I am wondering if the Azeni would make a decent rain race tire. I am sure that enough track rats have been in the rain on them during HPDE and such to have an opinion. Would they be as good in the rain as a yoko ao32r? I was thinking that they might make a good drive to the track/rain tire.

Victor Penner

 

as long as there's no standing water, they work great

 

at higher speeds theres a little hydroplaining with puddled water,but mainly thats because our roads around here are crappy and grooved, but for Auto-Xing its the best tire ive used yet. i used them during 3 events in the rain getting 1 FTD one 1st place in pax overall, and one second place finishin pax. id say they work pretty well

http://ceautocross.tripod.com/event1.html
http://ceautocross.tripod.com/event2.html
http://ceautocross.tripod.com/2002/event9.html

 

I would stick with the A032r. Especially if you are talking about racing, not just a track event. As RJ said, the Falkens are not good if there is standing water.

Being an R compound, the a032r tires will be much faster as well. In the dry and in the wet. They advertise them as a drive to the track tire as well. While they will not be good for daily driving, you can drive them to the track.

 

^ What he said. But if you're HPDEing and need a street tire, the Azenis or possibly Kumho Ecsta 712 will work fine.

 

I would go with the A032Rs over the Azebis for a track day tire. The water evacuation would be better on them compared to the Azenis.

 

I've got a set of Azennis that I use for "heavy rain" racing. If I think it's going to dry out or let up (as it often does in florida) I'll stick to my unshaved toyos. In heavy rain and standing water every tire I've tried hydroplanes! THe most resitant I've ever run were the old Kumho 712 street tires, that center groove really seems to cut thru the standing water. If you add mud and a little oil to the mix you have..... Moroso in the summer....the Azennis have served me well and I'd def. give em a for rains.

 

Thanks for the replies.

About what I figured. I think I might go with Kuhmo this year for wet and dry, as they have some contingency money.

Victor Penner

 

That's the truth! I was getting wheelspin and monster steering twitch going into 4th gear on the front straight at VIR in the pouring rain on Saturday due to Azenis and standing water... this situation tests one's fortitude for sure

Jon

 

Funny steering wheel twitches in the wet at 100mph

Pucker Factor = 8

The "dry" (no cascading water across the track) portion on the apex of the front straight under the tree got smaller and smaller until the end of the day i could barely fit the car on that patch of pavement.

 

i felt that too. it was super scary in my instructors car thatis a good deal faster than mine and had not so new falkens on it

 

so how does the Azenis handle the heat generated from road racing?
Does it even really compare to the AO32R?
Most of the time I just run time trials as my car isnt legal for anyrace class
what do you guys really think about it?
Im due for another set of tires soon thats why Im thinking about them

 

just fine... the depth indicators (little rectangles near the edge) on the tire tear a little bit... but other than that they are fine.

Yes.
75% of the tire at 1/2 of the cost.

 

I was also twitching all over the back and front straight. Not to mention, wheel spin under accelleration at about 90 mph. Then, to top it all I had a "moment" where I thought I would end up in the rail at hogpen.

My vote for the Azenis as a rain tire: