Tires!!

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2003 5:03 pm

Always a good topic.....

OK boys and girls, now that I have a little Christmas money, it's time to start looking at some new shoes for the bimmer. I can't afford true racing tires and since we have the "gentlemens agreement" in DS to run streets, my question is simple.

What's the best bang for the buck on a set of decent street/autox tires? I plan on keeping my other POS' for just kicking around town.

Kevin Hoff · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2003 5:22 pm

Azenis of course.

:lol:

--Kevin H.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2003 5:37 pm

It's very hard to beat the bang for the buck / grip factor of the Azenis. That is if you have an extra set of wheels for them. I have a set and definitely don't recommend them for the street. They hydroplane very easily IMO. :drowning:

Adam Ligon · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2003 11:03 pm

Well the problem with the azenis and you car is the size range. A 205/50/15 is the only 15 they make. So the question is does it make sense to go with the smaller size for the azenis or try soomething else in a 225/50/15 for the added tire width.

Talk with Mike about this. He has alot of past season experience with this exact question.

Scott Johnson · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2003 11:07 pm

Is there a DS "gentlemans" agreement in place for 2004? I'm undecided on tires right now, if it's sticky tires I'll be running Pro class, but I can't speak for Sally.

Scott

jimpastorius · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2003 11:15 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

What's the best bang for the buck on a set of decent street/autox tires? I plan on keeping my other POS' for just kicking around town.

It sounds like you are going to have another set of rims. If that is the case, go with the Kuhmos. You can drive them to and from events and they will easily last you the season. Plus there is a wide range of sizes available to you.

Hell, my brother logged over 10,000 miles on a set of Kuhmos on his Miata. The very ones Aaron threw in when David bought the Miata from him.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Tue Dec 30, 2003 12:18 am

jimpastorius wrote:

It sounds like you are going to have another set of rims. If that is the case, go with the Kuhmos.

OK Jim, which Kuhmos?

I do plan on getting a set of 16x7 rims so I can stay in DS. By the way, if any one has a set of rims to fit a '96 BMW and are looking to get rid of, contact me please. Right now I'm looking on ebay and Roundel. I also need to talk to Mark to see what kind of deal I can make.

Matthew_Thomson · **Posted:** Tue Dec 30, 2003 8:36 am

check the classifieds at www.roadfly.com lots of stuff for sale there all the time

jimpastorius · **Posted:** Tue Dec 30, 2003 8:37 am

RodneyWright' wrote:

OK Jim, which Kuhmos?

I am partial to the V700's. They are discountinueing the the Escta's and the V710's are not widely available yet. Plus, I can not vouch for how the V710's will adapt to the highway use. Just my .02 worth.

jimpastorius · **Posted:** Tue Dec 30, 2003 8:40 am

Matthew_Thomson wrote:

check the classifieds at www.roadfly.com lots of stuff for sale there all the time

Also check www.car-parts.com

Phil Wehman · **Posted:** Tue Dec 30, 2003 9:50 am

I like the V700, but know what you're getting into before you use them as a road tire.

Quote:

go with the Kuhmos. You can drive them to and from events and they will easily last you the season.

I did this for 3 seasons with V700s. The only problem is that by the end of the season you may be sweating out the weather forecast. They probably will not have enough tread left to comfortably make the drive if it's raining.

Quote:

my brother logged over 10,000 miles on a set of Kuhmos on his Miata

YMMV, but thats a lot of miles if you autocross them. I left them on the car for normal driving one season (only drove when dry). There aren't many cars as light as mine and I still only got 2500 miles and about 15 events out of them before the tread disappeared.

You can definitely run them to/from events, but only count on 1 season and good weather near the end.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Tue Dec 30, 2003 10:09 am

Quote:

You can drive them to and from events and they will easily last you the season

Also consider what you'll lose if you damage a race tire on the way to/from an event. You could easily lose a $130 tire to a road hazard and you have to get a new one. Then you'll have one tire full depth and the others might not be. Also the weather is always another consideration as previously stated.

Besides wouldn't a significant number of heat cycles be lost using them on the to and from trips? :whoknows:

Kevin Allen · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2003 6:42 pm **Posts:** 3479

The Azenis does come in 215/45/16, which is one of the sizes I used last year. They were around $400 for the set, including mounting (Chuck's Discount Tire deal). The 205/55/16 is around $15 cheaper per tire, but I don't like the way they feel so much compared to the 215's. (steering response and gearing; grip is about the same)

I also tried out the Kumho MX ("max performance" street tire). Grip was really good, but I didn't like it - sidewall was too squishy. I've heard that they're going to introduce the MX II next year. Don't know what the difference will be, but hopefully it will be a stiff sidewall.

Either of those two will be fine for driving around on the street, too - regardless of what certain people will tell you. I got around 100-120 autox runs (part was test & tune, so I estimated) and 8000 miles of street driving out of my 225/45/17 Azenis.

I still haven't decided what I'll be autoxing on, but it will be some sort of R compound - probably a Kumho.

Good luck,

Kevin

Mark Vitacco · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2004 12:35 am

Rodney:

As you don't want an "R" tire and Azenis are not make in your size
take a look at the Kuhmo MX & BFG KWD or KWDS.

Tire Rack test claim dry grip of the MX is equal to a BFG KWDS
and very close to the KWD. I got a set to try on the Corvette 285-17's
were only $150 per tire. Turn in is lazy but they got pleny of stick once
they take a set.

Later, I found out Summit Racing (of all places) has killer prices on BFG KWD and KWDS about $150 for 275 size.

Either one of these will be comprable to the Azenis with the BFG having
better turn in and feel than the MX.

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