It's been common practice and I have been doing this for years and that is stuffing a 225 R tire onto a 15x6 wheel up front while running 205's out back. From everything I've read so far, most seem to be going towards the Hoosier in the 215 width. Has anyone tried a 225 (V700) up front on the mini? Does it rub at all? Too much that a common spacer couldn't overcome? Do to the cost and wearability of the Hoosier, I'm really wanting to stick with the Kuhmo but its either a 205 or a 225. Any help?

Jeff

 

Copper or MCS? Which class are you running stock, STS or SP? I spoke with Dan @ TireRack and he said the 225's will require trimming of the fenders, or fender liner I can't remeber which, for clearance, which is a non-starter for me. If you are interested I have a friend who has some slightly used 225/50 16 Ecsta V700s for sale and he will be bringing them to the Auto-X this Sun. I am going to wrap my stock wheels with 205 Kuhmos, as Hoosiers are too much amd I have a looong way to go before I start to worry about the last few tenths. Rod McGeorrge cleaned house at the last autocross, he beat me with a CSP MR2 by 5 seconds and I was in a C5 Vette

 

Specifically interested in the MCS which will be running in GS for the 2003 season. Cutting any of the fenders would not be an option in stock class. With that said though, I used to run an Integra and while lots of folks used spacers, I used to run my 225's up front without any. There was some rubbing on the fender liner both at the top of the wheel well and the inside edge but this only really occured under full suspension compression in tight 180 turn arounds. It was minor enough that it didn't bother me or affect the drivability of the car. I can only assume that someone out there has tried this "standard" FWD setup and hoping to find out the results. If I can't, you bring up a good option though in getting some used 225's for experimentation purposes. At least it would be cheaper than buying new ones only to find out it doesn't work. Unfortunetly, I do not have my MCS yet so can only theorize at this point in time....

 

Jeff- If you can come to Norfolk Va, you can help experiment on my Cooper this Sunday. I am thinking of trading my 14 Kuhmos for his 16s. I can have tires mounted inepensively and some tinkering and testing may be in order. Coming from Miatas it has always been wrong to have different size tires on an MX-5, I guess in FWDs it's OK. I am going to have to learn how to drive all over again, no more throttle lift oversteer, but no more embarrasing spins either. In addition, the stock wheels are 6.5" wide and the wheel selection is very small, even smaller for light wheels.

Dan- I want SSR Comp Rs when and where do I send the check?

 

Sorry, no road trips to VA for me this weekend but good luck with the testing. But allot of autoxers ran the biggest tire they could fit up front. I know it was common practice to see 225 front 205 back on Neons, Integras, etc. It does make the steering slower though trying to horse big ole tires back and forth but did seem to be the best bet to help with all the push that is inherant in the FWD.