Firehawk INDY 500
Have you bought a modern sports car? In this case, you need to take care of buying the right tires. No, we are not talking about tires that just fit the wheel. These are tires that provide optimum driving characteristics at speeds over 200 km / h.
Sports tires differ from conventional tires in that they provide optimal control at high speeds, and in addition, they can withstand long-term use in extreme conditions and do not deteriorate. By extreme conditions, we mean high speeds and, as a result, high temperatures for heating tires from friction with the road surface.
The Firestone company produces such tires - this is the Firehawk INDY 500 and we will talk about them in this review.
The tradition of producing quality tires
Firestone is America's oldest pneumatic tire manufacturer. The company's product range includes tires for various types of transport. There are tires for trucks, there are tires for SUVs, there are tires for cars.
General information about Firehawk INDY 500
Firehawk INDY 500 tires are specially designed for sports cars on public roads. Of course, these tires, among other things, will be a godsend for ordinary passenger car owners who prefer to drive fast and very fast. These tires are very lightweight, very balanced, and very durable!
The fact that these tires are sports is evidenced by their name INDY 500 - this is one of the most famous American car races, which is held annually in Indianapolis. And the number 500 means that the cars will have to cover 500 miles during the race.
The Firehawk INDY 500 is a summer low-profile tire that offers optimal handling on both dry and wet surfaces. These tires are, in fact, a ticket to motorsports. Every owner of a coupe or family sedan can install such tires on their wheels and go to amateur races along with one of the nearby racing tracks. Agree, this is a great opportunity to feel like a professional racer without investing a lot of money!
However, it would be wrong to believe that the Firehawk INDY 500 can only be used on the track. No, these tires will provide you with a significant advantage on your daily commute in and out of town. But learn that this is a road tire, and therefore there can be no question of driving outside of a high-quality asphalt or concrete surface.
So, the Firehawk INDY 500 is an entry-level summer tubeless sports tire that will transform your everyday driving experience. What makes these tires so good?
About technologies
The Firehawk INDY 500 is the most technologically advanced tire in its price range. Technology is everything, both in the composition of production materials and in the construction of the tire. The most important technology used in the construction of these tires is Pulse Groove. The essence of the technology is applied to the central annular groove. This groove, due to its special design, provides additional resistance to aquaplaning, since water from the contact patch with the road surface is drained much more efficiently.
Technology is also incorporated into the tire design. It uses a frame with polyester belts and nylon reinforcement. The tire is longitudinally reinforced with steel belts. This structure, on the one hand, allows you to achieve the highest possible design cruelty. On the other hand, thanks to this design, the tire is significantly lighter and has minimal rolling resistance.
The presence of a polymer frame in combination with metal reinforcement belts allows the tire to be operated without fear of overheating, which is very important for high-speed summer tires.
Advantages over conventional tires
High shoulder rigidity. The sidewall and, in particular, the shoulder area of the Firehawk INDY 500 is strengthened in comparison with the usual one, and therefore these tires can go through corners at high speed without the risk of falling off the disk. Considering that high-speed cornering is a primary requirement for sports tires, shoulder stiffness is very important.
Diverting water from the contact patch of the tire with the road. Sports tires need to be manageable not only on dry but also on wet roads. Therefore, in the Firehawk INDY 500, the diagonal grooves with variable cross-sectional width are designed in such a way as to maximally drain water from the contact patch. As a result, the probability of aquaplaning is practically minimal and the car will behave predictably in the rain.
The braking distance is 20% shorter than that of conventional tires. Considering that sports tires are usually designed for high speeds, you need to understand that they will somehow have to be slowed down. With conventional tires, a sports car is unlikely to stop dead at traffic lights. But thanks to the Firehawk INDY 500 tires, the car stops much faster on both dry and wet surfaces. Plus your safety!
- Start without slipping. It's no secret that the high power of the car leads to the fact that the wheels are spinning idly. The wheels are spinning, the tires are smoking, and the car stands still for a couple of seconds. The reason for this is the lack of grip and this deficiency is practically eliminated in the Firehawk INDY 500. Sports cars start instantly. Great news if you want to be the first to start at a traffic light!
- Durability. The Firehawk INDY 500 is much stronger and more reliable than conventional tires. Therefore, if such a model of tires is used not for racing, but everyday trips around the city, it will last at least one and a half times longer than conventional tires.
- Great design. The Firehawk INDY 500 is a low-profile rubber that looks just as sporty as it handles. As a result, now the usual family sedan will look more sporty and dynamic. Agree, such a result is worth the cost of this tuning.
Disadvantages of Firehawk INDY 500
Are there any disadvantages? Of course, there are, however, these are not so many drawbacks as features of operation. For example, with these tires, the suspension will feel much stiffer, which is understandable, since the rubber is low profile.
Another feature is that these tires, when installed on a regular passenger car, will require the purchase of new rims with the corresponding outer diameter. On the other hand, if you own a sports coupe, it probably has wheels designed for low-profile tires as standard, which means you can pick up and buy a Firehawk INDY 500 that will fit perfectly on the wheel.
Firehawk INDY 500 specifications
Speed index - W.
Load index - XL (EXTRA LOAD).
Tread height - 10 mm.
Internal (landing) diameter - 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 ".
The outer diameter of the tire is from 24.1 to 28.66 ".
Design - full black sidewall and black sidewall with white lettering.