195/60r14. The azenis seems more track oriented, less tw (200). The BF's are definitely all season looking. End goal: occasional autox. More weekend spirited driving. They won't be on the car for winter. Summer time here is dry. I want performance, I don't care about noise, and I want a damn good brand name. My whole life has been on cheap tires. The nicest tires I've ever owned were the michelins that came on my fit and those were "Eco" tires. I make good money now and with a v8 swap on the horizon, I need good rubber.
Will the azenis be deadly in the rain, if I should get caught in a sudden downpour?
Trackmouse wrote: Will the azenis be deadly in the rain, if I should get caught in a sudden downpour?
I managed to not die at a trackday on a set:
I've used them ok track in the rain. They are not all season tires but they aren't deadly either.
If you didn't mind stepping down to a 185/60R14, you get the choice of ZII Star Specs. Those are a good bit newer design and stickier than the Azenis, which should have no problem making up the 10mm difference in width. The Star Specs seem to last pretty well on the street too.
Pretty much anything 200TW will be fine in the rain, although they don't really like standing water. Basically, keep it slow in a really heavy downpour with standing water on the roads and avoid puddles on the highway and you'll be fine. Most aggressive summer compounds stick like glue when the roads are wet without standing water.
I've autocrossed the 195/60/14 Azenis in a downpour and they were not bad. No problems driving home that day on the highway either.
I love the azenis on my miata. Work decent in the rain until you hit big standing water. I actually use them as my DD tires.
Where are you guys finding star specs in 185/60r14? I've hunted everything from 185/50r14 to 205/60.
Found some- trying to keep it in that 90-100$ range.
Trackmouse wrote:
Where are you guys finding star specs in 185/60r14? I've hunted everything from 185/50r14 to 205/60.
Tire Rack lists them: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Dunlop&tireModel=Direzza+ZII+Star+Spec&sidewall=Blackwall&partnum=86HR4Z2SS&
I have the BFGs you mention and I really like them for street use, but I haven't autocrossed them yet. I'm guessing they will be okay, but a bit sloppy in transitional stuff. I feel like they grip well, but are just softer in the sidewall than my old Star Specs. I did drive them in light snow over the Sierras and they did great as well as on some serious backroads, so they are an impressively capable tire. They just aren't a serious autocross tire.
I'm running BFG g-force Sport Comp 2s in 225/50-16 on my Fairmont right now as my street tires. They're pretty fantastic in the rain, up to and including standing water, and they aren't the worst for the track. Also, straight line acceleration is pretty impressive, as this is the first time since I put the EFI on my 347 that I can use full throttle in second gear without boiling tires. I tried them on the track, and while they were no Toyo RA1s, who would expect them to be?
For less than $100/ea, I'm pretty satisfied.
On edit: If you're only summer driving the tires, why get A/S?
Mostly for the tw rating and the price. I drive the car nearly every weekend. Not much, but it is driven. Your review has Persuaded me to get the BFF good sammich.
I am on a set of the BFG's. I am blown away at how they handle the rain. from damp to holy E36 M3 puddles at 75 they work and have not worried me yet.
vote: BFG
