tires: Hankook Ventus R-S3 vs Continental ExtremeContact DW

nineball · 08-22-2012, 07:32 PM

picking up a new set of tires to drive to, and on, the track for my spare set of wheels. i've narrowed it down to the two choices in the topic and i'm looking for some more info. i've read just about every thread and both have good reviews but i'm hoping (maybe) someone has ran both sets and can comment? the differences basically boil down to $50 and ratings (140 A A for the hankook vs 340 AA A for conti) as far as i can tell. the contis have slightly better wet ratings but the hankook beat them in dry conditions according to tirerack.

anyone have any thoughts?

petevb · 08-22-2012, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nineball

picking up a new set of tires to drive to, and on, the track for my spare set of wheels. i've narrowed it down to the two choices in the topic and i'm looking for some more info. i've read just about every thread and both have good reviews but i'm hoping (maybe) someone has ran both sets and can comment? the differences basically boil down to $50 and ratings (140 A A for the hankook vs 340 AA A for conti) as far as i can tell. the contis have slightly better wet ratings but the hankook beat them in dry conditions according to tirerack.

anyone have any thoughts?

Very different tires.

The Hankooks (which I run on my other car) have progressive breakaway, high grip when warm/ hot, are fairly noisy, short tread life. They suck in the cold/ wet- below about 60 degrees it's like the car has casters instead of tires at the rear.

The DWs, on the other hand, are street tires. They are great in the cold/ wet, not as sticky in the hot/ dry.

Basically if you're running in the dry I'd get the hankooks, if you think you might run in the wet the DWs. If the PSS is available in your size it's got a bit of both- good in the dry and wet.

Btw, when I say the hankooks suck in the wet I mean it- back to back they were about 10% slower on a cold, wet day vs the PSS- that's a lifetime.

fbarrett · fbarrett's Garage

Had a set of Conti DWs on a Mercedes-Benz wagon and at first liked them, but within 15,000 miles the outside edges of the tread wore down to the cord. The rest of the tread wore nromally. Yes, the alignment was spot-on, as were the tire pressures, and the tires were rotated. A friend with the same car and suspension had exactly the same problem. Forget any sort of warranty from Continental. Replaced them with BFG Sport T/As.

ivangene · 08-23-2012, 07:01 AM

911 is NOT a Merc wagon

your inside rear edges are the high wear area - I have DW's for street, they are pretty nice here in Seattle where we get a lot of rain. I have run them on track one session when I had no option and they did OK

no experience with the hankooks

but I have R888's - if you want some fun

AND
I have run those in the rain on track...they stick like glue (when new!)

nineball · 08-23-2012, 07:22 AM

ya the r888 looks nice but for the 3-4 de events a year i do i think it is more tire than i need.

Quote:

Originally Posted by petevb

Basically if you're running in the dry I'd get the hankooks, if you think you might run in the wet the DWs. If the PSS is available in your size it's got a bit of both- good in the dry and wet.

i usually don't run in the rain (targa leaks) but it always seems to rain at least a half day per track weekend. not familiar with PSS. what is that?

petevb · 08-23-2012, 07:56 AM

Michelin Pilot Super Sport

Bridgestone RE-11s are also good in the wet, Dunlop Star Specs are another one. You don't mention if your car is set up with stiff suspension/ track camber, etc. Some tires need more camber to work...

nineball · 08-23-2012, 08:43 AM

pretty much stock setup. it's lowered a bit and i have the targa body braces and a rennline 3pt strut brace. my 911 is really a fun-in-the-sun-drive-to-casinos-and-hershey car with the occasional track day. doesn't look like i can find the PSS in 205/55-225/50.

darrin · 08-23-2012, 08:52 AM

finishing up my second summer on the continental dw tires -- they're wearing evenly and as expected (rears a bit faster than the fronts, but evenly side to side). Probably have 7-8k on them by now and still a HAPPY camper. Have not DE'd them (shame on me), but have been using them for spirited commuting and twisty canyon runs -- couldn't be happier so far and plan on sticking with them (assuming they're still available) once they need replacing.

I find these to have (for me) a near ideal balance between performance and ride quality -- they stick quite well but are drivable in 50 degree weather and have not become loud or otherwise objectionable as they've worn.

Halm · 08-23-2012, 09:39 AM

I track my stock SC with RE-11's, and my 996 with RS-3's. All in all, I think the RE-11's are a bit better, but probably not for the price difference. One advantage of the Bridgestone's is that they can be moved side to side for better wear. You can only do that with Hankook's in the dry.

Finally, DW's came on a second set of wheels I bought for the 996. They were the noisiest tire I have ever driven. And for whatever reason, the car didn't handle well. Replaced them with Super Sports which are a great street time. I have not tracked them, nor do I plan to do so.

woywitka · woywitka's Garage

Bridgestone Pontenza RE960 Pole Position.

Vandit · 08-23-2012, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petevb

Very different tires.

The Hankooks (which I run on my other car) have progressive breakaway, high grip when warm/ hot, are fairly noisy, short tread life. They suck in the cold/ wet- below about 60 degrees it's like the car has casters instead of tires at the rear.

The DWs, on the other hand, are street tires. They are great in the cold/ wet, not as sticky in the hot/ dry.

Basically if you're running in the dry I'd get the hankooks, if you think you might run in the wet the DWs. If the PSS is available in your size it's got a bit of both- good in the dry and wet.

Btw, when I say the hankooks suck in the wet I mean it- back to back they were about 10% slower on a cold, wet day vs the PSS- that's a lifetime.

+1 on everything he said about the Hankooks.

The Hankooks are race tires you can run on the street, up there w/ the Dunlop Star Spec and Bridgestone RE-11s.

I'm in Texas, so I can get away w/ daily driving on these tires in my Toyota and they're great. Your conditions/usage may vary. My last 2 set of tires were the Hankook RS-2 (RS-3 predecessor) and Dunlop Star Specs. My current tires are the RS-3s.

nineball · 08-23-2012, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woywitka

Bridgestone Pontenza RE960 Pole Position. Don't screw around.

thanks for the input(?) but that really tells me nothing. how does the re960 compare to the hankook? have you run both?

based on my needs (only for the track and getting there and back, no wet runs) i think i am leaning towards the hankooks. thanks for the input everyone.

nineball · 09-12-2012, 02:19 PM

just pulled the trigger and ordered the ventus r-s3 for $560 for the set shipped, which seems to be (imho) a good price.

if anyone is looking for some street tires the hankook ventus v12 evo k110 are on sale now, or rebate rather, at tire rack. $278 for a set of 205/55-16 & 225/50-16 before shipping.

Hankook Ventus V12 evo K110

nineball · 10-02-2012, 06:09 AM

i gotta say i really like these tires for the track, but not the street. the sidewalls are super thick and rigid and the rubber is super sticky right out of the gate. when i dropped off the wheels to have the tires mounted my friend commented on how thick and rigid the sidewalls were and he mounts a few sets of tires a day.

took them home and threw them on the 911 friday morning. i packed the car up for the de event and set out. at the end of my drive there is some gravel just before the street. you know what it sounds like when you drive over a freshly patched section of asphalt road, all the new material sticking to your tires and getting kicked up into the wheel wells? that's exactly what happened every time i drove over ANY gravel. these things are like gravel magnets i swear.

for comparison sale i run yoko avid v4s on my street wheels. they provide a comfortable ride and i have never had a complaint. the ride difference between them and the hankooks is night and day. with the kooks i can roll over a coin and tell you what it was. the ride is much more stiff on the street, even the little cracks in the road are easy to pick out. on the track they took a lap or two to get warmed up but they never let me down or had me worried. (the sizes were printed along the edges of the tread and the 100 mile trip down to the track barely made a dent in removing it however one 30 min session on track and they were completely gone).

overall i am very happy with my purchase and would suggest the ventus r-s3 to anyone looking for a great tire.