....or even street rubber? What rims do you guys use?? I want to run these at the track for affordability purposes.

What cheap wheels would you guys suggest? I was thinking some oem crx wheels or something like that.

Thanks.


Mike

 

I've run them on 14x5.5" Civic HX wheels (11lbs) and 14x5.5" del Sol five split-spoke wheels. I think turn-in would be a bit better with 6 or 6.5" wide wheels but OEM wheels are very cheap around my area so I've stuck to OEM.

I've been running them since 2001 on the street and recently started to autocross on them. Great in the dry. They are ok in the wet, but tend to be a bit scary over 60mph in the rain, especially when they are getting to the end of their lives.

 

I ran 14" Azenis at Buttonwillow a couple times. They were great, even with 165lbs tq and an open diff. FWIW, I had them on 14x7 Panasports at the time, but they were on 14x6 Bridgestone RAP's before that. I'm sure there is some difference in turn-in with the wider wheels, but I was too dumb, fat and boost-happy to notice at the time.

As for cheap wheels, there's quite a few threads roaming around here on that very subject. I got my Panas for $500 used, and I paid $200 for my 14x6 Bridgestones.

 

sweet deal. I dont really need something like pana's right now. I have aeznis on my car but they are mounted on 15x7 K1's.

For a daily driven tire, im looking for something else. But i wanted to stick with them at the track.

Ill look into hx wheels. Thanks guys.


Mike

 

Get something wider than crx or hx wheels. I've got 14 azenii on 5" wheels and they dont feel good. The ride is nice and comfy though... Go for at least 6" wheels. You can find used OEM 6" wheels from non-hondas that may work for you. Or I think borbet makes some 14x7 wheels for like $100 each if you got the dough.

 

Lots of people have had good luck with the 15s on track. I tried the 14s and had issues. Like visiting the tire wall at turn 1 because I turned the steering wheel and no one was home. Certainly I'm partly to blame for that for not scrubbing the mould release agent off before hitting the track. However, I drove on them for several weekends after that and just didn't enjoy them as much as I enjoyed my old RE71s. They seem to me to be good for 2-4 laps, then get greasy when they get hot. So I sold them and got Toyos. YMMV.

 

Some Miata wheels are 14x6 and can sometimes be found for around $300-$350 for a set of the 12-13lb versions. Just need to have the bore slightly enlarged, but any machine shop should be able to do that for ya.

 

i have ran 14x6 wheels on 195/60 azenis. they held up very well, cant complain.

free VW 4X100 wheels / free almost bald tires $65 to mount and repair tires =

lasted for one track day. 195/60/14 azenis go for about $37 per tire.







[Modified by Yum Yum Donuts, 5:23 PM 4/3/2003]

 

I'll put in another vote for 14x5.5 OEM Civic HX wheels. Bought mine from a junkyard for $250 shipped for the set of 4. Add 4 Azenis at $200, and you've got a pretty good package for under $500.

I like them for autocross. Haven't had them on the track, though I suspected the "greasy" problem mentioned above would be an issue.

 

Yes. I used them with tremendous success last year for autox. But still, I take a water sprayer full of ice water to cool the tread off between runs. Works like a champ.

 

im thinking 14's simply because i really dont need a 15" wheel, and the 14" tires are obviously cheaper.

With all the talk about the RA1's though, i might look into those too. I will only run about 4-7 days on the track, so they should easily last a full season.

Any other opinions?

Mike

 

Kumho Ecsta 712. General consensus is they aren't on the same level as Azenis in dry, but are better in wet and wear a bit better. Not sure if 14" sizes are available.

 

Tire rack no longer offers Borbet Type T 14x7, but they do offer the 14x6 weighing in @ 14.2 lbs.

However if your looking for Azenis you might consider:
http://www.discounttiredirect.com (I've never dealt with them personally)

They have the Azenis Sport 195/60R-14 for $51.00.
and check out the Konig Diva 14x6 listed for $69 a piece... they weigh in at a mere 13.2 lbs.
Just checked the website and they're close to being out of stock... well that sucks.

I wrote all this and didn't want to not post.

Also while shopping for wheels check this site out:
http://www.wheelweights.net
If nothing else, this site will give you info when comparing.

 

I had some 14" SE Corolla wheels wrapped with 195/60 Azenis sports and they were great at autox. Compared to other tires (NT450 and yokAVS) i've run they werent as "Squally" and made little to no noise when taken to the limit. But like lots of people said they are kinda scary in the rain....just standing water and puddles. As far as the 200 treadwear...daily street they kinda wear fast. I say save em fer the weekend autox's and lap days to save the life of the tires, when going on the street put your crap sears tires/steel wheels on.

 

azenis kicks ***. i used 195/60/14 azenis on remix (sohc vtec 135hp/2300 lbs w/driver) and got some pretty good lap times with it. 1:41.x at WS big track, 1:53.x and Laguna Seca, and 2:04.x @ Sears Point.

in the dry, kumho 712 is not even remotely close to azenis. the kumho mx might be tho...

 

what rims were those mounted on? Thanks for the replys guys.


Mike

 

I ran 14x7 Enkei 92's with 195/60/14 Falken Azenis last year.


Very nice grip through the corners.

 

yikes! $51 for 14"???

195/60/14 azenis are $40

go here http://splITTINGIMAGEz.COM/tiresfalken.htm

 

This is correct, the 712's do not have the grip of the azenii. Another thing, in my experience 712's squeal like pigs when they start sliding, where as the azenii just quietly slip.

Go for some wider wheels, or you will be disappointed with the numb feeling steering. I guess if you are really desperate crx or hx wheels will do tho. It might be worth it to step up to the 15's if at all possible. The price difference is small compared with the benefits.

 

i used ENkei 14x6 et38 RP-05's. azenis are very wide so they'd like a 14x6.5 or even 14x7 just fine. but if not, 14x6 is ok. even with all the inside front spinning (that's what caused the most wear), i easily got about a dozen+ of track day with average of 3 hours on each of the track day. so it is quite durable too. simply amazing.

gotta plug Toyo RA1's tho, if you're going R tires. it's the best overall tire in the R compounds.

 

well i have 15x7 kosei K1's now with azenis and they are great. No way though im going to have $800 worth of wheel/tire sitting around for all but 7 days a year.

I have, however enjoyed the price and performance of azenis so im going to stick with them. Ill probably run the 712's on the street cause they seem to be a great street tire, especially in the rain.

I wuold get the RA1's but i have only been to one HPDE, so im sure i cant outdrive my current suspension with the azenis. They would be my choice though, from all the good i have heard about them.

Mike