My tires suck.


I'm looking at
Hankook Ventus 225-45 16 Rs2 Z212
or
Falken Azenis 215-45 16 Rt 615


Currentlly run 205-50 16s so both of these will be as short or shorter than what I have now. Treadwear is 200 for both.

Any comments are welcome.


Driving an '02 MCS

 

Between those two brands, my money's on the Falkens just because they're not as "generic".

 

In the dry, the Falkens are better than the 'Kooks by a considerable margin... in the wet, the 'Kooks are better by a considerable margin.

As far as sizing goes, the 215 Falkens may be wider than the 225 'Kooks - in the 15" sizes, 205/50R15 Azenis are just as wide as the 225 'Kooks!

For autocrossing, I still give the edge to the Falkens - for lapping the local track, I honestly think the 'Kooks are better.

For a daily driven car, though, if you're in a rainy place, the 'Kooks would be a better choice (IMHO). You're not giving up huge performance in the dry, but you do get better performance in the wet. Just my $.02!

 

Thanks.
These will be event tires only unless I'm lazy and tired after then they may stay on the car for a bit. This is the main reason I'm not going to R Compounds Since it's a daily driver as well I need streetable tires.

I'm in SM BTW.

 

Depending upon how far you have to drive, R-compounds can tolerate some trips down the road, especially something like a Kumho Victoracer or Toyo RA1.

I've driven a couple cars with the Hankooks during instructor runs, but never enough to get a feel for them. What I do know is that one of my buddy's ran them on an STS Neon, and was really fast with them.

The Falkens are a proven commodity, though. I've had several sets, and they are a fantastic street tire.

Still, if these are event-only tires, don't be too afraid of r-compounds. You won't wear them out in 1 or 2 drives back home after the event. And r-tires are fast and fun.

 

Given that you'll only be using them for events, I'd go with RA-1's or Michelin Pilot Sport Cups... Assuming, of course, that it meets your class requirements... Both will tolerate some street driving.

I just corded my Michelin PSC's this last weekend - 11 autocross events, 100+ runs, and a DE. They were the longest living R-comps that I've ever run across, although they progressively dropped off in grip the last 3 events... And, the AX's were mostly at venues that are known to eat tires.

 

Unfortunately neither of them comes in a size I can use.

 

Ah yes, the only crappy thing about running 16" rims... I forgot. And, I'm going to 16's for next season so I am in the same boat...

The results at Nats speak for themselves - the Falken was the dominant tire in STS and STX again... In STU, though, the Yoko ADVAN AD07 was the killer tire to have... Unfortunately, the sizes suck in that tire, too - I asked the Yoko reps at SEMA why they were screwing the MINI/Miata/Honda crowd with their cruddy sizes on the AD07 and they responded that America is in love with giant rims. Ugh. They have the AD07 in great sizes in Japan - if only they'd import them!

 

the only half decent 16's i can find so far is the hankook Z214s, i have their C50 compound now and so far so good, they defenitely lasts longer than the V710s i had before... believe me i know the pain running 16s for the track

so what you are saying is that if its always dry venus i go to, then stick with rt615? is there really that big a difference between them in the dry?

 

In my experience with the hankooks I found the side walls to be way to soft. They roll over and squirm. To me the falken's are much better. I don't play in the rain I simply put put around.

 

The Z214's are pretty daggone great tires, IMHO.

But yeah, dry only street tires = Falkens, still (unless of course, they'd bring in the RE01-R or ADVAN AD07 in good MINI sizes). There's at least a good 0.5 seconds in the Falkens vs. the z212's.

 

I just picked up a set of of the above in a 215/40 x17 and they are delicious.
I'm not sure how they will be in the rain but in the dry - it feels like they will never let go! I am blown away but then appreciate I am coming from runflats.

 

I do know the 615s are OK in the rain. We had a wet event(no major ponding) a while back and the 3 people I knew running them did quite well.

A lot faster than me on my bald *** 712s


I'm smelling Falkens in my future

 

me too!