Okay,

So I have a first hand experience with the Hankook Z211s. While doing my homework, I wanted a set of tires in between Hoosiers (which are heat cycled out after 2 weekends) and RA1s (awesome and very predictable tire, lasts forever).

On a scale of 1-10, Hoosiers being 10, the RA1s would be ranked as a 7 and I would rank the Hankooks as a 9 in terms of grip.
Wear wise, they are comparable to a RA1.

Tires worked best at around 37~psi. They did NOT get greasy during my 1 hour enduro and was extremely predictable. They do not howl and scream either, yet provide excellent feedback. You will hear them slightly when they are going and when sliding, you can catch them if you screwed up badly.

Since they come in at 8/32, you do NOT have to get them shaved. Here is why, the thread blocks are sitting up only 3/32 compared to 4/32 for the RA1s. Secondly the thread blocks are a lot wider instead of skinny blocks on the RA1s which create the thread squirm.

Another good thing about these tires, I can get them in 245/40/17 which tend to run wider and is more appropriate for an E36 M3.

Last but not least, for the price ($640 shipped to my door) for a complete set, I was thrilled.

For comparison, I was running neck to neck with my IS competitor during qualifying and both the races. We had identical setup (brakes, suspension, car) except he was on Goodyear GSCs.

No affiliations, just a happy consumer.

Lutfy

which compound is this? C30 or C50?

and which vendor did you get them from?

This is the C50 compound and I got it from www.thetireshopp.com

I spoke to one of the instructors in Canada and he too confirmed about the longevity > RA1s. I think he had 30+ track days on his Kooks before they corded.

A.L.

I had the opposite experience with the Hankooks this past weekend at Summit Pt. Initial grip was better than RA1s but they went greasy on me after about 10-15 minutes into the enduro and I was fighting with them the rest of the race.

I had them up around 40lbs so maybe I overinflated them.

I had the opposite experience with the Hankooks this past weekend at Summit Pt. Initial grip was better than RA1s but they went greasy on me after about 10-15 minutes into the enduro and I was fighting with them the rest of the race.

I had them up around 40lbs so maybe I overinflated them.

Which car were you driving and in what class? 40 seemed a lot for me as well. During the pits, I got my tires checked and they were at 41. Got them down to 37 the grip came back and never left again.

A.L.

IS 75

Any idea what ambient / track / tire temperatures were like?

Any idea what ambient / track / tire temperatures were like?
Ambient was in the 90-100 range. I think I heard that track temps were in the 130s, but don't quote me on that.

People seem pretty ambivalent about the Hankooks. Some really like them, some don't. I knwo one guy in a quick JP car took off the Hankooks in favor of his old RA-1s last weekend. Personally, I was just wishing for Hoosiers. :)

Another good thing about these tires, I can get them in 245/40/17 which tend to run wider and is more appropriate for an E36 M3.


You can fit 245's without flaring the fenders?

You can fit 245's without flaring the fenders?

As a data point, these 245's on koseis fit on the GF's completely stock 328is and didn't rub anything.

You can fit 245's without flaring the fenders?
245/40/17 is the stock tire size on E36 M3s (yes, I know tire sizes vary :) ), and fit front and rear (depending on ride height, of course) just fine.

I've got 245/40/17 all around on the street M3, stock 8.5" Contours, stock suspension, no spacers, no fender rolling. I would think a Stock-class M3 would have similar success.

My 2 cents,
Jim

For those of you running these on 8.5" wheels.... how well did they fit? Were they stretched? Pinched?

I'm thinking about picking up a set for my 17x9s... the 'tech' shows that they should fit without any problem.

Dave,

The 8.5 * 17 wheel and 245s wrapped around them were totally fine (its the stock size for the rears) in the front without any rubbing or any use of spacers.

Techno550 took the set out a weekend before to scrub/heat cycle them for me at a local autox. They put it on a stock 328i and it did not scrub.

A.L.