Falken Azenis RT615K+ Tire Review and Ratings
Dry Conditions – 90%
Wet Conditions – 80%
Snow – 65%
Comfort – 70%
Noise Reduction – 70%
Durability – 65%
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High-performance summer tires usually struggle on wet roads. Most offer poor refinement and wear much faster than their drivers would like. Need proof? Then you must check out the Falken Azenis RT 615K+, a high-performance tire that ticks all the above boxes.
Yet that isn’t to say that it’s a bad tire. Had that been the case, we wouldn’t have picked it as one of the best tires for autocross and street racing. The RT615K+ is one of those tires whose dry traction have you grinning from ear to ear, provided you don’t want much else.
How do I know all of the above? Because I drove these tires on my Ford Mustang. Thanks to some unforeseen help, I was able to test this model’s performance not only on dry roads but also in the rain.
Pros
- Offers competition-levels of grip and traction
- Exceptional high-speed stability and cornering grip
- Very quick to respond to steering inputs
Cons
- Won’t offer the most comfortable ride
The Features of the Falken Azenis RT615K+
There are three features of the Azenis RT615K+ everyone should know.
Firstly, this tire comes with a nanotech tread compound to offer a relentless grip on dry roads. The tread compound also has several pores to minimize heat build-up. Small wonder, then, that I performed several smoky donuts with this tire without blowing it up.
The second thing I noticed about this tire is the asymmetric tread design (which is hard to ignore, given how it makes the tire look muscular). Luckily, the tread pattern isn’t just there for looks. I’ve personally experienced its high levels of grip and cornering prowess.
Lastly, while I’m yet to win a race in my life, the RT615K+’s solid center rib helped me achieve faster acceleration and better lap times than I have ever managed previously. That, too, while delivering the kind of steering feedback only summer performance tires can offer.
Falken Azenis RT615K+ in Dry Conditions
Once warmed up, the Azenis RT615K+ delivers extreme levels of grip and traction.
Even when I was pushing this tire to its limits, it felt as if it was glued to the road. No amount of sudden acceleration or hard cornering was able to break its road contact. In fact, the tire was so sticky that even at low speeds, my Mustang’s steering felt heftier than ever before (or since).
Sure, all that traction comes at the cost of quick and uneven tread wear (more on this later). But that won’t concern drivers who buy this tire knowing what it has in store for them. That is, competition levels of grip when there is no hint of water on the road (or the street).
Falken Azenis RT615K+ on Wet or Slippery Roads
You’d have to be extremely brave/foolish to push this tire to its limit on wet roads.
That isn’t to say that all its grip and traction I discussed above will evaporate in thin hair when encountering water.
This tire can safely carry you from point A to point B on rain-lashed roads, with its multiple water channels doing an excellent job of resisting hydroplaning. All you have to do is to keep an eye on the speedometer.
However, if you drive a muscle car, unleashing all its power on this tire on a greasy surface is something I wouldn’t recommend.
Falken Azenis RT615K+ in Snow
Here’s an open secret: the Azenis RT615K+ isn’t designed for snow driving.
Surprised? That tells me you haven’t driven an ultra-high-performance tire before. If you have ever installed the likes of Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 or Michelin Pilot Sport 4 on your car, you’d have known by now that this breed of tires cannot handle harsh wintry conditions.
If you need a set of tires you can trust for snow driving, check out the Michelin X-Ice XI3. Unlike the Azenis RT615K+, this tire has what it takes to perform reliably in low temperatures.
Falken Azenis RT615K+ Off-Roading
As much as I am happy with this tire’s capabilities, I still wouldn’t trust it for off-roading.
In contrast to dedicated off-road tires, this model has a reinforced sidewall that would be super-susceptible to cuts, chips, and punctures during off-roading. Also, it lacks the biting edges needed for traction on loose or rocky off-road terrain.
So, if you care about your safety, keep this tire for highway, street, or track days.
Falken Azenis RT615K+ for Sporty Driving
Several design elements make this tire ideal for sporty driving, including:
- Its nanotech-formulated tread compound offers a high level of grip. As a result, whether you’re taking sharp turns on a winding highway or cruising straight on the track, this tire’s road contact won’t break.
- An asymmetric tread design with large shoulder blocks offers enhanced grip, especially during braking and acceleration. Both design elements also provide this tire with high-speed stability, giving you the confidence to push it to its limits.
- A high-strength carcass construction improves its handling at high speeds. Plus, an internal bead makes sure that it never comes off the rim, even when you’re attacking turn with a vengeance. High-speed stability is all but guaranteed.
Does the Falken Azenis RT615K+ Ride Comfortably?
The Azenis RT615K+ prioritizes performance over comfort.
Thanks to its stiff sidewalls and large shoulder blocks, you’d hear more noise and feel more vibrations inside the cabin than if you were driving an all-season tire. Also, the noise levels in the cabin are directly proportional to the pressure you’re putting on the accelerator.
All in all, this tire fails to offer the plushest or the quietest ride.
Falken Azenis RT615K+ Warranty
Falken backs this tire with two warranties.
The tread life and uniformity warranty is applicable for the first 1/32” of wear. You can check how much tread depth is still remaining using the tread wear indicators (TWIs) on offer.
The workmanship and materials defects warranty is applicable for five years from the production date or until the remaining tread hits 2/32 inches of depth.
Although both warranties are pretty standard for summer tires, I cannot say they’re market-leading.
Case in point: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 comes with a 20,000-mile treadwear warranty, giving the RT615K+ plenty of room for improvement in this area.
Falken Azenis RT615K+ Pricing: Is It Worth the Money?
At the time of writing, this tire’s price starts from $117.
This makes the Azenis RT615K+ incredibly reasonable compared to rivals like Michelin Pilot Super Sport and Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R. While the former’s asking price begins from $208.99, you’d have to fork out at least $174.99 for the RE-71R.
Thus, while the RT615K+ is by no means cheap, it’s still pretty affordable for a summer performance tire.
Should I Buy the Falken Azenis RT615K+?
The Falken Azenis RT615K+ is a must-have for drivers who:
- Want a tire that can offer extreme levels of grip and traction
- Autocross enthusiasts, track day drivers, and sports or muscle car owners
- Performance sedan drivers in need of a tire that can offer excellent high-speed stability
What Vehicles Will the Falken Azenis RT615K+ Fit?
Here’s a sample list of the cars that the Falken Azenis RT615K+ will fit:
- Ford Mustang, Focus ST, RS
- BMW 1 Series, 2 Series, 3 Series
- Mazda Miata, RX-7, RX-8, MazdaSpeed 6
- Audi A3, TT, S3
- Subaru WRX, STI, BRZ
Tire Sizes of the Falken Azenis RT615K+
14″
- 195/60R14 SL
15″
- 205/50ZR15 XL
- 235/40ZR18 XL
16″
- 205/40ZR16 XL
- 215/45ZR16 SL
- 225/50ZR16 SL
17″
- 205/40ZR17 XL
- 215/40ZR17 XL
- 215/45ZR17 SL
- 225/45ZR17 XL
- 235/40ZR17 SL
- 245/45ZR17 XL
- 255/40ZR17 SL
- 275/40ZR17 SL
18″
- 225/40ZR18 XL
- 235/40ZR18 XL
- 245/40ZR18 XL
- 255/40ZR18 SL
- 265/35ZR18 XL
- 275/35ZR18 SL
- 295/40ZR18 SL
- 315/30ZR18 SL
