Eagle F1 Asymmetric or Hankook RS2

[TPB1]

Hi Guys,

Currently running a Integra DC5, looking to get the tyre's changed in the next week or so.

Narrowed it down to either the Eagle F1 Asymmetric or the Hankook RS2's.

I do around 3k miles per year (road) and am planning to do a couple of track days at Knockhill.

Both come in @ circa £80 per tyre @ Camskill so not much to choose price wise.

Anyone had any experience of these tyre's?

Cheers,

[LaurenceFrost]

I have run both and I didn't think the Hankooks were that gretat to be honest. They wore very quickly but were only cheap so worth a go.

The Goodyears are just awesome though. I have them on my Evo 9 now and I just cannot fault them. I don't know how they have made a tyre so grippy in both the wet and the dry without any of the semi-slick drawbacks e.g. standing water.

It is a true all-weather tyre, and just about the best performance you can get without moving to a semi-slick.

[snorkel sucker]

I ran Hankook RS2's on my focus ST and was generally very impressed. Their initial grip was immense, enabling some very high cornering speeds. However I did find that this initial bite did subside a little, but nevertheless they were still a very good tyre at a very good price.

Wet weather grip was also very good - the tread pattern is still decent enough to shift water.

For the money i wouldnt hesitate to reccomend them - they even lasted just as long as any other tyres i used on the focus

[TPB1]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I live in N.E Scotland so wet weather performance is going to be important!

I obviously want good performance when/if going on the track but 97% of my driving will be on the road so although initially swayed by the RS2's for their track abilities I am now thinking the F1 Asymmetric's may be the one's to go for due to their superior wet weather performance?

Any more input appreciated,

Cheers

[LaurenceFrost]

If it makes any difference, I thought the Hankooks were terrible in the wet, and my biggest aquaplane moment in my life was on those tyres on ultra-shallow water that I didn't even realise was there until I aquaplaned the width of a lane. I could have crashed on the dual carriage way at 60mph through no fault of my own.

This would never have happened with the Eagles.

[TPB1]

LaurenceFrost said:

If it makes any difference, I thought the Hankooks were terrible in the wet, and my biggest aquaplane moment in my life was on those tyres on ultra-shallow water that I didn't even realise was there until I aquaplaned the width of a lane. I could have crashed on the dual carriage way at 60mph through no fault of my own.

This would never have happened with the Eagles.

It does.

Looks like the F1's will be getting purchased..

Cheers for the input.

[SteA]

You wont regret buying the F1 Assymetricals, I use them on my 400 bhp 200sx and they are superb whether battling wet British roads or thrashing round a track, they just allow me to get on and drive whatever the weather

[TPB1]

SteA said:

You wont regret buying the F1 Assymetricals, I use them on my 400 bhp 200sx and they are superb whether battling wet British roads or thrashing round a track, they just allow me to get on and drive whatever the weather

That is what I like to hear....

[Red Devil]

Got the F1s on my MR2. Brilliant tyre with superb wet weather grip.
Can't afford to fool around with inferior rubber on a mid-engined turbocharged car!

[Nocturnal]

I had F1s on my '5 when I first bought it, I have no idea how long they'd been on the car (though tread was substantial enough to be new), and I thought they were bloody awful. =(

Experienced RS2s on a friends MX5, and they were awesome, both on a track and the road, and especially in the wet. I run T1Rs now as they were less than half the price of RS2s, and love them as a road tyre in the dry.

Could be down to the weight differences/tyre sizes with the experiences on here (mine/friends are 195/50/15s), but I really don't rate F1s based on my experience with them.

[Red Devil]

Nocturnal said:

I had F1s on my '5 when I first bought it, I have no idea how long they'd been on the car (though tread was substantial enough to be new), and I thought they were bloody awful. =(

Experienced RS2s on a friends MX5, and they were awesome, both on a track and the road, and especially in the wet. I run T1Rs now as they were less than half the price of RS2s, and love them as a road tyre in the dry.

Could be down to the weight differences/tyre sizes with the experiences on here (mine/friends are 195/50/15s), but I really don't rate F1s based on my experience with them.

Interesting. Your experience seems to be in the mionority. There could be several explanations.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Bizzle]

Kinda contriversial but i use the Marangoni Mythos on both my race and road cars (450hp 200sx and soon to be 600hp R34 Skyline) and they really are very good indeed and utterly exceptional in the wet (kinda important for the UK)

A lot of people write them off as a "budget" tyre, but im told that a pair of BMW's won a certain Ring 24 hour race on one set and with the amount of grip that i get on the road and track i can see why! They last ages and don't brake up like the Toyo T1R's have a tendancy to do.

Im also told that they have been back to back tested against the Toyo's and have come out on top

Might be worth a try?

[Nocturnal]

Red Devil said:

Interesting. Your experience seems to be in the mionority. There could be several explanations.

Yeah I have to admit, on most forums they're usually highly recommended. I have to admit though, there are a few others on MX5Nutz who share the same opinion as me. But as I said, I think it's down to the car weights.

[Herman Toothrot]

Bizzle said:

Kinda contriversial but i use the Marangoni Mythos on both my race and road cars (450hp 200sx and soon to be 600hp R34 Skyline) and they really are very good indeed and utterly exceptional in the wet (kinda important for the UK)

A lot of people write them off as a "budget" tyre, but im told that a pair of BMW's won a certain Ring 24 hour race on one set and with the amount of grip that i get on the road and track i can see why! They last ages and don't brake up like the Toyo T1R's have a tendancy to do.

Im also told that they have been back to back tested against the Toyo's and have come out on top

Might be worth a try?

I just put Marangoni's on my MR2, they are a special compound though, Slick Hill Climb compound with the zeta linea tread pattern never experienced a tyre grip so much in the wet.

Goodyear Eagles I found good on road but poo on track 10 minutes and they were squirming and melting.

The RS-2's I hear mixed reports, lightweight stuff mx5's etc seem to be "amazing" heavier stuff, people seem less impressed.

[TPB1]

The Teg weighs circa 1170kg's so aint as light as an MX5 but certainly not a heavyweight...

TBH I am still looking toward the F1's, overall they seem to tick most boxes..

[RobCrezz]

Lauren on IMOC, does lots of track time in a DC2 'Teg. She says the the Eagles are good on road, but useless on track.

[Wadeski]

Why not get a set of normal road tyres (e.g. Toyos) and some 888s for the track? Prob not that different in total cost than a set of top brand tyres?

[TPB1]

Wadeski said:

Why not get a set of normal road tyres (e.g. Toyos) and some 888s for the track? Prob not that different in total cost than a set of top brand tyres?

R888's @ 165 x 4 =£660 + fitting

Cheap 215 45 17 x 4 = £200 + fitting

That is around £1k for a good set of tyres on the track and a cr4p set for the road (where 99% of my driving is done)

Wanting something that is a good compromise and the F1's seem to tick most boxes and can get them on the car for around £400....

But yes in an ideal world I would have r888 for track and F1's for the road, cannot justify it considering I only do circa 2.5k per year....

[Nocturnal]

TPB1 said:

Wadeski said:

Why not get a set of normal road tyres (e.g. Toyos) and some 888s for the track? Prob not that different in total cost than a set of top brand tyres?

R888's @ 165 x 4 =£660 + fitting

Cheap 215 45 17 x 4 = £200 + fitting

That is around £1k for a good set of tyres on the track and a cr4p set for the road (where 99% of my driving is done)

Wanting something that is a good compromise and the F1's seem to tick most boxes and can get them on the car for around £400....

But yes in an ideal world I would have r888 for track and F1's for the road, cannot justify it considering I only do circa 2.5k per year....

For what it's worth, 888s are much loved by a few of the MX5 guys for the road. A lot of their bad reputation is unfounded...

[havoc]

Can I point out that the F1's on the MX-5 WON'T be the Asymmetrics.

I reckon, if we're talking Mk1's or Mk2's, that it's the GSD-2's or GSD-3's. If the -2s, then they're a squidgy ol' tyre which is safe but uninspiring. The GSD-3 was a fair old step-upwards and is a good all-round tyre.

The Asymmetrics are fitted to the wife's MkV Golf GTi, and have very stiff sidewalls with good shoulder protection, excellent turn-in, and a lot of grip. Can't comment on wear yet...