So, I got some new tires Bridgestones RE-11's (215/45/17), I may have only driveing on them but I must say ! I love them I have never had a tire grip so much, super impressed, I now am taking corners much faster and I wont go any faster despite the mini wants to. Road noise is very quiet, by far the quietest tires I've had on the mini and this is my fourth set. I have yet to see how they displace water but I have driven on wet road (after raining) and I also much say super impressed, I didnt push them as they are new and I still need to "learn" their limits. The only issue I have with them is they rub, its not the tires fault its my own, I mini is lowered on PSS9's and I went from a 40series falken tire to a 45. I love the 45 series becuse the car rides a bit softer but that extra bit of tire makes it rub, I did the "quick" fix and cut out some of my wheelwell and fender lining which helped but they still rub when going down the bumpy highway and on aggressive corering. I dont think firestone makes then in a 40 series for a 215, so Im going to A: raise the rear of my mini or B: alter my wheelwells. these are by far the best tires I have drove on, well worth the $$$ Brigdestone for life now.

I will report more on the treadwear as I drive more on them.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._4611983_n.jpg

 

Yep, there's a reason why Bridgestone RE-11s are the weapon of choice for many if not the majority of National Tour SCCA Solo competitors...

Also in that class of super sticky are the Dunlop Direzza Z1 and the Toyo R1R (the latter being preferred for rain by many).

ST* cars (with set up suspension) routinely pull more than 1 G lateral with this class of street tire (TW 140) and some go higher -- I've heard 1.2 quoted and seen 1.13 on my own car.

 

I believe I saw an older post by you that you were replacing R1R's with Star Specs. If you did, which do you prefer?

 

The Star Specs, but here's why.

I spent two years trying to convince myself that 225/45-15 would be faster.

I tried the RS3 in '08, and the R1R in '09.

The R1R was killer in the rain, and earned me the only top PAX in an SCCA regional solo that I will likely ever see (and the Jeff Gordon Trophy), but it was NOT all that in the dry.

Neither was the RS3.

I suspect that the issue in both cases was related to the 15x7 Kosei rims that I run, which pinch the beads a little bit with a 225 tire. That slight pinch allows the contact patch to deform when the relatively narrow rim shifts to the outside under maximum dry grip.

So I could either get the 15x8 RPF1, or go back to a narrower tire.

Since the best tire of the last three years was the 195/55-15 Z1, and since I could get a 205/50-15 this year that is what I went with, and no regrets.

Mind you I have never tried the RE-11, but I have certainly been beaten by it! Call me contrary...

Cheers,

Charlie

 

Oh drats, complications of different sizes.

Thanks!

 

Both the Star Specs and RS3 should have come out in 205/50-15 from the get go. But I am considering the Enkie 15x8 RPF1 or 6UL 15x8s to better fit 225/45-15. Which means I would sell my 15x7 Motegi Trak Lites 2.0 at 10.1lbs.

 

which 225 do you have in mind?