I need a little help with this year's tire selection. last year I ran the 215-45-16 azenis (rt-615), and was planning on purchasing the same tire again, but I keep feeling there could be somthing better. The other tires I'm currently considering are the 615 in 225-50-16, where I am worried about the gearing increase, and the 225-45-16 hankook rs-2, which a local supplier can shave.
I appreciate the fact the prelude will not be a nationally competitive vehicle, but I want to continue building on what I learned in this car last year. Therefore, while I am purchasing new tires, I would like to get the 'right' ones.
With the 215-45-16 last year, I couldn't help but feel the car was greatly under-tired, and perhaps the gearing was too low (numerically high). The prelude is a heavy vehicle, and it beats on the front tires without mercy; although I was able to get the car to rotate, sometimes too much, it seemed there should've been more grip. As for the gearing, as the season passed, and I progressed, I would hit the rev limiter at least once, and upto four times a course. I feared the 2-3 shift as it got me into trouble early in the season, and I would ride the limiter, but thought a taller, wider tire could help.
Therefore, I ask, should I go with the larger azenis, or the even the kook? (also, the info on scca-forums leads me to believe the 225 kook has the same tread width as the 215 azenis)
Stick with the RT615s, as you said in autocross ready sizes the 215/45 is already as wide as other brands 225. The gearing advantage down low to get out of corners is more important than at top end in autocross.
You could move to STX which allows for wider tires.
I ran the kook 225/45/16 for more than a season. I was impressed in the beginning but I think that was b/c my previous tire was a 215/40/17 GS-D3. I hear you about the undertired comment. I felt like the 215/40/17 wasn't enough sidewall for the heavy Prelude. The 225/45/16 kook never felt too small. I fact I started running 38-40 front psi at autocrosses (and less in back). I did eventually come to the conclusion that most everyone else came too that the steering feel was vauge. It wasn't undriveable. But I do think it masks the limit of the tire a bit. And I felt like if Falken had made the Azenis in this size it would have a noticable amount more cornering grip. I have never driven on the Azenis (still)If I were continuing to seriously autocross the Prelude I would be trying the 215/45/16 RT-615 Falken this year.
I still have a set of 4 kooks. They are currently mounted on my Rota Slips. I am keeping the wheels to mount my summer tires on and was going to toss the tires. We can work something out if you want to buy them to try out. One is down to 3-4/32's. The rest have more tread but I can't remember how much. PM me if you are interested and I can take the measurements and some pics tomorrow.
__________________ Paul
2009 Mazdaspeed3 | 1995 Miata | 1999 Crystal Blue Base - bought 6/13/02, sold 3/11/09
Tirerack is selling the Kumho ESCTA SPT now, I think that should work great for a prelude at a auto-x, and you'll get the 225/50/16 that you're looking for.
Alphajesse, have you seen any info suggesting the SPT is in the same league as the azenis or kook? I haven't seen much info on them, but judging by the tread pattern/siping I bet they will feel 'soft/mushy' compared to an azenis (the smaller outside tread blocks will deflect more). Also, I am really looking for a 225-45-16, the 225-50-16 is the other azenis size I am considering sine it should give ~0.3in extra tread width over the 215-45-16.
As for the gearing change, I need to run the numbers, as the extra width of the 225 is very tempting, but the gearing, flex, and weight may be too detremental (sp?). With the 215-45's I ended up running 38-39 psig front and 32-34 psig rear, and they seemed very direct.
With the fast STX guys in my area, I have no desire to spend more, move up a class, and get slaughtered. There is a fairly nicely prepared, and driven, RSX type-s that doesn't seem to stand a chance around here.
The SPT isnt even close to the Azenis or Hankook in dry grip. Maybe closer or slightly better in wet(really wet, like standing water everywhere), but I wouldnt consider them as a viable option honestly. If I were really worried about having the best tire possible I would look at 17x7.5's and 225/45 Yok AD07's or Bridgestone RE-01R's. But for local competitiveness and limited budget(i.e. no new wheels needed and tires much cheaper), I would stick with the 215/45-16 Falken as others have suggested.
I completely missed that link; I like this excerpt: "ECSTA SPT Colored Smoke tires will leave a sticky residue on the vehicle's underbody, suspension, wheelwells and the fenders during extended burnouts".
Unfortuantly, I just picked up a new set of 16x7.5 wheels, otherwise I would consider the advans (at the time I was not considering a tire with an OD greater than stock).
After some searching, I think I may have rubbing issues with the 225-50 and the 16x7.5 +42 wheels I have. I used this same size/offset with the 215-45 without any rubbing, but the taller tire could find something to rub against. I think I'll go with the 215 as a result.
I'm running 225/45/16 (kook z212) and there's no rubbing issues with the Kosei K1's in the 16x7.5 +43 config. The only issue that I had was to cut out the rear bumper outcrop but that was it. If you're not lowered 1.75" or more not sure if you need to do that. Though I'll probably switch back to the Azenis next round just to see how they do esp since the prices are lower than when they were first released.
The taller 225/50 size will probably cause rubbing. I had rubbing issues with BFGoodrich 225/50-16 KDW on the 16 inch Kosei K1s. My car was lowered on Ground Control coilovers. What I did was add a camber kit to the rear to get even more negative camber (-2.5 degrees) and raise the car a little bit. Back then there wasn't a 225/45-16 which would have worked nicely.
235/40-17 has been mentioned a couple of times. Is anyone running Azenis RT-615s in this size??
Any opinions on clearance issues on a 5th Gen on Kosei K1 17" (if memory serves 7.5" width, +45mm offset) and 500# springs f/r??
I have run 215/40-17 the last two seasons with obvisouly no problems (especially after learning that I need to keep those suckers cool between runs!!). Thinking of running bigger tires for a change this year, but enjoy the camber from lowering the front quite a bit.
I ran 235/40-17's for a season before I got rid of the Prelude. I was on 650 lb springs all around and they fit fine. There was a little bit of rubbing on full compression on the inside top of the fenderwell, but nothing major and really only happened at the track, auto-x was fine. I was on 17x8 +48's though. The 235 Falkens are a bit pinched on a 7.5, but do fit if you want to try it.
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I hear you about the undertired comment. I felt like the 215/40/17 wasn't enough sidewall for the heavy Prelude. The 225/45/16 kook never felt too small. I fact I started running 38-40 front psi at autocrosses (and less in back). I did eventually come to the conclusion that most everyone else came too that the steering feel was vauge. It wasn't undriveable. But I do think it masks the limit of the tire a bit. And I felt like if Falken had made the Azenis in this size it would have a noticable amount more cornering grip. I have never driven on the Azenis (still)If I were continuing to seriously autocross the Prelude I would be trying the 215/45/16 RT-615 Falken this year. 
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