Falken Azenis RT660+ vs. the RT660 | 200tw tire te...

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Issues transfer shortly within the high-performance tire world courtesy of fixed improvements in supplies, design and manufacturing strategies. Getting an optimum mixture that hits the entire attainable design targets takes an enormous funding of each money and time. And if the tread sample can be new, you’ll want a bevy of shiny new molds–one other massive expense.

Provided that the UHP substitute tire market is small in comparison with that of the typical grocery-getting individuals mover, change comes slowly inside any specific model. Decrease return on improvement useful resource funding means product cycles sometimes final six years at a minimal.

That’s why tiremakers typically make operating adjustments, extending the lifespan of a specific mannequin by addressing any shortcomings that present up by real-world use. It is perhaps a tweak to the compound for higher grip or longer put on. Maybe it’s a crisper steering response by a development change. Or possibly inconsistencies in manufacturing want tightening up.

Typically these adjustments are executed covertly, with no notification to the shopper base. Different instances, it’s deemed necessary to market the adjustments as new.

Falken has used this technique for a few years in its motorsports-oriented choices. The venerable Azenis RT615 has gone by a number of iterations in its 20-year historical past, together with the RT615K after which the RT615K+, the latter nonetheless a well-liked selection for finances efficiency use.

The Azenis RT660, the follow-up mannequin line, was first launched in 2020, taking the market by storm simply as Bridgestone exited by halting manufacturing of the favored Potenza RE-71R. Delivering comparable efficiency to the front-running Bridgestone, the Falken was inexpensive and got here in additional fat-boy sizes coveted by fanatics. Falken scooped up market share in document time.

Pointy-end standing lasted a strong three years till Bridgestone responded with the RE–71RS, a tire that was a bit faster than the Falken within the dry and much quicker within the moist. Additional, experiences of surprising RT660 put on started to floor alongside efficiency deficiencies linked to sure manufacturing batches. And eventually, many customers reported tires heat-cycling out lengthy earlier than the tread wore out. None of those paper cuts was a serious deal-killer by itself, however Falken was eager to handle all of them.

Enter the Falken Azenis RT660+.

From left to proper: Bridgestone Potenza RE–71RS, Falken Azenis RT660+, Falken Azenis RT660. {Photograph} by Andy Hollis

Responding to its clients, Falken applied tighter manufacturing tolerances to handle tread splice points, sturdiness and batch-to-batch consistency. A change within the cap ply–one fewer nylon belt–created a bigger contact patch with extra uniform stress distribution for higher cornering and warmth administration.

Consequently, the brand new tire is faster, extra constant and longer lasting. These adjustments additionally lead to some weight financial savings–7.5% for our check dimension. The cherry on high? 5 new 20-inch sizes are actually on provide.

How a lot better is the brand new model? Falken despatched us a set of each the outgoing and incoming fashions to check. To finish the check suite, we added a set of the Bridgestone Potenza RE–71RS as our benchmark–this specific set a veteran of two earlier exams, now worn to a 6/32 tread depth. All of our 245/40R17-sized check tires have been mounted on 17×9-inch 6UL wheels by 949 Racing.

Earlier than driving them in anger, our contemporary Falkens have been handled to an preliminary warmth cycle with six laps of ever-increasing depth on the observe, bookended by a freeway drive from our house base. This course of helps treatment the rubber, realigning the molecules for stronger bonds. Sturdiness and consistency are sometimes improved. Specifically, we’ve seen RT660s with accelerated heart rib put on when not given a correct preliminary cycle.

Check day at Harris Hill Raceway in Austin, Texas, dawned delicate with overcast skies and temps starting from 68° to 72° all through the morning. With out the everyday sunbaked observe floor, these situations have been supreme for sustaining consistency inside every session.

We first mounted up a set of older scrubs and spent a strong half-hour cleansing the observe and dialing in our driving–the observe had not seen use by automobiles for nearly per week. As soon as lap instances stabilized, we bolted on the primary set of check tires and set to work.

Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RS

We love this tire’s versatility. It’s fast in each the moist and the dry with glorious driving really feel. Our solely beefs are vagueness on the restrict and a bent to warmth soak pretty shortly at full tread. Each of those traits diminish as soon as tread reaches the midway level.

A tough out lap turned on the compound shortly, delivering three robust laps on the restrict earlier than warmth soak decreased the tempo a bit. As soon as the tire was soaked, cautious consideration to staying slightly below the restrict was vital for extra constant tempo.

Falken Azenis RT660

We’ve examined this tire quite a few instances over time, and it all the time impresses. Whereas its tempo shouldn’t be fairly up with the present pointy-end tires, it is vitally straightforward to drive at or barely over the restrict. With a clearly outlined edge to its grip and a fast restoration, the tire could be danced round for a really satisfying expertise.

The RT660 got here as much as tempo shortly in the course of the out lap, delivering a collection of constant instances about eight-tenths off the Bridgestone’s greatest early circuits. Regardless of pushing arduous, the texture on the ultimate lap was the identical as the primary. Consistency and accessibility are hallmarks of this mannequin.

Falken Azenis RT660+

The up to date Falken performs slightly higher than the unique in virtually each manner. Whereas mid-corner grip hasn’t modified a lot, each transitional section is healthier outlined. Full gasoline to full brake, trailing into the nook and powering out on exit–every was extra managed and predictable.

All this whereas sustaining glorious consistency and warmth tolerance attributable to an unchanged compound. It’s a pleasant mixture that can match effectively with the driving model of many.

Bridgestone RE-71RS (retest)

With the observe being so inexperienced from 5 earlier consecutive days of motorcycle-only use, we have been slightly nervous once we bolted the Bridgestones again on to bracket our check. Was the Falken’s lap time enchancment merely the observe cleansing up? Our fears have been allayed as we lapped on common inside a tenth of our earlier session. Glad with our comparability information, we packed up.

Conclusions

One key characteristic of the RT660+ replace is the power to brake later, particularly below trailing situations, but nonetheless hit the apex. On this comparability of the pace traces between the 2 tires, discover how the cumulative time delta line bumps up throughout every braking occasion.

5 years is an eternity within the fast-paced 200tw market section, and Falken was good to tweak its design to extract a bit extra efficiency. The RT660+ remains to be not fairly as fast on single-lap tempo because the front-runners, however it may flip these instances simply and persistently. This makes it a wonderful observe day tire and likewise a sensible choice for endurance racing, the place it ought to final for the everyday 8-hour race.

It’s additionally a smart choice for courses with spec tires, similar to SCCA’s Solo Spec Coupe and Gridlife’s Membership TR and Sundae Cup, as the latest Falken is constant, sturdy and enjoyable to drive–typically the proper device for the job.

Feedback

It will be fascinating to see consistency calculated within the lap time tables to see if that is modified any, or simply if the driving force appears to be getting extra dialed in over the day.

Lap instances usually are not the difficulty with the Falken, its the middle rub falling off after 3 laps. If that did not occur, they’re an enchancment over the previous. They burned me twice with poor high quality, it can take extra information to persuade me to strive them once more.

theruleslawyer stated:

It will be fascinating to see consistency calculated within the lap time tables to see if that is modified any, or simply if the driving force appears to be getting extra dialed in over the day.

That is the entire level of bracketing the check. Identical tires are run firstly and finish. Offers a learn on any adjustments associated to driver or floor change.

For this check, the ultimate set of runs on the RE71RS are about .15 faster on each single lap greatest and common (not proven, however I’ve executed the maths). So a case could possibly be made {that a} small portion of the 4 tenths achieve from RT660 to RT660+ was attributable to that. However single tenths are additionally simply throughout the noise of such a testing.

Additional, we’re privvy to another unpublished actual world third social gathering comparability testing of those two tires from a dependable supply. And people outcomes are just like ours, each the target and subjective parts. So our confidence is excessive on this one.

pinchvalve (Discussion board Supporter) stated:

Lap instances usually are not the difficulty with the Falken, its the middle rub falling off after 3 laps. If that did not occur, they’re an enchancment over the previous. They burned me twice with poor high quality, it can take extra information to persuade me to strive them once more.

Did you do a gentle preliminary warmth cycle (or pay to have it executed) earlier than hammering on them?

I’ve seen this occur with RT660’s that have been bolted on as stickers and pushed arduous.

Both manner, one of many outcomes of the change was extra even stress distribution throughout the face, so that ought to assist the trigger.

Andy: Did the 660+ develop a tread splice failure? Seems to be like one thing within the picture.

Additionally, humorous typo “Flaken” within the picture caption!

jwasilko stated:

Andy: Did the 660+ develop a tread splice failure? Seems to be like one thing within the picture.

Additionally, humorous typo “Flaken” within the picture caption!

Good eye!

Really, I will need to have these labeled backwards — it was the outgoing tire that did that. Fairly ironic.

I am going to have the blokes get the piece fastened up. This one acquired rammed by shortly.

….

Ninja edit now full.

PS: Failure is just too robust a phrase. It is beauty solely and sometimes wears away in brief order.

If reminiscence serves me effectively, the RT660s acquired quicker after shedding 2/32nds of treadwear. Would have an interest to see a check of those versus RE71Rs at an identical tread depth – I recall the RE71RS being a bit squirmy at full tread.

Andy Hollis stated:

theruleslawyer stated:

It will be fascinating to see consistency calculated within the lap time tables to see if that is modified any, or simply if the driving force appears to be getting extra dialed in over the day.

That is the entire level of bracketing the check. Identical tires are run firstly and finish. Offers a learn on any adjustments associated to driver or floor change.

For this check, the ultimate set of runs on the RE71RS are about .15 faster on each single lap greatest and common (not proven, however I’ve executed the maths). So a case could possibly be made {that a} small portion of the 4 tenths achieve from RT660 to RT660+ was attributable to that. However single tenths are additionally simply throughout the noise of such a testing.

Additional, we’re privvy to another unpublished actual world third social gathering comparability testing of those two tires from a dependable supply. And people outcomes are just like ours, each the target and subjective parts. So our confidence is excessive on this one.

Yah, I perceive the bracketing. Nevertheless my catalyst pumps out a consistency stat. It will present how secure the lap instances are. Typically you discuss tires falling off, or possibly that one tire is less complicated to drive than one other. That type of information may in all probability be quantified by taking a look at how variable lap instances are. I used to be simply taking a look at all of the lap instances and attempting to determine it out in my head.