Hi all,

I'm getting conflicting info and would like to settle this. Alex from Tirerack recommends against the 225/50R16's for the R56 as a 225 with a diameter greater than 23.5" will rub... There are threads here that mention some people running 225/50R16 Victoracers without a problem. Are they doing something special to run them?

The Kumho V710 has a rim width range of 6-8" and has a diameter of 24.7". OEM tire diameters are around 24.5".

I am trying to figure out which tire to run and I know a lot of R53 drivers use the 215/40R16 and some R56 drivers use the 225/40R17...I'm just seeing what other options there are and how well they work. Thanks for any info.

 

I think you meant greater than 24.5" will rub (have a greater risk).

For 16" rims from 6-8" wide. Using Kumho V710 as example-
225/50-16 Tread width 9" best fit 7" rim, tire diam of 24.7" 24 lbs
215/40-16 Tread width 8.5" best fit 7.5" rim, tire diam of 22.6" 19 lbs

Just given this I'd choose the 215/40-16 anyday for track or autocross.
You don't want a large tire diameter. You'd get much better lowered gearing from 22.6", that's excellent. By itself that would be great. You also drop 5 pounds per tire, by itself that would be great. You do loose a little on wideness but it's small if you use rims that are 16x7 or wider.

We stay away from 17" rims just because of the weight and relatively fewer competition tires in good sizes but for track use there are possibilities.

More common is to pick 15x7 or 15x8" rims and 225/45-15 tires or at largest 225/50-15 (again it's taller than I'd like). However Big brake kits will not fit 15" rims and some 16" rims, then 17" rims are a better match.

 

Agreed - the 225/50R15 or 225/45R16 seem to be the better choices out there based on our track testing (which is a LOT!). I ran 225/50R15's for a long time - great combination of width and O.D. I think 'hune is right though, in the V710's, I'd go with 215/40R16 anyday over the 225/50R16's...

Personally, I still favor the 225/50R15 as the hands-down choice for the MINI - any model!

As far as BBK's go, the Wilwood 11.75" kit works well for autocross and will fit under most 15" wheels... For road racing or time trials, I have to defer to our forthcoming 11.75 x 1.25" kit as the dominating choice...

 

Thanks for the responses guys.

I'll be running an '07 MCS in stock class autocrossing, so I'm limited to 16" and 17". The reason why I'm leery of the 215/40R16 is because it is SO much smaller. Is the gearing really an advantage if you're a) spinning your tires out of the corners and b) losing 5 mph from your top speed in 2nd? This probably isn't a problem with the MC, but I'd think the new MCS would manhandle those 215's...then again, this will be my first mini.

Anyway, it looks like the guys at the Milwaukee NT this weekend are all running Hoosiers, which I'll take to mean the 225/40R17. Maybe that's the way to go with the R56. Bummer, I actually wish it were the 16's because they're soooo much cheaper. Thanks guys.

 

I'd still vote 215/40R16... but, the 225/40R17 might work well, too. Check out what's working well in G Stock, with the caveat that all courses/surfaces are different.

 

Thanks for the input. I know the 215's the time-tested proven tire for the R53...I guess the verdict is still out for the R56. I'm still interested to know if anybody's tried the 225/50R16, though. I don't think I'll get an answer on whether or not it'll fit. What I do know is that it raises the entire car about an inch as compared to the 215, so that might not be so good...

 

For G stock and '07 MCS your rims will be-
16x6.5
or 17x7

See
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=97910
At the national level-
215/40-16 Kumho's and 205/45-16 Hoosier A6.
Both are good.
For stock rims the S-winders are light.

For 17"
225/40-17 Hoosier A6 is possible 23.9" tire diam 20 lbs.

Yes, smaller tire diameter is good.
To reduce wheel spin apply throttle more evenly, don't stomp.
And use the stickiest tires you can find for more traction. Make tire pressures just a tad on the lower range for your surface. Don't worry about top speed, you'll likely never hit 3rd gear unless your local area course allows for that. Most times SCCA limits courses to highway speeds for the very fastest of cars (usually the modded Camaros and Corvettes, not MINIs).

 

Great info minihune. I'm starting to feel that the 16's aren't necessarily going to be disadvantaged compared to the 17's. I'll see how the R56's w/17" look tomorrow at the Milwaukee NT. There are going to be a lot of good drivers there.

Thanks again for the input...maybe I should ditch my idea of going for the 225/50R16

 

Unless you know something that the national level G Stock drivers don't know I would work with what they have had success with, rather than try something else.

225/50-16 isn't a bad idea, it's just not the most advantageous solution.

In my area the top G stock driver has a MCS using SSR comps in 16x6.5 with 205/45-16 Hoosier A6. He gets about 10th to 15th place out of 110-120 drivers and finishes 1st to 3rd in PAX overall.