Here's what I'm looking for: A new tire to start out the season with (Feb-March) and run:

5-6 HDPE Events
6 Autocross Events
5k of street driving (May to Oct)

I need (would like) something that will last the whole season, and can still have traction in the wet.

Size: 17"x7.5" or 17"x8" Wheel, obviously wider the better.

Budget: up to ~$125 per tire...including used tires with 90%+ better tread. No particular brand loyalty or preferences.

Thanks! :banana: :disco: :alien:

Wow you are asking alot out of that tire. I'd say there is no possible way you're going to find a tire to accomplish all of those goals.


I would choose the Kumho MX as a tire that would fit well for you. Just think you're probably going to need 2 sets of them.

Wow you are asking alot out of that tire. I'd say there is no possible way you're going to find a tire to accomplish all of those goals.


I would choose the Kumho MX as a tire that would fit well for you. Just think you're probably going to need 2 sets of them.
^^^ What he said.

I'll adress these point to point....

1) 2-3 HPDEs are good enough to kill a full set of Azenis/Kumho MXs, depending on the track and your setup.

2) Add in 6 auto-x events... and say bye bye shoulders of the tires if you are heavy with the steering inputs... also depends on how many runs you get in an auto-x... we get anywhere from 3-6 runs per event.... And I had a set last a full season (8 events one club and 6 events from another).

3) This is the least of your worries. :)

4) From 3/4 worn to the end of the tire, you will have NO wet traction at all.

5) Budget... no problem.. Falken Azenis or Kumho MX.

I would budget for 2-3 sets of tires if you plan on doing all the events listed.... If you're doing that many HPDEs.. then tire budget should be the least of your worries. Also, don't forget to budget for brakepads/fluids as HPDEs also eat through those...

--kC

I'd recommend the RE070 - you can buy a set pretty cheap from an STi owner who doesn't like them.

I've put a lot of autox runs & a couple of track days on the set I bought already used, and haven't worn them down that much. They tramline really bad & they're not the best in standing water, though.

And with the going rate for these, you could buy 2 sets for the price of one set of those above.

I got 14k street miles, ~100ish autox runs and 2 track days out of my MXs... granted, I do run -2.5 camber, flipped the tires at ~70 runs and ran them down to the cord... but the point remains that a reasonably long life can be had with them.

I would budget for 2-3 sets of tires if you plan on doing all the events listed.... If you're doing that many HPDEs.. then tire budget should be the least of your worries. Also, don't forget to budget for brakepads/fluids as HPDEs also eat through those...

--kC

Listen to the man!
There is no one tire that can do all that you want and be competitive.
If you're really serious about doing that many track days, you really need a set of dedicated tires just for the track!
Trying to do track days and skimp on money is not a good combination.

A good compromise for 2-3 track days and 8-10 AutoX's is the Kumho Victoracer. You won't get 5-6 track days out of them though- and you'll CERTAINLY not be using them for daily driving! :lol:
(Wet traction sucks anyhow..)

Good luck,
Russ R

I can only add that I'd stay away from Azenis for the track. They get greasy too fast. I bought a set for track events and was sorely dissapointed. I am now using them for my street tires and I love them for that.

I'd somewhat disagree. You are indeed asking a lot from a single tire. I think with the WRX you'll do ok with Azenis. They work best with lighter, lower powered cars like an RS, but they'll get through a season with your WRX. They will get a bit greasy on the track, but they stay predictable and don't fly apart. For your budget, you're pretty much stuck with these.

jack

I'd somewhat disagree. You are indeed asking a lot from a single tire. I think with the WRX you'll do ok with Azenis. They work best with lighter, lower powered cars like an RS, but they'll get through a season with your WRX. They will get a bit greasy on the track, but they stay predictable and don't fly apart. For your budget, you're pretty much stuck with these.

jack
Jack.. you think he'll get the 5-6 HPDEs, the 6 auto-x events, the miles and have good wet weather capability (especially near the end of the tires life) for daily driving just in one set?

I agree with the 2-tire solution.

Its even been argued that the Azenis aren't the safest tire out there in heavy rain so just keep that in mind.

Thanks for the input everyone!

It looks like i need a dedicated set for the street and the track!!! :D

You might want to consider this:
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=670375

if you do try to do all this on one set id reccomend some camber plates to help alleviate excessive shoulder wear. either that or camber bolts in the front lower strut mount holes.

Even with camber plates or bolts, he still won't be able to do it on one set of tires. Period. :)

4) From 3/4 worn to the end of the tire, you will have NO wet traction at all.


I don't understand where people get this idea. I have Azenis on my MR2, and MXes on my WRX. Neither mind rain at all, in fact, the Azenises are my rain tires. The MXes are very good in water, down to about 40 degrees. Dry or wet, they don't stick much to cold pavement. Azenis don't mind cold as much.

If Azenis are undrivable in the wet, how could I bomb around a wet and snowy Gingerman (http://planet-torque.com/ms/cwscc030704/lapx.wmv) on them, less than 10 seconds off my dry times?

I don't understand where people get this idea. I have Azenis on my MR2, and MXes on my WRX. Neither mind rain at all, in fact, the Azenises are my rain tires. The MXes are very good in water, down to about 40 degrees. Dry or wet, they don't stick much to cold pavement. Azenis don't mind cold as much.

If Azenis are undrivable in the wet, how could I bomb around a wet and snowy Gingerman (http://planet-torque.com/ms/cwscc030704/lapx.wmv) on them, less than 10 seconds off my dry times?
Depends on how much tread you have on them. I would never advise neither Kumho nor Azenis in actual snow covered roads. Wet roads with at least 1/2 tread.. they're OK.

If not... use at your own risk.

Yeah, my Azenis are at a skosh more than 1/2 tread and I'm just starting to feel some instability in the rain. Up 'til now, I've been really impressed with their wet performance.

I'd somewhat disagree. You are indeed asking a lot from a single tire. I think with the WRX you'll do ok with Azenis. They work best with lighter, lower powered cars like an RS, but they'll get through a season with your WRX. They will get a bit greasy on the track, but they stay predictable and don't fly apart. For your budget, you're pretty much stuck with these.
jack
I agree with the predictable part. I just found them a little frustrating after reaching a certain limit.

Azenis with 1/2 tread or less life equals HAZARDOUS in Florida rain.....from plenty of experience.......

Azenis with 1/2 tread or less life equals HAZARDOUS in Florida rain.....from plenty of experience.......

I'll second this. If it's just "wet" or lightly raining they're OK, but once you get standing water (which is often in FL storms) they hydroplane worse than any tire I've ever driven.

Here's what I'm looking for: A new tire to start out the season with (Feb-March) and run:

5-6 HDPE Events
6 Autocross Events
5k of street driving (May to Oct)

I need (would like) something that will last the whole season, and can still have traction in the wet.

Size: 17"x7.5" or 17"x8" Wheel, obviously wider the better.

Budget: up to ~$125 per tire...including used tires with 90%+ better tread. No particular brand loyalty or preferences.

Thanks! :banana: :disco: :alien:

Before anything, 1 set of no matter what tires won't last (performance) for all you're planning. So, you may want to re-think the # of events you will be participating, or the # of tires you will be purchasing.

Toyo RA-1s, although R compounds, will do the job for all if you use them only at the events, but u will be needing a set of wheels.

Get a used set of wheels for events ($500) for Toyos ($680), your budget may double, but you'll have a fresh set of R compound tires on wheels.

That's what a customer did this year(12 auto-xs, 5HPDEs), and he's happy now.

...better than running out of street tires and getting another set before the season end.

Before anything, 1 set of no matter what tires won't last (performance) for all you're planning. So, you may want to re-think the # of events you will be participating, or the # of tires you will be purchasing.

Toyo RA-1s, although R compounds, will do the job for all if you use them only at the events, but u will be needing a set of wheels.

Get a used set of wheels for events ($500) for Toyos ($680), your budget may double, but you'll have a fresh set of R compound tires on wheels.

That's what a customer did this year(12 auto-xs, 5HPDEs), and he's happy now.

...better than running out of street tires and getting another set before the season end.



Thanks for the input everyone.

It makes better sense to just get a set of tires I will be competitive on for A-X and HDPE days....even if it means using crappy tires for daily commuting.

Hell, I just need a track car now. :devil:

I was pretty anal about keeping my car aligned with zero toe and 2 degrees negative camber in the front, 1 degree negative in the rear. With this setup, I got almost 20k hard miles out of my MXs, including 11 autocrosses, 1 HPDE, and a trip to the tail of the dragon. Yes, the last 20% of their life wasn't excellent in the rain, but I'm still very surprised at what I got out of them. You might be able to get away with one set of tires for the whole summer.