What's THE best tire size for 15" wheels / performance/ clearance and
roadability? Swapping our of 17" runflats?

195s vs 215? Are 215's too wide for narrower rims?

| 195/60-15 | 24.21in (615.0mm) |
| 205/45-17 | 24.26in (616.3mm) | +stock RF size
| 215/55-15 | 24.31in (617.5mm)

 

What tires are available in 215/55/15? I think 205/55/15 is also a good size. However, I don't think there are any "hot" tires available in either of those sizes.

I think the 205/50/15 size, although a bit shorter than stock, has a great selection of tires.

 

[quote=satay-ayam;1236756]What tires are available in 215/55/15? I think 205/55/15 is also a good size. However, I don't think there are any "hot" tires available in either of those sizes.

I think the 205/50/15 size, although a bit shorter than stock, has a great selection of tires.[/quoteyou

you are right / the are some 215 60 15 s

-----------+-------------------+
| TIRE SIZE | DIAMETER |
+-----------+-------------------+
| 195/55-15 | 23.44in (595.5mm) |
|
| 215/50-15 | 23.46in (596.0mm) |
|
| 185/60-15 | 23.74in (603.0mm) |
|
| 205/55-15 | 23.88in (606.5mm) |

| 175/65-15 | 23.96in (608.5mm) |

| 195/60-15 | 24.21in (615.0mm) |

205/45-17 | 24.26in (616.3mm)

| 215/55-15 | 24.31in (617.5mm) |

| 185/65-15 | 24.47in (621.5mm) |


what would the 205/50 -15 diameter be??

 

For stock rims like the holies R81 I recommend 195/55/15. Just a bit over 2% shorter than stock, but the width of the tire is pretty much as wide as you want to use on a 5.5" rim.

205/50(or 55)/15 fits as well, but the sidewall is quite slanted on a stock rim. Narrower tires also give better steering feel and response if you ask me... the stock 175/65/15 contis felt way better than any other setup I've tried on a MINI in terms of steering feel and turn in quickness, but they are crap for grip and sidewall stiffness

 

For street use with stock 15x5.5" MINI rims:
205/55-15 or 195/55-15 (2nd choice).
Selection of tires is fairly good in 205/55-15.
The 5.5" rim width limits use of wider tires as 205mm width tires tends to be the usable limit.

If you use an aftermarket 15x7" rim then you can use the same 205/55-15 tire and get a better and wider fit with better performance.

performance- Wide is good for cornering, lower profile gives stiffer sidewall for quicker turn in but rougher ride quality. 55 series sidewall is good.

clearance- Stick to close to the stock outer tire diameter of about 24.3"

roadability- slightly better comfort and noise with more expensive max performance tires and with good All season Ultra High Performance tires.
55 series is good for comfort.

205/50-15 will fit the stock 15" rim but is much less than stock tire diameter so speedometer reading will be off. Otherwise tire selection is very good, tire weights are low, performance is very good and comfort is acceptible for street use. I often run this size tire on stock 15" rims using my MCS for daily driving.

For maximum comfort and low cost the stock 175/65-15 or 185/60-15 are also good sizes. Less performance but light weight and good all season type traction and longer treadwear. These will squeal if pushed hard through corners.

 

Very good info Minihune! I just want to add that long treadwear is relative, depends on how you drive! The stock 175/65/15 contis lasted for 19000km (just under 12000 miles) because I push the tire so hard. So if you like to corner hard and drive fast, all season tires are no good what so ever. Now I have a set of holies for summer use (195/55/15 ZR) and a set of holies for winter use (185/65/15 snow tires).

 

You ARE tough on your poor tires.

I have Bridgestone Potenza S-03 tires that are lasting into their 3rd year soon. I do sometimes drive hard on them but most of the time I am good.
I have rotated and flipped the tires to make use of remaining tread.

Normally one can get about 20,000 miles plus from a set of All season tires and about 12,000-14,000 miles from a set of Max performance tires.

If you have wet weather or light snow and mostly do street driving and are not too rough on driving your MINI the All season tires are probably your best value. Good price, good performance, longer wear, reasonable comfort.

If you have mostly good weather, a little rain and no snow then Max or Ultra High Performance Summer tires can be used year round with good performance results, slightly higher priced, quicker tread wear but it's fun to drive hard.

Winter tires are best done a bit more narrow in width to cut through the snow more easily. 185/65-15 is a good choice for snow.

 

That's correct, I wish there were 175/65/15 winter tires but the selection is extremely limited, unlike 185/65. I did drive on snow/rain/ice/dry a lot on those poor all season tires, and rotated them very frequently to keep the tire wear absolutely even front to back. Can you imagine what sort of tire wear I would have if I drove an S?

 

Have you been to driving school? If not then I'd urge you to go. You may be doing something in corners to increase tire wear excessively.

Here's why I suggest that. I spoke to a wheel to wheel racer (SCCA) and he drives a dedicated racing Honda CRX lap after lap on a track vs Porshe and Modified Datsun 240Z cars. He says that his technique allows him to preserve brakes and tires so he doesn't wear them out as quickly as others do.

He drove my 1995 Nissan Maxima on the track at a BMW club driving school and with 3 year old Michelin XGT4 all season tires and a completely stock car with 110,000 miles on it we were passing all of the modified MCS cars driven by instructors and students alike. Since then I put on Bridgestone Potenza RE950 215/60-15 all season tires on the Maxima and drove it until last month- sold it still doing fine.

Your alignment and lack of front negative camber will contribute to faster tire wear with hard cornering. You might check your wheel alignment and reset it to factory settings for front and rear toe if you have not done so in the last 2 years as this can also be a factor to increase tire wear. Tire pressures are also a factor. Too little or too much pressure increases wear.

If you had an S I think you would have about the same wear, maybe a little more in the front. You'd have 16" rims stock and likely 17" rims and likely slightly wider tires than on an MC with a slightly stiffer suspension so wear would be close just because you are not overdriving the capabilities of the tires as much.

 

[quote=tomm9050;1236889]

205/50-15 = 23.07"

 

Just went through this decision - I wanted a wider, higher perf. tire for my '06 Cooper. Considered either 195/55/15 or 195/60/15. As you can see from above, the 60 profile tire is closer to stock overall diameter. I went with 195/60/15 in Toyo Proxes tpt from EdgeRacing. I mention this because it was the only Vrated tire I could find in this size. I had the Toyos mounted on my holies, and while overall they were an improvement, the car felt quite "squirmy" on hard cornering - which several of our gurus here confirmed was likely because the 5.5" wide holies were at the very narrowest end of what you should mount a 195 mm tire on - tire wants to roll over onto the sidewall. I ended up solving the problem by purchasing a set of forged BBS RGFs in the MarketPlace, 15X7. Remounted/balanced the tires and thing are much improved - the tires can now put down the correct contact patch and perform correctly, and the wheels are only 10.6lb so weight didn't increase. That said, if you want to keep the holies (and I loved the way they looked & light weight), I'd go with 195/55/15 - the difference in overall radius isn't going to make a significant difference in speedo/odo accuracy, there is a decent selection of performance rubber, and the shorter/stiffer sidewall should prevent most if not all of the "squirmyness" I encountered with the 60 profile tires. I would NOT go 205 section width on a holey - I know many have and perhaps they get around the track well, etc., but based on my experience the "feel" is going to be weird, and 195 section width is plenty for the Cooper. Good luck

 

Great info thanks! looks like 195/55-15s on stock rims.

Now does anyone have any thoughts on specific brand/model tires?

Best performance vs ride quality vs price?

 

also is there any guide to tire ratings? HR ZR etc?

thanks

 

[FONT=helvetica][SIZE=2]For the purposes of North American drivers, speed rating can be condensed into five major categories: [/SIZE][/FONT]

• [*]
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• [*]
• [*]
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Over the years, tire speed rating symbols have been marked on tires in any of three ways shown in the following examples:
225/50SR16225/50SR16 89Sor 225/50R16 89S
Each of these was an acceptable method of identifying speed ratings.
Early tires had their speed rating symbol shown "within" the tire size, such as 225/50SR16. Tires using this type of branding were not to have been produced after 1991.
225/50SR16112 mph, 180 km/h225/50HR16130, 210 km/h225/50VR16in excess of 130 mph, 210 km/h
Beginning in 1991, the speed symbol denoting a fixed maximum speed capability of new tires must be shown only in the speed rating portion of the tire's service description, such as 225/50R16 89S. The most common tire speed rating symbols, maximum speeds and typical applications are shown below:
M 81 mph130 km/h

N 87 mph140km/hTemporary Spare Tires

P 93 mph150 km/h

Q 99 mph160 km/hStudless & Studdable Winter Tires

R 106 mph170 km/hH.D. Light Truck Tires

S 112 mph180 km/hFamily Sedans & Vans

T 118 mph190 km/hFamily Sedans & Vans

U 124 mph200 km/h

H 130 mph210 km/hSport Sedans & Coupes

V 149 mph240 km/hSport Sedans, Coupes & Sports Cars

When Z-speed rated tires were first introduced, they were thought to reflect the highest tire speed rating that would ever be required, in excess of 240 km/h or 149 mph. While Z-speed rated tires are capable of speeds in excess of 149 mph, how far above 149 mph was not identified. That ultimately caused the automotive industry to add W- and Y-speed ratings to identify the tires that meet the needs of new vehicles that have extremely high top-speed capabilities.

W 168 mph270 km/hExotic Sports Cars

Y 186 mph300 km/hExotic Sports Cars

While a Z-speed rating still often appears in the tire size designation of these tires, such as 225/50ZR16 91W, the Z in the size signifies a maximum speed capability in excess of 149 mph, 240 km/h; the W in the service description indicates the tire's 168 mph, 270 km/h maximum speed.
225/50ZR16in excess of 149 mph, 240 km/h205/45ZR17 88W168 mph, 270 km/h285/35ZR19 99Y186 mph, 300 km/h

 

195/55-15 on stock 15x5.5" rims is fine.

What are you going to use your MINI for? Street only use, how much commuting vs urban driving?

What are your weather conditions? How much rain or snow?

For Ultra High Performance Summer tire (not for snow)
Consider
General Exclaim UHP $60 each, 380 treadwear, V rated, AA traction
BF Goodrich g-Force Sport $63 each, 340 treadwear, V rated, AA traction

For Ultra High Performance All season tires (good in dry/ rain/ light snow)
Bridgestone Potenza RE960 $69-70 each, 400 treadwear, H rated, AA traction
But only available in 185/65-15 or 195/60-15 which are both good sizes for the stock rims.

Speed ratings are the Z, Y, V, and H you see.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=35

For highest performance you are better off with Z rated tires but these wear faster and cost alot more. Usually not needed for street use.
Y and V rated tires are very good and don't cost as much.
H rated tires are more for general street use and not for track but they last longer and cost is good.

While you might not be going as fast as the speed rating indicates each rating is based on the ability of the tire to tolerate heat that builds up with going fast and reflects the design of the tire to handle high performance driving.

My suggestion is for street driving in good weather the General Exclaim UHP is worth a look in the 195/55-15 size. Decent price and works well in wet or dry.

If you have less than good weather and don't mind the alternative sizes of 185/65 or 195/60-15 then the Bridgestone Potenza RE-960 is worth a look.
Since these have a higher sidewall they can offer more comfort without being overly tall and still offer enough performance. Note they are H-rated tires.

 

SO CAL driving/ canyon rds / street /freeways

no snow

 

OK it looks like it will boil down to how you drive-
If you like to drive fast and aggresive you are better off with
195/55-15 and
General Exclaim UHP $60 each, 380 treadwear, V rated, AA traction
Or
BF Goodrich g-Force Sport $63 each, 340 treadwear, V rated, AA traction

Otherwise if you like more comfort with good handling with 60 or 65 series street tire then-
Bridgestone Potenza RE960 $69-70 each, 400 treadwear, H rated, AA traction
185/65-15 or 195/60-15, both are fine.

 

Another couple of good offerings in the 195/55R15 size is the Avon Tech M500 and the Toyo T1R.
Grest size for holies!

 

Any thoughts or opinions on YOKOHAMA YK520s
195/60 15s??