Now that my beloved SO3s are no longer produced in 205/50-15 I'm looking for a new track tire....after MUCH searching all over the place it seems that it's down to the Azenis 615 and Hankook Z212. From what I'm seeing it's said the Azenis is a bit better in the dry and the Kook is quite a bit better in the wet (I think the Z212 is the spec rain tire for the MX5 Cup series), which is very important to me. However, I've seen it said the other way around too ....also, the Azenis is said to have a stiffer sidewall.

Has anyone used either or both of these on the track (not autox--the Azenis seems to be the tire of choice for that) in dry and wet conditions? How do you think they'd compare to an SO3? Any other options, such as the BFG KDW2?

Thanks--
Gary
05 MC--track
06 MC--street/backup track

 

I've had very good luck with the falken RT615's for both HPDE and Auto-X. Granted I've never been on R-compunds for comparisions, but the Azenis held up very well, excellent grip and didn't go off at all (@ pocono my instructor seemed suprised to hear that I drove to the event on them). The only thing to be careful with them is that they require a fair amount of heat to get sticky (they will get pick up at HPDE's), below 60's and it'll take them a while to build heat and grip will suffer, esp on auto-x .

 

I just ran my S03s at Road Atlanta. I think they're far better than the KDW2s I had. I also had the Falkens. I liked them except on really hot days when they'd get a bit greasy. But I'd take them in a heart beat over the KDW2s.

But the S03s are almost gone, and there's no great street/track day tire out there in our 205/50-15 size.

Last summer, I used Toyo RA1s. Fabulous! For about 7,000 miles...

 

For some reason the Kooks don't have any braking grip. They are okay in the corners, but under braking they are much worse than the Falkens. I wouldn't worry about the Falkens in the rain, unless it's a downpour. Do you plan to drive aggressively in a downpour?

 

I use the kooks on the track, tread life seems to be great. I hadn't noticed a lack of braking grip, perhaps because I don't have enough brake pad to make the problem noticable? Grip is just fine. Sure, it's got to be much less than an RA-1, but since I haven't used an RA-1, I don't know what I'm missing.

 

Absolutely, it's one of the few times where I get to pass anybody!

Gary

 

fwiw: my experience is that more (negative) camber is required w/ any tire on the track. after destroying two sets of low mileage medium price performance tires, i added camber plates......i'm a slow learner...unless you are a total beginner, you will destroy street tires on the track widthout camber. the tread blocks are too big and the tires will chunck on the outer edges if the car is pushed hard. i plan to track my car quite a bit and have gone w/ dedicated track tires/wheels. if you only plan on tracking the car once or twice a year, you will be fine w/ street tires, but you will significantly reduce their life w/out increased camber.....the cost of camber plates and lower rear control arms was much cheaper than new tires after every track weekend....a little off topic, i know, but very much related...

 

track tires

I've been using the new Nitto NT-01's this season. I used to get 3 days out of the RA-1's and I got 11 days out of my Nitto NT-01's. I'm on my second set this year. I'll let you know how many days i get out of them. Same compound at the RA's but diff. tread and thicker sidewalls.

I use the Falken's as my street tires. If you're going to do more than 2 or 3 track events a year get a seperate set of tires/wheels for the track. The abuse that tires take on the track make your car ride like crap for days after a track event.

If you're new at track events use you're regular tires. If you've done a years worth of track event and want to do more. Don't wear out your street tires. your street ride and track performance will both suffer.