Gents....what is one of the more aggressive Street Legal/Safe Summer tires that also would perform "decent" on the track?

Since I have 3x Avon Tech R (slicks) 225/45/17 and 2x Kumho Victoracer V700 I might be selling since I can seem to complete the set...might be the most economical to sell those and buy a pair of Summer tires that I will get 3-4 months out before they are done with a 1-2 track days at the end of the Summer and a couple of autocross events.

These will be going on a set of SSR Comp 17x7.5 wheels.

The Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1's or Bridgestone Potenza RE-01R seemed reasonably priced in 215/45/17

Thanks

Cody

 

couple of friends of mine have used the Hankook Ventus RS-2, and apparently they are pretty good, gets even better when hot i was told than the Falken Azenis, and handles rain even better

what i want to see is the new Toyo R1-R

other prime suspects include the BS RE01R, and the Dunlop Z1s

 

Why not just mount up two of the Tech R's and two of the Victoracers, run one brand in the front and the other in the rear. Not exactly perfect, but you have the tires, why not go ahead and use them up?

Jason

 

If you do use the Victoracers and Avon Tech Ra tires for the track then what would you use for street?

For both street and some track or autocross-

Extreme performance tires-
Bridgestone Potenza RE-01R in 215/45-17 ($164 24 lbs) or 205/45-17 ($155 22 lbs) both fit the stock size is slightly smaller for better gearing and clearance with lower weight.
Or 235/40-17 $178 180 treadwear 25 lbs

Kumho Ecsta MX 220 treadwear
205/40-17 $81 19 lbs
215/40-17 $108 20 lbs
215/45-17 $109 21 lbs

For Max Performance Tires-
Falken Azenis Rt615 $108 in 215/45-17 200 treadwear 22.5 lbs
Hankook Ventus Rs2 Z212 $99 in 215/45-17 22 lbs
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 235/40-17 $182 each 240 treadwear 23 lbs

 

Although I have no experience with these tires, they look pretty cool. If I had the money for a set each summer, I'd use them.


michelin pilot sport cup

 

That is a good point. Suppose that is a cheaper option then eating up my street rubber. Guess only issue there is I would have to remount the tires when I wanted to do track events or run the stock S-Lites for my Summer tires and SSR's for track.

But not a huge deal I guess

 

Don't forget about the Nitto NT-01. Not sure how they are in the rain but I've been running them as street tires for about a month and golly they are fun.

 

Yokahama S-Drive. Good for light tracks and good for street and decent but not great in rain. Has been tested by some racers I know.

 

If it was me (which it's not....) I'd go the S-Lite route for street.....why waste a perfectly good set of SSR's on the street? **ducks and covers**

 

Michelin Pilot Sport Cup are competition tires meant for track use.
I have run these for street and track use. Very expensive and wears fast on the street. Durable for track use but other tires less costly will also work and could last longer on the street.

Treadwear is 80 and for 17" wheels they do not come in sizes that will easily fit a MINI. Maybe if you have coilovers with ride height adjustment for the larger than stock 25" tire diameter. 225/45-17 ($246 each but closeout special for heat cycled ones) has 25.1" tire diameter. Wide fender kit or arch trimming would work.

Smallest of the 17" tires would be-
245/40-17 24.7" tire diameter (still larger than stock) $248 each
Fits rims 8-9.5" wide, perfect for 8.5" wide rim
It's not a good match for 17x7 rims.

 

I was under the impression that you can't run wider than 7.5 on Minis without running in to too much of a problem. But 9" wide???

Also, can you fit a 18 x 8 size wheels on an MCS with coil overs without having to resort to too much of modifications to make it fit?

 

One note about Yokohama S.Drive tires- it got a poor review in Evo Magazine when compared to other performance minded tires late last year. In that test Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymetic did very well.

You sure can run wider than 7.5" wide rims on any MINI. I have 15x8 with 225/45-15 tires for track and they work fine with no spacers up front and 3mm spacer in the rear for enough clearance with rear lower trailing arm.
I have not modded the inner wheel arch linings other than some friendly rubbing from my oversized 215/45-17 street tires and I have basic studs and nuts- nothing excessive.

There any many wheel solutions for the MINI and you can run even very wide rims but you'll either need wide fender kits or cut the wheel arch plastic or use tires more narrow than the rims to create more clearance along with lots of negative camber.

18x8 wheels is not a problem with any MINI. Just leave enough clearance by using tires than are about 24" tire diameter or less than stock and use a wheel that has adequate offset for clearance in the wheel well and outside, about +38 to 40 mm offset. If you lower your suspension you'll have less clearance.

I've seen MINIs with 9" wide rims. In the Tire forum there is a tread for those with wider than 8" wide rims.