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Kumho MX - any real-world experience out there? - azenis

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Old Jan 28, 2004 | 07:05 PM
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Default Kumho MX - any real-world experience out there? - azenis

This was discussed briefly about this time last year, but after searching noone seemed to know anything about them yet.

Have any of you run these in HDPE's yet? To date, I've run Azenis and A032's. I have a set of V700's ready, but want to buy a set of street tires to drive to the track with, and to use as the successors to the V700's to reduce my budget somewhat.

I know I probably should just buy Azenis, but I'd like to try something different. I'd love to find someone who can compare treadwear, feel and ultimate traction between the MX and the Azenis. I'll be running 205/50-15 if that matters.
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Old Jan 28, 2004 | 07:36 PM
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Default Re: Kumho MX - any real-world experience out there? - azenis (JeffS)

I've had both mx's and azenis. While I haven't tracked on the azenis I have done about an hour and a half track time on the kumho mx. I love the mx once you get heat in them. I would highly recommend them over the azenis if you are going to do HPDE with them. They love heat and thats one thing you can get while on track. At the end of one 30 minute session I was getting to about 165 tire temps and the still weren't even going off at that high of temperatures. They get stickier and stickier the hotter they get.

Ultimate grip vs. azenis I think the mx will have more once you get heat in them. This is my opinion on them.
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Old Jan 28, 2004 | 07:44 PM
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Default Re: Kumho MX - any real-world experience out there? - azenis (JeffS)

The MX has a rather soft sidewall, while the Azenis sidewall is amazingly stiff as I'm sure you know. Grip in dry and wet is comparable betwen the two, though Azenis are a bit scary near any standing water. Azenis get greasy with a lot of heat in them, whereas Kumho MX do very well with a lot of heat.

I do not know how well or long the Ecsta MX wears over its useful life; I have driven on them, but do not own a set of my own.
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Old Jan 28, 2004 | 07:46 PM
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Default Re: Kumho MX - any real-world experience out there? - azenis (Targa250R)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Targa250R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The MX has a rather soft sidewall, while the Azenis sidewall is amazingly stiff as I'm sure you know. Grip in dry and wet is comparable betwen the two, though Azenis are a bit scary near any standing water. Azenis get greasy with a lot of heat in them, whereas Kumho MX do very well with a lot of heat.

I do not know how well or long the Ecsta MX wears over its useful life; I have driven on them, but do not own a set of my own.</TD></TR></TABLE>

how can you say the sidewall is soft if you don't even own a set. They're almost just as stiff as the azenis I think. I run mine at pressures of 34/30 and no rollover at all. MX's keep getting better ever time you drive on them. Get better down to the wear bars.....or until you flatspot all 4 like mine are.
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Old Jan 28, 2004 | 07:51 PM
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Default Re: Kumho MX - any real-world experience out there? - azenis (ryan12321)

I'm with Ryan on this one, everything he said lines up with my experience, and I would definitely recommend the MX over the Azenis for open track.
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Old Jan 28, 2004 | 07:59 PM
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Default Re: Kumho MX - any real-world experience out there? - azenis (ryan12321)

I tracked my car on MXs at VIR... I do think they would've worn better shaved, but they were consistent for the duration of each session, offering stout braking grip, and they're pretty sticky once they are up to temperature. I didn't get any chunking despite driving on full-tread in warm weather with a heavy car that loves to run with large slip angles. They like to have some camber to keep the soft-ish sidewalls from rolling over, (-1.2 on my soft-suspended rolling/decambering car was not enough) Overall though... I've been pretty impressed with mine, They've done well plowing through standing water as well on the highway. Autocross, I think they'll give up a little to the Azenis in slaloms and cool weather, but they seem to stick pretty well in sweepers, and allow the car to rotate on the nose. I think they'll be a step ahead with 2-drivers on a hot day or on a track particularly with a heavy car like mine where the Azenis would get overheated.
I think they make a very good track tire due to how well they cope with heat, good braking grip, communicative well through the steering wheel when they are at the limit, and recover grip better than the Azenis IMO if you lose it at one end.

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Old Jan 28, 2004 | 08:02 PM
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Default Re: Kumho MX - any real-world experience out there? - azenis (ryan12321)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ryan12321 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">how can you say the sidewall is soft if you don't even own a set.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Targa250R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have driven on them, but do not own a set of my own.</TD></TR></TABLE>

My initial impresion was that the MX sidewall stiffness was somewhere between a Kumho Ecsta 711/712 and a Falken Azenis Sport. Then again, this was based on driving an autocross course, not a road course.
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Old Jan 28, 2004 | 08:58 PM
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Default Re: Kumho MX - any real-world experience out there? - azenis (JeffS)

Jeff,

I`ve ran both. I prefer the Kumho`s. Plus, if conditions are wet, the Kumhos will kill the Azenis, although I don`t know if that is a factor for you.

Btw, PM me. Warehouse held some of my packages due to a severe backlog. Friday is the day. Your package should arrive tuesday-wednesday
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Old Jan 29, 2004 | 04:44 AM
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what kind of street mileage do you guys get out of the MX compared to the Azenis?
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Old Jan 29, 2004 | 08:26 AM
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Default Re: (NB)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NB &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what kind of street mileage do you guys get out of the MX compared to the Azenis?</TD></TR></TABLE>

id like to know as well
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Old Jan 29, 2004 | 08:31 AM
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Default Re: (Nick M)

Hey, quit screwing up my thread with talk of street driving.

There's plenty of information about street mileage in the customer reviews over at tire rack.

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Old Jan 29, 2004 | 10:11 AM
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Default Re: (JeffS)

I am debating between the Kumho MX and Yok ES100 for wet track duty. Any opinions on which will perform the best?
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Old Jan 29, 2004 | 11:10 AM
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Default Re: (GQ)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GQ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I am debating between the Kumho MX and Yok ES100 for wet track duty. Any opinions on which will perform the best?</TD></TR></TABLE>
I recently ran the ES100s on a damp track day, and I didn't like them.
Another friend also ran the same tires, and didn't like them.
Yet another had switched out to them in the paddock, and subsequently went back to running Azenis (and I as well); however, there was no standing water present.

No experience with the MX, sorry. (Hence my interest in this thread)
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Old Jan 29, 2004 | 03:54 PM
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Default Re: (milk)

W00h00!

I'm glad to see some positive feedback from drivers who use the Kumho MX's. I had a few doubts. I bought a set for my S2K after destroying the stock S-02's during an HPDE last August.

JeffS,

I will be doing an HPDE at Laguna Seca Raceway next Friday and I will give you some thoughts on my experience with these tires.
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Old Jan 29, 2004 | 08:00 PM
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Default Re: (ITRbroham)

Lloyd,

I tracked them in wet and dry conditions. It`s a great tire for the money.
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Old Jan 30, 2004 | 02:40 PM
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Is the dry traction between the two really that close? Some ppl are using the Azenis as a stepping stone before going to R-comps. MX is in the same category?
Only had experience with Az, they gripped really well but got greasy at the end of the day. Decent on semi-wet track too.
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Old Jan 30, 2004 | 02:44 PM
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Default Re: (genxguy)

Yes, they're basically the same deal grip wise IF you get them shaved (general convention which I agree with from autocross experience). They work best in different conditions as people mentioned before.
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Old Jan 30, 2004 | 04:10 PM
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Default Re: (SiLooksStock)

I've also got a few track days on the MX's and they're very track capable. Especially once heat becomes a factor, the Azenis just get too greasy. I do sort of agree with the "soft" sidewall comment though. Not sure exactly how they compare directly to the Azenis's, but compared to my A032R's, the MX's take 10 more lbs of air to keep from rolling too much. But even so, I stay can stay below the 51 lb limits.

And finally, the MX's are lighter weight than comparable sized Azenis, which is always a good thing. I got 2 track days and 15k semi-hard street miles on my first set. Picking up a second set next week.
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Old Feb 5, 2004 | 04:01 AM
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Default Re: (SlickShoes)

so baisiclly the MX's are better than the az's

how do u think these tires would perform on the street anyone let me know
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Old Feb 5, 2004 | 04:03 AM
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Default Re: (DeDonDeRosa)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DeDonDeRosa &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">how do u think these tires would perform on the street anyone let me know </TD></TR></TABLE>

Thats not really a concern here
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Old Feb 5, 2004 | 04:27 AM
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Default Re: (.RJ)

MXs dont come in 14" sizes
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Old Feb 5, 2004 | 07:38 AM
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Default Re: (elgorey)

Anyone have experience with the Kumho MX's vs. the Goodyear GS-D3s or the BFG KD's? I need to pick a tire for the One Lap of America race...
There is a wet skidpad trial this year (along with the constant threat of rain as it is run in early May), so I'm leaning towards the GS-D3s.

Thanks
Ben
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Old Feb 5, 2004 | 08:33 AM
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Default Re: (Bnjmn)

Tom Hoppe used the MX at one lap last year, and I believe he used the BFG KDs in STX so he would probably be a good guy to ask. he is thoppe over on nasioc, I dont think he comes on H-T anymore.
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Old Feb 5, 2004 | 12:59 PM
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Default Re: (elgorey)

becuase im looking to purchase these tires and im curious to see how they are on the street can someone tell me
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Old Feb 5, 2004 | 01:01 PM
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Default Re: (DeDonDeRosa)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DeDonDeRosa &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">becuase im looking to purchase these tires and im curious to see how they are on the street can someone tell me </TD></TR></TABLE>

Again... There's plenty of information about street mileage in the customer reviews over at tire rack.
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