I was reading a post recently about someone using Azenis in warm weather, saying they were slippery. I recently made a deal with a friend to pick up a set in a few weeks since I need tires for Expo (and just tires in general because mine are down to the wear bars). But now Im not so sure. The Expo will only be my second time on track. My first time I ran in near freezing weather on Kumhos, needless to say I was sliding all over the place and didnt really enjoy myself out on the track, wasnt able to feel comfortable. I want to get something more sure footed for the track and Im wondering if the Azenis is a bad choice for the hot weather we could have at Expo. Anyone else running Azenis at Expo? Your thoughts?

 

rtw:

i have the azenis (215/45/16) and have to say that the tires are great up until they get *greasy* when hot. i've found that toward the end of a session (especially hot days), the tires do feel "slippery".

i'm not sure if you're planning on running them on the oem 15" wheels or another size. i have heard from others that (especially on the oem 15") the azenis seem to feel a little more vague and not as communicating. the 205 size is near the outer limit for the 6" width. that, i think, has something to do with the sensation many describe.

it's hard to find a better combination of track/street tire for the price. hope i could help.

kepani-who needs new tires soon...what to get...

 

Thanks for your input kepani. yes I will be running tires on my stock wheels. I currently have 205/50 and they definitely arent as responsive as the 195/55 re 010 that were on the car when I got it but I knew that when I got these. Im just concerned about how "slippery" these things actually get compared to other tires out there. I could pick up some used Kumho MXs for cheap but dunno if they would be any better/worse for the Expo in the hot weather.

 

you will be fine. dare i say at least half of all participants will probably be on azenis.

hands down, there is no better street tire for the track.

i will agree with everyone that yes they do get greasy at the track at the end of a session but not enough to make it dangerous to drive on them. just back off for a lap or two and then have at it again.

kumho MX's = x 10

the problem with the kumho's is that the sidewall flex is significant and the tread squirm is very noticable. i do know a few people that like the MX's but i say they're just not driving hard enough on them to feel their weakness.

 

thanks lance, that helps

 

They will be fine for you on the track - just be aware that after several laps your grip levels will diminish, so drive accordingly. I recommend taking a water sprayer (garden-type) to cool the tires off between sessions, otherwise they take quite a bit of time to cool (not just a few laps of taking it easy...). and keep an eye on the tire pressures.

Have fun...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by lanceh &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you will be fine. dare i say at least half of all participants will probably be on azenis.

hands down, there is no better street tire for the track.

i will agree with everyone that yes they do get greasy at the track at the end of a session but not enough to make it dangerous to drive on them. just back off for a lap or two and then have at it again.

kumho MX's = x 10

the problem with the kumho's is that the sidewall flex is significant and the tread squirm is very noticable. i do know a few people that like the MX's but i say they're just not driving hard enough on them to feel their weakness.</TD></TR></TABLE>

x 100

 

Azenis 215's are what I ran my first and second seasons for HPDE.

You'll be more than fine.

Get some advice with tire pressures and go have a blast

 

They're pretty good for being a street tire. Usually start getting really loud and greasy towards the end of a session. And if you try to run with people on R compounds, they will be done a little quicker . I did a weekend when they were relatively new (700 miles). I then did a weekend a month later (around 2000 miles). It was a night and day difference. Balding Azenis ...
lThey're only tires, you'll be buying new ones in a few months anyway.

And Bbasso swears by the MX, so you might want to think about them to

 

thanks all

I guess I was just concerned with how slippery they actually get in the heat. I will just keep aware of how they feel while driving them.

Rob is selling his MXs which is why I was asking about those. But I think Ill stick with the Falkens.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RTW &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I guess I was just concerned with how slippery they actually get in the heat. I will just keep aware of how they feel while driving them.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You'll notice it but it's not anything major IMO like Lance said you can just step it down a notch, no biggie at all. Until I'm ready to step up to R compounds (which may be a while) I think I'll stick w/ Azenis

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by lanceh &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

kumho MX's = x 10

the problem with the kumho's is that the sidewall flex is significant and the tread squirm is very noticeable. i do know a few people that like the MX's but i say they're just not driving hard enough on them to feel their weakness.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm going to put my MXs on for one session and roll ya *** three times with those Weak tires.

First the side wall is not that soft that it hinders the car in any way, Maybe when you were using them you had a broken air pressure gauge? or did not bump them up to 35F 38R (Cold).
And for the Very well known greasiness that happens with Azenis I'd rather still be sticking with soft sidewalls then sliding into dirt or into worse.
Lance, I know I drive pretty good and can tell when a tire is fk-ed, soft, hot, cold.... whatever. I really feel that you did not give the MXs a fair chance.
If you had the pressure anything less then what I use or tried them with full depth tread then I can understand your review on them.

 

I do just fine with Kumho MX's, and I'm decently quick around the track for street tires. They never get greasy, but then again, I run 245s up front and 275s in the rear - car weighs about 2550lbs.

The thing these tires DON'T like is to be tracked when brand new. I took mine out when they only had about 100 miles total on them and the fronts seriously wore down about 3/32" THE FIRST DAY. The tread squirmed around enough that it was wearing down the edge of all the blocks like a cheese grater on the corner of a block of cheese.

After that though, they wore pretty well and always had good grip. Sidewalls aren't really a problem for me, but my tires are slightly stretched(at least on the front where you really notice it). 245/40-17 on a 17x9" wheel.

Never driven on Azenis, but from being around other people on track with them, I seriously doubt they're much if at all faster than MXs. The two compounds seem very similar, with the MX liking heat from the track more.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1GreyTeg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Azenis 215's are what I ran my first and second seasons for HPDE.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Same here. Like people have already said, they do get greasy in warm weather by the end of a session, but they are still very predictable even when they have reached that point.

 

potenza Ra-o1

 

Azenis do tend to slip once heated ( or so it feels that way) Ive also used the yokohama paradas and they seem to work nicely.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cheeks97R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Azenis do tend to slip once heated ( or so it feels that way) Ive also used the yokohama paradas and they seem to work nicely.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Paradas are not even in the same league as Azenis.

Azenis = just fine for HPDE even in hot weather. They will go off a bit but they still do just fine.

I am a fan of the MX (as many autocrossers are) and I ran them at Expo last year and they felt great. MX has more limitations to be fast/feel good than Azenis do, ie shave them for sure and 7" wide wheel gives better feel also. Should be a very intresting season for street tires in AutoX with new Azenis out, Hankook, etc.

 

Find me one street tire that will hold up and perform better than the Azenis, all while still competing price wise...

Didnt think so. One guy says the Azenis get greasy when hot and now everyones like "yeah they slip". What street tire wouldnt after 20 min of lapping on a roadcourse?!?!?!

I've used the Azenis in the Arizona and California heat plenty of times, and nearly all of my friends have too, with no complaints.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by KOALA YUMMIES &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">One guy says the Azenis get greasy when hot and now everyones like "yeah they slip".</TD></TR></TABLE>

You need to get out more. The greasiness of the Azenis is a well known and documented problem. Yes, it is a problem - in fact Falken thought it was such a problem that they addressed this issue with the new release of the tire.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by KOALA YUMMIES &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I've used the Azenis in the Arizona and California heat plenty of times, and nearly all of my friends have too, with no complaints. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Then you aren't pushing them hard enough...
Seriously, they are great tires, but you WILL notice a big change in teh way you have to drive them when they get too hot.

 

Yeah I've pushed them to the point of super greasyness, but its a street tire, and that is to be expected. Theyre the best performing street tire I've ever used, and the price kicks the crap out of all the others I've used as well. For a tire thats lasted me as long as it has under the extreme conditions I've used them you simply can't get a better tire.

If I had used R compounds they would have been dead a long time ago simply because of street use. For street and HPDE duty, its unrivaled, and the street tires I've used before get "greasy" much faster than the RT-215.