Hankook tires for staggered set up

[szvook]

Ok, so its time for new tires and this time I want to try Hankook tires in a staggered set up 245/45/17 and 275/40/17, and I was looking to go with Ventus V12 Evo’s - unless there is a better model to try. No snow driving for me (ever...unless we have a snowball earth 2.0) so just wet and dry. How’s the handling on these tires? Wear is secondary to me until I finally lower the car and adjust the front negative camber.

Thank you “Gerry” in advance.

 

[gerryvz]

To be honest with you, I haven't actually installed my set of V12 Evos yet on my staggered AMG Mono IIs. I'm waiting to refinish them and was planning to do this in the fall time frame.

However, I think the V12s are the best all-round super hi-po tire that they sell. The other ones seem to be more specialized for racing/competiton rather than street. The V12s replace the Ventus K14s (I think that is the name) of which I had two sets -- one on the AMGs and the other (non-staggered, 245s all the way around) on my Rial 8-hole 18" factory-pattern wheels, which I'm running at the moment. I was extremely happy with the K14s and I think I got around 25K miles out of the staggered ones on my AMG wheels. The 245s I'm running now have far fewer miles on them.

I have read great things and reviews of the V12s though, particularly for the money it's my opinion that they can't be beat. The few folks who have bought Hankook tires here and on 500Ex seem to have really liked them. Personally, I've been singing their benefits since 2004. I also have a set on my 560SEC (the "high performance" Ventus HRII) since 2004 time frame and have been happy with them. I've got probably 32-34K miles on them and the rears are starting to get a little low on tread, but I'll run them this season. I've already got a fresh pair of HRIIs to put on when their tread hits the wear bars.

Cheers,
Gerry

 

[Glen]

I haven't tried them either, but I've heard good things from the M5 crowd. I'm sure you will like them.

 

[szvook]

Thank you, guys. I did find a good review (click here) as well but the softness of the tires came up during handling and I was wondering if they are known for being too soft? Also, do any Hankook tires have a flange protector? I like that feature on tires.

Btw, are the Ventus R-S3 tires worth getting?

 

[gerryvz]

Yes, my Ventus K14s (or the predecessor to the current V12s) had a rim protector flange and the new ones do, as well.

IMHO the R-s3 is a very race-focused tire that is probably overkill for pure street use, and useful really only for dry pavement. I do like to have AT LEAST SOME capability for wet traction while still maintaining maximum dry/summer capabilities.

This has become even more important to me, surprisingly, after moving to Texas from rainy Portland, Oregon. This is because we get some SERIOUS gullywashers (rainstorms/thunderstorms) where you will have an inch or two of standing water on the pavement -- it's raining too fast to drain, as it will rain an inch every 15 minutes -- so having SOME water displacement capability is important to me. In the summertime you will get one or two of these a week -- although they last anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours.

I contrast this with the contstantly damp/wet/drizzly Portland, where there is very little standing water on the roads and few if any thunderstorms/gullywashers, perhaps one a year. But of course Portland is gray, wet or rainy 225+ days a year......

Cheers,
Gerry

 

[szvook]

Got it. Thank you again.

 

[szvook]

So, the Ventus V12 do not come in the 275/40/17 size but the Ventus V4 ES H105 do. I was hoping to get the latest tire but it seems I can't. I’m going to think it over.

 

[Glen]

In that price range, I'd go for the Continental ExtremeContact DW instead. You'll likely have a better ride due to lower weight...with a tiny sacrifice in turn-in response.