Hankook Ventus Z214

[DRLA3186]

I've been looking to get 2 tires to mount on a pair of stock 15's for the drag strip and autocrossing. There are a good amount of positive reviews for the Z214 and wanted hear any input from the rest of the forum. Biggest issue with the Z214 seems takes some time to warm up. I see a good amount of discussion about autox tires and options for that but, I'd like to have a set I could use on both the drag strip and autox. Going with a 225/45ZR15

-Daniel

 

[DRLA3186]

Link on Tire Rack to the Z214s

Hankook Ventus Z214

 

[mitdr774]

Drag tires will suck at autocross and autocross tires will suck at the drag strip.

 

[DRLA3186]

In general that statement is ture but, these types of tires are geared for both the drag strip and autocross in dry conditions. From my understanding the only difference I would be making from the drag strip to autocross would be changing pressure in the tires.

-Daniel

 

[mitdr774]

Based on the description they are for a road course or autocross, not drag strip. Tires made for cornering have completely different charicteristics than tires made to go straight. If the tire can do both it is not ideal for either.

Every tire Ihave used that was okay at the strip surrendered in the corners unless I really put some heat in them first, yes you can make a street tire very sticky with a lot of heat. Same thing with tires that stuck in a corner, in a straight line they would not give enough to allow for the power to make it down to the pavement. Leaving black streaks with Falken Azenis 615 tires gets expensive.

 

[DRLA3186]

I'm not looking for the "ideal tire" in either category more something that can hold it own in both formats. I've seen guys in Vettes running Kuhmo Ecsta V710 on the quarter mile, which are in the same class as these Z214.

Overall, any autocross tire will lock up a lot better on the drag strip compared to a basic street tires I have on my 17s for daily driving.

-Daniel

 

[Preloader]

Sticky tires are good for both motorsports, but with increased performance, always expect faster wear.
These are BFG g-Force KDW's. MADE IN THE USA.

 

[mitdr774]

for some perspective..

205/55/16 Goodyear Eagle RS-A, ****ty all season tire with a fairly flimsy side wall. Consistent 2.0-2.1 60' time.

225/50/16 Falken Azenis 615, fairly sticky tire made for cornering with stiff sidewalls. Best 60' of 2.3 with consistent 2.4

The issue with the falken is that the sidewall (designed to handle cornering loads) was to stiff and allowed no give resulting in either a massive bog or wheel hop, or in the case of a quick NLS from 1-2 it would just leave two streaks of rubber (Man to I love the ability of a turbo engine to just keep making the power all the way to revlimit). The ****ty Goodyear while greatly lacking grip had a flimsy sidewall that allowed so give and decent launch without excessive hop or bog.

When it came to cornering the Falken would stick amazingly well and the Goodyear would just squeal and go wide. Its amazing how far a RS-A will roll under in a hard corner.

My only experience with BFG were some KDWS tires and they sucked at everything. Didnt corner well or grip going straight well. They did however make amazing amounts of smoke when it came time to finish them off.

 

[DRLA3186]

I understand the general consensus in the difference in sidewall from tire to tire, at the same time though it’s not its only characteristic that changes its performance in either drag or autox. In the past I’ve also used a pair of ****ty all season tires at a low PSI for dragging with impressive performance. Comparing Z214s to Falken Azenias is something I can’t truly follow as I’ve never had any real positive things to say about any Falken tires I’ve own in the past.

Either way, if you believe there is no tire that can perform well in both formats; do you have any recommendation for a cheap economy/all season tire for just drag? Also what would be the widest tire I could put on a stock 15” rim with no spacers? 235?

-Daniel