STF (Street Touring FWD) Tire choice
#1
#2
215/45-16 is pretty much the perfect 16" size for MINI's. They'll lower your gearing (improved acceleration), and are about as wide as you can reliably go without any rubbing or modifications to deal with. The 205/45 will give even better accleration, but is getting pretty far from stock diameter for frequent street use, and is more likely to put you between 2nd and 3rd gear on courses than the 215/45.
Azenis work well as duel street/autocross tires, assuming you have proper winter tires available for the white stuff. They're fine in rain if you aren't trying to be a rally driver fording puddles. I've put about 60,000 miles on them (215 model) in my MCS, and another 50,000 miles on my previous autocross car ('93 Probe GT in full STS trim). We get plenty of rain in Indiana, and most of those miles were at or close to highway speeds. It just isn't a problem if you are driving remotely reasonably for the conditions.
I haven't tried the Hankooks in the same size, but they should be pretty good to.
Scott
90SM
Azenis work well as duel street/autocross tires, assuming you have proper winter tires available for the white stuff. They're fine in rain if you aren't trying to be a rally driver fording puddles. I've put about 60,000 miles on them (215 model) in my MCS, and another 50,000 miles on my previous autocross car ('93 Probe GT in full STS trim). We get plenty of rain in Indiana, and most of those miles were at or close to highway speeds. It just isn't a problem if you are driving remotely reasonably for the conditions.
I haven't tried the Hankooks in the same size, but they should be pretty good to.
Scott
90SM
#3
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#11
SEMA update:
Kumho did NOT make it with their new extreme performance tire... And, they don't know when it will hit the US market. Great, thanks guys!
Dunlop DID make it with their new Direzza Sport Z1 - GREAT looking tire. They had a 225/45R16 mounted and it was F-A-T! That's the exact size I want for next AX season... Let's hope it's somewhere between the Azenis and AD07 in price and that they get it here on time... 200 treadwear rating.
http://www.dunloptire.com/news/press...zaSportZ1.html
Maxxis, believe it or not, had a new extreme performance tire at the show that also looked nice, called the Victra i-Pro... 180 treadwear rating...
I told the Yokohama reps that they need to bring the ADVAN AD07 over here in some MINI/Honda/Miata friendly sizes, since they are available in Japan. I told him they were screwing us... And yes, the AD07's are faster than the Azenis by a good margin.
Bridgestone couldn't even be found. I wanted to get a look at the RE01-R in person, but they were absent... Again, Bridgestone is screwing us by not bringing all the sizes over to serve us!
Michelin, BFG, Goodyear and all the others showed up with their typical stuff... No new news from them... Federal had their extreme performance tire there, but it's impossible to find, comes in crappy sizes, and is hella expensive.
I wish the market weren't supporting 18"+ wheels/tires... ugh...
Kumho did NOT make it with their new extreme performance tire... And, they don't know when it will hit the US market. Great, thanks guys!
Dunlop DID make it with their new Direzza Sport Z1 - GREAT looking tire. They had a 225/45R16 mounted and it was F-A-T! That's the exact size I want for next AX season... Let's hope it's somewhere between the Azenis and AD07 in price and that they get it here on time... 200 treadwear rating.
http://www.dunloptire.com/news/press...zaSportZ1.html
Maxxis, believe it or not, had a new extreme performance tire at the show that also looked nice, called the Victra i-Pro... 180 treadwear rating...
I told the Yokohama reps that they need to bring the ADVAN AD07 over here in some MINI/Honda/Miata friendly sizes, since they are available in Japan. I told him they were screwing us... And yes, the AD07's are faster than the Azenis by a good margin.
Bridgestone couldn't even be found. I wanted to get a look at the RE01-R in person, but they were absent... Again, Bridgestone is screwing us by not bringing all the sizes over to serve us!
Michelin, BFG, Goodyear and all the others showed up with their typical stuff... No new news from them... Federal had their extreme performance tire there, but it's impossible to find, comes in crappy sizes, and is hella expensive.
I wish the market weren't supporting 18"+ wheels/tires... ugh...
Last edited by txwerks; 11-05-2006 at 08:44 AM.
#12
#13
Tires tires tires I have finally decided on a set of wheels and tires. I have went with a 15" wheel due to weight and selection I picked Konig's Feather 15" x 6.5" weighing in at 11.9 lbs ea. As for tires I went with Falken Azenis RT-615 205/50 R15 at 21.2 lbs ea. They should arrive on the 9th of Aug (just in time for the final event for the summer series).
Clinton
Clinton
#14
Can anyone recommend the widest practical tire to fit a 17x7 wheel on a R56 MCS with a little extra offset (5mm)? I'm looking for a dual use street tire for street and autox that I could still use for G-Stock if I wanted to. I have narrowed the search to the Falken 615 or Potenza RE-01s. But What size? 225/45-17, or 235/40-17???
#15
Can anyone recommend the widest practical tire to fit a 17x7 wheel on a R56 MCS with a little extra offset (5mm)? I'm looking for a dual use street tire for street and autox that I could still use for G-Stock if I wanted to. I have narrowed the search to the Falken 615 or Potenza RE-01s. But What size? 225/45-17, or 235/40-17???
Well, personally I would go with the Falken's. Widest you can get on the 17" is the 215/40/17. Next size up from that and you would have to get the 235, but I don't think the extra width would help. The 215 are 7.4" and wight 21.2lb were the 235's are 8.7" wide and wight in at 24.3lb. So thats 3 lb per tire for only an inch or so of tread. then you have to worry about rubbing. I have a set of 215s on S lites that I use as my daily drivers so no problem there.
Here is some good info http://www.falkentire.com/rt615_sizes.html
#16
Well, personally I would go with the Falken's. Widest you can get on the 17" is the 215/40/17. Next size up from that and you would have to get the 235, but I don't think the extra width would help. The 215 are 7.4" and wight 21.2lb were the 235's are 8.7" wide and wight in at 24.3lb. So thats 3 lb per tire for only an inch or so of tread. then you have to worry about rubbing. I have a set of 215s on S lites that I use as my daily drivers so no problem there.
Here is some good info http://www.falkentire.com/rt615_sizes.html
Here is some good info http://www.falkentire.com/rt615_sizes.html
#17
I think a 225 would be the bigest you would want to put on there. I wouldn't even think of putting the 235 on if it were mine. Remember, the rim is only 7" wide. the minimum width for the 235 is between 8 - 9.5" not saying it wont fit, just might look funny and not drive right.
#18
I thought I would revive this thead for the 2009 season. All of the chosen options were based on tire performance (real or imagined), overall diameter, tread width, and weight. I stayed away from sizes that were close to stock diameter (approx. 24.0") because the Mini needs help with gearing.
Bridgestone RE-O1R
195/50/15 (22.7") (7.2") (21lbs)
205/45/16 (23.2") (7.5") (21lbs)
Toyo R1R
195/50/15 (22.7") (7.5") (20lbs)
195/55/15 (23.5")
205/50/15 (23.2")
225/45/15 (23.2")
205/45/16 (23.2")
Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1
195/55/15 (23.5") (NA) (20lbs)
215/40/17 (23.8") (NA) (22lbs)
Falken RT-615 (maybe past its prime)
205/50/15 (23.2") (7.6") (20.8lbs)
205/40/16 (22.5") (7.2") (18.2lbs)
215/45/16 (23.5") (8.0") (21.7lbs)
205/40/17 (23.4") (7.2") (19.4lbs)
215/40/17 (23.9") (7.4") (21.2lbs)
Kumho Ecsta XS
205/50/15 (22.8") (NA) (19lbs)
215/45/16 (23.6") (NA) (20lbs)
Bridgestone RE-O1R
195/50/15 (22.7") (7.2") (21lbs)
205/45/16 (23.2") (7.5") (21lbs)
Toyo R1R
195/50/15 (22.7") (7.5") (20lbs)
195/55/15 (23.5")
205/50/15 (23.2")
225/45/15 (23.2")
205/45/16 (23.2")
Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1
195/55/15 (23.5") (NA) (20lbs)
215/40/17 (23.8") (NA) (22lbs)
Falken RT-615 (maybe past its prime)
205/50/15 (23.2") (7.6") (20.8lbs)
205/40/16 (22.5") (7.2") (18.2lbs)
215/45/16 (23.5") (8.0") (21.7lbs)
205/40/17 (23.4") (7.2") (19.4lbs)
215/40/17 (23.9") (7.4") (21.2lbs)
Kumho Ecsta XS
205/50/15 (22.8") (NA) (19lbs)
215/45/16 (23.6") (NA) (20lbs)
Last edited by 41 h stock; 12-29-2008 at 07:00 PM.
#19
Can anyone recommend the widest practical tire to fit a 17x7 wheel on a R56 MCS with a little extra offset (5mm)? I'm looking for a dual use street tire for street and autox that I could still use for G-Stock if I wanted to. I have narrowed the search to the Falken 615 or Potenza RE-01s. But What size? 225/45-17, or 235/40-17???
#21
adding tread width - where I have it
Bridgestone RE-O1R
195/50/15 (22.7") --> 7.2"
205/45/16 (23.2")
Toyo R1R
195/50/15 (22.7") --> 7.5"
205/50/15 (23.2")
225/45/15 (23.2") --> baited breath...
205/45/16 (23.2")
Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1
195/55/15 (23.5") --> not published?
215/40/17 (23.8")
Falken RT-615 (maybe past its prime)
205/50/15 (23.2") --> 7.6"
205/40/16 (22.5")
215/45/16 (23.5")
205/40/17 (23.4")
215/40/17 (23.9)
Bridgestone RE-O1R
195/50/15 (22.7") --> 7.2"
205/45/16 (23.2")
Toyo R1R
195/50/15 (22.7") --> 7.5"
205/50/15 (23.2")
225/45/15 (23.2") --> baited breath...
205/45/16 (23.2")
Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1
195/55/15 (23.5") --> not published?
215/40/17 (23.8")
Falken RT-615 (maybe past its prime)
205/50/15 (23.2") --> 7.6"
205/40/16 (22.5")
215/45/16 (23.5")
205/40/17 (23.4")
215/40/17 (23.9)
#22
#23
If you are limited to stock wheel diameter then that will limit your tread width by default. Unless you want to try and stretch a 225 tire on a 6" rim go ahead..but it might destroy the sidewall if you can get it to hold air. Your talking mounting an almost 9" wide tire to a 6" or 6.5" rim good luck with that. I personaly wouldn't do it.
#24
If you are limited to stock wheel diameter then that will limit your tread width by default. Unless you want to try and stretch a 225 tire on a 6" rim go ahead..but it might destroy the sidewall if you can get it to hold air. Your talking mounting an almost 9" wide tire to a 6" or 6.5" rim good luck with that. I personaly wouldn't do it.
As for a 225 width tire on a narrow rim, I have seen many people stuff a 225/50/13 Hoosier onto a 5" rim (myself included). You may be able to get away with it using R compound race tires with stiff sidewalls, but forget about doing it to a "true" street tire. In this case you are correct in wanting a rim wide enough to compensate the tire.
As for maximum tire on a stock 5.5" rim, I would be very comfortable putting a 205/50/15 on it.
Hope that helps