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140 treadwear street tires for 14" rims.

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:42 am
by Michael Smith
I have some Falken Azenis (200 treadwear) for the Civic but was wondering if there is a better street tire available.
The Azenis are also taller.

Stock 185-60-14
Azenis 195-60-14

Thanks,
Michael

Re: 140 treadwear street tires for 14" rims.

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:55 am
by Mako Koiwai
Tire size calculator: http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

What class are you running ... almost no 14" high performance tires out there ... can you go to a 15" wheel?

Re: 140 treadwear street tires for 14" rims.

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:57 am
by Michael Smith
HS NOV but looking to run SK2 after. I can't change rim size.

Thanks,
Michael.

Re: 140 treadwear street tires for 14" rims.

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 1:14 pm
by Bob Beamesderfer
Michael Smith wrote:I have some Falken Azenis (200 treadwear) for the Civic but was wondering if there is a better street tire available.
The Azenis are also taller.

Stock 185-60-14
Azenis 195-60-14

Thanks,
Michael
Competitive 14" street tires can be counted on the hand of a blind punch-press operator. The Toyo T1R comes in a 195/55-14 and a 195/45-14. The 195/45 could be a gearing blessing or curse depending on the course, but it is a pound lighter and 1.5 inches smaller in diameter than the 195/55. Wear can be an issue. Despite the 200 treadwear rating, it's a soft compound.

Re: 140 treadwear street tires for 14" rims.

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 1:59 pm
by Mako Koiwai
But on a light car wear shouldn't be toooo bad

Re: 140 treadwear street tires for 14" rims.

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 2:18 pm
by Bob Beamesderfer
Mako Koiwai wrote:But on a light car wear shouldn't be toooo bad
Ask Steve Ekstrand about that.

Re: 140 treadwear street tires for 14" rims.

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 2:19 pm
by Mako Koiwai
I said Light Weight !!! ;)

Re: 140 treadwear street tires for 14" rims.

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 2:21 pm
by Bob Beamesderfer
Mako Koiwai wrote:I said Light Weight !!! ;)
I thought you meant the car. :lol:

Re: 140 treadwear street tires for 14" rims.

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 2:31 pm
by Mako Koiwai
Total Weight !

140 treadwear street tires for 14" rims.

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 3:10 pm
by Steve Coe
The Falken RT615's are the only way to go for a 14" 140 tread wear tire.
I love to Toyo T1R's, but they won't hold a candle to the 615's on an autocross course. I have the 195/55x14's on my STS(2) Miata for street tires. Great for the street but....
BTW the Toyo T1R's have a UTQG of 280 not 200.

Re: 140 treadwear street tires for 14" rims.

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 4:37 pm
by Michael Smith
What about the Bridgestone Potenza RE92? It has a treadwear of 160 and comes in 185/60/14.
Is the narrow tire worth the softer rubber?

The RT615 seems like the best choice economically considering the are only $270/set locally.

Re: 140 treadwear street tires for 14" rims.

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 4:54 pm
by Steve Ekstrand
Never take the UTOQ as gospel.

Re: 140 treadwear street tires for 14" rims.

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 4:55 pm
by Mako Koiwai
The 92 use to be the oem tire for Suby WRX's ... it's a HORRIBLE tire !!!

Re: 140 treadwear street tires for 14" rims.

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 4:58 pm
by Steve Ekstrand
I don't think any tire is close to the Flaken in 14".

The only other tire I'd investigate would be the Hankook Ventus RS-2 Z212 but probably only if the Flaken's were backordered. :)

Re: 140 treadwear street tires for 14" rims.

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 5:00 pm
by Bob Beamesderfer
Steve Coe wrote:The Falken RT615's are the only way to go for a 14" 140 tread wear tire.
I love to Toyo T1R's, but they won't hold a candle to the 615's on an autocross course. I have the 195/55x14's on my STS(2) Miata for street tires. Great for the street but....
BTW the Toyo T1R's have a UTQG of 280 not 200.
Yeah, 280 tread wear. In someone's geisha dreams. I put a durometer on them and the reading was in the R comp range.

What tire was Motonishi running at the Pro? What tire was on places 2 through 10?

Re: 140 treadwear street tires for 14" rims.

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 5:02 pm
by Bob Beamesderfer
Steve Ekstrand wrote:I don't think any tire is close to the Flaken in 14".

The only other tire I'd investigate would be the Hankook Ventus RS-2 Z212 but probably only if the Flaken's were backordered. :)
You'd take the Falken over the Toyo? You are still running the Toyo, right? :?:

Re: 140 treadwear street tires for 14" rims.

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 5:24 pm
by Jonathan Lugod
Bob Beamesderfer wrote:
Steve Ekstrand wrote:I don't think any tire is close to the Flaken in 14".

The only other tire I'd investigate would be the Hankook Ventus RS-2 Z212 but probably only if the Flaken's were backordered. :)
You'd take the Falken over the Toyo? You are still running the Toyo, right? :?:
wouldn't be surprised if Toyo came out with a 14" series R1R's if SK classes become national :lol:

Re: 140 treadwear street tires for 14" rims.

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 5:27 pm
by Bob Beamesderfer
Jonathan Lugod wrote:
Bob Beamesderfer wrote:
Steve Ekstrand wrote:I don't think any tire is close to the Flaken in 14".

The only other tire I'd investigate would be the Hankook Ventus RS-2 Z212 but probably only if the Flaken's were backordered. :)
You'd take the Falken over the Toyo? You are still running the Toyo, right? :?:
wouldn't be surprised if Toyo came out with a 14" series R1R's if SK classes become national :lol:
They already have two 14-inch R1R sizes, 195/55-14 and 195/45-14.

Re: 140 treadwear street tires for 14" rims.

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 5:36 pm
by Steve Ekstrand
Guys..... You are confusing the Toyo T1R and the Toyo R1R.

VERY DIFFERENT TIRES!!!!!

t1R has two 14" sizes and a very real 280 UTOQ
R1R has NO 14" sizes and a very soft but not real tacky 140 UTOQ

Re: 140 treadwear street tires for 14" rims.

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 6:44 pm
by Bob Beamesderfer
Steve Ekstrand wrote:Guys..... You are confusing the Toyo T1R and the Toyo R1R.

VERY DIFFERENT TIRES!!!!!

t1R has two 14" sizes and a very real 280 UTOQ
R1R has NO 14" sizes and a very soft but not real tacky 140 UTOQ
OK, yes, T1R not R1R. Still, the durometer numbers on the T1Rs you had at the PSCC practice were way softer than a 280 rating would suggest.

Re: 140 treadwear street tires for 14" rims.

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 6:53 pm
by Steve Ekstrand
I've never used a T1R.

I run Toyo R1R's with a 140 treadwear rating. And yes they are soft, squishy and squirmy.

Re: 140 treadwear street tires for 14" rims.

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:29 pm
by Bob Beamesderfer
Steve Ekstrand wrote:I've never used a T1R.

I run Toyo R1R's with a 140 treadwear rating. And yes they are soft, squishy and squirmy.
Damn. I is confused. :oops:

Re: 140 treadwear street tires for 14" rims.

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:57 pm
by Kurt Rahn
Bob Beamesderfer wrote:
Steve Ekstrand wrote:I've never used a T1R.

I run Toyo R1R's with a 140 treadwear rating. And yes they are soft, squishy and squirmy.
Damn. I is confused. :oops:
Well, Bob, at least you know your durometer is working properly.

Re: Local KUMHO dealer?

Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:04 pm
by Michael Smith
I'll have to look at my options at the end of the season.
R-Comps until then.
Is there a local Kumho dealer that has better prices than Tire Rack?

Re: 140 treadwear street tires for 14" rims.

Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 11:53 am
by Craig Naylor
Don't know your definition of "local". Talk to Larry at Americas Tire in Ontario Mills. For years he has matched Tireracks price, w/ no shipping fees on Kumhos. In the past, deals have been available for mounting IF they are true race tires (not street, or street/race tires).

Craig