Falken Azenis RT615K+ Review: How Do They Stack Up Against the Competition?

The Falken Azenis RT615K+ is a high performance summer tire developed and manufactured by the Japanese tire maker Falken. Introduced in 2011, the RT615K+ is the successor to the original RT615 and aimed at sports cars and high-powered coupes.

This ultra-high performance tire was designed for drivability on both the track and street. It provides responsive handling, high levels of grip, and good stability at high speeds. The Falken Azenis RT615K+ is a max performance summer tire that excels in both dry and wet conditions.

The tire utilizes Falken’s proprietary high-grip rubber compound with a long-wearing tread compound. It features an asymmetric tread pattern optimized for traction and water evacuation. Overall, the RT615K+ offers enthusiasts a competitive ultra-high performance tire choice at an affordable price point.

List of Other Falken Tire Reviews

Falken is a prominent tire company offering a wide range of products suitable for various driving demands, terrains, and weather conditions. Here’s a brief overview of some popular Falken tire models we review:

• Falken Wildpeak AT3W Review
• Falken Rubitrek AT Review
• Falken Wildpeak AT Trail Review
• Falken Wildpeak RT Review
• Falken Sincera SN250 A/S Review
• Falken Azenis FK510 Review
• Falken Azenis RT615K+ Review

Tread Design

The Falken Azenis RT615K+ features an asymmetric tread pattern designed to provide excellent wet weather performance. On the outside shoulder, larger tread blocks with multiple sipes help eject water out from under the tire. The inside shoulder has a continuous ribbing design to enhance stability and handling.

In the center, intermediate tread blocks are positioned at varying angles to maintain constant contact with the road. This helps prevent hydroplaning while still allowing the tire to flex as it rolls through turns. The independent tread block movement also reduces irregular wear issues.

Overall, the asymmetric design provides strong wet grip while maintaining responsive, predictable handling. The evolution from the previous RT615K model refined the tread pattern using advanced computer simulation to optimize water evacuation. Drivers will appreciate the tires’ tenacious grip in wet conditions without compromising dry performance.

Performance of Falken Azenis RT615K+

The Falken Azenis RT615K+ is an ultra high performance summer tire that offers exceptional dry and wet handling and responsiveness. The asymmetric tread pattern features large, outside shoulder blocks that provide high cornering grip and stability. The continuous center rib improves steering response and straight line tracking.

In dry conditions, the RT615K+ delivers razor sharp turn-in, responsive steering, and excellent grip through corners. The stiff outside tread blocks cling to the road tenaciously. The model excels during aggressive canyon driving and track days. Drivers report the tire feels planted and progressive when pushed to its limits.

The tire also provides strong wet weather traction and grip. The compound features a high silica content for enhanced wet traction. The tread pattern effectively channels water away to resist hydroplaning. The sipes help maintain wet grip as the tires warm up. Testers found the tire inspires confidence on wet pavement with easily controllable breakaway characteristics.

Overall, drivers praise the RT615K+ for its responsive, direct steering and high levels of dry and wet grip. The tire is optimized for performance in warm, dry conditions but also handles rain quite capably. Enthusiasts report the model feels nimble yet stable when driven aggressively. For a max performance summer tire, the RT615K+ delivers an impressive balance of handling, grip, steering response, and feedback.

Ride Comfort of Falken Azenis RT615K+

The Falken Azenis RT615K+ is an ultra-high performance tire, so ride comfort is not its top priority. However, for a max performance tire it has reasonably good ride quality and noise levels.

The RT615K+ uses a stiff sidewall construction to optimize responsiveness and cornering ability. This does transmit more vibration and impact harshness to the cabin compared to a grand touring tire with a softer sidewall compound. However, the vibration levels are not excessive or uncomfortable.

Road noise is higher than you’d find from a comfort-oriented touring tire, but quite good for an ultra-high performance model. The asymmetric tread blocks help reduce noise on the highway. Owners report noise is low enough for daily driving and long road trips. There isn’t any droning or high frequency noise at high speeds. Noise levels are comparable to the Continental ExtremeContact Sport, Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R and other top UHP all-season tires.

Overall, the RT615K+ provides a reasonable ride for a max performance tire. Noise, vibration and impact harshness are higher than a grand touring tire but lower than many track-focused performance tires. Most drivers will find them acceptable for daily use. The ride quality doesn’t detract from the tire’s impressive grip and handling.

Treadwear of Falken Azenis RT615K+

The Falken Azenis RT615K+ offers decent treadwear life for an ultra high performance tire. The tread compound wears at an expected rate given the soft rubber used for maximum dry and wet grip. Independent tests show the RT615K+ averaging around 20,000 miles until replacement for normal street usage. Aggressive driving will shorten this lifespan. Overall though, most drivers can expect to get 2-3 years of use before needing new tires under normal conditions. Replacing them before they are completely bald is recommended for continued safety and performance.

While the treadlife is not extraordinary, it’s a good compromise given the tire’s strong capabilities in other areas. Few ultra high performance summer tires in this category will last much longer before wearing out. The RT615K+ balances treadwear and traction well. For those wanting extended tread life, the Falken Azenis FK510 all-season tire may be a better choice, with expected lifespans over 30,000 miles. However, drivers will sacrifice some grip in wet and dry conditions. Ultimately, the RT615K+ offers an excellent blend of traction, comfort and treadwear for spirited daily driving.

Available Sizes

The Falken Azenis RT615K+ is available in a wide range of popular sizes to fit a variety of vehicles. Here is an overview of the size range:

• 15 to 18 inch diameters
• Widths ranging from 205mm to 305mm
• Aspect ratios from 40 to 65
• Load indexes between 91 and 101 with corresponding max loads from 1,356lbs to 2,271lbs
• Speed ratings of V (149mph), W (168mph), Y (186mph)

Some of the most common sizes include:

• 225/45R17 94W
• 245/40R18 97Y
• 275/35R18 88Y

With diameters covering everything from 15 to 18 inches and widths ranging from 205 to 305mm, you should have no problem finding the right size RT615K+ for your vehicle. Whether you drive a sedan, coupe, SUV, or truck, Falken offers enough sizes to accommodate a wide variety of fitments and applications.

Price

The Falken Azenis RT615K+ is competitively priced against other ultra high performance summer tires. It ranges in price from around $120 to $170 per tire, depending on size. This puts it in the same price bracket as top tires from Continental, Michelin, Bridgestone, and other premium brands.

Compared to direct competitors, the RT615K+ has a moderate price point. The Continental ExtremeContact Sport is priced very similarly to the Falken, usually within $10-20 per tire. Michelin’s comparable Pilot Sport 4S costs $20-30 more per tire. And the Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R can run over $50 more per tire than the RT615K+.

Overall, the Falken Azenis RT615K+ provides an impressive blend of dry grip, wet traction, and performance at a relatively affordable price. Drivers get many of the benefits of a premium ultra high performance tire without the ultra premium price tag. The reasonable pricing makes the RT615K+ a great value choice for drivers who want max performance on a budget.

Warranty

The Falken Azenis RT615K+ comes with a 50,000 mile manufacturer warranty. This means that Falken warrants the tire against any defects in materials and workmanship for 50,000 miles from the date of purchase.

Some key things to know about the warranty:

• It only applies to the original owner, and is not transferable. The warranty starts when the tires are purchased new by the original owner.
• The warranty covers 100% replacement for the first 2/32″ of tread wear, and pro-rated replacement after that based on remaining tread depth. So if there is a defect when the tire is fairly new, Falken will provide a free replacement.
• To be eligible, the tires must be properly maintained and operated. The warranty does not cover damage from improper inflation, overloading, road hazards, racing, etc.
• Normal treadwear is not covered – only defects in materials/workmanship. So the warranty does not cover the tire simply wearing out from normal use.
• The original purchase receipt is required to make a warranty claim. The tire must be returned to an authorized dealer for inspection.
• Shipping charges for returned tires are not covered under the warranty.

So in summary, the 50,000 mile warranty provides good protection against early defects, but does not guarantee 50,000 miles of use. As with any tire, proper maintenance and operation is required to maximize tread life.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Excellent grip and traction in dry and wet conditions thanks to the asymmetric tread design
• Sharp handling and responsiveness ideal for performance driving
• Very good high speed stability from stiff sidewalls and rigid tread blocks
• Low noise levels and quiet ride
• Good value for the performance

Cons

• Can be loud on some surfaces like concrete highways
• May wear quicker than touring tires in daily driving
• Not optimized for snow and ice driving

The Falken Azenis RT615K+ is an ultra high performance summer tire that excels at handling, grip, and high speed stability while providing a comfortable ride.

The innovative asymmetric tread design balances precise, responsive handling with good hydroplaning resistance in wet conditions.

While not ideal for all weather use, drivers looking for max dry and wet traction will find the RT615K+ delivers excellent performance and value.

The stiff construction does result in some noise on certain surfaces but the tradeoff is a very responsive, grippy tire for spirited driving.

For drivers wanting a tire focused purely on warm, dry handling and performance, the Falken Azenis RT615K+ is an excellent choice.

Final verdict and recommendation

The Falken Azenis RT615K+ is a standout performance tire that offers extremely responsive handling and grip at a reasonable price point.

The unique tread pattern with deep lateral grooves maximizes grip when cornering hard, providing stellar wet and dry traction. This allows drivers to take tight turns with confidence.

While ride comfort is firm like most high-performance tires, the impact is minimized through the silica-enhanced tread compound. Road noise is moderate, without excessive droning at highway speeds.

The biggest downside is treadwear, with owners reporting a lifespan of around 20,000 miles. However, competitive autocross and track day enthusiasts will likely find the tradeoff worthwhile.

Overall, the RT615K+ provides an exceptional blend of dry grip, wet traction, steering response, and value. For drivers prioritizing handling, braking, and traction above all else, the Falken Azenis RT615K+ is easy to recommend. It achieves the intended design goal of a max performance summer tire without the ultra high cost.

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