Falken Azenias VS Kuhmo Ecsta MX

[vbspec]

Ok the topic is simple.

I have decided that tires are the most important thing you can do for AutoX!! But, I dont have the funds to get a whole second set of rims and tires. So I would like your opinions about the Azeina, and the Ecsta MX. I know the Falkens are very good can anyone say anything about the Ecsta's.

Thanx
Michael

Red SpecV

[lightningd]

well, some 90% of national entries in STS ran the faulkens. the results page has what tire everyone was running

[ZoomZoomH]

Azenis ownz all street tire classes

[vbspec]

Yeah I saw that but I have to use them a daily drivers also so if I burn them up in like 9 months I didnt do anything because with that $ I could have had a second set of rims and tires. But, because of the Nationals results I am thinking real, real hard about this.

[ZoomZoomH]

i see...

yeah Azenis are excellent dry tires, but I've heard it's ATROCIOUS (sp?) in wet/ice/snow. I would not recommend them as daily tires.

I don't think the Ecsta MX are really good in bad weather either, maybe slightly better than Azenis.

you probably want to keep a set of rims/tires just for autoxing, and another for daily driving...

[vbspec]

Well if I did burn them up all I would have to do is buy a second set of rims and put the stock Conti's I'm useing now on, for daily. And, get some traction additive to fresh'n up the Azenias. Ooooooooh I like this idea, can you tell I'm trying to rationalize this.

Thanx
Michael

[lightningd]

i run yokohama paradas and they are spetacular daily driven tires. esp. great in the rain as a proved last month. also, they last a fairly good amount of time. they are pretty good in the dry too, but i can't compare them to grip w/ the azenis b/c i haven't raced using the azenis.

[Axelerate]

In the future I plan on getting a set of 16" wheels with Azenis just for autocross use. 16's would be lighter and cheaper for both tires and rims. Something to think about.

But, if you want a dual use tire then both the Parada Spec 2 and the AVS ES-100 are good tires and do really well in the wet.

[JRSCdSi]

I've been running the Azenis as my street tire and autocross tire for a little while now. I've gotten about 9 or 10 autocrosses and 5000 miles from them. One pair is close to the tread bar, the other is holding up better (rotate them more often then I did... once). I don't know that you could go to every local autocross event, and get 10,000 miles of street tire use out of them... maybe, it would be close. It depends more on your driving style on the course and street, and how heavy your car is. They are great tires for the money though. You will be very satisfied. Try to find a good shop to install them. The sidewalls are VERY stiff, and there will be a lot of swearing and prybar use getting them on. They are also VERY wide. Wider than their rating. I'm running the 205/50-15's on my stock Si wheels, and there's no 205 on the market that is as wide as these things! I've seen side by side comparisons with the Kumho 712's, and these had around 3/8th of an inch in width over the Kumhos.

Edit: Also, these tires are fantastic in the wet. Don't believe the nay-sayers. They aren't good across puddles at 70 mph, but what tire is? Of course they aren't good in the snow, no high performance tire is designed with snow in mind. But in wet road conditions, the Azenis are incredible. I can flat out get on my car in the wet, and they won't break loose. Breaking and cornering are great in the wet also.

[vbspec]

Hey I'm with you on the smaller rim thing but I was told the car would be in DSP because I changed from the "factory" rim size. I dont have a hand book but that seems to be the answer that keeps coming up. I was thinking of getting the Team Dymacics ProRace 1 rims in 16 then the Falkens to stay in STX(after I got my GC. which now on the back burner for new tires). I called Team Dynamic USA and every thing but my bubble was popped on Sunday, when I started asking around.
Here is something else. Are thw Kuhmo V700 a tire that can be run in an "X" street tire class, or would I just stay in DS with no X?

Thanx to all who have posted
Michael

[jetroc0088]

I have a set of 205/50/15 azenis I might be selling.
Possibly a whopping 500 miles on them.

[98sr20ve]

Originally posted by vbspec
Ok the topic is simple.

But, I dont have the funds to get a whole second set of rims and tires.

Michael



If you can do not get the coilovers. I know this might sound strange but all they are going to do is bump you into a much tougher class. You already have great springs on a Spec V. Just get a second set of wheels and some azenias to learn on. After you wear out the Azenias buy some Kuhmo's. If you doubt me then tell me what spring rates the GC come with and also tell me what the stock spring rates on the Spec V (pretty sure they are 300/300 or so). Even If you went much stiffer then stock (not likely becuase the spec v has pretty stiff stock springs) you will not gain nearly as much from the springs as you would from the tires. If you really want to go fast then just get the Kuhmo's to start with.

[vbspec]

Thanx Steve
After a full day of pondering, I have decided that Azenias are on the way and the GC is later.

Here is something silly the PAX for STS is lower than DS. I dont think the SpecV should run in STS because of the limited slip diff (that is what I have read a number of times on B15 forums.

[lightningd]

ok....

(all stuff listed here is not everything, just stuff relating to this discussion)

Stock class....allows R-compounds. You MUST have the same size (width and diameter) rim though, but it can be any brand or weight rim. Nothing is specified about tire size, so i think you can have pretty much any (except for some picky stuff). you can change shocks/sturts, but not springs.

STS (Street Touring) does NOT allow R-compounds, tires must have a treadwear rating of 140. any size rim up to 7.5" wide. any size tire up to 225. almost any suspension mod is allowed, except for changing of type, which none of us will ever do anyway.

STX - Your spec V will be in this class b/c of the type of LSD you have. a spec V cannot run STS. same mods as STS allowed (tires, suspension)

Street Prepared (?SP) - R-compounds are allowed and pretty much any upgrades you can think of.

[vbspec]

Ok I'm now thinking that a stock size rim and Kuhmo V700's are the way to go, and stay in D stock. But the cash flow is a little low!!!!

[Axelerate]

I recomend Rota Sub-zeroes. I think they are only $550 for a set of 17's.

Here's a link: www.machiii.net

[98sr20ve]

Originally posted by vbspec
Ok I'm now thinking that a stock size rim and Kuhmo V700's are the way to go, and stay in D stock. But the cash flow is a little low!!!!

All the more reason to stay in the stock class. Plus, you can concentrate on the Exhaust, Struts/shocks, Tires issues first and still stay in the stock class. Latter you can modify your car for another class and still not have wasted any money. You can also put on a new front swaybar and stay in stock class BUT that is probably NOT a good idea anyway.

[lightningd]

Originally posted by 98sr20ve
You can also put on a new front swaybar and stay in stock class BUT that is probably NOT a good idea anyway.

true dat. i've heard that a lot of ppl keep the stock bar up front. a lil flex is good to get that outside tire to bite like a dog.