Falken Azenis

[GodbeyWoRX]

I need to replace my Azenis they wouldn't pass inspection. I went looking to put the same ones on and I find two kinds:

1. Azenis RT-615
2. Azenis ST-115

I looked and I cannot find a number like that on my tires. I thought they might be ST-115's but I cannot find that number on the actual tires.

What is the difference? Will they have my size 205/55-16? Any info would be appreciated.

-->Rob

[SeanB]

ST-115 aren't the autox kind, they are just summer/all season tires. Definately don't get those because they are just horrid for autoxing.

You want the RT-615s... the ones you currently have are the RT-215s which were discontinued last year.

The sizes available for the RT-615s are: 205/40/16, 215/45/16, 225/50/16

Best places to get them are either at www.vulcantires.com , www.edgeracing.com or www.discounttiredirect.com . I got my RT-615s at EdgeRacing.

[Davis K Powers]

I need to replace my Azenis they wouldn't pass inspection. I went looking to put the same ones on and I find two kinds:

1. Azenis RT-615
2. Azenis ST-115

I looked and I cannot find a number like that on my tires. I thought they might be ST-115's but I cannot find that number on the actual tires.

What is the difference? Will they have my size 205/55-16? Any info would be appreciated.

-->Rob

edit: Sean's right..I mixed the 115 w/ 215, me bad.
You currently have the 215's. (same ones I use to have and really liked)

The new ones are 615's and are probably just as good as the older ones performance wise but a bit more $.

Troy/April have the hot street setup tires. Hankooks. Probably the best tire you can get for street class tires

[SeanB]

You currently have the 115's. (same ones I use to have and really liked)

The new ones are 615's and are probably just as good as the older ones performance wise but a bit more $.

Troy/April have the hot street setup tires. Hankooks. Probably the best tire you can get for street class tires

Erm gotta disagree a little Davis... no... the 115s are the all seasons, the 215s were the old autox tires. The ST-115 are 360 tread wear, while the RT 615 (215 old) are 200 tread wear.

As much as I love the kooks they aren't the tire to have in the street tire class. GRM did a tire test a year or so back and the Falkens were 1/2 second faster each and every run. What the kooks have an advantage in is that they are less prone over heating and the sizes offered are more varied. Most national level ST* guys run the Falkens, its like their spec tire.

RT-215
http://www.vulcantire.com/graphics/tires/azenis.jpg

ST-115
http://www.vulcantire.com/graphics/tires/st115.jpg

RT-615
http://www.vulcantire.com/graphics/tires/azenis_rt615.jpg

[GodbeyWoRX]

I think you are probably right about which tire I have Sean, just based on the tread rating, which is stamped on my tire, unlike the model number.

However, the "NEW" Azenis don't come in my size. It will take me out of stock if I change tire size won't it?

-->Rob

[SeanB]

No it won't take you out of stock.

Stock says... any tire as long as you can fit it on the stock wheel. Get the 215/45/16 because they are a little wider than what you have but not too wide to cause a fender rub.

So you could theoretically fit a set of 305/35/16s on there... :lol:

[ShortysTRM]

I can't justify paying the extra money for Azenis 615's (which is what I have now) over the Hankooks (April has). The Hankooks have better wet performance, as even the traction rating is higher, which a wet-weather braking test. The Hankooks are cheaper. The Hankooks come in a bajillion sizes. April's Hankooks have about 18 events on them and God only knows how many daily driven miles, as well as both of us using them for the skidpad last year, where her Alero on stock suspension pulled .94G with the tires being the only mod, and they still have some life in them. Not much, though. In some sizes, the Hankooks tread width is actually greater than the Azenis.

April has stock suspension and a 4 cylinder, as well as another 200-300 pounds over my Grand Am and she still ends up about a second and a half behind me after each event. There have been a few exceptions, but from what I can tell, the difference is miniscule. I read that review in GRM and wasn't too convinced, and I also thought that the time difference was less or that it was on a road course instead of an autocross course..? I think that was the review that I read where they kept compaining about the amount of "void" areas in the Hankook tread design. Given the size of the tread blocks and the great rain performance, I'd say it's worth it. Plus they look awesome lol.

We got our's from EdgeRacing.com, too. They all seem to be Mexican or Cuban, but they have some awesome deals on wheels and tires. You can get a set of lightweight wheels with mounted tires for about the same price as ordering 4 tires and paying to have them mounted on wheels you already own.

Hankook Ventus RS-2 Z212
http://edgeracing.com/images/tire/hankook_ventus_rs2_z212_front_zoom.jpg

EDIT: If you want to know how wide you can fit, there is a minimum/maximum wheel width listed for each tire on Edge Racing, as well as the weight of each tire, the tread width, etc. etc.

[SeanB]

If the Kooks were truly better then all the national level ST* cars would suddenly have them. Take a gander at what everyone ran this year in the tours, 90% of them are Falkens and the rest are something else. They are a great start by kook, but at the end of the day they still aren't as grippy of the get go as the Falkens.

Edit: I've driven cars that had Falkens (both gens), kooks and Kumhos. The 215s are still by far my favorite, the 615s second and then a toss up between the Hankooks and the Kumhos. The 615s are a very different breed of tire, a lot of people took a good few months to get used to the different compound, tread, etc.

[GodbeyWoRX]

Troy -- I'm looking at the Hankooks. Just had to replace the A/C unit in one of my apartments yesterday, so I could stand to save some money today. :-)
Are we talking about the Ventus R-S2 Z212 (where do they get these model names & numbers)?

Sean -- why not the 215/50 versus the 215/45? The 50's will not lower my car as much. I get minus 5.25mm for the 50's and 16mm for the 45's (1 inch = 25mm).

-->Rob

[SeanB]

They don't make 215/50 Falkens.

Your saving for getting the Hankooks is about 50 bucks for a set of 4.

And the naming... it gets more confusing when you start going into the R comps... C30, C50, C70...

[ShortysTRM]

I wouldn't say they're better than the Azenis as a dry weather autocross tire, but they're better in the wet, have deeper tread (not good for auto-x, I know), last longer, look better (IMO), come in more sizes, and cost less.

As for the name, it's obviously a street tire inspired by the Ventus Z211 Racing tire...duh. lol

[GodbeyWoRX]

Well I decided to go with the Azenis since I liked the last two sets I had. Searched the Web for the best deal, which didn't vary that much. Was ready to pull the trigger (click the submit button) when I notice BACKORDER.

I finally called the one site that didn't list them as out-of-stock and they admitted they didn't have any in that size and would probably have them in two weeks.

Sorry guys but I can't drive with my Inspection out for two weeks or not drive for that long, so Hankook it is. I get to do a comparison.

So, I'm planning on the same size I as going to get the Azenis in 215/45/16 unless someone tells me that's a bad idea. And, the tire is the Ventus R-S2 Z212 (right Troy?).

Thanks for the help and spirited discussion! 8)

[SeanB]

I'd go with the RS2's then... they are called the Hankook Ventus RS2 Z212.

The Falkens will be hard to find right now, nationals are coming up in a few months so everyone is stocking up.

[GodbeyWoRX]

I just placed the order.

I did get the Hankooks and I went with 225/50-16's. That is almost exactly the same ride height and almost an inch wider. Can you see any reason why that won't work?

Thanks for getting me thinking about going a little wider Sean. I was not sure I could do that in stock. And, thanks for the Hankook push Troy. I saw them in a Car & Driver comparison. Here is the link:

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/10252/tire-test-the-quick-and-the-tread.html

[ShortysTRM]

IIRC, you drive on your autocross tires every day. If so, you'll be happy with what you ended up with. April entered a sweepstakes they were having when she got her tires and ended up winning a Hankook debit card with $50 on it. It's a cool looking card lol.

I think you'll be happy with that size, too. I'm kind of excited to see what you think of them.

Edit: I just read that review and they didn't like its wet weather performance. Who knows lol. They scored the Kumho Ecsta MX in last, which is a pretty decent tire for ST classes.

[SeanB]

Since when did looks become one of the criteria for buying pseudo race tires. :lol:

If they give me an extra half second I'll take em, even if they are pink and have tread that looks like a Yugo emblem.

[GodbeyWoRX]

Troy,

I thought the Car and Driver review was interesting from the "what do autoxers drive everyday" perspective. The dry performance on all these tires was close. And their weighting pulled in wet, price, etc. I thought the Conti review was interesting -- we didn't like its performance alot, but its wet numbers brought it up. I would love to see Azenis compared in a test like that. I hear people complain about their wet performance and I never had a problem. I even drove them in the snow--all year round.

Someday I'll have longer mileage more-all-around highway tires (like those Goodyears in the review), AutoX tires, and winter snow tires. WHEN I get a garage. :-)

[SentraWV]

Someday I'll have longer mileage more-all-around highway tires (like those Goodyears in the review), AutoX tires, and winter snow tires. WHEN I get a garage. :-)

Feh. My first set of stickies lived in a corner of my dining room in my Beckley apartment! :twisted:

NP: Kevin Gilbert, "Suit Fugue (Dance of the A&R Men)"

[administerturbo]

Someday I'll have longer mileage more-all-around highway tires (like those Goodyears in the review), AutoX tires, and winter snow tires. WHEN I get a garage. :-)

Feh. My first set of stickies lived in a corner of my dining room in my Beckley apartment! :twisted:

NP: Kevin Gilbert, "Suit Fugue (Dance of the A&R Men)"

lol. just last year mine were literally hanging in a closet with coat hangers bent to hold them up.

[ShortysTRM]

I have 3 random sets of wheels in my garage...no stickies, though.

[ShortysTRM]

You've got one event down with the Hankooks...do you like them?

[GodbeyWoRX]

From an autocross standpoint it was hard to tell any big difference with the on again-off-again rain. They turned it a lot better, but whether that's the tires or the new alignment I can't tell. They feel great.

On the road they feel much better. The loud road noise my back seat passengers complained about is gone, and more importantly to me the high pich whine that sounded like a wheel bearing or differential problem is gone. I've had them on the highway, turnpike and in the rain now and they feel very sure-footed. Of course that's compared to old bald Falkens. :)

These are about an inch wider and there is still plenty of room.

Baby got a new pair of shoes!

[gtfour77]

Glad to hear you like your new setup Rob! Hopefully the next autocross will be dry so you can get an even better feel for the new tires. I don;t think you can go wrong with better alignment and wider tires... :drive: