Steet Tire Choices

Jeb Brookshire · **Posted:** Tue Mar 28, 2006 8:25 pm

Ok, I know this seems weird coming from a tire guy, but I need some suggestions that will keep me considered Street Tire but perform well on the various surfaces that we compete on. I am currently talking to Discount Tire Co. (my employer) about providing me a set to run. Any first hand thoughts on any of these for auto-cross duty would be more than helpful. Here are the ones I am considering in no particular order with the tread wear in parenthesis:

Dunlop Sport FM901 (200)
Hankook Ventus RS-2 (200)
Falken Azenis RT-615 (200)
Dunlop Sport 8080E (200)
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx (240)
Nitto NT-01 (100) <-- I think this one wouldn't qualify as a street tire, despite DOT approval
BFG G-Force Sport (340) <--- Currently my day to day tires
Kumho Escta MX (220)
BFG G-Froce KDW NT (300)
BFG g-Force TA KD (200)
Bridgestone RE-01R (140)

These are pretty much all I am considering unless there is another to add. Again any first-hand experience with these in an auto-cross setting is what I am looking for. I will not be running these other than events. Thanks in advance for any feedback.

Adam Ligon · **Posted:** Tue Mar 28, 2006 8:39 pm

Dunlop Sport FM901 (200) ----complete junk
Hankook Ventus RS-2 (200) ---do you mean the Z212? if so #2
Falken Azenis RT-615 (200) ---#1
Dunlop Sport 8080E (200) ---not in the same league as Azenis
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx (240) ---to new for me to know
Nitto NT-01 (100) ---also not familar
BFG G-Force Sport (340) ----again not in same league as some of the others
Kumho Escta MX (220) ----i don;t like them, but some people do #3
BFG G-Froce KDW NT (300) ---go with the KD instead
BFG g-Force TA KD (200) ---#4
Bridgestone RE-01R (140) ---again no experience

Jeb Brookshire · **Posted:** Tue Mar 28, 2006 8:43 pm

The Hankook RS-2 is the Z212. Sorry.

Thanks for your feedback. Hopefully some others will chime in as well.

Scott Johnson · **Posted:** Tue Mar 28, 2006 9:16 pm

What kind of car? What class (Stock, street prepared, etc).

Scott

Scott Johnson · **Posted:** Tue Mar 28, 2006 9:18 pm

In addition to the above post.

Azenis RT-615 is the best bet for high performance out of the box. The others will all need to be shaved for maximum grip on day 1.

Scott

Jeb Brookshire · **Posted:** Tue Mar 28, 2006 9:23 pm

scottjohnson wrote:

What kind of car? What class (Stock, street prepared, etc).

Scott

My car is a 2004 Mazda 3 Hatchback. The way it is set-up will place me in STS, though I plan on running as a novice as long as I can to gain experience.

Brian Herring · **Posted:** Tue Mar 28, 2006 10:09 pm

The Re-01Rs LOOK nice, but are quite blingy. Might be the 'new' Azenis, but you are going to have to pay to find out. They have some NIIIIICE sizes though.

I think the Advan Neovas are another choice that is yet unproved, but I have heard some buzz on it.

If you want a good reliable, the RT-615 is a good choice as it is MUCH superior to the RT-215 all around. The 'feel' is a little different, but it is on the pace.

- dow

Chris Overcash · **Posted:** Tue Mar 28, 2006 11:26 pm

The NT01 isn't eligible for THSCC Tire class. The treadwear rating is too low.

Get the Azensis RT 615. Given the price and performance of that tire it is very hard to beat.

Graham Jagger · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 12:53 am **Posts:** 1718

Chris Overcash wrote:

The NT01 isn't eligible for THSCC Tire class. The treadwear rating is too low.

Yep the NT01 is the all new and improved RII - DOT R compound. Same tread material but different case and tread pattern. Same family with the Toyo RA1.

Chris Brown · **Posted:** Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:24 am

imo for autocross:

1-Falken Azenis RT-615
2-BFG g-Force TA KD shaved
3-Kumho Escta MX (220) shaved

Keith Vail · **Posted:** Wed Mar 29, 2006 11:06 am

I would put the Hankooks when shaved above the BFG or Kuhmo. I have run on all of the tires Chris mentioned and I have shaved 'kooks on my WRX now. I recommend the Falkens for best full tread performance.

AdamBreakey · **Posted:** Wed Mar 29, 2006 2:58 pm

1 - Advan Neova
2 - Falken Azenis RT-615
3 - Kumho MX

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Wed Mar 29, 2006 3:18 pm

Jeb Brookshire wrote:

My car is a 2004 Mazda 3 Hatchback. The way it is set-up will place me in STS, though I plan on running as a novice as long as I can to gain experience.

Various Yokohama Fans wrote:

Advan Neova

Problem with Advan Neova is that for your car, you probably will not find sizes you will like. Or if you find a size that fits, it is not going to be the best size for that class. Right now it is available in 16", 17" and 18". The 16" is a very narrow 175/55-16. The 17s are more realistic, but probably on the tall and wide side. As well as a light weight 17" wheel is going to be pricy.

I would suggest the Falken RT-615 (unshaved) or Falken FK-451 (shaved) in 15" or 16" wheel.

Jeb Brookshire · **Posted:** Thu Mar 30, 2006 10:27 am

The advan is built in the size I run on my car (225/45R17). Is the 180 treadwear too low for street tires? Right now the front-runner seems to be the Falken RT-615. I plan on making a decision by tomorrow (3/31).

AdamBreakey · **Posted:** Thu Mar 30, 2006 12:18 pm

Jeb Brookshire wrote:

The advan is built in the size I run on my car (225/45R17). Is the 180 treadwear too low for street tires? Right now the front-runner seems to be the Falken RT-615. I plan on making a decision by tomorrow (3/31).

We did some back to back testing on an STU M3 between the Advan, the Falken, and the MXs. The Advans were consistently .4xx seconds faster on the 43 second course we used for testing. -- as a side note the MXs were .2xx seconds slower than the Falkens

they do cost more though.

adamb

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