Anybody ever run the Hankook TD Z221 - looks like a competitor to Nitto NT-01, R888R

[steved0x]

I was thinking the other day, Hankook makes a great HPDE tire (200TW RS-4) and they make other racing tire and slicks like the TD Z214 and faster, and I wondered why they didn't make a tire in the middle to compete with the Nitto NT-01, Maxxis RC-1, Toyo R888R, etc. I did a search and say the Hankook Ventus Z221 which comes in 3 compounds (hard, medium, and soft), and it looks like it slots right in between the R-S4 and the TD Z214.

https://www.hankooktire.com/global/tires-services/competition-cars/hankook-ventus-td-z221.html

However, except for a few very limited sizes on discount tire direct, and some ebay sellers selling some old 2012 stock, it looks like this tire isn't available in the US.

Has anybody ever run them?

[jsceash]

For some reason they aren't available in the US and the Ventus Z214 is very limited in size and availability also.

[steved0x]

Originally Posted by jsceash

For some reason they aren't available in the US and the Ventus Z214 is very limited in size and availability also.

The z221 has a lot more sizes but I guess they just don't send it over here.

I just recently got a set of the (relatively) new Hankook R-S4 and it is even better than the R-S3. I have run 2 events now partially on the Maxxis RC-1 and partially on the Hankook R-S4, and the first time (which was my first time on the R-S4 at a track I have only ever been to once before) I beat my old time on the R-S3 by around 2.5 seconds and was within a half second of my times with the Maxxis. The 2nd time was at Roebling, and I set a new best on the R-S4 the first session in which I tried them, a half second faster than the maxxis. I think my car setup favors the R-S4, and it just got me thinking about other Hankook tires...

Tires are fun