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NismoZ_840 · 07-19-2010, 11:14 PM

Okay, my detailed review I promised...

Currently I'm on my 2nd set (DD/Autocross) and 3rd set (Track) of Hankook V12s and have been very pleased with their performance and their value! In fact, I'm about to buy my 4th set (track) here shortly.

My primary reason for buying the V12s came from these two independent, somewhat scientific and objective tests of affordable street tires suitable for the track.

Car and Driver Review, 2nd overall:
Hankook Ventus V12 Evo - Comparison Tests - Car and Driver

Auto Bild Sportscar Review, 2nd overall:

Source: Tire Magazine Reviews!! - MY350Z.COM Forums

While I love all the stuff I learn on automobile forums, I put a lot more weight on these sorts of tire tests than one-offs from Joe Internet that loves/hates tire X. Every tire post you'll see both extremes but never have the complete story IMO.

Personally, I've been happy with the Hankooks so I can't really offer an objective opinion on other tires because once my OEM Potenzas wore out (Yep, I drive a 350Z

Nismo edition) I went to the v12s and haven't switched. So I'm putting some blind faith into magazines reviews that I should be happy with the tires performance.

As to my experience, I am happy with their performance. I'm leading my SCCA Autocross class (AT Regional class - basically C Stock w/ OEM sized wheels with 140+ treadware tires) and at the track I generally feel competitive in my class as a Rookie driver. My car has been essentially stock except pads and fluids and I'm running 17x9 SSR Comps w/ 255/40 V12s on the track. Autocross I'm on the OEM Rays with 275/35/18 and 295/30/19 V12s.

So far the 17" V12s are holding up great on the track. Since this is a dedicated track tire (I do swap them at home though, so about 150 highway miles round trip typically) I have a bit more objective evidence on wear at the track. I have 8 track days here in Colorado over the Spring and Summer (4 High Plains Raceway, 2 Pueblo Motorsports Park, 2 Pikes Pike International Raceway) and will put another 2 days at Pueblo this weekend. I average about 75 track miles a day running HPDE3 and CTT events. From what I hear 6-8 tracks days is pretty good so I'm real happy getting at least 10 days from this set. I have run the v12s in the cold, 30-40F, and they do fine once heated. In fact my best time at High Plains (2:10s) was on a upper 30F day. I've run 2:11s in 90F ambient as well, but they do get greasy much faster as you'd expect.

The biggest weakness for wear is really my suspension with the front outside shoulders wearing/cording well before the rest of the tire (needs more camber, not adjustable on the 350z). The rears tend wear on the inside, but much slower, than the front outsides. Running a square setup has helped with swapping front to back (v12s are directional so no left to right even though a square setup), but the outside shoulder is still the weak point. In addition, I've been running clockwise tracks (they ran PPIR opposite when I was there, usually it's CCW) so the lefts get pummeled. I swapped my tires on the wheels so I could swap right to left and get at least 2, hopefully 4 days out of the tires (10-12 track days total). This winter, I'm putting adjustable front arms in to add some camber and hopefully even the wear out more. Same issue with my DD/AX, just not as extreme wear as on the track. I don't have a good estimate yet on their lifespan. Also, I can't comment on pure DD use since the mixed AX use.

I haven't had a big issue with chunking except perhaps at Pueblo which is really hard on tires in general due to large expansion cracks. I saw some chunks out of the center rib and just inside the shoulder, but nothing severe. The v12s will get greasy after about 20-25 minutes and to me that is acceptable. I think the tracks I run are about average when it comes to tire friendliness from word of mouth, but don't really have objective comparison. Typically top speed is around 115mph on the straights with 35-70mph curves. Check out my YouTube channel (link in signature) to see these tracks first hand...

Here's so pix of my track tires after 8 days, I have about 4-6/32 left on the outer grooves, but again the shoulder wear is the limiting factor in my case. You can best see the shoulder wear on the bottom of the tire(s) in pics 2 and 3:

So overall I'm very happy with the Hankook V12s. The only comparable tire price-wise with decent, but not great, AX/track performance reviews are the Fuzion ZRi. I think the next step up in term of performance and value would be the Direzza Star Specs, Kuhmo XS, and Hankook RS3 based on my research. However, I think I'd be giving up some durability (these are ~140 treadwear vs the V12 280) for that extra performance.

Right now, I'm just concentrating on improving my driving and having fun so I'm willing to trade off some performance for a few extra dollars in my pocket to pay for track time and car mods down the line. I think anyone who is looking for a very good general purpose street/AX/track tire would do well with the Hankook V12s on most, but not all, tracks and would be competitive in the local autocross street tire class. I would defer to other people who driven the v12s on a particular track to get their opinion, but also keep in mind their objectives, equipment, and experience.

BTW I have no affiliation with Hankook, just a happy customer. Generally I find the best prices for the V12 at Tire Rack and OnlineTires depending on the size. They also extended their $50 rebate through the end of November (just Google it). Hopefully this positive review won't change their great prices significantly in the future. Cheers!

07-19-2010, 11:14 PM	#90 (permalink)
NismoZ_840 Base Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Denver Posts: 16 Drives: 350Z Nismo Rep Power: 16	Okay, my detailed review I promised... Currently I'm on my 2nd set (DD/Autocross) and 3rd set (Track) of Hankook V12s and have been very pleased with their performance and their value! In fact, I'm about to buy my 4th set (track) here shortly. My primary reason for buying the V12s came from these two independent, somewhat scientific and objective tests of affordable street tires suitable for the track. Car and Driver Review, 2nd overall: Hankook Ventus V12 Evo - Comparison Tests - Car and Driver Auto Bild Sportscar Review, 2nd overall: Source: Tire Magazine Reviews!! - MY350Z.COM Forums While I love all the stuff I learn on automobile forums, I put a lot more weight on these sorts of tire tests than one-offs from Joe Internet that loves/hates tire X. Every tire post you'll see both extremes but never have the complete story IMO. Personally, I've been happy with the Hankooks so I can't really offer an objective opinion on other tires because once my OEM Potenzas wore out (Yep, I drive a 350Z Nismo edition) I went to the v12s and haven't switched. So I'm putting some blind faith into magazines reviews that I should be happy with the tires performance. As to my experience, I am happy with their performance. I'm leading my SCCA Autocross class (AT Regional class - basically C Stock w/ OEM sized wheels with 140+ treadware tires) and at the track I generally feel competitive in my class as a Rookie driver. My car has been essentially stock except pads and fluids and I'm running 17x9 SSR Comps w/ 255/40 V12s on the track. Autocross I'm on the OEM Rays with 275/35/18 and 295/30/19 V12s. So far the 17" V12s are holding up great on the track. Since this is a dedicated track tire (I do swap them at home though, so about 150 highway miles round trip typically) I have a bit more objective evidence on wear at the track. I have 8 track days here in Colorado over the Spring and Summer (4 High Plains Raceway, 2 Pueblo Motorsports Park, 2 Pikes Pike International Raceway) and will put another 2 days at Pueblo this weekend. I average about 75 track miles a day running HPDE3 and CTT events. From what I hear 6-8 tracks days is pretty good so I'm real happy getting at least 10 days from this set. I have run the v12s in the cold, 30-40F, and they do fine once heated. In fact my best time at High Plains (2:10s) was on a upper 30F day. I've run 2:11s in 90F ambient as well, but they do get greasy much faster as you'd expect. The biggest weakness for wear is really my suspension with the front outside shoulders wearing/cording well before the rest of the tire (needs more camber, not adjustable on the 350z). The rears tend wear on the inside, but much slower, than the front outsides. Running a square setup has helped with swapping front to back (v12s are directional so no left to right even though a square setup), but the outside shoulder is still the weak point. In addition, I've been running clockwise tracks (they ran PPIR opposite when I was there, usually it's CCW) so the lefts get pummeled. I swapped my tires on the wheels so I could swap right to left and get at least 2, hopefully 4 days out of the tires (10-12 track days total). This winter, I'm putting adjustable front arms in to add some camber and hopefully even the wear out more. Same issue with my DD/AX, just not as extreme wear as on the track. I don't have a good estimate yet on their lifespan. Also, I can't comment on pure DD use since the mixed AX use. I haven't had a big issue with chunking except perhaps at Pueblo which is really hard on tires in general due to large expansion cracks. I saw some chunks out of the center rib and just inside the shoulder, but nothing severe. The v12s will get greasy after about 20-25 minutes and to me that is acceptable. I think the tracks I run are about average when it comes to tire friendliness from word of mouth, but don't really have objective comparison. Typically top speed is around 115mph on the straights with 35-70mph curves. Check out my YouTube channel (link in signature) to see these tracks first hand... Here's so pix of my track tires after 8 days, I have about 4-6/32 left on the outer grooves, but again the shoulder wear is the limiting factor in my case. You can best see the shoulder wear on the bottom of the tire(s) in pics 2 and 3: So overall I'm very happy with the Hankook V12s. The only comparable tire price-wise with decent, but not great, AX/track performance reviews are the Fuzion ZRi. I think the next step up in term of performance and value would be the Direzza Star Specs, Kuhmo XS, and Hankook RS3 based on my research. However, I think I'd be giving up some durability (these are ~140 treadwear vs the V12 280) for that extra performance. Right now, I'm just concentrating on improving my driving and having fun so I'm willing to trade off some performance for a few extra dollars in my pocket to pay for track time and car mods down the line. I think anyone who is looking for a very good general purpose street/AX/track tire would do well with the Hankook V12s on most, but not all, tracks and would be competitive in the local autocross street tire class. I would defer to other people who driven the v12s on a particular track to get their opinion, but also keep in mind their objectives, equipment, and experience. BTW I have no affiliation with Hankook, just a happy customer. Generally I find the best prices for the V12 at Tire Rack and OnlineTires depending on the size. They also extended their $50 rebate through the end of November (just Google it). Hopefully this positive review won't change their great prices significantly in the future. Cheers! __________________ John 2008 350Z Nismo YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/nismoz840 Last edited by NismoZ_840; 07-19-2010 at 11:30 PM.