Why I'm Buying Hankooks Instead of Pirellis...

[schnellman]

Originally Posted by Sandro

I have been driving on the Sumitomo HTR Z111 since I bought the car in 2009 (Boxster98) and driven from Florida to Mtl in mostly rain. Still have them on and I love them.

My HTR ZIII's have been on my '98 for over two years and they're still looking good. When I replace them, it will be with another set just like 'em.

[j.fro]

+1 for the Kumho ASX
+1 that N ratings aren't the only safe tire for our cars

[944boy]

I have the HTR-ZIII's and I am about to order a new rear set. I forgot how many miles are on them. Not a great track tire. But definitely a great street tire. I've traditionally run through 1-2 sets of tires a year on my 944 so the 2+ years I have gotten out of the Sumi's has been phenomenal.

I do have Michelin Pilots on my bike... but bike tires are a totally different animal. No cheaper though, just less of them.

The best tires are ones that you are happy with! (and don't explode on you)

[ekam]

I think I've had my 18" star spec for 2 years 20k miles there's still half left I think...?

[Frodo]

Originally Posted by ekam

I think I've had my 18" star spec for 2 years 20k miles there's still half left I think...?

Impressive! That may just be my next tire choice.

[sd_boxster]

Update: Got the tires mounted up at Discount. Their road force machine was on the blink, so they were spin-balanced... I had low expectations of the install.

I put about 3.5 hours of spirited mountain driving on them this morning, and they were impressive. The Hankooks have more grip than the S.Drives they replaced, and they were far and away better than the Pirellis that my Boxster came equipped with.

My only complaint is that I have NO idea when they'll break loose - I could not get a squeak out of them, let alone any understeer or oversteer. They consistently did exactly what I asked. I started this AM at 7:30, and it was cold (by Southern California standards... 60s). By 11, it was hot (about 90 degrees), and they gripped astonishingly well all morning.

For those of you in San Diego, I drove from SD toward Julian, took the Sunrise Highway over to Mount Laguna, down Mt. Laguna through Guatay, and around back up to Julian, down the hill into Anza Borrego to a disused airstrip where I bounced off the rev limiter in 4th, back up the hill through Julian for the third time, and back down through Cuyamaca to the 8 and back home.



I approve of these tires. Looking forward to AXing on them!

*edit* The Discount Tire on Mission Gorge gets props for doing a damn good spin balance job. Everything was rock solid at speed.

[chaudanova]

Originally Posted by sd_boxster

For those of you in San Diego, I drove from SD toward Julian, took the Sunrise Highway over to Mount Laguna, down Mt. Laguna through Guatay, and around back up to Julian, down the hill into Anza Borrego to a disused airstrip where I bounced off the rev limiter in 4th, back up the hill through Julian for the third time, and back down through Cuyamaca to the 8 and back home.

Dallas, I'm here in SD too & that drive you described sounds amazing. Looking forward to joining you some time for some spirited driving!

[thstone]

Good to hear that you like the tires and that everything worked out for the best!