Have new MC, bought used 16” x 6.5” MONZA wheels, now for the tires. My wife and I are still novice and on a budget so my plan right now is try to run on Falken Azenis RT-615’s.

I know very little about tire sizes, but see in an ad in the latest Grassroots Motorsports that they should be available in 225/50R16 92W, 215/45R16 86W, and 205/4OR16 83W – which size would work best?

Is there another tire I should be considering?

 

Just found a 195/60R-14 86H BLK size available too, if H speed raiting is not that big of a deal.

 

I had the the Azenis tires a couple years ago on 16's (prior to when they evolved into the RT-615). In any case, the size I used was 215/45 R16. That is the size closest to the stock MINI size in terms of diameter.

 

You won't be able to run 14" in HS

I ran the 205/4OR16 (the only 16" available at the time) last summer as an all-around street/autox/track tire & they were a lot of fun

 

I think Falkens are a great bang for the buck. Another good option is the Hankook Z214 RS-2 or something like that street tire made to compete with the Falkens. I would think that since it doesn't sound like you will be daily driving on the wheels, you would be well off with the 205/40's over anything else. The 215/45's would be good too, but I like the idea of the gearing help you would get with the 205's over the slightly wider tread, but taller 215's.

Also, last I heard, the 215's weren't available yet (I don't see them at Discount Tire Direct). I think Falken has a tendency on being late on the offerings (what tire company doesn't, though...)

Jake

 

I run the azeni old model 215-45-16 on factory x-lites. I love the tires- they really stick and are slightly undergeared (dia is 23.6 vs. stock 24 or 24.5). Downside is the tires are heavy. I use them on street and autocross so no tire changing. You'll have to ck with Falken to see when the new model comes out in that size. Andy @rosstech.com said he was running the 215 40 16 and 77 on speedo was actually 70, as diameter is much smaller than stock.

 

Thanks for the info, and I see I made a mistake in looking at the size on that second post - trying to update tax software and planning on how to spend the return at the same time leads to goofs. I see now on the Vulcan Tire Sales site they are saying the other sizes available in March.

 

215/45-16 is about the perfect size for a MINI, especially one that will also be street driven on the same tires.

That being said, until the new model (615) comes out in that size you are stuck with the 205/40-16. 225/50-16 will be too tall to work well, especially on stock cars.

I wouldn't lose sleep over it. If you need tires right now and want to run street tires instead of "R" compounds just get the 205/40-16s. If you can wait a couple months, and they actually come out, then get the 215/45-16s in the new model.

Scott
90SM

 

Re-read my original post and see I didn’t say these tires would only be for H-stock autocross only, and driving to the events.


Vulcan tire says they do not know when the new size will arrive yet.