Since the P Zeros are about to the point where Abe's head doesn't disappear in the grooves anymore, I had to have some new tires. Couldn't find anything I liked that would fit on the 16" wheels, so ordered some 205/50/15 Azenis from Discounttiresdirect on Wednesday to go on the stockers. Got dropped off at my door this evening. Probably won't get them mounted before the autox Sunday, though.

Checking DTD again today, I noticed they now show the Dunlop Formula FM901 in 205/45/16 is coming soon. This is apparently going to be Dunlop's replacement for the SP Sport W-10 in the USA, although it has been sold in Japan and Australia/New Zealand for a while. A Google search on "Dunlop FM901" turns up several hundred hits, mostly in Japanese, although you can recognize bits like "Skyline" and "R-34". Probably not up to the 9000, but at $90.00 a pop, maybe not too bad. Time for a little research.


[Modified by Geezer, 9:45 PM 4/19/2002]

 

The Dunlops tend to have soft Sidewalls. They wold probably be a good daily driver tire, but not as good on the autocross course as the Azenis.

EC

 

Jerry, what size do you want in 16"?
205/45-16?

 

That's what seems to fit best. It's about the same diameter as the stock 195/55/15. 205 is about as wide as I can go without excessive rubbing. If I had it to do again, I'd probably have gotten my SSRs in 15x7, since there's lots more tire choices in 205/50/15. Guess that's what I get for tryin' to be stylin'.

 

Quite a strange selection in that size. Do you not want the Pirellis again? I recall you having high praise for them.

Of course you have the Azenis now, but if you want a new 16, you can't go wrong with the Kumho 712s. I dunno how the Yokohama A520s are.


[Modified by 4doorH22, 12:40 PM 4/20/2002]

 

Jerry-

Do the same search on Alta-Vista and use the Babelfish translator. It should help you get some more info.

 

It's apples to oranges really, but I found my 205/40-16 Yok A520's to be significantly stiffer, noisier, and stickier than my current 205/50-15 Kumho 712's. I'm sure some of that was the size, but some of it was the tires too. The 712's seem to like extra air and definitely get better with age, but I'm still not all that impressed (after 15k miles) and I don't consider them a pure performance tire. Great driver tire though, definitely.

PS- Jerry, I'll take those Azenis off your hands if you decide to go with something different instead.

Jon

 

Thanks, but that's OK. If I find something I like in a 16" street tire, I'll keep the Falkens as dedicated autox/track tires. Otherwise, I may just run the stockers with the Azenis day to day, and get some Ecsta V700s in 205/45/16 to go on the SSRs as track tires (...he says as he slides even farther down the slippery slope towards breaking down and going racing.).

 

Jerry, 205/55/15's, unless you're going for the "show car" look

 

I think that the Kuhmo 712 are in the same class as the Dunlop FM901. Both are priced the same. Which is the better non-track tire? Look like the Dunlop has more of a slick profile like the Azenis

 

for a good comprimise street/autocross/driver school tire i would stay with the PZeros. i have been running that exact size and am on my second set now since i went to 16's a year and a half ago. they are a great tire and much better than the 712's in my opinion. pirelli is coming out with a new Pzero that you might also want to look into. i forget, but it might be called the corsa or something. not sure about sizes yet either.

i hear ya though about the 15's. tire selection is WAY better (and cheaper) for that size wheel.

tom

 

PZero Nero http://www.pzeronero.com