Review - Hankook Kinergy ST tires in factory front/rear sizes

[Rich]

Hankook recently released a new line of tires in North America and perhaps elsewhere. As many owners now know, Hankook Kinergy ST H735 tires are available in both 195/60-14 and 235/60-15 sizes, the factory setup for our cars. After many years without this option the Kinergy ST looks like the only F/R OE-size-matched tire set available for the DeLorean. It's a new solution for owners running on way-too-old tires.

I'm quite pleased with my new set. Some owners have shared info about Kinergy STs elsewhere in this forum. After several DeLorean runs on these tires in the past 3 weeks I'm sharing specs, impressions and photos in this Product Review thread. A short report about their design, performance and pricing is below, followed by detailed photos:

Design:

- All-season touring tires
- Speed rating: T (118mph), Temp:A Traction:A Treadwear:680
- Fronts: blackwall both sides
- Rears: blackwall one side, raised white letters on other side (easily blacked out - I may post up about that later)
- Sidewalls and tread patterns match front-rear, neglecting raised white letter side
- Non-directional tread pattern

Subjective performance – dry pavement:

- Cornering performance is good. Very little tire squeal. Normal understeer.
- Good braking performance.

Interior noise vs. aged-out Michelin Pilots on same sections of level roads:

- Overall impression is noise is no worse than on the old tires
- Measured via phone app with mike facing forward on console armrest, windows closed, A/C-vent off.
- Hankooks are ~3dBA quieter (avg. 70dBA) vs the old Michelins with car coasting from 40mph to 30mph with engine idling in neutral.
- No difference vs Michelins at steady 50mph in 4th or 65mph in 5th on level road.

Pricing in SF Bay Area (Calif.) at a reputable General Tire shop – w/o promos or discounts:

- Tires were in the shop within 1 day of quotation – no shipping charge
- Fronts: 195/60-14 $79.50 ea
- Rears: 235/60-15 $109.20 ea
- Total price for the set - $377.40 excl. tax, mount/balance, disposal - $535 out the door
- tirerack.com also shows full availability while discounttiresdirect.com shows the fronts only

Photos:
Self-explanatory subjects and views. Our car has early-VIN gray wheels with Eibach springs and DMCH shocks all around with rear ride height set to match the front.

In order: The overall look, the treads and the sidewalls

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=65082&d=1606587174

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=65076&d=1606587044

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=65087&d=1606587326

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=65085&d=1606587266

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=65074&d=1606586953

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=65078&d=1606587080

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=65075&d=1606587044

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=65079&d=1606587111

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=65080&d=1606587111

[DMC-Ron]

Rich,
Nice report. Did the photos not make it? I'd like to see the tires.

Thanks,
Ron

[Mark D]

Thanks for the detailed review.

Here's a link to the two sizes and pricing on Tire Rack for anyone who is interested.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearchResults.jsp?tireIndex=0&autoMake=DeLorean&autoYear=1981&autoModel=DMC-12&autoModClar=&frontWidth=195%2F&frontRatio=60&frontDiameter=14&frontSortCode=34450&rearWidth=235%2F&rearRatio=60&rearDiameter=15&rearSortCode=40100

I may be looking at a set of these next spring. My Cooper cobras still have plenty of tread but the date codes on the fronts are 2009 and the rears are 2014.

[Rich]

Re-posting the Kinergy ST tire review - this time with photos linked in, I hope.

Hankook recently released a new line of tires in North America and perhaps elsewhere. As many owners now know, Hankook Kinergy ST H735 tires are available in both 195/60-14 and 235/60-15 sizes, the factory setup for our cars. After many years without this option the Kinergy ST looks like the only F/R OE-size-matched tire set available for the DeLorean. It's a new solution for owners running on way-too-old tires.

I'm quite pleased with my new set. Some owners have shared info about Kinergy STs elsewhere in this forum. After several DeLorean runs on these tires in the past 3 weeks I'm sharing specs, impressions and photos in this Product Review thread. A short report about their design, performance and pricing is below, followed by detailed photos:

Design:

- All-season touring tires
- Speed rating: T (118mph), Temp:A Traction:A Treadwear:680
- Fronts: blackwall both sides
- Rears: blackwall one side, raised white letters on other side (easily blacked out - I may post up about that later)
- Sidewalls and tread patterns match front-rear, neglecting raised white letter side
- Non-directional tread pattern

Subjective performance – dry pavement:

- Cornering performance is good. Very little tire squeal. Normal understeer.
- Good braking performance.
- No issue with the wheel balancing (some off-brand tires reportedly do not always balance well) - drives as smooth as it should

Interior noise vs. aged-out Michelin Pilots on same sections of level roads:

- Overall impression is noise is no worse than on the old tires
- Measured via phone app with mike facing forward on console armrest, windows closed, A/C-vent off.
- Hankooks are ~3dBA quieter (avg. 70dBA) vs the old Michelins with car coasting from 40mph to 30mph with engine idling in neutral.
- No difference vs Michelins at steady 50mph in 4th or 65mph in 5th on level road.

Pricing in SF Bay Area (Calif.) at a reputable General Tire shop – w/o promos or discounts:

- Tires were in the shop within 1 day of quotation – no shipping charge
- Fronts: 195/60-14 $79.50 ea
- Rears: 235/60-15 $109.20 ea
- Total price for the set - $377.40 excl. tax, mount/balance, disposal - $535 out the door
- tirerack.com also shows full availability while discounttiresdirect.com shows the fronts only

Photos:
Self-explanatory subjects and views. Our car has early-VIN gray wheels with Eibach springs and DMCH shocks all around with rear ride height set to match the front.

In order: The overall look, the treads and the sidewalls

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=65082&d=1606587174

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=65076&d=1

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=65087&d=1606587326

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=65085&d=1606587266

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=65074&d=1606586953

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=65078&d=1606587080

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=65075&d=1606587044

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=65079&d=1606587111

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=65080&d=1606587111

[Rich]

And another attempt at the photos:

[Michael]

Sold!

I will put a set on next spring.

[Mark D]

Great job on the photos with all the various angles and lighting. Much appreciated.

I'm not a huge fan of the textured side walls but overall they are good looking tires. The tire rack reviews seem very positive as well.

[DMCMW Dave]

I'm not a huge fan of the textured side walls but overall they are good looking tires. The tire rack reviews seem very positive as well.

My son's in the tire manufacturing business (Michelin) and apparently that textured sidewall pattern that looks "flat" was a difficult development and is currently the "hot" thing in tire design. So they are all doing it.

[mark w]

thanks Rich!

[Rich]

Here's a bonus post about blacking out the raised white letters on the Hankook Kinergy ST rears. The first photo shows the unpatterned RWL sidewall. Mounting that side inboard means the RWLs are hard to see from most angles. Black tire paint makes them go away.

1. Mount the rears with the RWL sidewalls inboard.
2. Buy a bottle of Miller Black Tire Paint https://www.millertire.com/products/tire-supplies/tire-paint/1-quart-black-tire-paint/
3. Clean the inboard sidewall with soapy water; rinse and dry completely.
4. Follow the directions. Use a bristle brush to paint against the raised edges of the letters.
5. Go a little heavy on painting the white letters.
6. Clean up with water.

I chose to paint the sidewalls between the outermost circular rib and the rib closest to the wheel. See photo 2 After drying it’s a pretty decent match to the uncoated rubber as in photo 3.

This procedure should work on any RWL tire. No info about how durable it is yet. No plans to wash or treat that side of those tires.

BEFORE
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WET AFTER PAINT APPLICATION
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DRY, FINISHED - good to go; the letters are still raised, of course, but now they're black
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[Mark D]

My son's in the tire manufacturing business (Michelin) and apparently that textured sidewall pattern that looks "flat" was a difficult development and is currently the "hot" thing in tire design. So they are all doing it.

Interesting to learn more about what's trending in terms of design. I've noticed the textured look has become more popular in the past 5 years or so, at least on passenger/light truck tires.

I'd be curious to know his thoughts on people who sand their side walls completely smooth, like this:
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/smooth-blackwall-tire-sidewalls.378955/

[Delorean02378]

Sold!

I will put a set on next spring.

Better get these soon. I attempted to order from Discount Tire, Firestone, and Tire Discounters and none were able to get any. I ended up ordering from TireRack and having them put on. The rears are now hard to find.

Kirk

[Michael]

Better get these soon. I attempted to order from Discount Tire, Firestone, and Tire Discounters and none were able to get any. I ended up ordering from TireRack and having them put on. The rears are now hard to find.

Kirk

Thanks for the heads up. I went to Tire Rack and placed an order. My tires have plenty of tread (approx 10k miles) but are about 7 or 8 years old.

PS: I suspect that an addition to the DMC owners buying them up(sarcastic voice on: after all there are 6,000 cars out there), several vendors are also placing bulk orders. If you plan to do tires in the next year, it might be a good idea to buy them now and sit on them until you are ready. Then again, I can't see any manufacturer going through the expense of designing a tire and building the molds only to discontinue them because they sold out so fast.

I just want to have a set locked and loaded incase the +++country name redacted+++ virus shuts everything down again.

[steve]

I just want to have a set locked and loaded incase the +++country name redacted+++ virus shuts everything down again.
Today, 03:59 PM

You mean the Wuhan or the Chinese Virus?

[Rich]

Better get these soon. I attempted to order from Discount Tire, Firestone, and Tire Discounters and none were able to get any. I ended up ordering from TireRack and having them put on. The rears are now hard to find.

The following fact may have something to do with the rears being in short supply just now:

The rears are made only in Indonesia. So if recent 235/60-15 factory shipments are sold out it may take a while to restock them stateside. All the other Kinergy ST tire sizes are made in USA (Tennessee).

Perhaps less of a factor: We may be competing for the rear tires with owners of Lotus Esprits up through '89 models. No surprise there. I've met early-series Esprit owners who mention OE tire availability headaches like ours.

[Michael]

The following fact may have something to do with the rears being in short supply just now:

The rears are made only in Indonesia. So if recent 235/60-15 factory shipments are sold out it may take a while to restock them stateside. All the other Kinergy ST tire sizes are made in USA (Tennessee).

Perhaps less of a factor: We may be competing for the rear tires with owners of Lotus Esprits up through '89 models. No surprise there. I've met early-series Esprit owners who mention OE tire availability headaches like ours.

So is a 235 60 15 just a hard size to find in general?

Edit. I checked and seems like they are not hard to find. I guess the s1 -3 Esprits have a staggered setup too?

[BladeBronson]

I just want to have a set locked and loaded incase the +++country name redacted+++ virus shuts everything down again.
Today, 03:59 PM

You mean the Wuhan or the Chinese Virus?

Come on guys, don't do this. Here's some good info on why: https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/23074/

[Michael]

Come on guys, don't do this. Here's some good info on why: https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/23074/

We are talking about tires here. Please take your lame ass politics elsewhere.

[Rich]

So is a 235 60 15 just a hard size to find in general?

Edit. I checked and seems like they are not hard to find. I guess the s1 -3 Esprits have a staggered setup too?

A. Yes, several tire models come in 235/60-15 size. That's not the problem. The problem is that for the past 7-8 years none of those tire models were available in 195/60-14 size for the fronts. Hankook Kinergy ST is currently the only solution for owners who want matching front-rear tires with same tread/sidewall/performance in OE size.

B. Early Esprits, not sure which series are the ones up to '89, do have staggered OE sizes. Same rears as our. Fronts are 195/60-15, though, not -14 like ours.

[Michael]

A. Yes, several tire models come in 235/60-15 size. That's not the problem. The problem is that for the past 7-8 years none of those tire models were available in 195/60-14 size for the fronts. Hankook Kinergy ST is currently the only solution for owners who want matching front-rear tires with same tread/sidewall/performance in OE size.

B. Early Esprits, not sure which series are the ones up to '89, do have staggered OE sizes. Same rears as our. Fronts are 195/60-15, though, not -14 like ours.

Yeah being an owner for nearly 12 years I am quite aware of our own tire problem. I just wasn't sure about the Lotus problem. I just assumed Lotus always used a square setup.

[Delorean02378]

Either way Michael, you’ll be glad you ordered some. Excuse the dirty rims, I know these aren’t as clean as yours but I plan on cleaning them before they go on the car. Also, it was cheaper for me to buy from TireRack
and have them installed & balanced than a straight purchase from Discount Tire which is what I did for my son’s car 4 months ago.

[Michael]

Either way Michael, you’ll be glad you ordered some. Excuse the dirty rims, I know these aren’t as clean as yours but I plan on cleaning them before they go on the car. Also, it was cheaper for me to buy from TireRack
and have them installed & balanced than a straight purchase from Discount Tire which is what I did for my son’s car 4 months ago.

Nice! I will probably put them on next spring. Here are a few pics I stole from the other tire thread. Seems the vendors wasted no time in getting their inventory for the future. Thanks again for the info on availability.
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I just replaced my suspension with an AVO setup so the new tires should have me set for the next 5 years.

[Rich_NYS]

Great job on the photos with all the various angles and lighting. Much appreciated.

I'm not a huge fan of the textured side walls but overall they are good looking tires. The tire rack reviews seem very positive as well.+1 on the textured sidewalls. I'm undecided if having a matched set is worth having that sidewall appearance.

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[Bitsyncmaster]

+1 on the textured sidewalls. I'm undecided if having a matched set is worth having that sidewall appearance.

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With the old plane sidewalls it really did not mater to me not having a matched set. You would never notice it unless your looking for what tires that guy is running.

[JETS 81 DMC]

Great job on the photos with all the various angles and lighting. Much appreciated.

I'm not a huge fan of the textured side walls but overall they are good looking tires. The tire rack reviews seem very positive as well.

I agree with you Mark. I am not a fan of the textured side walls either.

Has anyone seen what the back side looks like? I could not find any pictures of the back side.

Maybe could just turn the back side out if not textured?

[Michael]

I agree with you Mark. I am not a fan of the textured side walls either.

Has anyone seen what the back side looks like? I could not find any pictures of the back side.

Maybe could just turn the back side out if not textured?
The rears are RWL only and the fronts are black wall only so they wouldn't match even if the front reverse side looks cleaner. The Cooper Cobras are the same way so the only way they match is turn the back side out on all 4 tires.

After seeing them installed on the car, I don't think they look that bad or are even distracting. The only way to know for sure is take my car to DCS 2012 and measure the depth of vomit at all four corners of the car.

[DeLoreanTech]

Here's a video review I quickly made the day I put the new Hankooks on. I think they look and feel great. I'd say they sound great but I can't hear them, very quiet tire. I thought the review here on DMC Talk was great. Very informative.

https://youtu.be/h2BuMvpQ3iI

[Rich]

I agree with you Mark. I am not a fan of the textured side walls either.

Has anyone seen what the back side looks like? I could not find any pictures of the back side.

Maybe could just turn the back side out if not textured?

See Photo #1 in Post #10 of this thread. It shows the Raised White Letter side of the rear tires - just before I painted them black.

You can also see the RWL side of the rears at the 1m20s point in the excellent video review linked in the post before this one.

The RWL side isn't textured - if you don't count the 2mm high RWLs as texture.

[mhanch]

We are talking about tires here. Please take your lame ass politics elsewhere.

If you are going to get triggered, maybe you didn't need to add a xenophobic comment to a tires post.

and since you went to the effort of "self censoring" you knew what you were doing.

[Mark D]

Here's a video review I quickly made the day I put the new Hankooks on. I think they look and feel great. I'd say they sound great but I can't hear them, very quiet tire. I thought the review here on DMC Talk was great. Very informative.

https://youtu.be/h2BuMvpQ3iI

Thanks for the video! Very informative as well and it answered a question that I had.

I was wondering if the fronts had a different appearance to the sidewall on the inside, similar to the rears but without the RWL. From the video it looks like both sides of the front tires have the same sidewall pattern.

They look pretty nice all glossed up with tire shine.

[Michael]

If you are going to get triggered, maybe you didn't need to add a xenophobic comment to a tires post.

and since you went to the effort of "self censoring" you knew what you were doing.

This comment was hurtful, offensive, and has nothing to do with DeLoreans. I demand it be removed posthaste and a full apology be offered for the stress and trauma it has caused me.

[Michael]

If you are going to get triggered, maybe you didn't need to add a xenophobic comment to a tires post.

Rear tires came in today. They are not from USA but Indonesia so obviously they will need to sit in my garage for a few days to decontaminate before I touch them.

[L3V3L1]

Rear tires came in today. They are not from USA but Indonesia so obviously they will need to sit in my garage for a few days to decontaminate before I touch them.

I hope that's a detached garage for everyone's safety.

[Michael]

I hope that's a detached garage for everyone's safety.

Let's hope. The fronts came in today but they are from the USA so I went ahead and licked them clean and tucked them into bed for the night.

[MrChocky]

Let's hope. The fronts came in today but they are from the USA so I went ahead and licked them clean and tucked them into bed for the night.Michael finally gives away the secret of how his car looks so good.

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[Tamir A.]

Ok, everyone get this out of their system?! We get the innuendos and sarcasm, feel free to continue that on another forum. As we all know, no politics on this forum. Stick to the tire conversation or your responses will be deleted.


Let's hope. The fronts came in today but they are from the USA so I went ahead and licked them clean and tucked them into bed for the night.

[TTait]

Agreed - if the no politics rule is going away, so am I.

[Michael]

So the stars finally lined up today. Day off from work, no rain, open slot at the shop. They are going on this afternoon and I can't wait to feel the difference!

After seeing more and more pics that others have posted, I am actually digging the sidewalls. They have a futuristic/modern look to them. I think with the dressing, all that understated design work will catch the ambient light just right.

[Michael]

New tires on today and I am one happy guy. If you guys are on matching oe sized tires, then they are at least 10 years old by now and a decade is a lot of wear no matter how few miles you drive. I did not realize what a difference the new tires would make. I was pretty sure it would be better but not as super smooth (and quiet) as it is now.

Even the sidewall pattern looks good. In person, the ribbed design picks up little bits of light and I gotta say it reminds me of the wide side stripe design. I think it really compliments the car. It was very hard to get the in person appearance to show in the camera but these are close. I can't imagine anyone being disappointed with these.

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[Timeless]

Looks great as do the machined finish look of your wheels. I love that look.

[orangecrrrush]

Love the look! Bigger tires in the rear are cool.

[DrWin]

I couldn't find the Hankook ST tires for sale in Denmark, but I came across a different match:
195/60 R14 Nankang Econex 86H NA-1
235/60 R15 Nankang Econex 98S NA-1

And I even found one for the spare:
Continental T125/70R15

Sooo... yeah. :)
Just wanted to put that out there for anyone else who needs a second option.

[mark w]

Anyone know when the Hankook rears will be available again?

(CA, USA)

[MrChocky]

Anyone know when the Hankook rears will be available again?

(CA, USA)

https://www.walmart.com/ip/1-235-60R15-Hankook-Kinergy-ST-H735-98T-tire/922092740

Walmart has 1 left.

[Michael]

Tire Rack had 1 as of yesterday (for my zip) with more due in later this month.

I would bet good money the vendors all got a nice stockpile but they are most likely reserved for service customers and the cars they sell.

[Rich]

More details around Michael's report...

At the moment TireRack shows rears becoming available starting 19-March.

Fronts showing as in stock.

[Rich]

And while it was 4 or 5 months ago I was able to get a complete set of Kinergy STs in OE sizes from my General Tire retailer fast. Next day availability for the fronts and two days to get the rears. It could be different now - but maybe it's worth a phone call if General Tire is in the area. My local GT shop handles >10 name brand tire lines besides Generals incl. Bridgestone, Yoko, Michelin, Conti, Hankook.


More details around Michael's report...

At the moment TireRack shows rears becoming available starting 19-March.

Fronts showing as in stock.

[Rich]

https://www.walmart.com/ip/1-235-60R15-Hankook-Kinergy-ST-H735-98T-tire/922092740

Walmart has 1 left.

Thanks.

Update: that link now shows 2 rears are available. $119.63 ea.

[mark w]

Update:

Tire Rack still didnt have the rears in stock, and showed eta of 5/21. that date seems to continually be moving forward.

Amazon had the fronts and rears instock with free shipping so I ordered them there instead.

Mark

[MrChocky]

Walmart still has them:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/1-235-60R15-Hankook-Kinergy-ST-H735-98T-tire/922092740
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hankook-Kinergy-ST-H735-All-Season-Tire-195-60R14-86T/818427653

[Helirich]

Update:

Tire Rack still didnt have the rears in stock, and showed eta of 5/21. that date seems to continually be moving forward.

Amazon had the fronts and rears instock with free shipping so I ordered them there instead.

Mark

I just got a complete set last week from tire rack. But I got 245's in the rear.

[kinvilje]

Last fall I installed these Hankook Tires after purchasing on Tire Rack website. Solid product!

[Michael]

I just got a complete set last week from tire rack. But I got 245's in the rear.

The whole point of using the Hankook is they are matching OE sizes.

[Helirich]

The whole point of using the Hankook is they are matching OE sizes.

They were the only company I could find that had matching OE up front and one size bigger in the rear. BFG has one size bigger all around, but I've heard the fronts will rub even one size bigger. Also the speedo may be slightly off. Now I'm making wheel spacers for the front (because of brakes), so I probably could go one size bigger up there. It's done now.

[BleachedBora]

Yay! I’ve been trying to find a matched set in Europe to throw in a shipping container (I import VW/Audi parts all the time). This is much easier. Thanks for the info! Needless to say the 1999 Michelin’s I inherited are shot.

[Rich]

Availability check:

Tire Rack's site shows this tire model is available to ship from stock in both the F and R OE (matching!) sizes.

[WHO1DMC]

Had my new hankook tires mounted today.
All in all not to bad. Had to post some pics of the weights. I was a little worried about how many they would take. I think one of my rims probably broke the record with absolutely no weights. I never seen a perfect wheel balance.
The wheels were perfectly clean so you can probably tell they had a little struggle.




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