I'm a novice when it comes to tires so I thought I ask for some help. I have an 05' MCS lowered with 15 x 7 SSR Competition wheels. I am currently running the BF Goodrich KDW2 205/50/15 tires and think they are fantastic in every way. However, I wanted to get more tread to the pavement, but stick with street legal tires...no switching back and forth! I've been looking at the different threads but I seem more confused now. Any recommendations for the best 225/?/15 size tires for street use, auto-x, and occasional track days? Someone mentioned the Toyo RA-1's but said they were not ideal for auto-x because they take time to warm up. I'm in Atlanta so that may not be a problem. I wish they made the KDW's in 225/ /15 sizes but I couldn't find them? Lastly, will I need spacers??? Thanks for your help?

 

You could check on this site for approx. size comparisons.

The BFG KDW are probably one of the best choices for all-around performance. The GY f1's would be another good choice.

 

Are you running STX (like the forums says?) If so, that affects tire choices. Treadwear minimum is 140, so RA-1 is out as it has a treadwear of either 100 or 40 depending on the year it was made.

 

Go with the Bridgestone RE-01R, they have a treadwear of 140 and are proving to be a great tire for the STS and STS2 FWD cars. I'd guess they would be great in STX in a 205/45/16 for the Mini.

 

Yes, my hubby is running STX.

 

I'm running the Bridegestone RE 01 Rs.

Had them on the car at Talledega.

Best "street" tire I've had. Now I use Toyo RA1 as a street tire from time to time, so I'm not counting those.

The Bridgestone's might be excellent for Ryan's applications.

FWIW - I prefer them to the Falkens so many folks have been using. For me the Falkens got greasy on hot days.

Except that they don't come in 205, only 195. But when you put them side by side, they appear to be as wide as most 205s.

And the price is right at Tire Rack.

 

For auto-x as you know, I use 225/45-15 Hoosiers. But then I have to change tires.

Whether or not you'll need spacers has something (maybe a lot) to do with your wheel offset. My 15x7 Kosei K1-TS have an ET of 38mm. I need 3 mm spacers to work with the Hoosiers. But the Hoosiers just may be the widest 225s out there.

But hey, the Toyo 225/45-15 RA1s are so fat (compared to 205s) they might not need to warm up!

I've used them in the summer as a street/track day tire (but in the 205/50-15 size). They are fabulous in this application. But they do like a bit of heat. Plus...

I've never gotten over about 7,000 miles out of them. Of course I did NOT start with shaved tires.

Not sure if I'd wanta have 225-45-or-50-15s for everyday street tires though.

Just actually paid attention to your post...

The RA1 is an R compound and as such, can't be used in STX.

 

...

 

Well I guess I'm doing the BMWCCA more now than the SCCA anyway and their class system is totally different. So are you suggesting I get the Toyo RA-1 if I'm not worried about staying in STX? Why not 225/45 or 50/15 for street tires? Would 205's in the RA-1's be wider than my BFG's? My offset says +42...so do you think I need spacers for 225's.
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Are you out to win your class? What class is it? F?

For me, I just wanna have fun and not get embarrassed. I was lucky to win it last year.

For me 225s are a bit too busy at bumpy intersections and on uneven surfaces. So I like 195, 205, maybe even 215 for the street.

You could try 225s and see if it rubs. Spacers are easy to get if you need 'em.

The Hoosier 225/45-15s are so darn wide, so it's hard to know with another car and other tires.

 

MY recommendation is that since you say you're a novice, go with the Falken Azenis or Hankook RS2 z212. They're cheaper and perform "good enough" for your first year, or two, or three. Getting something like an RA1 won't make you that much faster, may mask some bad habits, cost more, and wear out faster (so they cost even more).

 

He's not a novice.

I've seen him out there for at least two years.

He's pretty quick, too.

I do agree with your advice for novices, however. 100%!

 

Ahhh.... I got confused by:
and though novice period.

Sorry.

 

 

I just bought a set of Kosei K1-TS 15x7, 38 offset from Tire Rack with BFG T/A KD in 225/50x15. With a 5mm spacer on the front I do NOT have any rubbing front or back. My car is a 2006 MCS JWC and yes they do fit over the Cooper Works brakes. My front struts are M7.

 

Sounds good!

How do you like that rig on the street?

How do the KDs do in wet weather?

I wimped out about a year ago and bought the KDWs, and always wished I'd gone for the KDs.

Is your car lowered?

 

Try this thread...
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=98118

FYI the car has PAX'd as high as 5th, and in good hands it's genuinely quick. If The RE-01R came in 205 I'd switch, and last year's Falken 205/50-15s were at least as good. This year I just went for cheap 225s and frankly haven't regretted it.

 

I've been on a R-Compound info kick lately. So this might help...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDKq626-3Ag
(Guy autocrossing a BMW. I asked how he liked the tires for autox...loves them.) I found a link on a BMW site where he goes into more depth, but now I lost it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDKq626-3Ag
Comprehensive review of the tires by a guy who drives an M3. Looks like he might have gotten tires, or at least stickers from BFG, but the info seems legit.

HTH

 

Just realized I spaced and posted the same link twice...

Here's the M3 guy at VIR running the new BFGoodrich g-Force R1.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H9yCQUp1Rw

Duh. sorry.

 

I really like the tires on the street with good grip in the dry. as for thr wet I have only been in the rain once and the seem OK as I don't push much in the rain anyway. I am really impressed with the tires at the autoX, they seem to have excellent traction and very good turn in. My car is lowered 1.5 inches.

Terry

 

Would this size effect the ABS at all? Maybe making the ABS come in to play a little sooner? Doesn't the 205/45 16 only come in a 180 treadwear?

 

So...

For those of us that like little bitty wheels (15") in STX, the waiting continues...

Bridgestone RE-01R - Nothing wider than 195 which has a 7.2" tread
Hankook RS-2 - a nice 225/45 with 8" wide tread, but not sticky enough
Dunlop Z1 - Nothing wider than 195 - no tread width available
Toyo R1R - 195 out, 225/45 release date uncertain at present
Federal 595RS-R - a 205/50 out with 7.1" tread, qualities uncertain at present
Falken 615 - a 205/50 available with 7.6" wide tread, a known quantity

Ah winter!

 

You can get Kuhmo MX's in 205/50-15 also. I don't know how they compare to the one's listed but I've seen a few people running them.

 

Folks I just placed an order for R1R in 225/45-15. Town Fair Tire has the item in their computer.

Section Width: 8.86"
Diameter: 22.97"
Revs/Mile: 905
Part Number: #236970
Tread Depth: 8/32"

In their warehouse April 1st.

Cheers,

Charlie

 

DRAT and TARNATION!

Having just spent an hour chatting with the TF folks, and through them with Toyo, here is the correction. My sincere apologies for posting bad information here.

R1R 225/45-15 Part Number is #170140

The item is in manufacturing at this time, however the Toyo systems do NOT yet have price or firm availability. The Toyo rep that spoke with Dan at Town Fair tire guessed that the delay could be as little as 10 days, or as much as a month.

I will update periodically, and make darn sure there are no further misunderstandings.

Edit: No change in status as of March 26th.
Edit: Still no availability on the 15" R1R sizes beyond the 195 as of April 5th....

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm............

Ah well, Time for some 195/55-15 Direzza Z1 Star Spec - we shall see how Gollum likes those!

I sure did want those 225s though, pity the timing is such but the season opener is 1 week out and the hockey pucks now on the racing rims would not be even slightly funny in competition.