Tyres don't be fooled

[qldcharger]

I am about to put on a new set of 235/40/18's. I have read elsewhere that quite a few members are happily running the Nankang tyre. I also believe that the Nexen is also a similar quality/performer for similar money. My 'pricing queries' have uncovered two varieties of the Nankang: for about $165 the NS2 but in a 94H rating and then the NS2 but as a full ZR 95W tyre which is a fully blended silica tyre for about $210. I would be interested to know what the exact tyre codes are on some of the Nankang users are as well as the Nexen users. Maybe this is why some people love them and others bag them? Please asap so I can order mine.Thanks Steve

[SV300]

don't bother with the Z rated nankang. been there and done that. I have just put k104's back on.

PM me for price.

[jneil]

I know I have the H rated ones as TTF couldn't get the Z rated ones apparently.

Mine are labled "235/40R18 95H M+S Dot U8WF"

I don't find them too bad but maybe should have got them slightly wider at 245/40R18 as these looks slight skinny on the VYII SS rim!

I NEVER have traction control on and now that i have done 30k on them they are a little squrimy in the dry and fun in the wet :p

They don't corner all that well as they are a little hard, but corner well enough for what you shouldn't be doing on the roads anyway!

I was also doing 1.33's on them at Sandown in my first outting so I spose they aren't that bad. I will buy them again for sure...maybe get the Z rated ones this time and hope for a little better cornering grip.

Jeff.

[motionSS]

dont buy them. period. when i bought new wheels i got cheap nankangs on them ( 19" not 18" ) but now i get a bad shudder at high speeds (110kph and onwards) and a really annoying minor shudder at 100 kph, i find them really grippy around corners but i feel really unsafe on the highway. ill post up the exact tyre later.

[qldcharger]

I don't find them too bad but maybe should have got them slightly wider at 245/40R18 as these looks slight skinny on the VYII SS rim!

I have wondered if the 265/35/18 would look good as it is a closer OD to the 235 than the 245? Thanks to all who have replied so far. I have actually contacted Nankang direct and asked the question. It is just grip levels which improve with the ZR rating 95W over the std 95H.

[ace078]

I have Maxxis MA-Z's, under 200 a corner and have nothing bad to say. Great in the wet as they have a very agressive tread.

[jerrel]

y rated is the best u can get.
why are u all going on about z?
h is crap, i will never buy again.

[qldcharger]

What do you run?

[Dacious]

You need to be careful with tyre ratings - your car is not roadworthy with a lower-speed rated tyre than the manufacturer specifies. If Holden specs a V or W-rated tyre, you need to be running that, or amongst other things your insurance could be invalid.

H rated = 210km/h
V-rated = 240 km/h
W-rated = 270 km/h

it doesn't matter if you actually do those speeds or not - your car must have the tyre rated as per spec.

[macca33]

Dis is correct.....:teach:

You MUST replace the oem tyres with tyres of equal or better specification, speed and load ratings are crucial, lest you find that your car is no longer roadworthy.

Cheers,

Macca

[SV300]

Well from previous court cases and rulings, what is critical is the load index. Speed rating is not the governing factor any more, hence why Nankang's etc..are selling.


I have a copy of the QLD and National rules for vehicle compliance.

HERE IT IS


Speed and load ratings
The speed rating of all tyres must be:
• a speed of at least:
for an off-road passenger vehicle – 140km/h
for another car (sedan, station wagon etc.)
up to nine adult seating positions or a car
derivative – 180km/h
for another motor vehicle – 120km/h
• the vehicle’s top speed, if lower.
Load ratings of tyres must be at least equal to those
specified by the manufacturer on the tyre placard fitted
to vehicles made after 1972. For other vehicles, the load
rating of a tyre must be capable of carrying the part of
the vehicle’s gross mass carried by the tyre.

http://www.roadsafety.qld.gov.au/qt/LTASinfo.nsf/ReferenceLookup/Modification_Jan05v2.pdf/$file/Modification_Jan05v2.pdf


Search the QLD government site under vehicle standards and you will find it. I imagine all other staes would also have it on their transport site.


James

[clubbie]

Dis is correct.....:teach:

You MUST replace the oem tyres with tyres of equal or better specification, speed and load ratings are crucial, lest you find that your car is no longer roadworthy.

Cheers,

Macca

Or covered by insurance incase of an accident.

Clubbie

[planetdavo]

Most are happily running Nankang because they are CHEAP.
Have you investigated spending a bit extra to get MUCH better tyres?

[qldcharger]

How many of you run a 245/40/18 option? I know a friend who does and has no hassles. Speedo is fairly accurate still even though OD is about 8mm bigger. I can not make a decision as to which make or size to buy. The Nankang sound great for the value and as I will have a set of purpose track tyres can not see any great reason to pay twice as much for the 'sticky' tyres which would no-doubt wear quicker.

[VooDoo]

IM on my 4th set of Nangkang's. Currently running 245/35/19's in 97Y. Very happy with grip, wear, wet and dry conditions and at $250 a pop dont mind to much when they go up in smoke from time to time :)

I used to use a 235/40/17 in a 95W (i think) and at $110 a pop where VERY good value.

[black stallion]

I had S03's on my VX with 18's. The rears got chewed out be the negative camber. The cheapest tyre I could get were Dunlops as per the XR8 $220.00 each fitted vs $445.00 for the S03). Half the price of the Bridgestone but nowhere near as responsive or comfortable. Next time I will stick with the Bridgestone.

[Dacious]

Well from previous court cases and rulings, what is critical is the load index. Speed rating is not the governing factor any more, hence why Nankang's etc..are selling.


I have a copy of the QLD and National rules for vehicle compliance.

HERE IT IS


Speed and load ratings
The speed rating of all tyres must be:
• a speed of at least:
for an off-road passenger vehicle – 140km/h
for another car (sedan, station wagon etc.)
up to nine adult seating positions or a car
derivative – 180km/h
for another motor vehicle – 120km/h
• the vehicle’s top speed, if lower.
Load ratings of tyres must be at least equal to those
specified by the manufacturer on the tyre placard fitted
to vehicles made after 1972. For other vehicles, the load
rating of a tyre must be capable of carrying the part of
the vehicle’s gross mass carried by the tyre.

http://www.roadsafety.qld.gov.au/qt/LTASinfo.nsf/ReferenceLookup/Modification_Jan05v2.pdf/$file/Modification_Jan05v2.pdf


Search the QLD government site under vehicle standards and you will find it. I imagine all other staes would also have it on their transport site.


James

This may be true - and Vic specifies similar standard which must have changed in the last few years because it definitely used to state minimum as per vehicle manuf. rating.

But I'd be checking my insurance co's attitude. Usually a clause will say 'maintained as per manufacturer's specifications' - and if your Holden manual states a rating that's usually a condition.

I wouldn't personally use H's on LS1-powered car - I've been over 180 overtaking! They're engineered and designed for smaller vehicles. If there are Vs or Zs within a few dollars, I'd pick them. It isn't only the speed and exceeding the top limit for a couple minutes is not likely to cause one to explode. The construction and compounds make a difference, too, both for performance and wear - that's why they're cheaper.

For higher loads and speeds the lower-speed rating tyre will plain run hotter, and have 'less' in reserve.

[qldcharger]

I would be happy to spend " a bit extra " however for the next level of tyre quality I have been told by many dealers that $300 per tyre is about the starting point which equates to a 60% increase in costs. I am starting to think the extra $45 per tyre for the 95W Nankang is a good option?

[VXIIWagman]

IM on my 4th set of Nangkang's. Currently running 245/35/19's in 97Y. Very happy with grip, wear, wet and dry conditions and at $250 a pop dont mind to much when they go up in smoke from time to time :) .

Im also running the 245/35/19's in 97Y and couldnt complain at all. I would even go as far as recommending them :thumbsup:

[AussieTone]

I ran Nankangs 18" on the VY. For the price and wear I would do it again

http://www.oz8.org/gallery/albums/aussietone/IMG_0186.sized.jpg

That picture has 35000 km's on it although the majority was outer Brisbane suburban and freeway / toll way driving at a constant 110 km/h (roughly). All 4 were similar however a slight feathering on the inside edge.

Have had virtually no rain in Brisbane for the last 18 odd months so can't really provide comments in the wet. The few times it has rained they have struggled for grip and traction but can't say for sure if that was the tyre or the general crap on the road after such a lengthy dry period.

Summary: Cheap, not overly noisy, no vibration issues on mine, good wear characteristics. Like anything tyre related, keep up the rotations, monitor the pressures (I ran 40 psi) and wheel alignment from someone who knows what they are doing every 10000 km’s.

[German Statesman]

I had a set of Nankangs on the German Statesman and even though they were the wrong load rating for the LWB 7-series (thanks Ian Diffen, you bunch of boxheads :cussing: ), they wore very well.

I think I averaged 60,000kms out of a set with no alignment and one rotation (coz I had to :D )

Cheers

JOHN

[harey]

I had a set of Nankangs on the German Statesman and even though they were the wrong load rating for the LWB 7-series (thanks Ian Diffen, you bunch of boxheads :cussing: ), they wore very well.

I think I averaged 60,000kms out of a set with no alignment and one rotation (coz I had to :D )

Cheers

JOHN
60,000km :lmao:

[Elite SS]

I run Nexens on the ute for every day use, not to bad for a $ 170 a corner,
but it still no ver confident in the wet with them, unfortunately...they can't keep the ute from going sideway's off the lights or between gears.... :driving:

[duke5700]

NS2's in a 19/245/35 all round.They are OKto good fairly loud tyre as far as road noise is concerned. Had So3's before hand, really nice tyre but i chewed them out to quick for street use. The Nankangs grip up when you give them a little warm up, can be a little interesting in the wet, but nothing traction control wont take care of. 245/35/ZR19 Y83 is whats stamped on the side.

[MonoJoker]

How many of you run a 245/40/18 option?

I run 245/40/18s - 245/40R18 XL 97H to be exact. $200 a corner and a good overall tyre. NS2s have powered barges to 1.8 second 60ft times so their dry straight line traction is not in question. If I paid double the price I might be able to go around corners in the wet 5 km/h quicker. They might even pull me up 60cm shorter than the NS2 will. Personally until I drive on the limit on the street that doesn't justify paying double for tyres. As Voodoo has said you can be unlucky and score one that's out of round but a good tyre shop will replace it. I have 10,000ks on mine so far and other than a bit of excess wear on the inside of the rears (was lowered without camber kit) they are doing very well. If the only "evidence" that can be presented against the Nankang is "they are cheap and therefore shit" then I can't see any tangible reason not to use them.

Cheers
LT.

[qldcharger]

I believe we have a winner. I now just have to decide if I go 235 or 245. Will sort that out over the next few days. I have been told that if I take my car into Holden they can simply recalibrate my speedo to the tyre size?

[duke5700]

I run 245/40/18s - 245/40R18 XL 97H to be exact. $200 a corner and a good overall tyre. NS2s have powered barges to 1.8 second 60ft times so their dry straight line traction is not in question. If I paid double the price I might be able to go around corners in the wet 5 km/h quicker. They might even pull me up 60cm shorter than the NS2 will. Personally until I drive on the limit on the street that doesn't justify paying double for tyres. As Voodoo has said you can be unlucky and score one that's out of round but a good tyre shop will replace it. I have 10,000ks on mine so far and other than a bit of excess wear on the inside of the rears (was lowered without camber kit) they are doing very well. If the only "evidence" that can be presented against the Nankang is "they are cheap and therefore shit" then I can't see any tangible reason not to use them.

Cheers
LT.


totallly agree with the above couldt have said it better

[Maz]

I believe we have a winner. I now just have to decide if I go 235 or 245. Will sort that out over the next few days. I have been told that if I take my car into Holden they can simply recalibrate my speedo to the tyre size?

Actually the holden speedo reads slightly higher than the actual speed the car is traveling. So Fitting a 245 wide tyre will cause the speedo to actually be spot on accurate.

[RedVYIISS]

Kumho KU31 ECSTA SPT, 235/40-18"
$160-00 each supplied, fitted and balanced a month or so ago, Tempe Tyres (who also do mail order).

Astonishing value for money and IMHO better than NS2's.

these are 95Y rated (690 kg, 300 km/hr rated) which well exceeds the 91W min rating on an SS's tyre plackard.

[MonoJoker]

I've heard a lot of good things about the latest Kumho offerings. Anyone know if these KU31s can be had locally in Brisbane and if they come in a 245/40/18 size? At 160 a corner that is awesome value if they are as good as I've heard...

[kayman]

60,000km :lmao:

lol laugh you may, my old man got 78 thou out of his german stato!

[shaness8]

Got Kumho KU31 I reckon 245/40/18 fit better on the rim got em front & rear no problems.

[bobbyvtls1]

i have nankangs and they vibrate at over 100, but i think i got a bad set which was all ready on the car when i got it.
had them onmy last car the same size 235/40/18 and couldnt fault them. once i have done a couple more months of skids here and there to get my moneys worth, i will replace them with the same and hopefully my free massage while driving will be gone.