Hankook Optimo H418 tire?

[sundarpn]

(215/60/16 for my 2002 XLE 4 cyl)

I came across this Hankook Optimo H418 tire on discount tire website and ratings seem great. Any opinions on this?

I had yoko V4S but I only got about 35K. So I am look at options. I don't need a V rated tire. H is fine.

[BlackCam09]

great tires i have them on my winter wheels.

[Pilot0617]

They are great I have them on my SE since October of 2010 and they still look brand new. They are great tires for the price.

[sundarpn]

Cool thx. Is road noise higher?

Discount tire seems to have a tax free weekend sale. Not sure if they will prorate for premature wear and offer tax free.

Tempting! Although I still have about 5 to 7 K miles left from my yoko avid v4s.

[molson.david]

never had H418, but bought alot of different tires from Tire rack.
and their survey always right.
go there and check survey and specs for H418:
neither are good.
survey shows that H418 below average performer and winter traction just bad.

UTQG 400 based on my experience in real life will not get you more than 35K miles.
if you was not happy with 35K out of Yokos, look for UTQG at least 600.

go for Optimo H727 or Pirelli P4 they are both highly rated tires.
I got second set of P4 and never regretted about buying them, even in the winter.
I got close to 20K on them and looks like I'll get another 30-35.
yoko Avid Touring S another good tires, but people say they not the best tires for deep snow.I had older Avid Touring model and they were very good.
Just put touring S on wife's car, they great on dry and wet road,but don't know about snow traction yet.
pay attention to "total miles reported",alot of reviews leave very small to none margin for error.

[sundarpn]

Hankook Optimo H727 were T rated (96T). So doesn't show up if I search for Camry XLE. the size 215/60/16 is available though. Yes, reviews are very good.

Is 96T rated tire acceptable?

[molson.david]

Is 96T rated tire acceptable?

if you planning drive with speeds over 120 MPH they mite not work for you.
don't know about NC, but in TX there are no roads to drive that fast.
I can go 90 for 3-5 min top and have to slow down due to trafic.

all touring tires are T rated, if you'll go H or V rated tires-perfomance tires, you'll loose tread life and most likely wet and snow traction.

[tengiday]

It is a misconception that tire speed ratings are associated with the ability of the vehicle to handle the speed for which the tire is rated. They reflect how the tire is constructed, which affects directly handling. People may never understand this untill an emergency situation such as maneurving around an aobject calls for it. My car comes with V speed rating, so I never use any tires that have lower than V.

[sundarpn]

Right. More than speed I was wonder if the side walls flex more with T rated? compared to my older yoko avid V4S I have. (I don't want more body roll

[molson.david]

speed rating is speed rating only.
handling depend on traction and temperature index.
good touring tire conetracted better tnan higher speed rated summer tire.
..........................................

The Optimo H727 features a custom-blended, all-season rubber compound to enhance traction and tread life. A symmetric tread design featuring hundreds of tapered lateral slots and a continuous center rib reduce noise and improve driving feel while promoting ride comfort and uniform wear. Four circumferential grooves help evacuate water from under the footprint to resist hydroplaning on wet roads while hundreds of high-density sipes enhance traction in wintry conditions.
The tire’s internal structure features two wide, high-tensile steel belts reinforced by a nylon cap ply that stabilizes the tread to enhance handling and durability

The Optimo H418 features an all-season compound molded into a symmetric, independent block tread design (featuring either two or three circumferential grooves) to provide traction on dry, wet and light snow-covered roads. The tire's internal structure includes twin steel belts (reinforced by a nylon cap ply in selected higher speed rated sizes) to stabilize the tread area and a polyester cord body to help cushion the ride
.................................................. ..
H727 will give you less roll.
see survey, cornering stability and steering responce for H727 is way better vs H418.

my previous michelin energy mxv4 were V rated, but steering responce,cornering and traction especially in wet and snow condition was way below P4 level.

[tengiday]

Originally Posted by molson.david

speed rating is speed rating only.
handling depend on traction and temperature index.
good touring tire conetracted better tnan higher speed rated summer tire.
..........................................

A higher speed rating will result in better car handling. It is the fact! The faster a tire can go, the softer the rubber compound they use to make it (softer rubber grips dry pavement better).

I've never driven my car more than 90-100 mph (rarely over 80 mph). Does it mean I'm safe to use T tires (or S, R)? My tires are Michelin Pilot Sport AS Plus. They are excellent tires and worth every penny. When renting some cars with H speed rating tires, I can feel a little difference in handling. It may not be important to some people, but as I said, you will get pity in emergency situations where higher speed rating tires will save you from visiting the repair shop.

PS: If you happen to be in an accident and they find out the tires you are using have lower speed rating than the OEM tires, you are at fault too. My OEM tires had V speed rating, so it's safe for me to have tires at least V.

[molson.david]

A higher speed rating will result in better car handling. It is the fact! The faster a tire can go, the softer the rubber compound they use to make it (softer rubber grips dry pavement better).

we were talking about body roll, not compaund.

PS: If you happen to be in an accident and they find out the tires you are using have lower speed rating than the OEM tires, you are at fault too. My OEM tires had V speed rating, so it's safe for me to have tires at least V.

I worked at body shop and never heard about it.
had accident 5-6 month ago, both ins. companies USAA and Allstate, appraised damage- nobody even mentioned it and they sure seen my T rated tires (tire and wheel was damaged). got new wheel and tire.

[tengiday]

Originally Posted by molson.david

we were talking about body roll, not compaund.

Body roll for tires? We're talking about handling. No matter what you say, I'm certain that high speed rating tires perform better than low speed rating. Replacing with low speed rating tires is dangerous.

I worked at body shop and never heard about it.
had accident 5-6 month ago, both ins. companies USAA and Allstate, appraised damage- nobody even mentioned it and they sure seen my T rated tires (tire and wheel was damaged). got new wheel and tire.

It happened to my dad, my cousin, and my friend. They were not at fault, but the insurance found that the tires were incorrectly installed. As a result, my friend ended up paying for the tire; my cousin was warned that they won't pay for the tires if they find out the incorrect use of tires next time.

PS:
- You guys are cheap out of a very critical part that involves not only your safety but also others'. I've never done anything that compromises my own safety and others.
- Checking on tirerack, the lowest speed rating they recommend is H.

[02920]

No matter what you say, I'm certain that high speed rating tires perform better than low speed rating. Replacing with low speed rating tires is dangerous.

in most cases tire specs does not connected with speed rating.
stock V rated Bridgestone Turanza completely sucks compare to T rated Yokohama Touring-S.
Yokos got lower speed rating, harder rubber compound and higher tread wear index -all worse than Bridgestone and still perform better on any road in any condition.

[molson.david]

PS:
- You guys are cheap out of a very critical part that involves not only your safety but also others'. I've never done anything that compromises my own safety and others.
- Checking on tirerack, the lowest speed rating they recommend is H.

I went through many tires on my cars.
my opinion: speed rating and overall performance does not affect each other.
I had great T rated tires and bad V rated.
most of the T rated touring tires will easily outperform high speed rated tires on wet and snowy road. I want great traction at any condition and I want tire that last.
Speed rating has nothing to do with it.

And I’m not cheap: my T rated tires cost as much as most V rated tires.

I'm not pushing to choose T rated tire over V rated, pick any one you want even OEM recomended work fine for most people, but I don't see why speed rating should affect all year perfomance and tire life.