Wheels and tires for the new STS season

[scapamouche]

Alright, eggheads, I've got some questions for you.

I'm planning on upgrading my tires for STS for this year. Last year I ran on the stock 16s with 205/50/16 Kumhos. I liked them, but I'm interested in going to a dedicated autox set. Since STR is gone, and I'm not interested in going to DSP right now, staying in STS (or STX) is my only option.

My budget is on the order of $1000, plus or minus a couple hundred, so no SSR competitions for me.

My best options right now look like:

1. Kosei k-1 racing 15x7 with S-03 PP 205/50/15s
or
2. Enkei RS-5 16x7 with Falken Azenis 215/45/16s.

The enkei setup is significantly cheaper and slightly wider, but gives up a lot of weight for the extra 10mm of tread width. I don't know exactly how each are constructed, so I don't know about the actual tread footprint of each.

Any opinions?

[nxracer]

How about option 1 with Falken Azenis

[scapamouche]

Most of my effort has been at tirerack and Discount tire direct. Alas, Tirerack doesn't have the Azenis, and DTD doesn't have the Koseis. At least online. I haven't called up either.

[conehugger]

Hey I have been thinking the same thing. How much do the Enkei weigh? I am leaning toward the K1's because of the weight, but I rather have the Azenis because of the cost.

[scapamouche]

According to the NC.org link for wheel weights, the Enkei RS-5s are 15.4lbs in 15" and 17.6 lbs in 16".

In the same size, you give up about 2-2.5 lbs per wheel with the Enkeis, and I don't know about the tire weights.

The Azenis are definitely cheaper, but the S-03s aren't TOO bad--- 205/50/15s are 123ea at tirerack right now, while the same size Falkens are 62 at DTD.

[conehugger]

The falkens are the within .2 pounds for the 15's and the 16's they weigh something like 20 lbs. Really heavy tire. I don't know what the SO-3's weigh?

I am still leaning toward the K1, 13lbs. I think four lbs per wheel over the factory 15 is much better than the 1.5 lbs. Is there a cost difference for the Enkei?

Anyone know where a used set of K1s might be?

[scapamouche]

The 16" Enkeis cost 135, 15" 115 at dtd.

The K1s cost 139 in 15". 16" isn't listed at tirerack for the k1s


The Falkens weigh that much?!?! I had no idea. Of course, I don't know how much any tire weighs, really....

[conehugger]

The 215/45zr16 Azenis on the factory 16 rims weight 39 pounds. I a trying to lighten that aas much a possible and still ahve the same stick. I am going to wait and see what the new Kuhmo's and Yokohama's are going to be like with the new Silicon compound. I will probably end up getting another set of the 215 Azenis to tide me over until they come out. I also talked with some guys at the autocross today, and they were suggesting some other wheels, but I don't want to have to worry about the tire place bending the rims when they take the tire on and off.

[Karim]

talk in the STS section scca forums says falkens are much better auto-x tires than S0-3, like nx said i'd try to find a way to get the option 1 with those tires. That seems ot be a pretty good price for the K1's from tirerack.

David congrats on placing first in STS when you came down here for the event in parumhp. I hope to see you down here for more events. I just got home from tempe this morning, I was there with school for a debate tournament and to check out the ASU campus.

Karim

[scapamouche]

Thanks, all.

I think I'll just source thewheels and tires separately and get them mounted locally. I talked to both vendors, amd neither can get what they're missing, ie, no falkens at tirerack and no kosei at dtd. Just a little frustrating.

[conehugger]

Hi Karim,

Hey if I would have know you were in town you could have shown up at the Poenix autocross. It was on Sunday.

I enjoyed Parumhp. I highly recommend running on that course to anyone. I wish I could have run in the afternoon on Sunday, because I just got beat out by .2 sec. I think I would have done better in the afternoon, because of the warmer temperatures. I was pretty cautious in the morning after a 180 and sliding off the track on the first lap in the morning. Not enough heat in the tires and I was trying to hard to set up for the next corner. I am making plans for the next event in June, so I guess I will see if I can show up for that one.