Falken Azenis

[JAYh]

Okay, I may be getting some Azenis to use as my autocross tyre. Just wondering who was running on them at the WOSCA events?

Hmm... I don't want to wear them out too quick. Is it a good idea to use them for events only and run my all seasons inbetween, or should I use them on the street as well so they don't get hard? Do these things have a break in period?

I've heard lots of wonderful things about them, but that was coming from American autocrossers who get penalised for having "true" R-compounds. Just wondering if anyone can shed some light on how they work in Solo Ontario events.

- J

[JAYh]

Oops, sorry for the wrong forum, I thought I was posting in "race tuning". Oh well.

- J

[ice/solo racer]

My wife and I ran the azenis on the corolla last season,the tire was only used for autox use and with 2 drivers and after about a dozen events the tread depth was virtually as new.
I can't speak on how hard they'd get with daily use but thats a side effect of continually heat cycling any tire.Mine didn't get any break in as its a race only deal with no way to scuff them in first.

They work just fine but you will still be giving up considerable time to people on race tires-to the tune of 2+seconds per 40 second run.

[Marsh]

I did a fun run at Mosport on my street tires. I thought it went very well and I went almost exactly 2% slower than I did on my R's (what the old street tire bonus was).

[mike_moss]

I am running the Azenis' in 195/60/14 on my OEM 5.5" wheels.

The only bad thing I can think about this tire (despite it being offered in only 6 sizes or so) is the treadwear (220). However, for $67/tire (:eek: - for the above size at www.DriverFX.ca (http://www.driverfx.ca)), I don't think this is an issue. I am running these tires all summer long for both the Regionals and PITL as well as daily driving.

Also, the prices seem to keep coming down on DriverFX, so keep checking. I bought my tires at $74 each.

I haven't heard anything regarding heat-cycling.

[Marsh]

What are they like in the rain?

[superdave]

Originally posted by ice/solo racer
My wife and I ran the azenis on the corolla last season,the tire was only used for autox use and with 2 drivers and after about a dozen events the tread depth was virtually as new.
I can't speak on how hard they'd get with daily use but thats a side effect of continually heat cycling any tire.Mine didn't get any break in as its a race only deal with no way to scuff them in first.

They work just fine but you will still be giving up considerable time to people on race tires-to the tune of 2+seconds per 40 second run.

I have found my Azenis to wear out much quicker than this. Mind you this is my first season autocrossing and I've been overly hard on my tires! I've run about 6 events I think on them, and I will get another 9 or 10 if I've improved at all ;) This is also with street driving....

I don't think you can beat this tire as a cost effective tire... especially with driverfx.ca. even the 15" is 100 bucks.

[superdave]

Originally posted by Marsh
What are they like in the rain?

Everyone when they first saw my Azenis looked at the big tread blocks and went "They must suck in the rain?" I didn't know. I must admit I was affraid to push them any on the street (in the rain) because of this. At the first PITL event it rained and the Azenis turned out to be quite sticky in the rain. My FTD was in the rain - but I only got 2 runs in before the rain started. I would have been even faster If I had my splash shields on and didn't start running on 3 cylinders 1/4 the way through the course. :p

[mike_moss]

Originally posted by Marsh
What are they like in the rain?

Honestly, they're better than any other all-season tire I've driven on in the rain.

My FTD was also on my last run in the VERY wet PITL event. ;)

[ice/solo racer]

I only ran the azenis in the rain once at the shootout last year,very hard to comment on the performance as I had no baseline other than the worn victoracers which sucked on the first run(I spun and I NEVER spin out,including ice race)
Threw on the azenis after that and couldn't touch ITR's on 32R's but did manage to set the fastest time for any rwd car there that day,but the last run was alot dryer than the other 3.