KiwiSean

Hi there, the Porsche Club in NZ has switched "allegiances" from Bridgestone to Hankook for our racing series. I'm interested in feedback, perhaps even side by side lap times, on the Z221 and Z214 versus others on the market like the Toyo R888 and Bridgestone RE55s (my current tires).

Have a test day coming and am thinking about investing in a set.

Also any thoughts on compound appreciated...

333pg333

Sean, many of the R specs we run down here are not available in the U.S. There might be literally a handful of guys that have run the Z221s in the U.S. and I doubt very much that you'll find anyone in here that has.

Take it as Gospel at the moment. They are the fastest R spec on the market right now. Well that's in the Soft compound. 2nd to them would be the Soft Yoko AO50's. The problem with the Soft compounds are that you will only get 1, maybe 2 hot laps in a row with them before having to cool down. That's 1 heat cycle every time you go out for a Sprint session.

If you want a bit more info take a look at the World Time Attack results. I think 8 out of the top 10 were on the Z221s.

http://www.worldtimeattack.com/

If you're actually allowed to run the '2 liners' i.e. Z214s then these should be a little quicker again (Medium vs Medium). Be interested in what you choose and how you go?

Eric_Oz_S2

I am currently running the 214 twin grooves (medium). They are certainly a lot gripping than the 2 r spec tyres you mention. In my opinion they are gripper than Hoosier r6 but they seem to wear the outside edges and need heeps of negative camber - like -3.5 front at minimum. I would guess they would therefore not last as long either. Not sure of your track there, but on most tracks twin grooves will take at least 1 second of your lap, often more.

The 221 r specs have been compared to r6 by someone I know that runs a turbo cayman. In his opinion they are better than r6s. The 221 and yoko a050 are the new benchmark for r spec tyres and I think these are really a step above all the competition. The field at targa tas, for example, use the a050 above all other tyres.

Ps if you're running a 911, then go for soft front and medium rears.

xupkid2

I run the Z214 in the C51 Medium compound and found them to be very good. I ran them back to back against the Hoosier R6's (both stickered sets) and was 2 seconds a lap faster on the Hankook's vs the R6's. As a result I've switched over to the Z214's completely. I also found I get more heat cycles out of them than the Hoosiers and on top of that they cost less. For me it was a good decision all around.

Gary R.

Too bad they don't offer larger than a 225 in 15" or I might try them!

KiwiSean

Thanks for all the feedback, this seems to be consistent with what I'm hearing although it's always good to ask past the marketing of a new partnership!

It's a shame that I can't get the 214s in 18s at the moment, is that a NZ thing or they just don't make them?

Eric, interesting point on the softs for the fronts and mediums for the rears, I may well try that.

I will report back side by side lap times with the RE55s from testing on Friday if the tires arrive in time and I'm consistent enough!

333pg333

Sizes/specs from Tirerack:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....el=Ventus+Z214

400hp944

The Z214 / C51 Hankooks kick ***! I have been running them for 2 seasons now with excellent results. I doubt there to be a better tire for the $$$.

333pg333

Not enough sizes (esp large) available.

Lemming

+1, I've been using them with great success.

333pg333

What, are you running 275 x 17" square Tim?

ps...just noticed your sig. Are you in Bellingham?

KiwiSean

Well, had an interesting day with the Hankooks yesterday. Long story short, we didn't find much difference in time between the RE55s, 221s and 214s. They are all very capable tires and able to put good times in when going hard. They behave very differently on the limit though.

For my driving style I found the 221s the most comfortable and was happier putting them on the limit than the other two so I could string good times together, generally really progressive. They were no good after 6 laps though and needed nursing. Unfortunately I couldn't get mediums for the rear and I 100% agree with Eric Oz's point about mediums for the rear and softs for the front after running them.

The 214s I had to run in 17s because for some reason there doesn't seem to be any 18s here in NZ to suit me although I could run the 225s front and 275s rear that they offer if available. We tested the medium compound and found them pretty good after a few laps. The steering was more direct and the tires were reasonably progressive I just didn't feel as comfortable pushing them, they weren't as predictable as the 221s or RE55s, IMO. Some of the experience could be from different tire profiles too though.

Fastest lap times at Hampton Downs (with a passenger) at 28 degrees ambient:
Bridgetsone RE55 (medium): 1:18:20
Hankook 221 (soft): 1:18:60
Hankook 214 (medium): 1:18:40

KiwiSean

Hey guys, any of you have a point of view on these 221s in the wet?

Cheers.

333pg333

Sean, the only guys responding to the Z221's will be Aussies and Kiwis. Not too many in this section of a US forum. I would say that there haven't been many people running Z221's on Porsches...especially rear engine versions. If you want actual hard opinions I'd check into Aussie forums...just not Porsche ones. The Z221 was the tyre of choice for World Time Attack for the last couple of years, closely followed by the Yoko AO50's (neither of which are available in the US for some obscure reason?). Now there are two control tyre events/series in Australia. World Time Attack which you can only run Yoko AO50's, or the new Hankook State Time attack series which of course everyone runs Z221's.

I haven't run the AO50's yet but hope to be testing early next month. The one major difference I've noticed is that the Yoko seems to be a much more 'rounder' tyre compared to the Z221. (See pic. Wouldn't believe that this is a 295/18 on 11.5" wheel) Haven't heard much about either in the wet. I'd suggest the soft compound in the wet but you won't get much dry life out of them...although quite possibly as fast as slicks for a few laps.