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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.

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

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

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.

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.

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