Anyone S0-3's VS Azenis?
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Anyone S0-3's VS Azenis?
Hi, I recently bought Bridgestone S0-3's from the tire rack. Previously I had bought Sumitomo HTR+ from the tire rack too.
The HTR+ were only slightly better than stock and when they got hot they slide a lot but I still have traction in the snow.
I just put on the S0-3's - WOW what a difference over stock. I can't believe how these tires hold - I have to work just to make them chirp in the rain!
My question, has anyone tried both the Azenis and the S0-3's?
I ask because the Azenis have a tread wear rating of 200 and the S0-3's have a tread wear rating of 220 which is harder than the Azenis BUT the Azenis are rated for a traction of A and the S0-3 for a traction of AA.
Isn't a traction rating of AA better than a traction rating of A?
So - do the Azenis stick better than S0-3's? How about in the wet?
Thanks
The HTR+ were only slightly better than stock and when they got hot they slide a lot but I still have traction in the snow.
I just put on the S0-3's - WOW what a difference over stock. I can't believe how these tires hold - I have to work just to make them chirp in the rain!
My question, has anyone tried both the Azenis and the S0-3's?
I ask because the Azenis have a tread wear rating of 200 and the S0-3's have a tread wear rating of 220 which is harder than the Azenis BUT the Azenis are rated for a traction of A and the S0-3 for a traction of AA.
Isn't a traction rating of AA better than a traction rating of A?
So - do the Azenis stick better than S0-3's? How about in the wet?
Thanks
Last edited by AntiochCali; Sep 1, 2003 at 10:48 PM.
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be careful w/ the Azenis they are deffinately not a tire for the wet i have heard of poeple hydro planing with them and also if your doing some type of track event not auto crossing and its hot out the azenis can get a lillte slick i'm suprised you haven't tried the Kdw-s i would have got them but at 130 a tire at the time i got the kumho MX but now the KDW-s are like 93 a tire on special at tire rack. well have fun and speed safely
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The Azeni's will outstick the SO-3's on dry asphalt which is why they are so popular with Auto-X'ers. They are the closest thing to r-compound tires in a street compound. Put water on the track and forget about it. The Azeni's are no match for the SO-3's.
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I've had Azenis on a 2.5RS and an Audi S4. With good tread depth remaining, they are awesome on the track IN THE RAIN, even in standing water.
When warn way down, yes, the Azenis are not good in standing water, but neither are RE-92's, S03's or MX's.
Treadwear is a nebulous number that has no corelation from one manufacturer to another. This number will only give you marketing information on how the tire manufacturer wants you to view their tires. Toyo once had an autocross tire with a treadwear of 0 (zero) to give the impression that you can't possibly get a stickier tire.
On my RS, I got 14 track days and over 13k miles on the 215-45-16 Azenis. I then sold them to someone else who street/track drove them for a while longer.
They hold up amazingly well with track use. MX's are no match. I sold my Audi tires to a WRX driver who had severe chunking on his MX's.
jack
When warn way down, yes, the Azenis are not good in standing water, but neither are RE-92's, S03's or MX's.
Treadwear is a nebulous number that has no corelation from one manufacturer to another. This number will only give you marketing information on how the tire manufacturer wants you to view their tires. Toyo once had an autocross tire with a treadwear of 0 (zero) to give the impression that you can't possibly get a stickier tire.
On my RS, I got 14 track days and over 13k miles on the 215-45-16 Azenis. I then sold them to someone else who street/track drove them for a while longer.
They hold up amazingly well with track use. MX's are no match. I sold my Audi tires to a WRX driver who had severe chunking on his MX's.
jack
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i've had 195/60/14 Azenis on my 86 corolls GTS and 205/55/16 SO3 on my RS. both r REALLY grippy tires i can tell u, but the SO3 seem to be more responsive and u can feel more of the road. the difference in sidewall might have affected the feel too. although i havent had any scary experience with the Azenis in the wet, i always drove carefully and stayed alert in the rain. on the other side, i always try to break the SO3 lose in wet but just never could. 
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If you want ultimate grip, then its either the Azenis or the BFG KD. Nothing else compares. And for proof, look at the SCCA Solo II Nationals and PRO results that are now up. Look at the STS and STX classes which are for true street tires. Falken or has been. Its your choice.
Check out the other forum I am on, and read the STi in the wet post and see my thoughts at the bottom about tread pattern. It might be of interest.
Check out the other forum I am on, and read the STi in the wet post and see my thoughts at the bottom about tread pattern. It might be of interest.
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Hey Rocky.. nice to see you back in Subarus. 
I cannot post in the other thread on the other forum (closed) so I'll post here.
In auto-x conditions in the wet, the Azenis is the tire to have. The KDs and the MX's NEED heat in them to operate at potential. (At witnessed 1st day in the rain for STX). It was drying conditions, but with some wet spots and when the KDs or MXs hit, after being warmed up 1/2 way though the course.. the tire just went away. The Azenis' LOVE being cool and that's where they shine.
Kiko Seibt ran 2 runs in the SO3s, then last run switched to the KDs... and was 3-4 seconds slower. I KNOW it wasn't the driver that went slower on his last run.
(It was also the most dry... dry line through the whole course with the exeption of about 4 spots of standing water).
New remember, this is in the wet.
In the dry, it's a different story. The 225/45-17 Azenis at any given point in time has more TREAD contact to the ground than the 245/45-17 MXs or KDs.
How do you like THEM apples?
Quite a bit was learned at nationls. Sure, the azenis hate heat. That's nothing new to those that have been driving them for 2 years. Just spray them down between runs. But in the wet, as long as they have tread... they're the tire to have.
--KC
I cannot post in the other thread on the other forum (closed) so I'll post here.
In auto-x conditions in the wet, the Azenis is the tire to have. The KDs and the MX's NEED heat in them to operate at potential. (At witnessed 1st day in the rain for STX). It was drying conditions, but with some wet spots and when the KDs or MXs hit, after being warmed up 1/2 way though the course.. the tire just went away. The Azenis' LOVE being cool and that's where they shine.
Kiko Seibt ran 2 runs in the SO3s, then last run switched to the KDs... and was 3-4 seconds slower. I KNOW it wasn't the driver that went slower on his last run.
(It was also the most dry... dry line through the whole course with the exeption of about 4 spots of standing water). New remember, this is in the wet.
In the dry, it's a different story. The 225/45-17 Azenis at any given point in time has more TREAD contact to the ground than the 245/45-17 MXs or KDs.
How do you like THEM apples?
Quite a bit was learned at nationls. Sure, the azenis hate heat. That's nothing new to those that have been driving them for 2 years. Just spray them down between runs. But in the wet, as long as they have tread... they're the tire to have.
--KC
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