R Compounds or not, that is the question

DanDurusky · **Joined:** Sun Apr 10, 2005 7:31 pm **Posts:** 686

What do you guys know/think about the Hankook Z211? Theyre on closeout and quite cheap now. about $95 a pop. RA1s on the other hand would be $150 each

steve remchak · **Posted:** Wed Feb 20, 2008 6:42 pm

as long as we are sharing. i ran on streets for my first 7 events. on day two of a THSCC VIR-N, my instructor suggested i put the used V710's i had sitting in the trailer on my car. well it was an eye-opening experience.

whereas i had to lift going thru the up hill essess (or whatever they are called) due to my street tires losing traction, with the Kuhmo's i was able to pull thru the transition and boogie up thru there faster. it was a "no-sh*t" moment and i understood better what the car was capable of.

of course by that time my car was already fairly well sorted out and only lacking tires to tie it all together.

street tires are certainly an irreplaceable learning tool, however as Chuck has suggested there is much to be learned from driving on R-Comps early on in the learning process.

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:37 pm

FWIW, if anyone is interested, below is a link to some video of a BMW club autocross at the Performance Center where I was using Nitto NT-01 R-comps. This will give you some idea of how they talk near and beyond their limits. They are very easy to drive imo.

At about the 42 second mark you can see me overdrive the entry to a tight corner and hear the NT-01 complain LOUDLY along with hearing it shudder (if you drive NT-01s and get that shuddering a lot, lower the pressures btw...I've found they hate anything higher than about 39psi hot pressures). Then around the 47 second mark listen to them sing a street tire like song all the way around a left-hand sweeper.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zix2i_m9j9I

Regards,
Chuck

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Cline - to somewhat echo what Chuck and Stacy were alluding to .... how fast are you going right now on street tires? If you're not quite using those tires on 9/10s of the corners, stick with streets and use their "ability" to help you learn where you can go faster.

Only switch to R-comps if, without a doubt, your tires are the #1 factor keeping you from going faster in almost every corner. Not sooner.

That said, used Toyos are a good price:performance deal. New Toyos are great, new BFG R1s are like crack (and a little overkill). I have heard good things about the Nittos and Hankook R-comps.

Patrice Bousquet · **Posted:** Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:18 am

Cline

The last time I was with you I was surprised by the grip of your Azenis. I think you are ready to move to R compound.
But I think also that you should try a set of Bridgestone RE01R they are not that far away of some R compound.
After that, if you want, a set of R compound like the Toyo that usually last quite long. If you looking for time trial then
V710 or BFG.

I'm Germany at the moment driving an A3 2.0TDI, for a diesel it's not bad. Looking to drive the TT on the Nurburgring March 2.

Matt Nicholson · **Posted:** Thu Feb 21, 2008 2:15 pm

DanDurusky wrote:

What do you guys know/think about the Hankook Z211? Theyre on closeout and quite cheap now. about $95 a pop. RA1s on the other hand would be $150 each

They're f@#king terrible. There's a reason they are no longer made and on close out. I bit on a set last year. I was marginally faster than an I was on an older set of C30 compound. At CMP, they got hot (duh, it was 105F in the shade) and that was the end of their useful life. Only 5-6 heat cycles and they were no better than street tires. In fact, I think Azenis were faster Day 1 at CMP.

If you're going to buy those, just buy Azenis. They're more consistent, better in the rain, and you can just leave them on all the time.

Matt<---never buying Hankooks again....

clinehall · **Posted:** Thu Feb 21, 2008 9:21 pm

Patrice Bousquet wrote:

Cline

The last time I was with you I was surprised by the grip of your Azenis. I think you are ready to move to R compound.
But I think also that you should try a set of Bridgestone RE01R they are not that far away of some R compound.
After that, if you want, a set of R compound like the Toyo that usually last quite long. If you looking for time trial then
V710 or BFG.

I'm Germany at the moment driving an A3 2.0TDI, for a diesel it's not bad. Looking to drive the TT on the Nurburgring March 2.

Thanks Patrice, after Mike's post I had decided to contact you, figureing you were the most quailified to offer an opinion. I knew you were in Germany so I was going to wait.

I am envious driving the ring. My Business trips are to boring insurance locales like Cary and Erie, Pa!

Patrice Bousquet · **Posted:** Fri Feb 22, 2008 3:57 am

clinehall wrote:

I am envious driving the ring. My Business trips are to boring insurance locales like Cary and Erie, Pa!

Just get an European company in your portfolio....
The 10 day weather forecast for Nurburg doesn't look promising at the moment, possibility of snow ...

This weekend look good, the family is here (returning Wed. 27 ), we plan to visit 2 towns, Coburg and Rothenburg.

Matt Nicholson · **Posted:** Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:20 am

It's a dirty job.....

Graham Jagger · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 12:53 am **Posts:** 1718

Cline I won't tell you that you should or shouldn't run r-comps. I'd like to suggest that if you decide to go that direction. Don't go straight into a Hoosier R6 or Kumho V710. Work your way up. What I mean is try a middle-of-the-road r-comp.

The Falken Azenis RT-615 is not a plain old street tire. I used the Goodyear Supercars that came on my Z. Went through a couple of sets. Then I went to a Nitto R2. They outperform the above 2 tires but not ridiculously. Like what Chuck mentioned about feedback and how they are to drive on. Nitto R2 and now NT-01 and Toyo RA1 and the new replacement. Not full on slicks. You'll get the r-comp feel. You'll still get some squealing and slipping similar to the Falkens. But the grip level will go up. Not as wild as slicks, don't wear out as fast. Learn to drive those.

You can also step up your brake pads a bit to match those tires. They won't be as easy to overrun as the street tires. Make it a gradual change instead of all or nothing.

Graham

DanDurusky · **Joined:** Sun Apr 10, 2005 7:31 pm **Posts:** 686

most of what i've been reading leads to me to the Toyo RA1 for a long lasting , decent performing, good feedback, not too picky on heatcycles and shaving, etc Rcomp. easy to live w/ i guess.

I ran a used set of RA1s last year and liked them. I'm trying to find a used set now, but can't anywhere. So i'm debating going w/ new RA1s or some cheaper/less new option, hence the Z211s. Thanks for the input, Matt.

Steve Coleman · **Joined:** Sun Nov 13, 2005 9:50 pm **Posts:** 188

Twice the price... half the life... you do the math...

If you're TT'n or otherwise in competition up against others with them... fine... otherwise, who cares...

Steve 'Get in, sit down, buckle up, Shut Up... and Drive!' Coleman

PS: OCTJMO... ICBW...

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