I'm rolling on 205/50/15s and understand what its like to have the shorter diameter. Is the 195/50 size TOO Small though? I want to get 195s for a new set of wheels, but the 195/55 sidewalls are a bit too big and the next smallest option is the 195/50

This is for a daily driver that then competes in the STS class at autocrosses with those daily driven wheels+tires.

Thanks all.

 

Don't know if it's TOO small, but the diameter difference is 23.07in vs 22.67in for the 195/50, which will make your speedo 1.7% faster. Got it all here:

http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCal...?action=submit

mb

edit - I think I read somewhere that it's good to keep your overall diameter close to 24in., but I'm not certain on that.

 

I think you'll be fine

 

They will be fine. My girlfriend has that size on her MINI and there is no issue at all. Speedo is off but she doesn't care. Lowers the car about a half inch and increases the gap between the fender flair and the tire. Her car is the one with the white top. Mine has 185/65-15, very near stock size.
Click the image for larger size.

 

You'll be fine there isn't too much of a difference in the 205/50 and the 195/50. Just do it!

P.S. Lower is always better isn't it? haha

 

I dont know man.....I love low-ness and all. Believe me. But even with the 205/50's, in order to get rid of all the extra wheel gap....you are basically dragging subframe

I may still rock the 195/50's though... It's hard to stretch the 205s on anything that fits under our car

 

If you ain't dragging, then you ain't low enough. Haha j/p. Idk, your car is pretty damn low. I guess theres really only one way to find out. Maybe try out out with 2 cheap *** tires (maybe even used, wasted) on just one side to see how the car will sit. Then take it from there...

 

well the wheels i just picked up came with some used 195/50's....so i guess we'll see

 

Can't understand why you wouldn't go with 195/55/15?? There are some very nice perf. tires available in that size, the sidewall is not too tall, and its closer to stock, though still shorter.

 

I might run 55's.....but i like the sidewall height for the 205/50's and would hate to go higher. Tall sidewalls just dont look good at all

 

Rally you forget that most people don't think like us and want as close to factory settings as possible and enjoy riding high.. (stance, of course)

Personally, I say go with the 195/50's... Take some pics when you do a test fit with the new wheels you picked up

 

please do not do 55 series

 

I'd say it's worth any risk to try it out. It's only one set of tires.

 

hahah if 50 doesnt work or is unsafe (the answer i was looking for).....i would just go back to 205s

My one worry is that the tire calculator i use says that over a 5% difference and you may experience brake failure

 

I know that you are looking for some stretch, but I think the 205s are a better compromise. I know you run your car very low, but they'll fill in the wheel wheels much nicer on your cooper.

That said, I ran 195/45/15s on 15x8s on my Mk2 VR ... H&R Ultra Lows. But it is much easier to pull that off on a VW.

For some strange reason I like a bit meatier tires on a MINI ... but that's just my opinion. I'm even tempted to run some 225/50s on some 15x8s.

 

Some of us wouldn't trade out 55 series tires for the world! They just look right!

 

the look is important - but you realize that the 195/55/15's sidewall is 4.75 millimeters less than the 205/50s - i.e. less than 1/5th of one inch different? (.187 inch to be exact).

 

ooops, I meant 4.75 mm more, not less

 

yah i love how the 205/50s look....and if i could get 195/52's(close the exact same diameter as 205/50) i would in a second. I'm thinking of widening the wheels to 15x8 and think that the 195s would look better than 205s....You have any experience with 205s on 8's?

 

I do realize the difference is small...but stance is incredibly important to me.

So besides peoples' opinions on what looks right etc.....is there a safety hazard to the smaller wheels? The tire calculator warns that above 5% difference from stock could cause brake failure. The 195/50's are just above 5% difference. If the speedo is a bit off...I'm fine with that, but i dont want brakes failing

 

I don't think it's possible for tire diameter to have anything to do with brakes failing, assuming you have the same at all 4 corners. The car has no idea what size your tires are, all it can "see" is the relative rotation from one tire to the rest. I guess if you had different sizes on the same car it's possible that the ABS could get confused and think you are experienceing lockup when you are not...but with the same size at all 4 corners that is not going to be the case.

Jason

 

I could see a 5% difference larger maybe being bad cause of the extra weight associated with it and stock brakes not meant for it. But smaller? Your brakes won't fail. I'd be more afraid of leaving the exhaust on a speedbump than your brakes failing lol...

 

195/50-15 is fine for a MINI except in deep and frequent snow.
Otherwise for street driving it's OK using 15x 5.5 to 7" wide rims.

Outer tire diameter is a shorter than stock 22.7" but best part is you can buy
Goodyear eagle F1 G3-D3 tires for $93 each
280 treadwear AA traction 19 pounds, V speed rated
Excellent tires and the only size in 15" available.

In 195/55-15 in Ultra High Perf Summer tires:
General Exclaim UHP $56
Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 $109
Kumho Ecsta SPT $63 closeout
BF Goodrich g-Force Sport $72
Avon Tech M500 $69
Dunlop Direzza DZ101 $66
Outer tire diameter 23.4" and closer to stock sized. These tires will also work fine with 15x 5.5 to 7" wide rims.