I just started running my 2003 MC in SCCA H-Stock SCR 79 Division. Im a novice and hate running on the Goodyear 16 inch run flat tires. Ive been looking at Falken Azenias, Toyo Proxes TS-1, and BF Goodrich G-force tires as a replacement. Im not at the point of buying new rims and go with r-compound Hoosiers or Kuhmos yet. If any of you have these tires and have run autocross with them could you give me your advice. Also those that may suggest other tires. Thanks Derek Blanton

 

Derek - I'd probably just go with the Falkens. They are reasonably priced, and as far as street tires go, they work very well for autocross

My friend just put some Kumho MX's on his M3, and is pretty happy with those. I've never driven them, and I don't know if they come in an appropriate 16" size for the Mini, but if so, they might be worth looking at, too.

 

Hi Derek. I'll be running SCR events as well this year as soon as my car gets here. I ordered an 05 MCS with LSD that should be arriving into Charleston on 5/13.

You really can't go wrong witht the old style (215?) Azenis. I autocrossed in an STS Sentra SE-R for a few years and my codriver and I had hundreds of runs on the Azenis. They are a great tire. I have driven the G-force and Toyo and they are not even in the same ballpark as the falken. I plan on putting them on my MCS when it arrives to serve as street/rain tires with Kumho 710's as race tires on a separate set of wheels. In your situation you can't go wrong getting the Falkens. I think edge racing in FL has the best price I could find for the 215/45 R16 Azenis at $96. The MX is a great tire also but needs to be shaved for maximum grip. The new Hankook tire looks to be interesting also and is very inexpensive but also looks like it needs to be shaved for maximum grip and to avoid chunking.

Drop me an email if you like to talk autocross sometime. joliveira@sc.rr.com

Joe Oliveira

 

Thanks Joe for your imput on the tire question. I was seriously going to go with the Toyos but not sure now. The only thing I heard bad about the Falken Azenias was that they have a tendency to wear out faster than the Toyos.Also thanks for the SCCA imput.I just got my SCCA card and number yesterday. My friend here at Myrtle Beach Greg Lipscombe who races G-stock in his Cooper "S"got me back into autocrossing since I last did it in a MG Midget back in 1974. Im going to be doing my third race May 21st at Summerville. Ill need new tires after that. Ive seen one of the 05 MCS with the LSD run in G stock and it did great. Good luck on that new car. Hopefully I will meet you eventually around some SCR events. By the way my email address is lawbench191@aol.com Thanks Derek Blanton

 

So you know, I got the same mileage from my Azenis as I did from my Toyo T1-S on my '02 Cooper S. It really depends on driving style. However, both sets were my street sets, not for (or rarely for) autocross. In fact, I never autocrossed on my Toyos, the Azenis saw maybe 10 runs when I let people borrow the car.

After running in STX in 2003 on Azenis and BFG and having had these tires for everyday use on my MINI, I would much rather have a tire that can handle the heat better for autocross. In that case, I'd recommend the Kumho MX (shaved) before the Azenis. They've proven just as fast and can definitely handle the heat, but you'd have to run a 15" wheel for them. The Toyos aren't in the same league, except in the wet.

Good Luck and Have Fun!

Brian