I've just finished my second set of RE010's, and will need something next summer.
On Tirerack they rate the following in 205/50/15. (All I care about is dry grip):

BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KD
HANDLING RATING 9.40
DRY TRACTION 9.6

Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Position
HANDLING RATING 9.00
DRY TRACTION 9.3

Bridgestone Potenza RE010
HANDLING RATING 8.6
DRY TRACTION 8.7

Has anyone tried the g-Force T/A KD's? Anyone know round about where Azenis would rate in the above tire set?

.


Modified by jond at 11:59 PM 9/5/2003

 

i've wanted to try the kds forever, they should own all tires...
but at 600 a set, thats 10 azenis you can buy

btw...i think the azenis would slot in between the kds and s03s

 

Uhmm. Where can you get the g-Force T/A KDs for $60. Heck, I'll order a set if they're $60 bucks a tire.

 

Never mind. I was looking at the wrong thing. $128 each

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BlueR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i've wanted to try the kds forever, they should own all tires...
but at 600 a set, thats 10 azenis you can buy

btw...i think the azenis would slot in between the kds and s03s</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yep, look at it this way....

Tire Rack rates the S-03's at 9.3 dry traction..

They rate the Goodyear Eagle F1's which are on my car right now at 9.3..

The azenis are noticibly more sticky than the Eagle F1's, but not by too much.. just enough to make me want them back after these tires are done.

 

Grassroots Motorsports magazine did a tire test a few months ago that included the Azenis vs the BFG KDs, both in 205/50-15. They autocrossed the tires and recorded laps times, etc (a very thourough test, much better that Tireracks "surveys" IMHO). The BFG slightly outperfomed the Azenis in laptimes...HOWEVER, they are ~2x the price...so unless somehow you are doing this to win money, it makes more sense to me to get the Azenis.

 

BFG K/D is the best dry tire IMO without gettign ridiculous.

I;m sure many would agree. The Azenis is used more because of the cost and the rate people mow down the tread on soft compound tires.

I also like the Yok AO32R's

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Cal &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> The Azenis is used more because of the cost and the rate people mow down the tread on soft compound tires.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Most definately. I've driven on Azenis (205/50/15) and S-03 (195/50/15) and the S-03 has MUCH better grip. If tirerack was still running the $79 per tire special on the S-03's i would definately get those but since it went up, i'll be going with the Azenis to save money.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jond &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">(All I care about is dry grip):
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Questions:
1. Are you an aftermarket wheels?
2. Are you really only concerned about dry grip?

If yes to both, why not get Yoko A032R? They are streetable and beats the choices you've listed. (But, almost at 3x the cost of Azenis and quicker wear.) Just thought I'd thow in another choice, since you only care dry grip.

 

from what i hear, BFG KD's are a nightmare in wet weather.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Tire Rack rates the S-03's at 9.3 dry traction..
They rate the Goodyear Eagle F1's which are on my car right now at 9.3..
The azenis are noticibly more sticky than the Eagle F1's</TD></TR></TABLE>
Interesting. So by this reasoning, Azenis are inbetween the S-03's and KD's.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Grassroots Motorsports magazine did a tire test a few months ago that included the Azenis vs the BFG KDs, both in 205/50-15. They autocrossed the tires and recorded laps times, etc (a very thourough test, much better that Tireracks "surveys" IMHO). The BFG slightly outperfomed the Azenis in laptimes...HOWEVER, they are ~2x the price</TD></TR></TABLE>
I'll have to find the issue. Sometimes its are to tell with auto-x results though. A .5 second difference is sometimes pretty hard to come by. You also have to wonder if any physiological principles come into play since the driver may subconsciously expect or desire a certain outcome. I would like to see a lateral acceleration test with these tires.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've driven on Azenis (205/50/15) and S-03 (195/50/15) and the S-03 has MUCH better grip.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Interesting again. Seems to go against the first reasoning above. I wonder what tirerack uses to rate tires?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Questions:
1. Are you an aftermarket wheels?
2. Are you really only concerned about dry grip?
If yes to both, why not get Yoko A032R? </TD></TR></TABLE>
Im planning on running on stock rims next year, although I may change my mind. I was thinking about the Kumho VictoRacer at $115/each, but people slammed me when I posted the idea. They said it would be too dangerous, they would pick up nails, etc. I run R compound on my auto-x car, and even with crappy stock suspension, it makes it stick like glue.

 

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

Im planning on running on stock rims next year, although I may change my mind.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Personally, I would stay away from 205/50/15 Azenis then. The steering response of those tires on stock 6" wheels blows.

 

where to get Falken Azenis cheap?

 

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

Personally, I would stay away from 205/50/15 Azenis then. The steering response of those tires on stock 6" wheels blows. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah but for alot of us the grip far outweighs this complaint.

There is a serious difference that you can feel when going from 6" to 7" rims with the Azenis as with many tires that will be wider than stock but, not so much that I wouldn't actually buy the tires or buy something different. Their grip is awesome and their price is just as awesome.

What other tire is extremely close to the RE010's grip and turn-in? That's what should be asked if the 6" stock wheel issue is the topic. Not bitch about the squishy vague feeling you get with the Azenis on stock rims (which I totally agree with BTW and yes, have bitched about ).

You want better turn-in and steering response with the Azenis? Get 7" wide rims all around or do what I did, be cheap and just get 2 inexpensive 7" rims like my Kosei K1's for up front. Funny looking yes, but, gets the job done till I can find another set of K1's for sale for the rear And yes, again there is a noticeable difference with the Azenis on a 6" wide rim and a 7" wide rim.

But, for the price of the Azenis ($62. a piece,) there is not much that is as close performance wise, dare I even say in the same ballpark?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Xia0w0ng &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">where to get Falken Azenis cheap?</TD></TR></TABLE>

http://www.vulcantire.com/ Good stuff!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Cosworth &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Personally, I would stay away from 205/50/15 Azenis then. The steering response of those tires on stock 6" wheels blows. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Thats what I'm afraid of. I've been running RE010's for 3 years, and now I'm use to the telepathic turn-in the OEM tires give.

So I guess its either yet another set of RE010s, a set of 195/50/15 S-03's, or new rims...

 

You may want to consider the Kumho Ecsta MX. It's much like the Azeni in terms of grip, but on the track, where the Azenis start to get a little greasy torwards the end of the session (Based on mine, and quite a few others experience), The Kumho's keep getting stickier and stickier. Similair price of the Azenis, and their 205 is just a tad bit narrower which might help make up for some of that steering response.

 

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

Thats what I'm afraid of. I've been running RE010's for 3 years, and now I'm use to the telepathic turn-in the OEM tires give.

So I guess its either yet another set of RE010s, a set of 195/50/15 S-03's, or new rims...

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Actually, the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3's have comparable grip to the 010's, excellent wet traction and great turn in too, but not as much grip as the Azenis. You can get them in 195/50 for like $79 each. Just my $.02

 

I used the goodrich's on my last car. It was a VR6 VW, lots of torque. Those ******* hold power really well! They are axle breakers though!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">from what i hear, BFG KD's are a nightmare in wet weather. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I drove a set of KD's through snow (no choice, mountain pass) and it was an "interesting" experience......blew through my KD's in about 7K miles too...damn expensive

I have visited the tire rack many times and recently while searching for a dream rain/snow/dry tire I came across a tire which won my vote for a "daily" tire.....Continental Extreme Contact.......high 8 dry traction AND high 8 wet traction and very high snow traction (relatively speaking high 6 or mid 7) all for $60-$70 a piece in a 205/50/15 which are perfect for my 15X7's

I have yet to try them out but for less than 300 a set I am willing to try at least a pair of fronts

 

Just to throw something in there I picked up a SET of Pirelli P-Zero's 195/50 off of tirerack for $200. Yeah a set as in all four tires. For the price I don't think you'll beat them. Good dry and wet grip, decent steering response. However they are lacking in comparison to SO-3's (my favorite tire) in every category, but if you are on a budget they are a great alternative.