Ok, so if you have the 16's and you DRIVE your Mini, you know what I'm talking about.

If I go 205/55/16, I add a wider tire on a taller sidewall which in turn will add more roll and less turn in feel.

BUT, what if I go for a 205/45/16? How will that work on a 16X6.5 wheel? How will turn in be affected as well as speedo inaccuracies and overall feel?

Aaron

 

Actually, a 205/50/16 would be a much closer size.

This opens your choices to some great tires!

Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec

Continental ExtremeContact DW

BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2

or all-season:

Continental ExtremeContact DWS

Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S

 

DavisFlyer, that is what I was contemplating just after I posted. How close in overall diameter/width?

If it were the 205/50/16, the I'd be looking at the...

Toyo Proxies R1R
Dunlop Star Spec
BFG Sport Comp 2

Any and all opinions on these tires will be tremendously appreciated.

Aaron

 

The tire size calculator says that 205/50-16 is 1.73% smaller than stock. I've been running that size for years and never had a problem, the speedo is a little more optimistic, the odometer was dead on. If you go to 205/55-16 you get an even bigger choice, but they do look a bit big. I use those for track tires as I can get Bridgestone RE-11s in that size.

As for the others you mention, I used the Dunlop Star Spec as track tires for a couple of years. They're a bit noisy, surprisingly comfortable and very sticky on the street. They grain a bit too much on the track to make the best track tires. Supposedly they're best at autocross.

 

Do you have pics of the 205/50/16's?

 

Tirerack.com has all the pics on the Mini of your choie you will need in their configurator if you are looking at how it looks on the Mini.

 

Forgot to mention, A few years back, I did run 205 55 16 Dunlop Direzzas. The handling was really good on them because they have stiffer sidewalls. If handling is what you are looking for, I think you would be fine with the Dunlops in this size even with the slightly higher profile.

Also, not all 205 50 16 tires are the same height. They do vary by manufacturer and model of the tire.

 

Specification Sidewall Radius Diameter Circumference Revs/Mile Difference 195/55-16 4.2in 12.2in 24.4in 76.8in 825 0.0% 205/55-16 4.4in 12.4in 24.9in 78.2in 811 1.8% 205/50-16 4.0in 12.0in 24.1in 75.6in 838 -1.5%

 

A few.

This is Tristan on Conti DWS.



or Dunlop Direzza.



an for comparison on Bridgestone RE-11s in 205/55-16

 

Super thanks Btwyx.

 

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...foTireMath.jsp

also try a 215 50 16, not alot available, but it works great, i ran them for a year before i moved up to 17s