're rated at 97Y or 730KG per corner!

Edited January 3, 2007 by JazzaR33

[Trust33]

wow that sound liek a mission for tyres...

Currently my SS595 federal 17/235F & 17/255R are holding up well.the front still inspires grip in the dry likewise when driving/drifting in the wet.though understeer is still present with hard suspension.

The rear still leans towards grip in the dry but in the wet they are easy to spin they just need a little more angle and or corner speed with acceleration to spin in third.

Have had them on since november last year and done about 2000-3000klms on them.

R33gtst with 185rwkw

still though i rate them over the falken 326's especially in the wet.Good tyre for their price imo.

[J_Red33]

Ok done a bit more ringing around today & got an expanded list of tyres now which now comprises:

Dunlop Sport Maxx (best quote $349)

Goodyear F1 GS-D3 (best quote $385)

Yokahama Advan V103 (best quote $372)

I am actually now leaning away from the Dunlops as the Goodyears trumped them in tests done reacently by Car&Driver.com as well as winning the test. However the weighting of points was biased towards dry condition rather than both being treated evenly. The Advans also beat the Dunlops in the testing Motor did also quite convincingly, & were noted for giving a lot more feel for the road.

This isn't gonna be an easy decision.

[siksII]

I have noticed those goodyears seem to always come up best in most tests since they were released, however people who use them dont seem to rate them as highly as the tests would have you believe.

This leads me to think that maybe some of the testing companies are paid off by the tyre companies, i wouldnt fully trust those tests especially the US ones. the motor mag test was too brief for my liking this year too, but the motor and wheels magazine tests seem more legit to me than some of the US ones.

For peoples info, called tempe tyres and they will sell falken rt615's in 255/40/17 for $300 each atm, not a bad price at all.

[Darkboy]

Ok done a bit more ringing around today & got an expanded list of tyres now which now comprises:

Dunlop Sport Maxx (best quote $349)

Goodyear F1 GS-D3 (best quote $385)

Yokahama Advan V103 (best quote $372)

I am actually now leaning away from the Dunlops as the Goodyears trumped them in tests done reacently by Car&Driver.com as well as winning the test. However the weighting of points was biased towards dry condition rather than both being treated evenly. The Advans also beat the Dunlops in the testing Motor did also quite convincingly, & were noted for giving a lot more feel for the road.

This isn't gonna be an easy decision.

I recently got the Advan V103s and almost pitched a tent when I first experienced them!!

WOW I couldnt believe how nice they felt, great in wet and dry conditions. Good looking tyre as well with quite attractive sidewalls!!

[Adz2332]

any one used ANTYRE?

Edited January 5, 2007 by Adz2332

[J_Red33]

^^^Never heard of them, who the hell are they & where are they from?

Thanks for those comments guys.

1 of the tyre dealers really summed it up for me today. He said you're not gonna pick the wrong tyre because those three different tyres are all good. I guess I'll just have to think about it a bit more & keep reading others opinions. Gotta do something soon though.

Edited January 5, 2007 by JazzaR33

[{RO$$}]

continentals on the rear of my silvia grip really well. really soft compound. middle range price.

i would endorse them lol