Hankook Ventus R-s2

[speednby]

Originally Posted by PossumK

Yeah, it looks like you're asking Justin (VikingMoose)... my name's Greg.
I guess I notice a bit of a floaty/balloony feel on the street as others have said, mostly when going over rough roads. This doesn't really bother me though. I still have the flappy noise when I go over any bumps in the road... this concerns me a bit, but I haven't seen anything bad come up yet. I'm willing to tolerate the street feel of these tires for their performance on an autocross course.

-Greg

Ooops! MY Bad! I thought Possumk was Justin . Ok, now that we have the introductions out of the way (I'm Mike, BTW), Thanks Greg for the input once again. Like you, I'm not that worried about a little street noise here and there. I was just a little worried about the extra wide tread with the same sidewall height on stock wheels. I just want to know they will bite when I ask them to on the autox course. Well, looks like I've procrastinated long enough, I'm officially heading to discounttire.com to order my new tires!

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[Vikingmoose]

No worries, mang, it happens. Good luck with the tires, I'm sure they'll do you good. With any luck, I'll have a set myself soon.

[PossumK]

Originally Posted by PossumK

I still have the flappy noise when I go over any bumps in the road... this concerns me a bit, but I haven't seen anything bad come up yet.

After more driving, I'm starting to think that the flappy noise is from the front swaybar clunking on the right side. I've never heard a swaybar clunk before; this is just a guess. Someone else tightened the stock endlinks on the right side, so I don't know for sure if it's tight enough. I'll take a look at it later today.

[PossumK]

Originally Posted by PossumK

After more driving, I'm starting to think that the flappy noise is from the front swaybar clunking on the right side. I've never heard a swaybar clunk before; this is just a guess. Someone else tightened the stock endlinks on the right side, so I don't know for sure if it's tight enough. I'll take a look at it later today.

Sorry for bumping this so many times replying to myself. It looks like there is no flappy noise from the tires. I was hearing swaybar clunking. The endlink bolt had a bit of tightening left in it - definitely not at the spec'ed 22 ft-lb.

[yosemitemtb]

Anyone running the "Kooks" on an '02 wagon? I'm curious as to what size might fit without too much rubbing. What are the chances of fitting the 235/40-17's on a set of Rota's (17x7.5, 48mm offset) Eibach springs (~1.5" drop) and KYB AGX's for autocross use only. Or should I go with 225/45-17's? My rear fenders are already rolled and I'm running about -1 camber in the back with the ability to adjust with Hotchkis camber links. Front camber controlled by Cusco camber plates and I'm a little worried about rubbing the fender liners up there also. I've been autocrossing on stock sized 16" Kumho MX's and Azeni Sports but came up with the Rota's and need new skins. Sorry if this is a thread hijack, but I found it helpful and thought it could use some fresh info


PS. I also realize 235/40-17's ideally need an 8" rim according to some folks, but still interested in hearing opinions.

[BlkWRXWag]

I run the 235/40/17 kooks on my 03 wagon. This on 17x8 Rota Slipstreams. I also run 245/40/17 Kuhmo MX'x. No rubbing - my fenders are rolled. Suspension is Koni Inserts with GC Coilovers, 400lb spings front and rear.

[redwagon]

Does anyone have enough miles on the R-S2 to really get a clear idea of how they are going to last?
The reviews are good and the price is right, but I want to know how much use I can reasonably expect to get from them in normal street use.

[AWDrifter21]

Originally Posted by redwagon

Does anyone have enough miles on the R-S2 to really get a clear idea of how they are going to last?
The reviews are good and the price is right, but I want to know how much use I can reasonably expect to get from them in normal street use.

Ive had them on for over a year now and I racked up over 18,000miles on them already. I push them hard almost all the time when in safe area of course and have fun on weekends. DAILY DRIVEN tires except winter, I still have about 70% tread left and still great in the dry and just as good in the rain.
I would say they can last me another year or so.....and then they can be dedicated for just dry use ill take a current pic of the tread tonight...

edit*, I currently have ~18,000miles on the RS2s, not 13,000

[AttaQ]

Just to throw in my $0.02, I have had these for a couple of months now and put them through several days of VERY hard driving on the Dragon, Cherohala Skyway, and other fun roads in TN and NC. They performed very well, I was impressed.

They are clearly a superior dry tire to my former Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3's. The fronts took more of a pounding and will go to the rear in the spring, but the trip clearly lessened the longevity of the set. Either way, I still recommend these tires for dry and wet weather grip!

[othon]

Im getting the Ventus R-S2 Z212 monday in 205/55/16 to replace the curent tires i bought Dunlop SP Sport FM901 225/50/16 man the side walls on the Dunlops are like rubber bands they suck on a 6.5 in wide rim.
Anyways ill be getting the Ventus R-S2 Z212 on Monday Ill be able to tell the ppl asking about the side walls after that.

l8rs

[Uncle Scotty]

....the z212's sidewalls are stiffer than the fm901's....and ya coulda got the 225/50's and been

..and the difference in grip will ya

[express_wagon]

time to give this thread a bump

for those who live in new england, it's day 9 of straight rain...sad and depressing, but that's another story. in addition, sorry to those that have lakes for a basement.

i've always been a person that took it very easy in the rain. but coming home last night, fairly late and still raining hard, i gave them a good spirited run. standing water was basically everywhere. these tires just rock. keep the foot on the gas and these babies just stuck like glue. hydroplane? well yeah, there ere some but no scary moments whatsoever. many people have claimed these are dry superior and just okay in the wet. IMO, if you feel these are not good enough in the wet, you are driving incredibly fast.

well this is basically it...great summer tire, i just dont see why people even look at anything else that is remotely in this price range, i paid roughly $90 p/tire at www.tires.com for these. 225/50/16 mounted on 98 RS wheels. what a deal.

oh yeah, forgot to mention, these things are so quiet!

[othon]

LOVE THESE TIRES SOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!

[joltdudeuc]

I've got 245/45/16s on my RS, and loving it. After the next autox on the 30th, they'll be autox strictly. This way they'll last through the regular season in the spring/summer.

-Gagan

[AUTOwrXER]

Originally Posted by express_wagon

time to give this thread a bump

for those who live in new england, it's day 9 of straight rain...sad and depressing, but that's another story. in addition, sorry to those that have lakes for a basement.

i've always been a person that took it very easy in the rain. but coming home last night, fairly late and still raining hard, i gave them a good spirited run. standing water was basically everywhere. these tires just rock. keep the foot on the gas and these babies just stuck like glue. hydroplane? well yeah, there ere some but no scary moments whatsoever. many people have claimed these are dry superior and just okay in the wet. IMO, if you feel these are not good enough in the wet, you are driving incredibly fast.

well this is basically it...great summer tire, i just dont see why people even look at anything else that is remotely in this price range, i paid roughly $90 p/tire at www.tires.com for these. 225/50/16 mounted on 98 RS wheels. what a deal.

oh yeah, forgot to mention, these things are so quiet!

What is your current tread depth?

[express_wagon]

Originally Posted by AUTOwrXER

What is your current tread depth?

at about 4k miles

the fronts have 7/32nd on the outermost channel, a tiny bit less than 8/32nds inside.

rears is also a tiny bit less than 8/32nd

so far, very impressive wear. new is 8/32nd.