Need advice on Falken Azenis RT-615

Discussion in 'Modifications & DIY how-to' started by Galimore, Oct 10, 2006.

  1. Galimore

    Galimore Member

    So I need to replace my RE92's this week on my stock '05 WRX wheels. I plan on AutoX'ing at least once a month, but I can't afford two sets of wheels and drive about 400 miles/week all over Atlanta. I want some RT-615 but the only 16" sizes available are 205/40, 215/45, and 225/50 - the falken site says only the 225/50 will fit a 6.5" wheel, and since it has a stiff sidewall I assume they would be fine?

    What to do? I love the aggresive look of the Azenis tread pattern and obviously the performance is excellent, but something with more miles for the $$ might be better. Have tried to look into all the options but most of the reviews & info scattered around aren't very helpful.Thanks for the help!! :) :)
     
  2. Galimore

    Galimore Member

    Bump -- Probably going to buy tires today. Leaning more towards Bridgestone S-03 Pole Position 205/55/R16's. Any comments? Thanks!
    Justin
     
  3. rexrocker

    rexrocker Active Member

    I don't know much about the RT615, but as far as Azenis in general, I loved them. I ran the Azenis ST115 on my '03 and before trading the car in, I was on my 4th set. Great every day performance (dry and wet), great wear/tread life and honestly good grip on the track. I had the car at Little Tally twice with stock struts, Eibach Prokit and the Azenis and I remember Scott commenting on the good grip as we flew around the skid pad.

    If you haven't already, check out Discount Tire Direct (http://www.discounttire.com). Hope this helps.
     
  4. GTscoob

    GTscoob Black is Beautiful

    Edgeracing.com has really good prices on Falkens.

    The Azenis have a really bad treadware rating so they're probably not good for daily driving if you've gotta drive all over the place.
     
  5. rexrocker

    rexrocker Active Member

    True for the RT615's, but not all Azenis. The RT615's have a 200 treadwear reating...not so good. The ST115's are a 360AA.
     
  6. Galimore

    Galimore Member

    ST115's have been discontinued :wtc: but I'm looking into some FK-452's (their replacement). Thanks for the info all :)
     
  7. longfury

    longfury Active Member

    Actually the 452 replaces the 451. I was not aware that the ST115 had been discontinued. The 452 will be a great tire for most uses. Its not great for track use. Thats where the 615 would come in(also heavy auto-x use as well).
     
  8. GTscoob

    GTscoob Black is Beautiful

    I'm also looking into the FK452 since my S03s are beyond bald now. If you get them please post up a review.
     
  9. slowwrx

    slowwrx Supporting Member

    Dude, the 615s would be an awesom daily driver tire, those things would be sick in the twisties.



    Please keep in mind that I drove from Powder Springs to the Varsity on Hoosier Slicks the other night.

    Matt
     
  10. Galimore

    Galimore Member

    :rofl: I wish I could afford to cruise on slicks :) That'd be pimp.

    Think I'm gonna go with the 452's, probably from discount tire. Their mounted price w/free rotate&balance for life and free road hazard is $475, which is too high; but I talked with him and he said if I came in and showed him some other prices they'd probably come down. Ship at $372 on Vulcan Tire and $315 on EdgeRacing, but gotta add around $60 for mounting and additional balancing $$ down the road. Quoting 205/55/R16 btw.

    Vulcan tire said that the 452 replaced both the 451 and the ST115 but who knows. In either case the 452 seems like the more aggresive tire and is easier to find. If I get em on tomorrow I'll put up pics and write a review when I get back from the mountains on Wednesday :) .
    Thanks for all the help,
    Justin

    FYI the cheapest I could find 225/50R16 in the RT615's was $435 shipped (not mounted).
     
  11. rexrocker

    rexrocker Active Member

    Good luck with the purchase!
     
  12. GTscoob

    GTscoob Black is Beautiful

    Whatever you get will be a nice inrease over the RE92s. I went from stockers to 225 width Bridgestone S03s and it felt like a whole new car with the extra rubber.
     
  13. pEd

    pEd This ain't no Piccadilly!

    have you looked at the Hankook RS-2's??

    They get pretty good reviews and look cheaper than the 615's.
     
  14. clemsonscooby

    clemsonscooby Active Member

    If you decide you want to go to about -2 degrees of camber on the front, all of the tires mentioned will not give you the life your looking for. I definitely would recommend the Nitto NeoGen's for the longevity. I used them for about a year autox'ing at Clemson, so about once a month. Plus I have driven on them for about 20k miles and they are still good. Its not a normally mentioned tire, but since you can't adjust camber before and after a race, you normally have to drive on that -2 degrees all the time and it adds up. Not the grippiest, but its still a 280 treadware.
     
  15. UBAR

    UBAR Member

    Get Kumho MX's cheap and great for auto x
     
  16. FTZ

    FTZ ^.^

    I will break it down for you like this. I have the RT-615s, great tires.

    They are quiet on the highway.
    They are fantastic on the Auto X course, compared to my previous Potenza S03s.
    The are great on wet roads.
    They have a decent tread life. I currently have about 15000 miles on mine, and they are close to dead. I have all of last seasons Auto Xs on them, as well as 30 minutes on Road Atlanta. My S03s lasted about the same mileage, with only a few Auto Xs and an entire day of track time at Little Tally.

    They are horrible with standing water. I hydroplane like a bitch anytime I hit a puddle. I have hydroplaned at pretty much every speed above 20 mph.

    As I said above, my tires are close to done. I have practically no tread left on the fronts, the backs aren't too bad. With that said, I am undecided on what to do next. I am picking up a set of 17s from another board member, strickly for Auto X and Track Days. I will definitely put some RT-615s on them, unless I decide to go with a Straight R-Compound Tire. Now what to do about my street tires. Leaning towards another set of RT-615s, unless I do that for the Auto X Wheels, at which point I will probably return to the S03s for my Street Tire.

    If I do get R Compounds for the 17s, then I will probably get the RT-615s for my street tires, just don't want to have the same rubber for my Auto X tires as for the Street tires. If I do have the same rubber, I will be less likely to go thru the work of swapping when an Auto X comes up, and will kill my (More Expensive) street tires faster than need be.
     
  17. Hazzard

    Hazzard Member

    i am looking for some new tires also. currently i have Sumitomo HTR Z 245/40/17. looks like the treadwear on them is 160 AA(no wonder i need new tires) Anyway, i was wondering how rt-615's compared to these...anyone know?
     
  18. 5spdfrk

    5spdfrk Active Member

    These, or the MX's. Both are great for daily/weekend track warrior.
     
  19. Galimore

    Galimore Member

    I went with Falken FK452's and am very happy with them. Will post a review as soon as I get time.
     
  20. lostinthewoods

    lostinthewoods Frisco Tx Baller

    bump, any update on the 452s. I was also looking at those.

    452s , 615s, or RS2s...........decisions..
     
  21. BrianGT

    BrianGT Banned

    245/45-17 Bridgestone Potenza S03s are $95 each from Tirerack right now.

    --
    Brian
     
  22. FTZ

    FTZ ^.^

    Yeah, and $165 for 18s
     
  23. Matto357

    Matto357 Crazyazn likes Naps Staff Member

    I'm actually seriously considering wheels and tires as the next step for my car. Leaving work tonight making a left hand turn I pushed a bit hard in first and got into boost, lost traction on all four wheels for a second, granted it was wet, but the RE92's have not impressed me at all.
     
  24. Galimore

    Galimore Member

    Here's the Review
    :) Hope it helps
     
  25. gt9729b

    gt9729b Member

    Are these what's been on Mere's car? Any rubbing problems or anything? How do you like 'em? These are definitely better than what are on mine now.
     

Share This Page