Question about traction...

[GR-8]

Just put the Sticker back on the window......problem solved.


Ya I know.....Sometimes I can be useless.

[Anh Bi]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MazdaTom @ Apr 18 2008, 07:35 PM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=41554]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>

The Bridgestone RE-01s are better than the Falkens. Looking at the top finishers in all the street tire classes at the SCCA Nationals last year, almost everyone is on the Bridgestones.[/b]

Everyone is on Bridgestones probably because they are big sponsors and offer purchase discounts to all SCCA members.

Grassroots Motorsports came up with two tire tests back in 2005 and 2007 comparing the RE01 and the RT615 directly, and in both controlled environment tests, the Falkens won hands down.

The Azenis are available in more sizes, offer the best cold grip which is ideal for street use, will last longer than the RE01, and are also much cheaper to purchase. To me, it's just a win win situation if you need cheap rubber for a sporty street car.

My only grip with the Azenis is that they are not suited for the track as they do not tolerate heat build up very well, but that's when you are supposed to roll out the R compound tires.

With that being said, I really doubt anyone would feel any difference in term of performance between the RE01 and the RT615 for a daily use in the street, even pushed hard. You will see the difference in your wallet, intervals between tires changes, and road noise!

Josh, if that's your only car, and if you are going to put quite a lot of miles in it (15k+/year) and assuming you are swapping for winter tires, I would also recommend the following rubber:

1. Falken Azenis RT615 (my favorite street tire)
2. Yokohama ES 100 (best performance for the price IMO, I've run them on all the Integras and Eclipse I've had as DD )
3. Hankook Ventus RS2 (alternative to the Azenis)
4. Kumho Ecsta MX (alternative to the Azenis)
5. Toyo Proxes T1R (alternative to the ES 100)

Hope this helps.

2005/05 issue of GRM (PDF)

2007/05 issue of GRM tire test results (got this hard copy sitting at home):

[MazdaTom]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Anh Bi @ Apr 19 2008, 06:31 AM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=41637]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>

My only grip with the Azenis is that they are not suited for the track as they do not tolerate heat build up very well, but that's when you are supposed to roll out the R compound tires.[/b]

I used the RT615 on my Saturn for a track tire. I ran it in 105* air temp weather (not sure what the track surface temp was) on a freshly sealed track (newly applied black sealant to the track surface). My Saturn weighed about 2100 pounds plus 200 pounds for me. I thought they handled the heat just fine- much better than the previous summer that I used the RT215 but not as good as the Toyo RA-1 tire that I later used.

I agreee that the RT615 is a great tire, but everyone that I know who is running in a street tire class is using the Bridgestone.

[SpeedRacer]

THANKS GUYS! Anh and Tom thank you both I'll probably go with Falkens.

[SpeedRacer]

What do you guys think about the goodyear eagle F1 GS-D3?

[MazdaTom]

No experience with them. Nor do I know anyone with them.

They have a similar tread design to the Yoko ES 100- which is a popular tire. I consider getting the Yokos. The 280 tread wear should mean they wear longer than the Falkens (which have a treadwear of 200)- at the expense of max grip. The GYs are probably better in the rain as the tread wears down- although the Falkens are fan-freakin-tastic when they are new or about 1/2 tread depth in the rain (very surprising for a tire with such large tread blocks).