I attend HPDE only. I do not autocross. I notice that my falkens get greasy usually after 4-5 laps on a approx. 1.2 mile course. Does the RE-01R do this too? Is it made more for autocross? What about the RE050A PP? I will be getting the RE01R in 225/45/17/ 245/40/17 and the RE050A PP in 235/45/17 / 255/40/17. They are about the same price.

Also, is there no tax charged on items purchased at tirerack to CA?

 

will these be your daily tires as well? If not I would look into the Toyo RA1's

 

I'm currently running RE-01R's 245/40 17's all around. I just got back from a n HPDE event at Thunderhill. Track temp was hot, The tires did get greasy towards the end when I began to push them. But that's on a 3 mile long track and was after 6 laps.

 

I unfortunately do not have the space to store an extra set of wheels at this time to get RA 1's. So these tires will be daily driven on. But my work is only 8 miles away so I do not mind.

Mik3- Are you running them on the same width rim all around?

I only have my ap2 wheels. The sizes that I am thinking about getting will be close to a nonstagger. approx 0.7inch difference in tread width for the 01r's and .8inch difference for the 050a PP.

 

I'm running same wheel 17x8.5 54+ offset all around.

 

If you will be tracking at all regularly, and if you live where it ever rains, using your street tires for track tires will be a problem quickly. No tires last long when tracking them; I find that I get 4 track days out of my front tires (RA-1s), and 8 out of the rear, at Pacific Raceways (which is hard on tires). After only a couple of track days, your street tires won't be of much use in the rain. If you will only be driving on dry pavement, that's not a problem, but it is a real problem if you may be driving in the rain.

 

For those intersted.. Stinkytofu, our street-tire hot shoe did a review on the RE01R vs Azenis





Bridgestone RE01R Review

 

Thanks for the link. I guess these will not solve my greasy issue after hard tracking. Bang for the buck I must say that the Falken's are a good deal. About $130 bucks difference. The pole positions are even more. Decisions Decisions.

 

Great write up Stinky!

 

I just switched from the stock REO-50's to the Azenis 615's in a staggered setup 215\255 and have spent a weekend with them at Big Willow. Were I writing a review of these two tires, it would be identical to Stinky's review comparing the RE01R's.

Kudo's to Stinky for nailing the real performance difference between these tires:

"So it looks like the only advantage that the RE01R has from a performance stand point was steering feedback and improved communication. Well, an improved steering response can go a long way. Mainly though, it provides the driver with a higher level of confidence so that he or she can maximize the full potential of the tire on all sections of the track."

While I'm enjoying the Azenis, I'm glad I spent a year on the stock tires before switching. The Azenis have given me more respect for the excellent feedback the stock tires deliver.

Superb review Stinky. Thanks!