I recently picked up a set of 16x6.5 oem rims that my 01 should have had from the factory. I am trying to keep the car stock looking. Looking at the Falken Azenis RT-615 in a 215/45R-16 size and I'm wondering if that's the ideal size I should go with for those rims? Also curious what other tires I should be looking at. I will primarily be using the car to make 40-140 rolls on the highway and cruising around having fun. It may occasionally see the dragstrip and the roadcourse, but nothing competitive.

 

Azenis wear very fast but are super grippy. If you just want something for highway+kind of a fun tire, I could vouch for BFG G-force sport as something that won't wear out that fast, but is still entertaining.

If you want more grip the azenis or kook rs2 would be the way to go.

 

The Azenis will perform better than the Kooks on the roadcourse, stiffer sidewalls.

 

Ya and more overheating...

 

I would actually prefer something without too stiff of a sidewall and a little bit better wear than the Azenis. I had no idea they were as short lived as that. I'll look into the BFG G-force Sports and see if anyone else posts.

 

see if BFG has KDWs in your size. A little heavy on turn in, but all around kick ***, fairly quiet, fairly comfy, etc. Nearly as grippy as the Azenis but will live 2x as long.

 

I still don't see how everyone kills their azenis so fast, mine last around 10K and I auto-x any chance I get, maybe ya'll are not driving them hard enough and they are like "ef this, I'm outta hear"
But seriously, how do some of you kill your azenis in 4-5K miles? I don't get it, do you sit there and do doughnuts, and burnouts? Drift? What?

 

The Bridgestone RE-01R pretty much pwned the RT-615 last year in STS, and my experience with them to date (about 6 months so far) indicates that they're holding up quite nicely as a DD tire. My use is a mix of city commute, long (100+ mile) mountain carving runs every now and then, and an occasional autocross.

I've not driven on the 615, but the reviews from those that have indicate that the biggest difference between the two is consistency- the RE-01R does not fall off when it gets hot.

In your size range, they're available as a 205/45 and a 225/50, both rated for use on a 6.5" rim. The latter would give you about a 5% gearing bump vs. your 215/45.

 

the 01r's are also $30 more per tire.

 

Yes, for a total of $120 per vehicle. Figure two years out of a set, and that's 16.4¢ per day. To me, that's not a huge sacrifice.

 

You've got to be joking.

 

Check out Toyo T1-R's. Soft sidwall, excellent traction and ride. they are quiet too. I'm running them now and will probably get another set when these wear out.

 

The urge to ban is strong...

 

The power has corrupted you already.

You are now truly one of us.

 

wow...uh....ban?
common for crying out loud, he has an LED stick on the trunk to serve as a third light...

 

I've decided that if I don't go with the Azenis I will regret it later. So should I stick with the 215/45R16 or will something a bit taller work like a 225/50R16? I can't seem to find something in the middle. The rims are the factory 01 16x6.5 that came with the car. I would like a little extra sidewall cushion for the shitty roads around here, but not at the expense of rubbing every time I go around a corner.

 

I don't know about anyone else but 215's and 225's on 6.5" rims sound awfully wide. Azenis run a little wide anyway. I didn't think tread more than 2" wider than the rim was a good idea.

 

I agree with cueball. I have 205's in a 7" wheel and I'm not sure that I could install wider tires there.

 

You could go with a wider tire, but depending on the offset, it might not fit well on your car. I get a good laugh at what some of the club roadster fan boys put on their cars.

The rims I have are the factory rims for an 01 car. They don't have the extreme offset that some people run. I guess they just look like pie cutters because of what I had on there before. The oem tires were 205/45R16's and the tires I am looking at are .39" wider than stock. They should mount and fit the car without any problems. I just want to go a little taller though.

 

Jay, that's the tire I'm using. My rims have a 38 offset. How much wider do you suggest I can go with 7" rims?