If there are intermediate or truely wet race conditions,
what tires are you using?

Street tires like-

Extreme Performance Summer tires:
Bridgestone Potenza RE-01R
Kumho Ecsta MX

or Max Performance Summer tires:
Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3

Anyone use Hooiser radial wet?
205/50-15 $197 each
225/55-15 $204 each
225/45-17 $230 each

Ideally you can drive to the event on the wet race tires on the street.
And install dry race wheels that you carry. If it rains then put on the wet tires.

Suggestions?
The Bridgestone Potenza RE-01R got good tirerack test results in the wet.
Soft rubber and comes in 205/45-17 ($156 each) so would fit stock MINI 17x7 rim. Also in 215/45-17 ($164 each)

 

Unless there are big puddles I stay on my dry race tires. You could use full tread Kumho Victoracers or Ecsta V-700's. You could drive those on the street if you thought it was going to rain. I wouldn't try that with the Hoosier radial wets. They are very soft and will overheat if you run them in the dry.

 

I used Yokohama A048s last season for exactly this purpose, and was quite happy with them. Dry or wet, they'll out-stick the Bridgestones or any other "real" street tires. Nobody is going to keep up with you on an off-ramp if you've got these on!

Dry grip is comparable to the Avon Tech RAs, to give you something to compare to. In a steady Spring rain, after 3 runs on a short 38second course the tires were bone dry after a couple minutes in grid while all the cars around on Azenis or similar street tires still had wet tires since they hadn't gotten as much heat in them.

They absolutely can be used on the street, rain or shine, but they are soft and won't last as long. I put roughly 3000 street miles on them, plus a number of autocrosses. Interstates in the rain are no problem. Road noise is noticable though, not that it will be a concern.

Two thumbs up for the Yok's as rain/intermediate tires.

Scott
90SM

 

A048 in what size?
205/50-15
or 225/50-15
using 15x7 rims front and rear or

using 15x8 rims
225/50-15 but put them only on the fronts in wet and run
15x8 with Hoosier A6 225/45-15 in the rears (hope that doesn't slide around too much)

I assume medium compound for autocross.

 

I used 225/50-15 on 15x7 Kosei K1Rs. 5mm spacer up front (3mm would work), none in back.

15x8 would be better yet. I would be inclinded to keep the same tires all the way around.

Scott
90SM

 

Those were Kosei K1 TS?

You needed spacers because what was not fitting? The tire was rubbing or the rim was rubbing and on what?

If I use 15x8 rims that's wider, I'd expect more rubbing. Right now I don't have rubbing using 15x8 and 225/45-15 in the front but 225/50-15 is taller.

What about same 225/50-15 tires front and rear but use 15x8 rims for the front and 15x7 rims for the rear. I have a spare set of 15x8 I can use and a full set of 15x7 and full set of 15x8 (currently using HooiserA6).

I like the idea of using A048 for wet events, others have them at autocross but they are used in the dry and can't keep up with Kumho V710 or Hooiser A6.

 

Nope, Kosei K1-R (s, as in plural, as in four ). Same width and offset as the K1-TS in 15", but different design and a touch heavier. These were out for years before the TS, and in more sizes.

Using the same wheels (I had two sets), the 225/45-15 Avons didn't rub anywhere that I noticed, though they were really close to the damper body up front. With the 225/50-15 Yokahama A048s (there's that evil "s" again ), the fronts dragged very slightly on the damper bodies. A 5mm spacer gave them some room.

In the rear, if the shocks were set soft and there was a load in the back the outer edge of the tires would kiss the plastic fender lip. I could never hear it, but could see evidence when looking at the tires. About halfway through the life of the tires it stopped. I've raised the car a touch since then, so I suspect there wouldn't be any issue if I put another set on.

I don't know what would happen with the 15x8 wheels. If the 225/45 tires you are using now don't touch, the 225/50 may not either. I suspect the rears will be a tiny bit shorter by virtue of being stretched more. Worst case, you know what to watch for and it's easy to fix.

Like you've seen, they don't grip like a Hoosier in the dry but they are tons better than a regular summer tire in the dry or wet.

Scott
90SM

 

I decided to go with-

Bridgestone Potenza RE-01R in 195/50-15 using my old 15x7" rims.

Much smaller than stock tire diameter but it's OK.

Tire and rim about 31.6 lbs each combo.

Overall ride comfort for street use and noise is very good.

Handling on dry for street use is very good.

Haven't really had much chance to try it in the wet yet.

At autocross I ran today-

35.46 seconds using 15x8 rims with Hoosier A6 225/45-15 tires
and
38.0 seconds using 15x7 rims with RE-01R using the same suspension settings. (maybe it is from using the narrow 195mm width?)
and I used to get run times +2 seconds slower than R compound tires while using 3 year old Bridgestone Potenza S-03s in 215/45-17.

So I wonder how good RE-01Rs would be on my light 17x7 rims
in
215/45-17
or
205/45-17

You get extra width and 45 series sidewall but a bit more weight at 24 and 22 lbs respectively and slightly taller tire diameter for the 215/45-17 tire.

 

I run 225/45-15 Hoosiers for auto-x (A) and track days (R).

I bought 15" RE01Rs for advanced street and with the hope of track day use.

They're ok for street, but don't approach the Hoosiers for either competitive application.

Maybe it's the width. But also the 15" version has a 180 treadwear rating, whereas the 17" has a 140!

I have some friends who run the 17" RE01Rs (shaved to 6/32) on auto-x courses with excellent results. Wet or dry.

 

For tires like the RE-01R with two different wear ratings- 140 vs 180,
How are the tires different that allows for the difference in wear ratings?

Perhaps those rated 140 are designed for better contact with the track and thus faster wear- could be tread pattern given width and side wall height or even the sidewall contruction/materials.

I have the 195/50-15 rated at 180 treadwear. I might consider a 215/45-17 for my 17" rims next. I like the tire but was not really that impressed with the 15" version I have. Some tires are V and some W speed rated but it crosses over the treadwear ratings.

In 17" the 140 rated tires are
225/45-17
235/40-17
245/40-17

205/45-17
215/45-17
are both 180 treadwear

 

I agree on the 15s. They're ok, but I don't think they work as well as my old Pole Position S03s, in 205/50-15 size.

I wasn't aware of the two wear ratings for various 17s. Interesting that the more track oriented widths are 140...

 

Yes, that is what I found but I only ran the RE-01R once so far.

Old worn Bridgestone S-03 215/45-17 were faster than new RE-01R in 195/50-15 but I have not optimized tire pressures yet, I'm running a tire 20 mm more narrow and I have full tread depth on the new tires.

My idea is to use the RE-01R for wet autocross so full tread is OK, just wearing them a little more on the street for some grip.

I have 17x7 rims so I might also get some 215/45-17 and mount them for dry fun runs. Kinda tall tire diameter for autocross competition- might be OK for track lapping.

 

I sold my RE-01R in 195/50-15 on 15x7 rims.

Now ready to mount RE-01R in 205/45-17 on 17x7 rims for wet autocross and funruns. Supposed to be good in a little wet conditions, not standing water.

I had also considered
Goodyear Eagle R1 GSD3 in 215/40-17 or 205/40-17
Good for standing water, good hydroplane resistance, good for street use, not as good in dry.

Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 in 215/40-17 Good in dry handling, moderately good in wet, not as comfortable for street use but OK. Better price.