My original tires were nearly bald, and I'm suprised I made it over 20,000 miles with them, but I did. Regardless, after a few headaches (they shipped me the wrong freaking size tire @#%#@%@#), I got all four tires mounted and balanced last night. I did not have time to drive it then, because it went straight to the dealer, which was right down the road, to get the taillight condensation fixed.

Today however, it was 60 degrees outside, and a great day for a drive on my new tires. I started out pretty slow, just to warm up the tires. I eventually felt they were pretty well baked in, and I decided to give the tires a little push on a corner, it's an onramp onto the highway and fortunately for me, no cars were ahead of me

I can usually take the onramp at about 55 or so, and that was when my orginal tires were tip-top shape. With the new Azenis on, I entered the ramp at about 50, and stayed at about 50 all the way around. I was pretty impressed, no loss of grip, no squeal. The ride quality seemed to be about the same as well.

So I made the U-Turn, and got off the highway, down the onramp again. If you know where I live, you can literally make these turns all day long, so I took the opportunity to give it a few shots I took the ramp a bit more bold this time, and got up to 55 like I normally do -- no push, no squeal, and I knew in my steering and the feeling from the pedals I had room for more push.

I got back on the highway and took the onramp again, making another U-Turn. I got up to 55 right away and eased onto the gas, 60... 65... when I last looked at the speedo it was 69mph, and I probably hit 70 at some point. I was flabbergasted. I think if it were a better driver than me with more proper entry/exit and hitting the proper apex, then more speed could be carried thru that corner, but I'm amazed to be picking up 15mph around it.

The tires, needless to say, are amazing. I'm so in awe right now that I don't really have words to express it. I know my friends usually crap themselves when I drive -- not to say I drive fast, usually with the flow of traffic, but when there's a fun corner and no traffic around -- I have my fun And to be quite honest, when you come out of a corner at 15mph more than you're used to, with relative ease and no heavy lean on the car... you tend to crap yourself. Not that I did... but I swear it was close :D

Anyhoo... I paid $160 a tire from DiscountTireDirect, and I have to say given my little experience with different types of tires, I'm sold on these. They say the old Azenis were amazing tires, and now the new ones (RT-615s that I got) are better... I'm just happy to have new tires on my car in time for the start of the auto-x season :D

 

Thanks Herc -- I will have to check these out -- I'm getting ready to buy new rims/tires.

Glad to see one of the old-time super posters back and active on the board -- you used to have some of the best posts back when we were all waiting for our pre-orders to arrive.

 

hello Dinosaurs :p if it weren't for you guys we wouldn't be here

As for those tires...they sound great...price is outstanding

 

Hehe, I'm keeping really busy with my job, then trying to live a normal life -- I haven't been on the PC NEARLY as much as I once was. Believe it or not, now I own two Mazdas... an RX-8, and a Mazda3 Hatch in Velocity Red

I'll get pictures up sooner or later, I'm just lazy and the car is dirty anyways :D