Rep Power: 291

Well, today i noticed my tread was lets say "GONE." so i drove over to discount when i got there i was on belts. these were Falken GRB FK-451's. i was gonna swap em out for some neo gens, but they only had 2, so i had to make due with what was in stock, which was a set of Nitto 450's. and i have to say THEY SUCK ROYAL ***!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The car is way to loose with them, i reaallly dont like how they drive, so tomarrow ill be swapin em out for a set of neo gens, 451's, or, azenis 115's.

I also will be putting on my power slot rotors/ hawk pads. and B&M shifter this weekend!!!!

 
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expecting pics.......

 
Rep Power: 291

brakes & b&m will have pics. you want pics of the tires??

 
Rep Power: 469

sure why not...

 
Rep Power: 291

sure thing chief. i'll snap some pics of the 450 extrem's and post em before i swap em out. I am starting to consider a set of Prada Spec-2's... decisions. 451, neo gen, 555 extreme (not impressed with nitto at the moment), or Spec-2. turns out the falken azenis 115 isnt offered in my size 215*35zr*18.

Also discount has to replace at least 2 of my rims since they pitted the living hell out of the lips.

 
Rep Power: 469

Spec 2's are sticky when wet!

 
Rep Power: 291

Live in the middle of the desert so wet tractions not a hudge deal. mostly speed rating, sidewall stiffness, dry grip since i average round 80mph on roads that run 115 or more degree's hot, for at least 3 hours a day. the 451 i loved, mostly the predictablity of it and stiffness in turns. due to availability and screwy ware patterns & bit of noise i am gonna swap em.

hopefully i find one i like

 
Rep Power: 291

Heres a few of the 450 nitto extreme performance. not a horrrrable tire, but i dont like it. hard to tell the pits from the pics, but there at leat 1/20th of an inch deep, there is no way in hell to polish em out. plus i think my rims might be clear-coated, not sure.

 
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Oooo. I see that those are Rays. *uNF*

 
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Spec II's

 
Rep Power: 291

It's down to the Spec-II's, 555's, or back to the FK-451's. Pretty much in that order of priority. tuff choice.

 
Rep Power: 380

Spec-IIs are over rated in their dry traction (The ES100 has better dry traction).

Have you considered the Kumho MX? it comes in 215/35-18 and will have substantually more dry traction then the Spec-II's, 555's, or FK-451's.

Kumho MX
UTQG = 220 AA A
215/35-18
YR Speed Rated
Price Each: $112

Easily one of the stickyist tires you can get. (For a non R Compound tire)

 
Rep Power: 291

a kumho huh? ive run 711's and 712's not to happy with either of em. 712's were leaps and bounds better IMO. burned out a set of 711's in around 12k and the 712's lasted for alot longer. Not finding any info on the "MX"

Out of the Spec-II's, FK-451, or the 555's. in 215*35*18, which is gonna work the best for what i am looking for Zzyzx?

 
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The neogen is much better than the 450. I've never tried the spec-II or the 555.

 
Rep Power: 380

THe MX is simmilar to the Falken Azenis Sprort, meaning it has more in common with a Race tire then it does with a regular street tire.

Look at each tires treadwear see how the tire may perform when its dry out, typically the lower the tread wear the Higher the Dry traction.

The FK-451 has a tread wear of 280
The Toyo NT 555 has a tread wear of 300
the Parada Spec-2 has a tread wear of 300

So out of the tires you listed, the FK-451 should have the best Dry traction (But will also neet to be replaced sooner).
Incedently, The Kumho MX has a treadwear of 220, and is one of the 3 top tires used in SCCA Street touring class of autocross. (just dont expect them to last more then 10-15,000 miles....)
Info on the Mx: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....Model=Ecsta+MX


the catch with Tread wear is that its Value varies for each manufacturer (Thanks US regulators...) meaning one companys 300 tread wear doesnt nessisarily equal another companys 300 tread wear.

 
Rep Power: 291

Yea, i know about the tread wear (thanks for the correct sp,lol) variations. what about finding out sidewall stiffness etc? thats one thing i liked about the 451, is that rippin through turns on the highway at 80mph, car felt glued to the road. these 450's, feel reaaaaalllly loose & not very sure footed by comparasion. even on the straights these tires feel a bit loose. i want the tires to feel firm and planted like the 451's did.

 
Rep Power: 380

Its hard to find info on side wall stiffnes....

But it already seems you've made a choice, If you want your next set of tires to feel like the 451, then get another set of 451s.

 
Rep Power: 305

Its about time for me ot get a new set of tires as well. Running (and mostly digging) my Kumho 712s but I think I will try something else when I do change them.

They are not that great in the rain, which is a problem here since it does rain semi-often.

I was thinking some Yoko Avs es100S or something... i dunno.

 
Rep Power: 380

Boilermaker Ran the ES100 for a while, PM him and see what he says...

He ran them on the street as well as for autocross, so He could probably tell you how they stack up better then any one else here.

 
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Well, after some serious arguing and a mass of phone calls, i am going to run the neo gen, and hope for the best. ill post some pics and my opinion of em later tonight. Discount also has to replace at least 2 of my wheels since they pitted them, and the wheels "are clear-coated" according to mackin industries. and that polishing them will destroy the finish. thanx for all the help Zzyzx, i'll keep that kumho in mind for next time.

 
Rep Power: 291

here they are, with a good hard 6 miles on em. Nitto Neo Gen's. 215*35*18.
The enkies on the back are my new "LOANER" wheels, until mine come back from the repair shop. they better be good as new, or discounts gonna have to wip out there check book. The tires so far (hard to say after only 6 miles) are pretty nice, need to break em in a bit. but so far they hold pretty well. leaps and bounds above the 450 extreme performance. ill update at the end of this week, after i get the shifter and brakes in.

 
Rep Power: 296

let me try giving a review on the Kumho MX

Got them brand new on Friday July 2nd.

Road raced on Saturday, July 3rd. Since i only had about 150 miles before the tires touched the track, it was properly broken in. They sucked at first compared to my last two set of Azenis. They had more roll and slipped more.

July 10-11, two days of road racing. Since they were broken in now, WOW. They are as sticky as Azenis on the track. I couldn't tell the difference. They rolled a bit more due to softer sidewalls compared to Azenis, but they stuck to the road.

I didn't have heating problems as quick as the Azenis. The tires are very predictable. You get a bit of slippage before you know its going to slide out under you.

Another thing is that these tires aren't as wide as the Azenis. Both are 205/50/15, but the Azenis are more like 215. You can feel the smaller contact patch, at least i can.

The Kumho's screeches when ur turning and when u go over the lane paints. Sounds like ur going to loose control, but ur not.

I would say that the Azenis are better for driving on the streets. They grip really well from the start. The kumho MX u need to warm them up a bit. U can look like a dumbass, accelerating and stopping to warm up the tires. Scrubbing tires don't heat them up, u do that to get rid of all the rolled up rubber that u picked up from the track.

I review: for street and autoX, go with Azenis
for open track sessions, Kumho MX

btw, i got a chance to road race with Toyo RA-1's, AMAZING tires. Treadwear of 40

 
Rep Power: 291

nice to bad azenis's closest size to what i need is 215*40*18, dats a bit to tall.

 
Rep Power: 296

i never ran with the ES100, but my friend did.

He road raced with them, and he told me that the ES100 don't come close to the Falken Azenis. I can vouch for him, since it was more of a challenge to leave him in the dust.

He drives a 4 banger, automatic Toyota Camry Solara . Man, he is pretty fast with that thing. Passes as much cars as i do on the track.

EVO, STI, S2000, etc killer with a Solara

 
Rep Power: 305

Ive tracked these 712s a few times and its really a matter of the track and outside temp more than anything. During the heat of the summer I was sticking like a mother, but same tires warmed up in Feb on the same track slide like a bitch.

Amazing how different the same tires react to diff roads, temps, etc.

 
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If you got the cash.......Bridgestone Potenza S-03s. One of the stickiest tires I have ever encountered.