Anyone running this road race tire? The consensus on the internets is it's just as fast and in some cases faster than the Hoosier R6 as well as more durable (harder compound?). Also helps they are cheaper

Did a search in this section but didn't find any posts of anyone using them, nor are they in the "tire database".

Thanks!

 

A local autox'r uses them as his all-in-one tire (autox and track). I have historically beat him in autox, as he was on R888s and I was on V710s. More recently, I have moved to scrub A6s and he changed to the C51. In May, I barely nipped him, but only because he hit some cones. I'm surprised they are that fast since they aren't even their autox tire.

http://www.lmsportscarclub.org/resul...1_AUTOX_04.pdf

He beat me last month, though my tires corded. I may have to try them, just to see.

http://lmsportscarclub.org/gallery/May2011/DSC_0038

http://lmsportscarclub.org/gallery/May2011/DSC_0057

http://lmsportscarclub.org/gallery/May2011/DSC_0051

 

I've run them in C51 compound against a BFG gForce R1 at Cal Speedway and they are slower then that tire on a cool weekend.

 

I have been running them this season for DE, T/A, and recently autocross. I think they are on par with or close to Hoosiers. They have been wearing very well, except the outside edges are wearing a lot faster than the rest of the tire. That could be my camber settings though. I run very little camber for a Z. I did notice a slight dropoff in grip after my third track day, but they still keep up pretty good. For the money, I don't think there is a better value, and I will buy more until they go expensive like the Kuhmos did.

 

Cool thanks, heres some other input from a friends Dad who tried them for the first time this weekend on his G37.

The camber wear has me concerned.

 

Wierd. I'm hard on tires, too. I don't slide excessively, but I leave nothing on the table in corners. I wonder if it is a design problem, because I don't usually wear out the outsides as fast. There is a 3" wide area from the shoulder inwards where the rubber wears differently than the rest of the tire.

 

i recently tried a set. I normally run the AO48s cause they last forever. So I bought a set of 275/35/18 C51s. Put them on and knocked 3 seconds off of my lap time at CMP, 2.5mile track. Of course I lost my front right sway bar end link so it could have been faster or slower.

As far as Camber, most R compounds need at least 2.5 degrees negative camber and since our front suspension is junk, I run about 4 degrees of camber. pyrometer and pressures are good at those settings at elast for my driving.

Many moons ago we took my buddy's 350Z to mid west Z fest and through a set of R6s on it with no aligment, we chewed up the front left in a day, the outside edge was gone! sticky tires need camber.

IMO if you can't set the alignment up, then perhaps stay with a sticky street tire until you can. You'll just be throwing money away.. Again my opinion.

 

oh yeah, I put over a dozen heat cycles on the tires that weekend. I have an event in a few weeks, I'll let you know if they are any good the next rodeo.

 

Yeah I ended up going back to my go-to tire, the NT-01. Not as fast but didnt like throwing money at tires until I get properly setup.

 

even with the NT01s they like camber

from planet-9, porsche forum, hard to get concrete info from tire makers other than hoosier. I even emailed Hankook to get details on alignment preferences for the Z214s, over a month now and nothing back, that will be my last set of Hankooks, no matter how good they are.

 

Anyone know if this C51 is comparable to the C50? The tread pattern is certainly different, which could be a concern when trying to mix tires, but I'm curious if the compound is similar. I have 3, new, C50s, and I'm trying to get a fourth of something similar enough to use for lapping.

 

Scott- the previous generation of Kooks used the C50 compound. That was the Z211, I believe. I've been on both models and can report that the C51 came in a bit quicker, had better traction and seemed to have a wider operating range than the C50. Good luck in finding that fourth tire and enjoying the Z214.

 

Typo on my part - I actually have 3 C50s, so need a 4th comparable tire in that size. I was thinking BFG R1, or even this spare R888 that I have.

 

Oooh, don't throw the R888 in with the C50s. I don't think that would be a good match. Get a couple of C51s and run a pair front and a pair of C50s back (or vice versa). The C51s are a stickier tire.

Back to the OP, the Hankooks will wear faster than streets simply because of their design. They're a great tire but even on an ideally set up car, they wear quickly. But then, no faster than other similar two groove tires. Hoosiers might be a bit faster, but Hoosiers are also a wider tire - even if you purchase the same size configuration.

 

id love to try a set of these tires but looks like ill have to buy a new set of wheels to mount them on... i dont see that they make a tires size to fit the nismo rear 19" wheel.