Current Tire Thread

[Varinn]

Hey buds, I'm in desperate need of some new tires for my car. 91 318is dropped 1.5" f/r on a H&R/Bilstein sport setup. I still have stock 14" wheels and between college and buying my bike I can't afford a major upgrade. I drive spirited, but not incredibly hard as it's street only. I need something with good wet traction as well as dry, cornering stability are my bigger concerns. I'm going to be dropping the car another half inch very soon so I'm considering stepping down to a 195/60-14 instead of the stock 195/65. I dislike sidewall flex strongly, so the less I have of it the better! Sadly this is my budget for tire prices, I cannot justify getting $100 a piece rubber

I've narrowed it down to these two, but need input on them
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....del=Altimax+HP


http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes

[nando]

Are you referring to the Azenis RT-615K, or the Azenis RT-615?
It sounds like the K is a much newer tire.


Keep in mind, the best tire I've ever used on my car are ES100s, so I think those are a great tire (I know how much nando sings their accolades).

even the RT-215s were way better than ES100s - better wet grip, better dry grip, better wear, etc (I had them back to back). Anything you get now is going to be a gigantic improvement, especially considering your old tires have to be hard as nails now.

[Boris3]

The AVS ES100s are pretty old tech so whatever performance tire you decide will end up feeling great. I bought a set of these in 2002, used them for several years on two different cars (miata and an e30), and then as winter storage tires until they finally stopped holding air. Agree with nrubenstein, the Azeni 215s were a clear step up.

I haven't tried the 615s or the 615ks. From reading assorted reviews and talking to folks the compound on the 615s (old and new) was changed to better deal with the heat issues but the tires would still get greasy. I'd like to see the 20 minute track session results rather than the just the 3 lap test results in the YouTube clip, and also like to see them run in the wet with the heavy Mustang.

The Azenis have had the lock on the 14" street performance tire market due to an absence of competition. Dunlop changed that with the introduction of the 14" star specs in the US last year. Either one will be much better than the ES100s.

[nrubenstein]

Are you referring to the Azenis RT-615K, or the Azenis RT-615?
It sounds like the K is a much newer tire.


Keep in mind, the best tire I've ever used on my car are ES100s, so I think those are a great tire (I know how much nando sings their accolades).

ES100s are junk. The original Azenis RT-215 was a great, impressive tire in its time. None of the 615 variants are impressive relative to the alternatives. The Dunlop Z* is way better.

[nrubenstein]

just thought I'd report in on DDing R888s

I got two seasons on them as daily drivers - including several track days and some autocross. I think I put nearly 20,000 miles on them - I was able to run them as a 3-season from late February through early November for the last 2 years. Even down to the 2nd wear bar, they were fine in the rain, although a little slippery when cold. I only really swapped them because there was snow in the forecast (I have driven on them in snow, and no - they aren't any good).

Color me impressed. I've had many sets of street tires that didn't last half that long. Two of the tires are still good, the other two are a bit too worn on the insides for my comfort - maybe I'll keep them as backups, but it's likely I'll go with 225/45-15s or 225/50-15s instead of the 235/50s. I love the 235s, I can easily pull over 1.1g's sustained, but they're a bit heavy and of course more expensive. I just want to see what they are like in a lighter size with a shorter sidewall, and I'm not sure i'll lose that much mechanical grip anyway.

Kobi is DDing her iX on R888s (in the warmer weather, of course). RA-1s would be better, but these were irresistibly cheap from a SpecE30 driving friend who bought them new and then couldn't use them.

All in all, the only real negative point is that they hum.

[u3b3rg33k]

Dunlop Direzza Z1 Sport Star Specs also come in 14". Much better tire than the Azenis with grip in both dry and wet and less likely to overheat (get greasy) when pushed. 195/60/14s are $100 each at Tire Rack but typically there is a rebate deal in the spring.

Are you referring to the Azenis RT-615K, or the Azenis RT-615?
It sounds like the K is a much newer tire.


Keep in mind, the best tire I've ever used on my car are ES100s, so I think those are a great tire (I know how much nando sings their accolades).

[nando]

BFG G-force sports have a $60 rebate now if you buy a set of 4.

R888 do look sexy as hell, but no way would I dd on them.

just thought I'd report in on DDing R888s

I got two seasons on them as daily drivers - including several track days and some autocross. I think I put nearly 20,000 miles on them - I was able to run them as a 3-season from late February through early November for the last 2 years. Even down to the 2nd wear bar, they were fine in the rain, although a little slippery when cold. I only really swapped them because there was snow in the forecast (I have driven on them in snow, and no - they aren't any good).

Color me impressed. I've had many sets of street tires that didn't last half that long. Two of the tires are still good, the other two are a bit too worn on the insides for my comfort - maybe I'll keep them as backups, but it's likely I'll go with 225/45-15s or 225/50-15s instead of the 235/50s. I love the 235s, I can easily pull over 1.1g's sustained, but they're a bit heavy and of course more expensive. I just want to see what they are like in a lighter size with a shorter sidewall, and I'm not sure i'll lose that much mechanical grip anyway.

[Boris3]

Dunlop Direzza Z1 Sport Star Specs also come in 14". Much better tire than the Azenis with grip in both dry and wet and less likely to overheat (get greasy) when pushed. 195/60/14s are $100 each at Tire Rack but typically there is a rebate deal in the spring.

[u3b3rg33k]

Then the azenis it is. I have nokians for the sub 45F weather.

[Danny]

912s aren't TOO bad. But the Azenis are far superior as a summer only tire.

[u3b3rg33k]

Azenis?

Don't know much about those. Feels wrong to loose section width (currently running 205s), but when I went from 215 all seasons to 205 summer only tires things were better.

Only options appear to be:
195/60/14 FALKEN Azenis RT-615K tire
or
195/65/14 FALKEN Ziex ZE-912 tire

Looking at treadwear, the 615K are probably a 'better' tire, as far as grip is concerned.

[Danny]

Azenis?

[u3b3rg33k]

So, does anyone know if there are any 14" summer tires left? I'll have no choice but to replace my worn out ES100s (which don't suck, FYI), and since they don't make those anymore, I'd be buying old stock. The only tires I've found seem to be track/race tires, which I'd love to have, but I don't think it's such a great idea to DD track tires.

Are performance 14" tires done for? Do I just deal with it and buy D-forces and have some choice?

[SeriousBusiness]

would 205 60 14 fit good on a basketweave?

Thats what I run. They look good and have a little less sidewall height. If you get a set of decent tires (Falken, Yoko) then they won't flex a lot like cheaper tires in 195/65. My old ones were generic cheapo tires and they didn't give much confidence at all in wet OR dry weather.

EDIT

Pic with 195/65-14 crap tires:



Pic with the ZE512's:



Hard to tell from two different angles I guess, but the tires fit nicely on stock 'weaves.

BTW, excuse how gross my car ATM. LOL

[agile30]

would 205 60 14 fit good on a basketweave?