I have never shaved mine and I have not had any problems. However, not ever having shaved them, perhaps I am not aware of any problems that exist.
I wouldn't bother.
Looks like the tire fairy will be visiting soon. I'm so excited!
What's the word on the street, do Azenis's benefit from shaving? Seems many people think some street tires need it (Bridgestone RE-01R and Toyo R1R) but Azenis not so much. Don't want to throw $100 away on useless stuff.
I have never shaved mine and I have not had any problems. However, not ever having shaved them, perhaps I am not aware of any problems that exist.
I wouldn't bother.
For local street tire class you probably don't need to shave them. If you want to be competitive at nationals in ST you do. My RT-615's were fine full tread and I'm still driving on them a year later with probably 25-30% tread left. I haven't seen or felt any tread squirm/overheating etc.
VW Bug in running shoes
M Porcupine sedan
M Porcupine coupe
Crusty old e46 beater
Battery Powered appliance car
The Azenis I have are shaved, they were when I got them from NealB. I don't know if I've been around long enough to tell a difference, but they feel better than my old 215's.
"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague longing for something salty" - Peter Egan
GRM found the RE01-R to be faster unshaved. I just got a set of RT-615 for the Z06 and I did not shave them.
Maybe 4 wheels aren't so bad after all... wickett.org
It only goes to show when people can no longer discriminate on the grounds of race, religion, or sexual orientation, they can improvise and still find someone to hate. - Dave Moulton
Unlike a Miata, tires on a car with power don't stay new very long.
Shaving does a few things - It reduces tread squirm, slows heat buildup, reduces tire weight, and reduces chunking. Depending on the tread design, it may also put more rubber on the ground.
Since you chose a second-tier street tire for all-out competition, I'd assume the competition advantages are a lost cause. The chunking is a real concern though. If you compete with most unshaved tires, they wear very rapidly. The Azenis is more resistant than most, but it also suffers from chunking on abrasive surfaces. If you only attend one autocross a month, I wouldn't shave. If you are doing a number of them, or if these are dedicated race tires, I'd shave them.
Last edited by Darron65; 07-08-2008 at 11:06 AM. Reason: blah blah blah
VW Bug in running shoes
M Porcupine sedan
M Porcupine coupe
Crusty old e46 beater
Battery Powered appliance car