Anyone have any experience with the 'new' Hankook Ventus SR3's? Treadwear rating went from 140 to 200 to satisfy SCCA requirements and Hankook claims works as well or better than original. Anyone really know?
I've been running RS3s for several years, something like four sets of 140s and now two of 200s. On an S2000 is no discernible difference whatsoever; that being said, YMMV, and the word around the paddock these days is that BFG Rivals are grippier (and only slightly more expensive).
I had a set of Rivals that wore out very quickly. I have run 2 sets of RS3s and they are holding up very well for me. No big difference in grip but my car is a 944...
Peter Lefebvre 1985 944 (Winnie) #59 1986 911 Carrera Coupe (Gretta) 2005 Cayenne S (Brumo) 2007 Cayman S (Gundrid) #10
The RS3 V2 are one of the go to tires for SCCA Street Class AX. The V1 required one warm up lap to be quick. Not so with the V2. They are a good tire for AX at the Q because they have less tendency to get greasy when hot which can happen at PCASDR events because of the quick succession of laps. I'd like to try them but they don't come in the size I need unless I roll my fenders.
I run the new Dunlop ZII Star Spec and like them better than the old version which was just called ZII. This is another go to tire for SCCA Street Class AX.
The Rivals are also popular but have fallen out of favor in some classes. For example the S2000's and MX-5's which do not have problems getting -2 to -2.5 negative camber moved away from the Rivals to the RS3 V2.
For track use I have no experience with these tires. I'd probably run NT01 from what I have read.