Now, I know a lot of people will be bouncing in their seats wildly waving their hands going, "Oo, Oo! I know! I know!"

The Falkens look great, but I read they get pretty greasy in hot weather. The valley here gets to 110º in the summer.

I've been looking at the Hankook's and liking what I see. Might last a bit longer in daily driver/autox life.

Comments?

 

I just ordered the Falkens in a 205-50-15" because the Hankooks are all sold out. I have a school coming up at the end of the month at Mid-Ohio...guess I'll know pretty quick if I made the right choice or not. It's been hot here all summer this year, but not as hot as what you are saying.

 

The Falkens are still better in the dry when the ambient temps are less than 85 degrees...

But, when ambient temps are higher, or if there's ANY precipitation, or you have a two driver car for autocross, the RS-2's are MUCHO better, IMHO. They warm up slower and don't end up anywhere near as hot as the Falkens. We ran our AX yesterday, in 102* heat, two drivers, 16 runs total... We sprayed the RS-2's after the 2nd run for each driver. ZERO issues with grip, while Falkens were cooking all around us... No greasiness to date with two drivers POUNDING on a set.

For track work, the RS-2's are the winner hands down IMHO. Very predictable, very solid, and once warm they're perfect for a 20-25 minute session. We've pulled 1.2 G's on the track on RS-2's.

For the street, I can tell you that I much prefer driving on RS-2's.

In summary, you probably do give up a bit of ultimate dry grip with the RS-2's. But I sure like 'em...

 

I very much agree with everything txwerks says, especially the track comments. RS-2's are an awesome bargain choice for HPDE events.

 

lol honestly i don't know cause those two tires are not
something i would buy. i suppose the Falkens are better than the
Hankooks but who knows. Falkens were never known for quality
tires in Japan either. more like a "value" tire... and you know
wat happens when you buy something with "value" .

 

grrrrrrrreat...so now I'm gonna die.....

 

That's what I needed. We are a two driver team, so Hankook's it is. A LOT of Mini's seem to use the Falken's with no real ill effects, but one can never guarentee when one's run group will be: cool morning or hot afternoon.

 

well we'll all die sooner or later. jk

 

No you're not gonna die. Just not gonna get the best times!

 

looks like I'll be enjoying the scenery along the track for once...

 

Thanks, Ken...if I DO wreck and survive...do ya have any more of those scoop screens?

 

I've had issues with chunking on the outside edges with the RS-2s. Did not have chunking happen with the RT-215s or RT-615s.

As far as performance during DEs, I couldn't tell the difference. But I don't measure lap times.

Alan

 

I'll keep an eye on that. I think I like having slippery greasy tires less though. Defeats the purpose.

 

When do you plan on getting your tires? If it isn't soon, I'll be able to tell you how the Azenis did after I get back from the HPDE on the 27th.

 

Bridgestone RE01R is better than RT615 and Kooks for HPDE/track. RT615 better for autocross, unless you have multiple drivers, even then just spray between runs. On camber challenged cars the kooks side walls are to soft.

 

i suppose i can make more.

 

I also chose the Hankooks for autocross and summer driving up in the northern Sac. valley (Redding). They have worked well so far. Relatively quick in hot weather, but of course not up to real R tire levels. Work OK on the street.

 

immediately.

 

Are you autocrossing or tracking the car? What are your daily driving conditions (ie rain, snow, dry, hot) and do you plan on running a sencond set of tires for track or using them for DD and motorsports.

 

I just ordered the Hankook's through my local Discount Tire shop, and they're getting them direct from the factory in a few days.

 

FWIW, I've experienced chunking from all sorts of different tires on the track...

The RS-2 seems to have a pretty daggone still sidewall, IMHO. We run ~30 psi cold in the e30 AX car all the way around, and I run 30/32 in the MINI. I've even run lower for different surfaces. Lots of grip, zero rollover issues.

Even if you spray the RT-615's, they couldn't take two drivers in the Texas Summer heat on our car (which is not camber challenged). The 2nd driver got hosed, even with spraying and a cool down drive.

 

It's 79 here right now [12:41 PM]. Our hottest day this summer was 100 [last week]. Compared to your summers, we reside in an icebox. My point is that the Falkens and the Hankooks will probably fare equally well in OH-HIYA.

 

True... A lot of it depends on one driver vs. two, the surface you run on, etc. We've just found that the RS-2's perform a whole lot better for us, given two drivers, HOT ambient temps, and some very grippy (but tire killing) surfaces for the majority of our events.

I find the RS-2's rock solid predictable on the track, lap after lap. Are they the grippiest? Nah, but they start and end the same way.

I'd love to give the RE-01R's a shot, but they don't come in great sizes for the MINI yet. Although, I hear rumors that is going to change soon!

I was born in Akron and lived there until I saw ~5 when we moved to Texas. Most of our extended family still lives in OH, in the Akron/Canton area...

 

Really? I was born in Akron, raised in Massillon and moved to Piqua after college to start my teaching career. 35 yrs. later, I'm still in Piqua, but am now retired from teaching and livin the good life, showin and goin with my MINIs!

 

Hey neighbor, my experience is based on running with TDE since I moved here from NJ last July. I had the RS-2s chunk on me at MSR and TWS. I ran the night event last weekend at TMS. 101 on grid for the first run, dropping into the low 90s by the last run a little after 11:00. Five 20 minute sessions. It was the first outing on the 615s and they held up well.

I run higher tire pressures since I still have stock springs and shocks, so can only get -1.7 up front. (I am not taking a hammer to my car.) I aim for low 40s when I get out of the car just after a session with 205/50/15s. This seems to keep the outer edge wear in check.

Maybe I got a bad set of RS-2s.

I'll be at MSR 9/15 & 9/16 if you want to talk in person.

Alan

p.s. The TSW rotors are holding up quite nicely.

p.p.s. And you guys need to make a "small diameter spring kit" for the front.