http://www.hankooktireusa.com/pdf/uploads/Z214.pdf

I have a set of these on the way...I figured "why not?" Especially considering the waiting list for 245/35 Kumhos at TireRack is 86 people long!

Bryan

 

did they make the April 30 cutoff, I never heard ...

 

Yes... The boys from HK came by the Atwater tour to say hi.

 

the question is will their availability be any better than Kumho's

 

Anything that comes on a boat is subject to delay.

 

unfortunately the boat is not the cause for delay

 

Is it a secret or can you fill us in on the real cause for delay?

 

not really, it's not my intention to bash Kumho, they have a great tire

 

Agreed, but if they can't get it to the consumer...

 

I can relate to your frustration, makes me wonder about the Hankook 245/40-18, it can be an expensive mistake if they don't cut it

 

So what options are there for the RX-8?

The 710s are great and seem to be long lasting 72 asphalt runs on ours through and 9-10 heat cycles (one event was cold and wet with the tires never really heating up). They felt just as fast this past Saturday as they ever did. But availability is an issue with none available from dealers and no expected date of more coming in.

The Hoosier A3S05...Has anyone run an RX-8 on them yet? Is the tire any better/faster than the A3S04 was? The 710 feels a whole lot better than the S04 did and it seems to be noticeably faster (at least easier to drive faster at my skill level). How long will they last (runs/heat cycles). I think I got nearly 60 asphalt runs last year on 8 heat cycles and they weren't all that pleasant at the last couple events. Is it reasonable to expect the S05 to be much/any better than the S04? Hoosier needs it to be better than the 710, but is it there? One of the few endorsements of the S05 that I've seen was from Strelnicks, and his car is a bit, uh, different than ours. For good and ill, everything else seems to indicated that they're substantially similar to the S04.

Hankooks...some are suggesting that it may be faster than the S05, but at this point, we have no idea. Feel? Wear? Unless/until some AAA level drivers run them, it's venturing into the unknown. Then again, so was buying an RX-8 for some of us. :eeps: There's only one size available that works, 245/40-18 which may not be ideal.

Toyo...RA-1...moving right along

Avon...no 18" sizing

Dunlop...SP Super Sport Race...moving right along

Goodyear... GS-CS, F1 GS-CS...A choice of sizes. Does anyone know anything about them? How fast are they? How do they feel? How do they wear? Are they suitable for autocross? Did they make the April 30 cutoff? I haven't put any real effort into looking for info about them.

So, what's someone to do that didn't have the foresight to buy a season's worth of 710s up front? There are a couple tires that just plain won't cut it (Toyo and Dunlop), one that probably isn't going to be quite as fast, feel quite as good or last quite as long (Hoosier) and one or two that we really don't know anything about yet (Hankook and GY). Most of us are probably going to have make a decision pretty soon on what to do.

 

it's pretty much either Hoosier S05 or Hankook Z214 until Kumho delivers more tires. the S05 is better than the S04 but durability is likely still an issue

 

Not sure I want to take a chance on the Hankook.

Not sure we have a choice.

The Hoosiers are going to be between $212 and $223 apiece. How much do the Hankooks go for?

You guys who were smart enough to buy a set of V710s and stash them away are very very smart for having done so. I'm hoping the info we've gotten is wrong and that Kumho will have more tires for us before Topeka - but I'm not counting on it.

 

The Hankooks are $232.

 

I'll be running street tires for the rest of the year to preserve my r-compounds.

 

I got the same price from Frisby

 

Hoosier, the bargain leader! :p

 

From where?

 

Factory direct?

 

he has a "secret" source, the rest of us pay the $250 each price

 

Wow.. tires are damn expensive for this car.

 

welcome to the world of large diameter wheels, it's bad enough that the bling-bling crowd wants them but now all the manufacturers are playing follow the leader, large diameter wheels/tires are heavier and cost more, and in this case a 225/45-18 has no sidewall shortness advantage, it's rather dumb to put them on a low torque rotary vehicle but the people running the factory stock stuff are stuck with them

 

What's wrong with Toyo's?

What about using them on a full course track event (not autox)

 

Nothing is really "wrong" with Toyos...they are stickier than street tires, they are very long lasting, have enough of a tread pattern and are durable enough to be suitable for street use. All of those qualities make them less than ideal for competitive autocrossing.

 

Ra-1's are regarded as pretty much the best streetable R-comp tire. Some people get more miles out of RA-1's on the street then the old RT-215 azenis sports! lol