I'm heading out to a track weekend in a few weeks and trying to decide which set of wheels and tires I want to use that weekend. The track is Streets of Willow, which is a small and technical track. These are the choices; 14 x 5.5 factory aluminum alloy wheels with 195 60 14 falken azenis or 15 x 7 Kosei K1s with 205 50 15 ES100s? Opinions appreciated...thanks.

 

I'd run the K-1 wheels with Yokohama ES100's. ES-100's are a very nice HPDE tire, at least they were on my camaro at Texas World Speedway in the middle of summer heat (ran 245/50-16 size). Held up a little better than the Nitto NT-555RII's (275/40-17 size) and car felt just as good (less grip but a little better in handling compared to the NT-555RII's). If it was autocross I would definately say Falken Azenis, but for the track the ES-100s should be better than the Azenis. And they seemed to be a very popular tire for HPDE judging from how many people there were running the ES-100's...

 

either will work fine, I still use the 195 azenis on my accord to get to the track, and for a rain and backup set.

 

have you been on track alot?

if not tires should be one your last concerns in my opinion..

 

I would go with the Kosei K1s (hopefully the TS version). 15x7 will fit a good tire on your car in popular sizes where you can find used r compounds if you ever go that route to run.

Barry H.

 

I'll assume you are a novice, based on your question. I am too, so don't feel bad about it.

When you start learning, run the street tires. They will give up gradually and predictably, and you will need to focus on technique, following the correct line, consistently hitting the correct correct apex, etc. You don't want to be focused on how quickly you can get around the track initially, or you will not learn nearly as much. I ran a completely stock new Neon with an automatic at VIR South (another small technical track), and it was great. I was the slowest car there that weekend, but I was focused on all the right things and came away from it a much better driver with a much better grasp of the basics. I think if I was there in a 400HP Civic I would not have learned as much because I would have been focusing on how fast I could go.

ES100's are great, they are decent on dry or wet pavement and they give up very predictably. I ran them for a while before I switched to BFG KDW's, and I really liked them. The Kosei K1's are great too, a good wheel for the money and fairly light. A bunch of the euro-car (Alfa, Fiat, etc.) racers in Richmond run them and they really like them. I wouldn't mind a set of the orange K1 TS's, but I am too cheap, so I run Rotas.

 

I have a good amount of experience on this track that I'm heading out to. I have both sets of wheels, the 195 60 14 azenis on factory 14s and the 205 50 15s on the Kosei's. I've only been out to the track with the 14's w/ azenis and wanted to give the 15 x 7s a run but I'm not too familiar with how the es100s will fare. Thanks for all the opinions and suggestions.

 

in that case..I would take the es100's..

I don't like the old Azenis after a few laps..

But I have not been on the new compound yet..