Next Set of Tires

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I'm attending the EVO school in KC next month, and anticipate that my Hankook Z214's (C70 compound) are gonna be all used up by the end of the schoo.

I'm running my Mazdaspeed 3 in DS, and like the Z214's, but have no basis for comparison with other competition tires.

Any ideas? Stick with the Z214's? Try some V710's? Perhaps the Nitto NT-01's some of the other guys are running?

I don't want my times to drop, but I'd like to get more runs out of my next set. Hankook does offer the Z214's in a harder compound (C50's).

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[JimR]

You are going to put a lot of runs on your tires at the EVO school. I did 35-40 runs in Phase I (your mileage may vary), which is a fair amount of life gone in a set of R-comps. A fresh set of R-Comps should last, but make sure to rotate back to front at halfway. FWD cars punish the front tires.

[springfielddyno]

honeslty, I think the hankooks don't cycle well at all... I've had the c70's and c50's... after 6 cycles, i thought they turned to rocks. the toyo cycles pretty well but is down on speed... and seems to wear quicker than now than the good old days. Personally, I'd go for the 710's, cycle pretty well and quick... However, Jim said he did 40 runs at his school, If thats the case and they are full lenght runs, I'd expect any R tire be just about done... if cycling is not that big of a concern, I'd go for Hoosier. Now granted, It's been 2 years since my last set of hoosiers, so maybe that's changed. maybe do a set of toyos's for the school and kumhos for events?

Good Luck!

[CivicSiguy]

I found this review on Discounttire.com regarding the Nitto's you mentioned:

OK, I don't have an E36 BMW M3 but an E30 M3 instead. I had to post under E36 M3 because there is no "real" application for my car. But, I use the 235/40/17 size NT-01. I am comparing this tires to the RA-1's and V700 Victor Racer's. I only use these tires on the track. FYI, the NT-01's make a lot of noise. They sound like sirens when run at speed, but who cares when you are on the track. The reason I purchased the NT-01's was because I wanted a tire that ran fast out of the box but didn't have to be heat cycled. Well, the results are a tire that handles fairly well but still nothing close to a shaved and heat cycled RA-1 or Kumho. I guess there is no such thing as a free lunch! The NT-01 come at 6/16th tread versus the 9/16th that the RA-1's come with so they do not get that rolled over rubber look on the tread which is nice. They seem to be wearing about at the same rate. In conclusion, I would definitely buy the NT-01's again. I may have them shaved to 3-4/16th though this time. My times are about 2-3 seconds down at full tread verus a shaved run in RA-1. Excellent track tires though!

[zoomzoom]

OK, I'm going with another set of Kooks, but bumping from 225/40/18 to 245/35/18. Just as long as someone can squeeze them on the 7.5" wheel... These tires are a good $50 less per tire than the V710's or the A6's.

I'm just now figuring out air pressures on the Kooks, and am reluctant to make a change.

[scoTT]

you will love the extra width.... I hope they fit on a 7.5....Ive got 255's on 8" wheels so it might be do'able......