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Your picture angle sucked on the azenis, this should give you better perspective



And compare to this:



If it isn't obvious to you which tire is the more hydro-planing resistent, its time for a trip to the optometrist. Oh, and BTW, my argument isn't for longitudinal grooves, but grooves in general.

From my EXPERIENCE (not from looking at the tread pattern ) the Falken Azenis RT215 is a MUCH better rain tire than this one:



...even though it has more longitudinal grooves.

But this tire kicks both their asses:



And does a great job when it's dry, too!

And only $40 more per tire than the RT-215. BTW, my Kumho 711's (street tires on the Miata) were $36 each. They are excellent in the rain.

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Vincent Keene
'06 Ford Mustang GT (track rat)
'15 Dodge Charger R/T (yeah, it's got a HEMI!)
'07 Ford Fusion SE (205,000 miles and counting)
'98 Chevy Z-24 (retired)
'93 Acura Integra (Team SWB 24HOL Car)

Anyone who believe that the Azenis is a superior rain tire to the MX hasn't tested them back to back in the rain. The MX doesn't hydroplane nearly as easy, and although it prefers warmer temperatures, it sticks fine in the rain. I would say it's a toss up, regardless of what Jason Rhoades testing showed. - AB

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'14 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4WD
Super Westerfield Bros - '93 Integra - LeChump Du Jour
STX 93 - Scion FR-S

Actually, I did "test" them back-to-back.

Went home for lunch one day, constantly correcting steering due to hydroplaning everywhere with my 3/4-tread MXes, especially when braking, then decided to switch to the 3/4-tread Azeni for the trip back to work (in the same conditions) to see if there was any difference. I didn't have any problems with the Azeni. And I even TRIED to have issues with them, once I realized I wasn't having any.

Maybe I just got the magical 5 sets of Azeni that have been ok in the rain?

If the new Azenis is even BETTER in the rain than the old one (and no more expensive) I'm gonna be loving them!

Which one of these things is not like the other -- do you think that the directionality of the tread helps make the other tires more suitable in the rain and the Azenis scary?

I found the Contour switch lanes on her own on the inner beltline in moderate rain only going around 70. Not standing water. That settled it for me.

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

For the love of god people, read all the posts before pulling one part out of context.

For the slow or lazy, what I am saying;

-Yes there are many better tires in the rain than the Azenis.
-No the azenis are not dangerous to drive in the rain, unless bald but then any tire is then.
-No you cannot tell how good a tire is in the rain by looking at its tread , period. Go read back to back tests, Tirerack reveiws, whatever. There is much more to a tires performance, wet or dry, than its tread pattern.

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91 Jetta GLI STS/DSP 111
85 Porsche 944 ASP 11
http://www.blackforestindustries.com

This is my personal experience and keep in mind that this is my first set of Azenis, and they are just now nearing teh wear bars but I've used them regularly as a street tire. I have never hit a deep puddle in them but have driven tehm in the rain many times. The low speed grip is rediculous for having such a large tread block. They stick much better than the all-season's that are on teh Miata's stock wheels-wet or dry. When the tires were new they wouldn't break loose when I was trying to get them to, around corners and hairpins and the like. Not even in sealed parking lots. Yes, I'm learning to drift--stupid behavior on the streets but fun as hell and I always make sure that the areas are safe and clear before I break loose. Now that the Azenis are over half worn I would be more cautious in heavy rain conditions, but have yet to experience any negative effects when running them. I am completely amazed at the level of grip they have at highway speeds and below in wet conditions.

If the new tire is better than these, I would seriously consider them for to-and-from tires even in a Vette. Miles Try them and decide for yourself. Don't let teh naysayers scare you.

Doug

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'99 Mk IV Jetta VR6 now claimed by the better half.

'90 Miata A-package, Floats like a butterfly and buzzes like a BEE with loudspeakers.

Wow, ill disagree. I've had MUCH better luck with the MX in heavy rain. Namely the front straight at VIR in pouring rain. Yes, it does hydroplane, but not nearly as quickly as the Aznenis did.

Just curious, what's VIR like in heavy rain? Are there places with standing water? I'm guessing there would be plenty of places where water is flowing across the track.

I've never done a track event in the rain before - closest was VIR in February when we got snowed out Sunday afternoon.

I've done A LOT of sessions at VIR in the rain and now one at CMP. VIR is much more challenging in the rain. You will get standing water at the inside gators in most every turn at VIR. Turns 3-8 (about halfway up the esses) all suffer from this. Hogpen is EXTREMELY slick in the wet as well. Putting power down out of oaktree is tricky. If the rain is heavy figure no more than about 70-75 on the front straight, and be prepared for some hydroplaning. The back straight is mostly ok in heavy rain. It will REALLY test your concentration. A lap in the wet at VIR is far more draining for me than one in the dry.

As they say, you will learn a lot in the wet. About 10 sessions in the wet at VIR is about as much as I really want to deal with ever. I'm ready for some dry track time.

The Goodyear F1 GS-D3, Sumi HTRZ-II, Yoko AVS Sport, Firestone Firehawk SZ50 and other similar tires are all V-groove designs. They are derived from the racing rain tires used by many racing teams. The V-groove design does not need longitudinal grooves. The V-groove pulls the water from the center of the tires and sheds it out to the sides. I ran the Firehawk SZ50s and they kicked butt in the rain all the way down to about 2/32 tread. No hydroplaining issues and very confident handling in the wet. They were also very good in the dry. The HTRZ-II I'm running now is just a cheaper version of that concept in my opinion. They are very good in the rain. I have no issues with them. But I think the SZ50 was a much better tire. Next time I'll probably go with the GS-D3.

The Khumo MX, BFG KD, Nitto NT555, Azenis are all dry weather tires. Large tread blocks, especially on the sides, and minimul water extraction ability. It doesn't mean you can't drive them in the rain. But it was not a primary design goal for these tires, unlike the ones listed above. Just because they have 1 or 3 longitudinal grooves doesn't mean they will work well in the rain. I thought the MX's were fine in the rain when new. Once they got towards half tread they would get squirrely. If I left a corner quickly the ASR (traction control) kept kicking in. And I cranked up the ABS on more than one occassion in the rain. I would not consider these to be a good wet weather tire. I haven't driven on Azenis on the street in the wet, just at autox in a Miata. Nice dry grip. But they're tread design looks like it won't shed water very well. Those grooves go at 45deg angles to the tread and don't cross the tire and they aren't straight. What I hear mostly from the Miata guys is that they are scary in the rain once they start to wear. I can beleive it. Maybe the Subaru guys are depending on AWD to keep the Azenis from being an issue.

Graham

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