Hankook K 104 225/50/17 98 250 bux ea, fresh stock 3707 (mid Sep 2007)
Comparison to previous tyres in the same car:
1. Falken 326 235/45/17
2. Toyo Trampio Gu:wn TPG 235/45/17
Note that 104 is totally legal (for my car), unlike those 2 others, which were slightly on the border line.
Obviously it’s hard to give exact comparison on tyres when one doesn’t have G-Force device or other metering equipment. Also, Tyre 2 was ~4 years old hence quite hard and slippery – spinning a bit at hard take off, so I need to rely on my memory how they were as new.

In all, 104 seems to have nice cornering grip compared, makes bit of howling tho (quite large tread blocks). Stopping power similar to both 1 and 2. Wet conditions unknown at this stage. Profile slightly higher than 1 & 2, but only few mm, so no “tyre bending under” detected even on hard cornering. Road noise not any higher, perhaps less than both 1 & 2.
Overall satisfied, but if I was able to use 8” rims, I’d resort to good 235s instead….. but saying that, the nominal width doesn’t really indicate what the real foot print width is and I forgot to measure that in the others - unfortunately.

you'll be happy with those tyres. i changed to them after using falkens previously on my current rims and found
1. cheaper
2. similar performance (falkens were maybe a tad better)
3. longer life

i've used goodyear f1s aswell which were great in the dry but hopeless in the wet.

you'll be happy with those tyres. i changed to them after using falkens previously on my current rims and found
1. cheaper
2. similar performance (falkens were maybe a tad better)
3. longer life

i've used goodyear f1s aswell which were great in the dry but hopeless in the wet.
huh?

Your goodyear f1's sucked in the wet? Even though they were a top rated tyre in practically all the independant tests. It actually scored higher more so in the wet than in the dry! :nuts:


Hancooks.. Garbage tyres - Noisy, really bad grip in the wet. Takes awhile for the tyre to warm up. When warm they become soft on the side walls and cause flex.

A tyre that has suprised me is Maxxis MA-Z1's.. Fairly good wet and dry grip, very quiet and cheap at around $250 for a R19/35/245.. Still not a Goodyear Eagle GS-D3 F1.. but then again its half the price.

i know, i've read that the goodyear f1s were good thats why i had bought them in the first place. i'd never buy them again. i traded them in about 3-4 months later partly because of the issues i was having. maybe i had a dodgy set or something i dont know.

agreed the hancooks are noisy.

cheers for the heads up on the maxxis i might check them out because my rears are on the way out.

also the f1s i used were about 4-5 years ago so maybe they are different from back then.

i use maxxis mav 1's on my on a 234/45/r17 and there are a grippie tyre wet and dry

When I bought my car it had Kumho's on it, traction was terrible, I was going to get Goodyear F1's, but they have changed the tread pattern in my size, so I got some Dunlop sport maxx which outscored the F1's in the latest wheels tyre test and they are great.

Hancooks.. Garbage tyres - Noisy, really bad grip in the wet. Takes awhile for the tyre to warm up. When warm they become soft on the side walls and cause flex

I wouldn't go to that extreme - garbage.... RE 92's are garbage....
Well, I can't use 235s - and also many other tyres I'd like to use are load rate less than 95.
What can I do! Unless I buy Continental SP 2, over 420 bux each.... ammm... nahhhh....:cool:

Federal 595 RS's.. my fav street tyre.. almost as good as a semi slick in the dry.. never used them in the wet.. it didn't rain for months up here when i had my circut basher FF corolla..

my pirelli dragons were excellent (and still are) for a budget tyre

garbage.... RE 92's are garbage....

Talk about comparing apples and apples, good job champ. :think:

you well be happy with the 104s. dont know why some reckon hankook are crap. ive had a total of 8 fitted on my skyline over 6 years of ownership, and 70000kms. i consider this good for a performance tyre. id prefer them over the pirellis that were on the car when i first got it. hankooks are a far superior tyre to federal, people just think theyre a similar quality tyre for the same price. the federal 595's of course well be a better tyre than a 104. but a 595 is a federals premium tyre. hankooks equivelent would be theyre rs2 or evo 1 range, which if you shopped around could have had for under 250 fitted in your size. good choice non the less.

also the f1s i used were about 4-5 years ago so maybe they are different from back then.


There was an issue actually with the F1's a few years ago. There were 2 types you could get. 1 was made here in Aus and the other was Taiwan? (i think)..

I know when i was buying mine, i was told to make sure it was the locally made tyre.

They have since moved the Eagle F1 offshore permanently and is now made overseas somewhere (hence why the prices of them came down by quite a lot)


I wouldn't go to that extreme - garbage.... RE 92's are garbage....
Well, I can't use 235s - and also many other tyres I'd like to use are load rate less than 95.
What can I do! Unless I buy Continental SP 2, over 420 bux each.... ammm... nahhhh....:cool:



Ok garbage was a bit strong :)

And yes, like you most of us are in the same boat. We want some form of quality without going to the other end of the spectrum of pricing.

Talk about comparing apples and apples, good job champ. :think:

Hu????? :rant:

Hu????? :rant:

Get'im....lol

Get'im....lol

Grrrrhhhhh......... :bowrofl:

I wouldn't go to that extreme - garbage.... RE 92's are garbage....
speaking of which , i have ER92 Turanzas, massive step up in performance over RE92's for those wanting more.

Grrrrhhhhh......... :bowrofl:

http://www.thehypertexts.com/Mysterious_Ways/Images/Mysterious_Ways_Killer_Dog_Dish.jpg

:badgrin:

.... cute..... ?????? :doubt:

How come tyre post ended up as zoo post!!!
I guess I started.
I'll blame me.
BTW - I don't like yellow!!!!

To the Hankook S1 Evo and R-S2 which were mentioned as better options to K 104: Yepppss, no doubt - but alas, no legal version for my car. I wanted the S1.

^Sorry about off topicness.

I bought my current car with K104s, while they don't offer the best outright grip (especially on a 1670kg car), they are surprisingly progressive in the dry once their limit is surpassed. In the wet they can be a handful if driving over cruising pace.

^Sorry about off topicness.

I bought my current car with K104s, while they don't offer the best outright grip (especially on a 1670kg car), they are surprisingly progressive in the dry once their limit is surpassed. In the wet they can be a handful if driving about cruising pace.

What load rate? Mine are 98 due to the b-dy stupid Magna 95 LR requirement. Theoretically 98 is quite firm side wall. Some comments here referring to sidewall being soft might have been with lesser LR tyres. Soft side wall allows tyre to wonder a bit. And if it's that heavy car, it might be a factor.
Been driving bit more and I'm getting bit more happier about these tyres, the dry cornering grip is satisfactory considering the width and cost. Not much diff to 235 Toyos!
I think they pump tyres with Nitro stuff nowadays - I consider it too soft, hence deflated them and filled with air. Much firmer grip. Seen the same happening with other tyres/cars before.
And now this post is going to turn to Nitro vs Air debate....
Any further Nitro filled dog pics allowed! :D