Looks like new tires are on tap for the fleet this year. For the past several years, I have been running the Falken Azenis on all our cars. I hav no complaints, but wonder if the world has moved on and there are other options to be explored?
No racing involved anymore, just that I like traction and tires that don't sqeal going around ramps. I have done the R compound on the street thing and don't see any benefits to going that hardcore.
The RT615 is pretty much bottom of that barrel these days.
RS3s, RE-11s, Kumho XS, Star Specs are all better, imo.
I might even consider the Federal 595 RS-R over the RT615, it would certainly make for a good street tire.
I've had a set of the Federal 595's and while they were OK, I prefer the RT615 that I have on the E36 M3 now.
I've just returned from a BFG G-Force Sport Comp-2 tire launch and they would make a great daily / occasional track day / autocross tire. They seemed to be a good compromise between grip and noise / ride quality and wear. You won't set any FTDs, but for what you seem to be looking for, I'd check them out.
The StarSpecs corner like a slick and wear like an all-season.
Sumitomo-Dunlop owns Mazda. It's the Miata of tires.
Yeah, I really like the Star Spec as well. They come in some surprising sizes, too. Add the Toyo R1R to the list of good options. Of the ones I've tried, the Kumho XS is my least favorite due to poor cool weather behavior. The Azenis is at the bottom of the barrel, though. Their biggest plus is that they used to be cheap.
Have not heard of the star spec? The Toyo R1R is on the radar and good to hear it endorsed.
My thoughts are that if the Azenis are so obsolete, the newer stuff should be a noticeable improvment.
The Star Spec is really the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec, and it also says DIGITIRE on the sidewall. But Star Spec is shorter.
The R1R has a similar problem to the original Azenis, they get slimy when you overheat them. Such as running on a kart track with a V8 Miata :) But I like them quite a bit otherwise.
Of the 14" tires, i still prefer the RT615Ks over the Star Specs.
I'd vote for the Star Specs on a daily due to their excellent wet grip.
i've never had star specs, but my 615k's work very well on the street in my opinion.
the only other "good" tire i've had was NT01's, which needed too much heat to work as a street tire.
The 615's have worked very well on the street on my Miata. I can drive it past the limit and the tires remain quiet. Squealing tires draw too much ire.
I believe the Star Spec and the 615K are the exact same compound just with different tread patterns. Dunlop and Falken are the same company. Even the sizes available in both are quite similar. It is more a question of do you want a slightly noisy directional pattern that works better with water or an asymmetric tread pattern. They are both UTQG 200-A-A. Nitto and Toyo have a similar relationship.
Michelin Pilot Super Sports appear to be the best all-around tires right now, if you don't mind the price and have 17"+ wheels. I've been recommending the Star Specs a lot for occasional autocross use. The Continental DW and DWS are quite good street tires (16"+).
HStockSolo wrote: I believe the Star Spec and the 615K are the exact same compound just with different tread patterns.
Interesting, as I have never had an issue with the Star Specs getting greasy. In fact, they seemed to get better the hotter they got.
I've got an acquaintance who works as a Toyo engineer. I'm going to have to ask him about the variation in compounds. I've heard that the R888, the RA1 and the NT-01 (or some combination thereof) all share the same compound, and I don't believe at least one of those. Then again, the internet has also been telling us for about 6 years that the RA1 is going out of production...
Starspecs are awesome. Worth the difference for the street? No.
For a fun street tire (16" or more), I'd be leaning toward Continentals for their god-like (Toyo-exceeding) rain grip.
I tend to see the Kumho XSes on the bottom of the barrel unless you live someplace very hot and dry. I was given a set for free, so I will be trying them out this year.
Kumho SPTs (on the left) are still quite good especially for their price. The SPTs were definitely more often better than my 615s. The best tire is really highly dependent upon the conditions and the vehicle. Autocrossing does add more heat into tires than they would experience in even aggressive driving on the road, and track use is even further away.
HStockSolo wrote: It is more a question of do you want a slightly noisy directional pattern that works better with water or an asymmetric tread pattern.
I had a manual-steer Golf, and it would pull to the side hellaciously when directional tires were used. Tried multiple tires of one brand, and then switched brands. Always pulled, and the pull would reverse when the tires were reversed.
I stopped being a fan of directional tires after that, at least for VWs.
Hmm, I have a big problem with the tires on the left wandering on my Saturn. I assume it was mostly due to their low profile and width (245mm) and the wheel's (9") width. Maybe it has more to do with grip. Even little V710s do feel pretty strange. These are great big soft stickies with lots of sipes and stiff sidewalls. I don't remember the 205/50R16 SPTs doing that, but I did have some 225/45R16 Hankook R-S2s that wandered a bit (those were also excellent street tires otherwise.)
The Star Specs don't react like the Azenis in any way, shape or form so I seriously doubt they are the same compound. Had several of both and the Star Spec is far superior, but I don't see it handling like any kind of R rubber or slick, that's hyperbole.
Eurotuner/TireRack roundup: "To be precise, the difference between the best and worst tires in the dry was about 2% or 0.6sec on the short lap, whereas the gap increased to 9.6% or 1.4sec in the wet."
In other words, the DW wins, XS loses. No Super Sports (or 615Ks) in the test. TireRack has done some tests after this one.
HStockSolo wrote: Hmm, I have a big problem with the tires on the left wandering on my Saturn.
I would attribute almost 100% of that to offset. Anything that low on the E36 M3ty mcstrut setup runs into scrub radius problems.
ProDarwin wrote:HStockSolo wrote: Hmm, I have a big problem with the tires on the left wandering on my Saturn.I would attribute almost 100% of that to offset. Anything that low on the E36 M3ty mcstrut setup runs into scrub radius problems.
I've been running the same offset 14x6 rims with directional crappy, low-grip 185/65R14s without issue. The only other thing is there is a lot more mass and a ton more inertia with the 17"s.
I've run both tires in Lemons and Chump and I prefer the Star Specs. They grip better in the rain and don't seem to get greasy as easy as the RT-615. Add in that they last about 30% longer, and you have a winner.
In the Lemons paddock last weekend, I saw about 60/40 split between the Star Spec and Azenis.
i was shocked at the durability of the star specs on the chumpcar saturn. at beaverun in july last year, we mounted up a set of stickers and put in something like 308 laps on saturday. moved fronts to rear and rears to front for sunday, and ran another 300 laps to finish second.
new ones from Hankook the Ventus TD
don't know if they'll be available in 14"
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