Do you wonder if the Kuhmos Tires WORK?

[utahviper]

I bought some Kuhmos tires from JonB @ partsrack, great guy BTW, and some 17" 3 spoke rims. I mounted the tires and had the rims powder coated and then went to work. Realize at my elevation (4500ft)my actual uncorrected HP is 440RWHP. Probably where alot of you are already at(sea level HP).

I borrowed my friends GTECH and tested out the stock tires for a 0-60 time. Launch was at about 1500rpm with wheel spin until 3800rpm to yeild a 4.11 seconds 0-60 time.

Then I went home and changed to my other set of tires and rims (Kuhmos) and went to the same place. I then played a little bit with launching until I found the sweet spot @3200rpm with some wheel spin upto 4700rpm. The results were better than I had hoped for 3.66 seconds 0-60. I really didn't do a heavy burnout so I think I could have done better but these results were very impressive.

I can't wait to go to the track at the end of the month and see what kind of 60' times I can get. My best time so far is 1.95 seconds in about (8) tries with my new car.

Final conclusion, so far the tires have performed better than I had expected and handle actually quit well. Would I recommend these to "drag guys"? You better believe it!

Only CON so far, they don't make them for my HRE 18" factory size rims. I wish I didn't have to change them out but until they come out with an 18" tire that will fit on a factory size rims, this is the best option available.

Hope this helps!

 

[USAF BAD ASP]

Is 1.9 60times better than, or right at, average for stock tires? I can get consistant 1.9's very easy with an occasional 1.8 on stock tires. My only mod at the time was exhaust straight pipes. The whole drag thing is still new to me though and I'm not sure what is considered good... though my local friends told me I would *never* see 1.8's on stocks

 

[Dixter]

which tire and size did you buy... and how much...

Thanx

 

[varanus]

Just ordered my set today from Jon B. can't wait to try them.
Utahviper, did you put on the 3m plastic protection to save the paint from rocks flying off the tires.
I.m going to try an auto x with them. An Ls1 keeps telling me how bad vipers are on auto-x. We'll see.

 

[GONABITE]

Varanus,

Take them auto crossing you will love it I went to Watkins Glen and they performed awesome. Chased down a ZO6 until he lost traction on turn one and then his active handling saved him from the wall.

 

[Dixter]

I don't want to be a pain in the $ss here but... I went to
tire rack to see what these tires look like and there is
more than one model....

So... Please post... Tire size, model and cost

Thanx

I'm looking for a nice tire to put on my stock wheels...

 

[ryan 94RT]

WELL GUYS I GOT ALL MY INFO THAT THE KUMOS ROCK FROM THE SUPRA CREW. MOST OF THEM HAVE MODED THEIR CARS AND RUN 600HP AND UP TO THE GROUND WITH A BIG SINGLE TURBO. SO I BOUGHT SOME FROM TIRE RACK (COST ABOUT 700 DELIVERED).

SIZES ARE FOR 17 INCH RIMS ONLY NO 18'S. I HAVE a 94RT10
WITH 275 40 17 FRINT AND 335 35 17 REAR.

JOHN B AT PARTS RACK SAYS HE HAS BETTER PRICES GIVE HIM A RING
AND CHCK IT OUT.

ALSO I HAVE TRIED THEM ON THE ROAD COURSE AND DRAG STRIP. lIKED
THE WAY THEY WORK ON THE ROAD COURSE BETTER,MAYBE IT IS JUST BECAUSE I'M BETTER AT THE ROAD COURSE.


HOPE THIS HELPS
RYAN
FORGET THE STRAIGHT LETS TALK CURVES.

 

[Bill Pemberton Woodhouse]

Kumho Victoracer 700's are what you are looking for, and they aren't available in 18's.

This is a Roadrace/Autocross tire, that probably would do well at the strip , also. They are not as fast as Hoosiers on a roadcourse, but they are quicker than the stock Michelins.

 

[utahviper]

1.8 60' time is a great time on stock tires! I am not an expert driver but I know it is difficult to get into the 1.8's in 60' times with stock tires.

The tire size is 335 35 17 and it is the v700 series. I bought them from JonB, who drop ships them from the tire rack, and they were ~$172each plus shipping.

I have not put the 3M plastic tape on there because I don't drive it every day. I already took the tires off my car because the rear rims do not match the front rims.

 

[treynor]

I ended up buying Kumhos V700 Victoracers for my CCW 17x11 / 17x13 race wheels. 315/35-17 front, 335/35-17 rear. The Hoosiers are considerably lighter and (I'm told) a little quicker, but they're also 60% more expensive and wear out more quickly.

Parts Rack had the best prices by a significant margin on these tires, and had them in stock to boot.

 

[RockyTop]

Are you guys sure these are the Victoracers ? I thought only the Ecsta_(?)____ were available in 335 x 17 models. They are still good tires, but I am not sure they are as high perfomance as the Victo. If they are Victos in the stock Viepr rear sizes (i.e., 335), then I am excited to have a cheaper alternative to the Hoosiers.

 

[Alternative]

I've been planning to get a used set of wheels (17's) and new Kumhos for the track (1/4 mile), or a new set of Purners slicks/skinnies. 'Currently having a hard time deciding...
I thought before, if I get the Purners, I'll have to haul them to the track. But not until last weekend at the 1/4 mile track here in SoCal. A fellow Viper owner drove about 50 miles with the Purners slicks/skinnies. He said that as long as it's not raining, and no high speed turns, the Purners are driveable on the streets.
I'd appreciate to hear pro's and con's between another set of wheels (used OEM 17's) with Kumhos, and new set of Purners. TIA

 

[Greg 99ACR Red and Silver]

Alternative:
I trailer mine, but the Purners are streetable. Don't follow close on the freeway though, because the "skinnies" are not very good for bringing the car to a stop.

If you the get slicks, invest in Unitrax half shafts.

 

[treynor]

> Are you guys sure these are the Victoracers ?
> I thought only the Ecsta were available in 335 x 17 models.

You are correct, the 315/35 tires are V700 Victoracers, the 335/35s are V700 Ecstas.

 

[MES]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>I've been planning to get a used set of wheels (17's) and new Kumhos for the track (1/4 mile), or a new set of Purners slicks/skinnies. 'Currently having a hard time deciding...
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I would advise against the Kumho's if all you want them for is drag racing (i.e. put them on for the track & take them off for the street). A pair of BFG drag radials would be much better IMHO 315's on 17X10" front rims. I have the Kumho's now and they don't stick at the track nearly as good as on the street. They seem to be a better street tire than a drag tire. In fact, I've got the best 60' with stock pilot sports. I don't think there is any point of getting the Kumhos just for the track when BFG would work much better. I do have a set of ET streets & skinnies sitting here and have not been able to try them due to the rain

They of course should hook much, much harder than drag radials, so if you want the best times those are what you should get.

PS I plan on driving to and from the track with the ET's & skinnies, about 20 miles

 

[treynor]

I agree with MES, for drag racing the Kumho V700s are a poor choice. You could get rear wheels only and run the drag radial combination he mentions, or get Purner's slicks & skinnies combo and get some serious launches. Either way, I recommend getting some Unitrax medium-duty half shafts; breaking your car at the track isn't any fun.

 

[MtHam ACR]

These aren't really drag tires, they're road racing tires. The benefits kick in when they get hot (not superficially warm). IMHO, you can't get this or any other R-compound tire up to "race temp" with a burn-out or two, you need a few laps of spirited driving.

If you're true intention is to use them for drag racing, you'd be better off with drag slicks.

On the otherhand, I know Bill Kaiser (Apex Motorsport) used to run them on his street driven Cobra. They ARE a lot of fun, just don't expect them to wear like your pilot sports.

 

[SoCal Rebell]

I spoke with Tire Rack a few days ago about the V700s and was told there WAS a 285/35-18 size available. I am thinking about changing to them from my Hoosiers (economics) but I am currently running a 305 in the front and hate losing the extra rubber.

 

[treynor]

OK, straight from the horse's mouth -- I just spoke with the technical contact for the V700 tire series at Kumho. He said there was no issue with running a Victoracer front and a Ecsta rear: (a) they both have the same compound rubber, and (b) user feedback are that the Victoracer has better turn-in, and the Ecsta is better at getting drive out of a corner.

I'll post my own feedback once I get them mounted up and block out some time for a track day.