RE: OT:Hankook tires

[<mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Off topic
> Anyone run Hankook tires?
> I remember someone on the list recomending them, forget who. I need a set 
> for my truck and was looking at a W-401 tire as it is a Winter tire. 
> Anyone tell me how they ride/noise/Handling?


Mark,

Our Kia Sedona minivan had Hankook tires OEM.

I am not 100% sure it's the tires, but from day one our van has had a 
vibration between 72 and 80 mph.  The dealer has rebalanced all four wheels 
twice, with no improvement either time (yeah, I know -- probably the shop 
monkey just isn't paying attention).

The next time it goes to the dealer, it will be to have them check 
alignment & front end parts; and if none of that works I am going to ask 
that they replace each tire one at a time to see if one simply has a bad ply.

As far as ride/handling, I can't complain.  They are nice and sticky when 
dry, and wet performance is very good.  We're on about 24k now, and they 
are just starting to lose their rain grip (but then I always have driven 
just under hydroplaning speeds....).

I will say they are rather loud, even though they are road tires for a 
family minivan.

Being on a Kia, I assume they were chosen by the factory mainly because 
they are cheap; and I'd assume they're also cheap where you're buying.  I 
don't think you'll have anything to worry about in buying them.

Generally speaking, I trust American tires over foreign ones -- the one 
exception being BF Goodrich.  The AMC's I autocrossed have always gotten 
police-spec fabric (as opposed to steel) radials from American makers.  For 
autocrossing they get good tires, sway bars, gas shocks, and some 
off-factory spec suspension tweaks.  In any case, those are the tires I 
swear by.

-- Marc