RickBetterley

Suggested by driving coach. Comparable/better performance at lower cost.
I noticed the Hankook is not available in 295 size I use on the Cayman. Only 275.
Thoughts on the Hankook option and the size restriction? I know we have discussed the Hoosier versus others question but hope to get best of current thinking.
Thanks - track tire budget could use some relief.

car_slave

If you're not racing I'd go with a lesser option. Wear might be a consideration if anyone has input on that?

wgn

Ran Z214 last year. Really like them, but as of right now I think they still are not available (since last fall!). This happens every year and it pisses me (and everyone else) off.

The last set I ran corded rears on heat cycle #16. I'm running R7 now since the kooks were not available but can't give any feedback on longevity since I have not worn a set out. Will update when I get more data.

Veloce Raptor

Rick, it's the better tire IMO, but Hankook's supply chain seems stuck in the 19th century, and they are available only sporadically throughout the year.

paradisenb

I have run them both. HoHos come in quicker, so in a race where the first few corner matters, advantage to HoHo.

If you have a lap to 1 1/2 laps to reach max grip, the Hankooks are better because they have great grip and last longer than Hoosier's and cost 1/3 less.

I have not run the R7s yet. Longevity is suppose to be better.

if you are not racing, I think it is a no-brainer.

Bill Lehman

I ran the Z-214 successfully on my Cayman S several times. As noted earlier, supply is very real problem. As a DE tire, try BGF R1. Not as sticky as Hoosier, lasts forever with gradual fall off.

linzman

Don't buy them. They're terrible, take forever to warm up, and are always back ordered. They never break track records on 12 + heat cycle tires, wear well, cost less.


More for me.

Sterling Doc

They are significantly smaller size for size, and don't pay contingency, but this may not matter much in your case. I agree they are great to drive on.

RickBetterley

Tire Rack shows them in stock for delivery June 28
WTF??

linzman

Just got my rears yesterday. Fronts on back order, due by end of month. But I ordered A WWHILE ago.

philstireservice

This has been an ongoing problem for 7 or so years now. When you only supply two sources with your tires this will continue.

Martin S.

Using the C51 compound, they want away oh so quickly. Ate the inside rears. Off came the Hankook Z 214, and back on with the Nitto NT-01. I watched the Nittos very closely after that since I had such a bad experience with the Z 214 tires....the Nittos performed nicely and the wear was even across the tread. Maybe I just got some bad rear tires....never again...it's Nittos NT-01 tires for me...not as fast as Hoosiers, but they wear like iron and 33% cheaper than Hoosier R7 tires.

wgn

I think the NT01 is the best value track tire out there - just not as fast as the stickier DOT rubber (Z214, R7, R1, etc.). When I'm not competing I still run Nittos at less than half the cost per day of the others.

Inside rear is where I corded the Z214 as well; 16th heat cycle of relatively short sessions (30 minutes or less).

linzman

Need more camber on the rear. R rated tires need way more than street tires. Can't compare them using the same alignment. Then again, if you ran the Nittos on an alignment meant for the Hankooks, you'd get uneven wear as well.

Martin S.

As stated earlier, Z 214 tire were gone in less than a day, 3 run sessions of 25 minutes each. Put on the Nittos NT-01, and the wear across the tread was fully acceptable. Can't recall the exact negative camber on the rear....I know that Hoosier recommends their R6 be run with -3 degrees of negative camber.

One last tidbit, I took out some 10+ heat cycled NT-01 tires in the rain. They were fully predictable.