Opinion wanted for FD tire selection (autox/track)
04-19-06, 08:35 AM
#1
Opinion wanted for FD tire selection (autox/track)
I bought my FD primarily for weekend driving, autox and light track (HPDE) duty (20-25 minute sessions). I have a few options in terms of wheel/tire choices with what I've got going now and I'd like some opinions as to which might be best for my needs.
Currently running 16x8 (non stock) wheels with Toyo Proxes T1-S tires. Adequate for daily driving and hold up well on the track but not enough grip/traction. Easily breaks rear traction autoxing in lower gears.
Option 1: Get Falken Azenis Rt-615 for stock FD wheels. They're currently about $108/ea at vulcantire. Should offer massive grip for a street tire but relatively small footprint due to stock wheel.
Option 2: I have a set of Forgeline 17x9/17x10 wheels with 235 and 275 wide Potenza S-02s already. While these aren't as good a tire as the Azenis they're definately would give me much more contact patch and I wouldn't have to spend anything.
Recommendations? Thanks!
Currently running 16x8 (non stock) wheels with Toyo Proxes T1-S tires. Adequate for daily driving and hold up well on the track but not enough grip/traction. Easily breaks rear traction autoxing in lower gears.
Option 1: Get Falken Azenis Rt-615 for stock FD wheels. They're currently about $108/ea at vulcantire. Should offer massive grip for a street tire but relatively small footprint due to stock wheel.
Option 2: I have a set of Forgeline 17x9/17x10 wheels with 235 and 275 wide Potenza S-02s already. While these aren't as good a tire as the Azenis they're definately would give me much more contact patch and I wouldn't have to spend anything.
Recommendations? Thanks!
04-19-06, 09:32 AM
#3
Originally Posted by ptrhahn
Which wheels do you want to use on the street, and which on track?
04-24-06, 12:22 PM
#4
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Sounds like we do pretty much the same thing with our FDs (street and HPDE use) so i'll be happy to share my setup with you just for comparison purposes.
I'm running the stock wheels with the new Hankook R-S2 245/45-16 tires. They're awesome. I really wanted the Azeni 615's but they didn't come in the 245 size that i wanted. Also the Hankooks were a good bit cheaper. From what i've seen, the Hankook is 9.8/10 as good as the 615. I took it to VIR-N a couple of weekends ago and absolutely loved them. Very good grip, predictable, and progressive. Very easy to modulate and control. The only thing i've noticed about them is that their sidewalls are a little on the soft side...but that really didn't have much effect on their performance, IMO. I use these tires for both HPDE and daily driving.
That being said, i eventually do want to go to a wider wheel. I plan on getting some 17x9 wheels next year with slightly wider tires...probably the Azeni 615s. Wider is better, but i don't want to have to deal with switching tires every time i track the car. (That and i like to have the 'track' performance all the time.
)
My opinion: sell the 17's if you don't like em (unless they're really light and a good track wheel), get Azenis on the 16s for now, see if you like that...if not sell your 16s after you've used the 615s for a while and get 17s that you like with the tires that you want.
The S-02s are good tires and a lot of people use them as street/track tires, but they are expensive to replace and won't be as sticky as an Azeni.
Also, how much power are you putting to the wheels? That makes a big difference. The 245 width Hankooks hook really well with my 300rwhp. If you're interested you can find them at edgeracing.com for about $100 apiece with free shipping. That's where i got mine and i thought it was a pretty great deal for some awesome tires. Feel free to PM me with any questions.
Have you done any THSCC events? I'll be at VIR-S with the MAARC this weekend. They said there was another RX7 enrolled...that wouldn't happen to be you, would it???
Sorry for the long post.
I'm running the stock wheels with the new Hankook R-S2 245/45-16 tires. They're awesome. I really wanted the Azeni 615's but they didn't come in the 245 size that i wanted. Also the Hankooks were a good bit cheaper. From what i've seen, the Hankook is 9.8/10 as good as the 615. I took it to VIR-N a couple of weekends ago and absolutely loved them. Very good grip, predictable, and progressive. Very easy to modulate and control. The only thing i've noticed about them is that their sidewalls are a little on the soft side...but that really didn't have much effect on their performance, IMO. I use these tires for both HPDE and daily driving.
That being said, i eventually do want to go to a wider wheel. I plan on getting some 17x9 wheels next year with slightly wider tires...probably the Azeni 615s. Wider is better, but i don't want to have to deal with switching tires every time i track the car. (That and i like to have the 'track' performance all the time.
)My opinion: sell the 17's if you don't like em (unless they're really light and a good track wheel), get Azenis on the 16s for now, see if you like that...if not sell your 16s after you've used the 615s for a while and get 17s that you like with the tires that you want.
The S-02s are good tires and a lot of people use them as street/track tires, but they are expensive to replace and won't be as sticky as an Azeni.
Also, how much power are you putting to the wheels? That makes a big difference. The 245 width Hankooks hook really well with my 300rwhp. If you're interested you can find them at edgeracing.com for about $100 apiece with free shipping. That's where i got mine and i thought it was a pretty great deal for some awesome tires. Feel free to PM me with any questions.
Have you done any THSCC events? I'll be at VIR-S with the MAARC this weekend. They said there was another RX7 enrolled...that wouldn't happen to be you, would it???
Sorry for the long post.
04-24-06, 12:39 PM
#5
Thanks for the feedback! Yea, the 17's I have now are relatively light. Maybe I can paint them and they'll look better I don't know. Yea, the 615's only come in 225 for 16" so far I believe 
Right now I'm making stock power more or less (turbo-back exhaust with factory main cat, stock boost). I don't have any big power plans for the car, just intake, i/c, maybe a highflow cat and ecu upgrade. I'd like to see what I can get out of it in stock form first though.
I've never been to any THSCC eventsb efore, but they do have a rallyx program that I've been meaning to check out. I am going to try and do the mazdadriver's event at VIR grand though.
Right now I'm making stock power more or less (turbo-back exhaust with factory main cat, stock boost). I don't have any big power plans for the car, just intake, i/c, maybe a highflow cat and ecu upgrade. I'd like to see what I can get out of it in stock form first though.
I've never been to any THSCC eventsb efore, but they do have a rallyx program that I've been meaning to check out. I am going to try and do the mazdadriver's event at VIR grand though.
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