What are your experiences with these? Since I need 4 new shoes and tirerack doesn't have F1s in stock (i doubt if they did i'd get them for the price i got my last set $160/per ;-). Are these a good solid tire? Are they good looking? How would they compare to my F1s that only seem to last 15 to 20 K miles? Thanks for your responses in advance.

 

they will last a lot longer than your F1s.. dry traction, probably not nearly as good, but IMO better than Proxes.... unsure about wet traction. asf ar as looks you have a giant "HANKOOK" on the sidewall but if you're ok with that then everythign should be ok.

 

I am running the hankook ventus on my escalade 26", and I love them. Good looking and performing also plus they wear very well.

 

I am running the Hankook Ventus on my L as well and so far they are a good tire. I drove my truck back and forth to work last winter and except when I got on it a little too much they stuck pretty good. I like the way I can get them to power slide when I'm running hard on back road twisties.

 

I like them. I have about 20,000 on mine with plenty of tread left on them.
Here are a couple of pics for you.

 

I have them on mine. For the money, I doubt you'll find anything nearly as good. Mine were $122 ea. They hook nearly as good as the F1s dry...don't know about wet traction (I don't drive mine hard at all), and as mentioned, you can make some neat powerslides on the backroad twisties. They are very forgiving...and from what I've seen, they last a LOT longer than the F1's do.

 

I just put on a set.For years I always ran the F1's and the Nitto's, and was sceptical about anything else. Problem was that the Florida roads are laden with coral, which wears all tires quicker than in most other parts of the country. Anyone down here knows that you will never get the milage advertised by the tire manufacturers. So if F1's should get 20k then figure on 15,000 ( about 25% less) I think you get my point. For about $140 each your getting at least 20K miles(most likely more) a good looking tire, and after about 2 weeks of owning these, I am surprised at the dry traction they provide. These are V rated , and a while ago a V rated tire was the tire of choice on most performance cars.I believe a V rated tire is rated at 151 MPH. I sincerely do not notice any difference on my acceleration and might add that they are an excellent wet traction tire as well. So for about $285 (thats like 2 hankooks) your getting a terrific bang for the buck. Maybe having "Hankooks" on your sidewalls isn't so bad after all.

 

Under 450 hp they're a good tire. Over they spin and spin and spin. Mine have been on nearly a year (10k put on them) and you can't tell they've really been used, except for the 2 minute burn out I did because they wern't wearing Handle pretty well in the rain and are much quieter than Nitto 555's.

 

To fit an 18 in. rim I'm only seeing these tires in a 285. Is that what you guys are using?

 

No, they come in a 295/45-18. Ebay has a good deal going $599 for 4, shipped.

 

Guys, thanks for the pics and the opinions! I think this is the way to go, especially with the deal on ebay w/ free shipping and $599. Otherwise, I'd be looking @ $1100 for F1s or Nittos. I think the tread looks great on these tires, I think the sidewall will have to grow on me, but for the extra mileage I'll get, I think I can make do.

Thanks again,
Jim

 

Just ordered a set myself had the Toyo's but I find them to be a bit slippery in the wet. And the F1's are to expensive and just do not hold up. Artie

 

Unless you live in Germany, or do open road events, the speed rating is pretty irrelevant. The speed rating is what a tire will withstand on sustained speeds (i.e., heat). Stan Martin is the only Lightning owner that I know of (including me) who runs at sustained triple-digit speeds.

You were going along fine up until this point. I don't care if they are the best tire ever made, "Hankook" is a stupid name. At least they could have had the courtesy to steal an existing American name (like Bridgestone/Firestone).

 

Do you want grip or do you want wear? Pick one.

 

The hankooks also have a nice bead of rubber that goes right around the lip of the rim to help keep curb rash down.