Looking for recommendations for tires for the above sizes.
Auto-x or dual purpose. Either will work.

Currently looking at 215x45 16 Azenis on SSR Comps, but there are the 949racing 15x8s out that might be a good way to go but I really can't find tires that make it worth buying the wheels and then the tires.

 

I think Falken is coming out with a 225/50-15 in the Azenis for next season, although its not confirmed yet, but that might make the 15's worth it. . .

The hankooks also come in 225/45-15, and are a lot better in rain if you want a dual purpose tire. . .

 

I just went through this, but since my car's still my daily driver, I went with the z212's in 225/45R16. They'll be mounted up today on 16x7 OZ Ultraleggeras (+37 ET). Prior to this, I was running 225/50R15 Michelin Pilot Sport Cups (r-comps) on 15x6.5 Flik Blast for AX/DE's.

It was a tough decision between the 215 Azenis and the 225 'Kooks. I'll be giving up a bit of AX prowess for a bit more track friendly and wet weather friendly tire in the 'Kook. Oh well, c'est la vie.

I went with the 16x7's because I needed them to fit over a BBK that I'll also be installing tonight or tomorrow for testing... It's flippin' INSANE - more info to come on that later as we track test the crap out of it. It's something totally different.

Anyhoo, in the 15" size, you don't have quite as many choices. Hankook does make a 225/50R15 z212, which seems to be only a tad bit wider than the 205/50R15 Azenis. I think the section widths are pretty similar, with the 'Kook having a slightly wider tread. There are threads on the SCCAForums where you can look at comparison pics.

Other than that, there are only r-comps in 15" sizes. The 225/50R15 Michelin PSC's were awesome for AX and the track - I got 12 events, 110+ AX runs and two track weekends out of mine before I finally corded them on my last run of the AX season a couple weekends ago... Long life, great grip - they like to be hot, which is great for TX heat. You also have HooHoos, v710's and Victoracers available, as well as Toyo RA-1's...

 

Vulcan Tire seemed to think they were - but the Falken booth at SEMA told us that they are NOT going to make a 225/50R15, and I got an email from corporate that said the same thing...

 

For autocross, the Kumho V710 in a 215/40/16 have been VERY popular. Although the car that won Nationals this year (G-Stock) was on Hoosier A6's.
(I don't know the correct size for the Hoosier)

I'd recommend posting your question in the Solo 2 thread on NAM.

 

OBEHAVE: What class are you trying to run in? From the wheel sizes you're posting and Azenis mention, I'm guessing STX. Could you confirm that?

If that's the case the V710s and the A6's are out of the question. Those would throw you into a prepared class (DSP? ).

 

yeah, thats where I saw it (Vulcan tire), thanks for clearing that up. . .

 

I'm in SM. Pulley and all that

 

Doesn't SM allow r-comps? If so, I'd be all over A6's or v710's...

 

Yes, SM allows any tire except true racing slicks. So the Kumho's or Hoosiers I mentioned would be the way to go.

 

Yes, SM does allow r-comps. To be competitive in SM, txwerks is right, you want to be on A6's or V710's. For me, my R tires are dual purpose....autox in SM and track days.....I run the Toyo RA-1's 225-45-15 on 15x7's...soon to be on 15x8's.

Jason

 

So you're thinking it's OK to move to R Comp?
This will only be my 3rd season so I have a loooong way to go yet.

I looked at the RA-1s but all their 16s are over 24.6" tall. Way too tall a tire for me. I have the old tranny so I need something shorter.

Now if I spend the money on the 15x8s.......
Unlimited wants....limited budget

 

3rd season? Yeah, you're ready Grasshopper!

Go for the 15's... And some 225/45R15 RA-1's would rock on 15x8's. The gearing advantage would be great with the 45's vs. the 225/50's.

FWIW, the RA-1's are super predictable tires for r-comps. They won't be quite as fast as v710's or A6's, but they're also a lot more predictable at the limit in my experience. They provide a lot of feedback as you approach the limit and breakaway is a lot more progressive. My experience with HooHoos and v710's is that they ROCK all the way up to the limit and then just let go... The RA-1's also last a LOT longer and will also work well on the track - and in most cases, they're way cheaper.

A great first r-comp, IMHO, just like the Michelin PSC's (which are a LOT more $$$ than the RA-1's).

 

I'd get the Kumho's. 215/40/16's (22.8" diameter) You'll like the gearing.

If you get the RA-1's, you'll always be wondering if it's the tires or the driver. I've always maintained that if you want to see how good your really are, you should set up the car to the maximum your budget. That also helps increase your learning curve.

Don't get me wrong, the RA-1's are good tires. They will last a little longer then the V710's. But in my opinion, not long enough to make them a better choice.

When I was racing our Miata (C-stock) back in 2005, I was racing a guy on RA-1's and I'd always beat him. He said that he regretted not buying the better Kumho V710's. He liked the RA-1's, but because he was always finishing 1.0 or 0.5 seconds behind me, he wondered how much of it was the tires and how much of it was his driving.

That's what I've always liked about running in the stock classes. You spend about $3000-$5000 and you're car is prepped to the max. Then you can focus on your driving and compare you times with the best of 'em.

 

For dedicated autocross-
15x8 rim with Hoosier R6 225/45-15 or Kumho V710 205/50-15
I don't like the 225/50-15 size because you don't have the advantage of lower gearing.

I don't like dual purpose tires for street and autocross, you just give up too much.

Toyo Ra1s are great for the track but not soft enough for autocross. You give up too much, they aren't competitive.

16x7 SSR comps are significantly lighter and more expensive than 949 15x8" rims. For 16" rims Kumho V710 215/40-16 are the best bet for dedicated autocross tires.

 

IMHO, it depends on the surface you run on, how competitive you are, and how fat your wallet is...

At our main venue, Mineral Wells (TX), and with our long, fast courses, a set of v710's last precisely 4 events or 32 runs. Yeah, that's right - thirty-two runs - and then they are corded. Same goes for A6's... Now, if you can afford 2.5 sets of r-comps a year (for 10 events), then yes, A6's or v710's are the best bet. And, the fastest guys do run V710's or A6's - on Evo's and STI's. Although, last season, FTD (raw time as we don't use PAX) was set by a highly modded e36 M3 wearing Michelin PSC's on many occassions - besting those running HooHoo's or Kumhos...

Now, same venue, Michelin PSC's, Victoracers or RA-1's will go an entire season AND a DE (or two!) - that's 80 runs and like between 8-16 20-25 minute sessions on the track. That's a tradeoff that I am willing to make... They are not as grippy as the V710 or A6, but they ARE considerably better than Azenis and the like... The Michelins and RA-1's are better than the Victoracers (IMHO). When my Michelins were new, they provided nearly the same grip as A5's. They also didn't drop off as fast over time, AND they LOVED being hot (unlike the A5's, which had to be sprayed).

Mineral Wells EATS tires - very rough, unsealed asphalt. Two other local venues (one sealed asphalt at Texas Motor Speedway's Bus Lot, and the smooth concrete at Pennington Field) would allow you to run A6's or V710's and run the entire season and get away with it... Last season, we only ran a few events at venues other than Mineral Wells, so I stuck with Michelin PSC's so I'd only have to buy one set of tires...

Anyway, if you really, really want to hook it in SM and give yourself the best fighting chance, I would go with A6's or v710's as others have suggested. Ain't cheap, but it IS an advantage! But, if you want longer life and more grip than Azenis/z212's/etc., the RA-1 or Michelin PSC is fairly major step up...

 

Well.... while I'm dipping from the well of knowledge.....

Anyone know of decent 16x8 wheels that fit a MINI?

 

rota makes a few 16x8's....but i dont know how you feel about that company. Some swear by them, and some certainly wouldnt call them "decent"

 

Exactly.

Last season we autocrossed on a track and had runs lasting up to 60 seconds. Now we are in a parking lot with runs of 30-40 seconds each.
Only four runs per event. A set of V710s might last all season or about 40 runs if taken care of. Course distance about 0.4 miles.

To conserve the tires more you can do fun runs at the end of the day on street tires or back up competition tires like worn victoracers or worn V710s. I use Potenza S-03s.

At autocross we have max speeds of 60 mph if we are lucky and lots of tight turns. Not really a good course for Toyo Ra1s. With a long sweeping high speed course it would be a different story.

16x8 is very hard to find. 16x7.5 is possible.
15x7 is easy to find, 15x8 is only the 949 rim.

For 9" wide rims see Kodiak rims.

Realize that wider rims need correct offset and the right tires to fit a MINI without rubbing. Be prepared to use spacers and have longer wheel studs.

Also wide tires and rims are heavy- caution.

 

Starting to sound like improving on my current 16x7 SSRs will be hard to do.
I was hoping to step up to something in 225 but I can live with 215 since that is still wider and anything will be stickier than the 712s I ran for 2 years.


The more you know the more questions there are

 

I just stuffed 225/45R16 Hankook z212's under my Cooper... on 16x7 OZ Ultraleggeras with a +37... It looks AWESOME. Car is 1.5" lower than stock... no rubbing (yet!). -2.2 degrees of camber in the front and -1.2 in the rear... They tuck really well...

I figured they'd fit, since they have the same OD and section width as the 225/50R15 Michelin PSC's that I was running previously. The 23.9" OD works really well with the Cooper's gearing.

 

Can't find a wear rating on their site for the z212s. Do you mind?

TIA

 

btw .. he mainly runs on Concrete. Also he is running an 02 with the taller first gear. So i would go with the Smaller Dia. front 22.8" range for a better take off. I believe the z212 (aka Rs2) is rated at 200.

 

200... they're ST-legal...

 

Thanks Tony.
My current 205 50 are at 24.1" so anything shorter would be good. Anything in the 22.8 range would have to hook up very well or I'd spin them too easy at launch. No LSD remember