As soon as I get home I'm gonna break out the MasterCard and order 'em up.

15" Kosei K1 TS in dark gray with Kumho Ecsta 711 in 205/50-15.

Sure, I could have gone with Falken Azenis, but I've had the Kumhos before and they wear pretty well, though they're kinda soft. But I can have them delivered mounted and balanced, and saving the money on tires and mounting/balancing is what's going to keep this purchase feasible for yours truly.

So...looks like next week should be do or die - hopefully they'll fit without any rubbing (+38mm o/s but I'm lowered on H&Rs - camber set to -1.0 out back). I guess I can always get another -0.5 degree in the back in case they need a tuck! Unfortunately I am making a trip to see a friend in NY who is not well, so I had to push back dyno time

Maybe I'll make the trip on the new wheels/shoes and see how they perform!

Will post pics and give impressions as I get the seat time

Marty

 

Marty,

Interesting you went with light 10.6 pound 15x7" Kosei K1 TS rims


You have an MCS not an MC like I would have initially guessed. Are you using them for street only or some autocross? 15x7" is good for autocross but with 225/45-15 sized tires. +38mm offset might be a problem for HR springs or you could be lucky. Be prepared for some trimming esp under load- like four people in the car or heavy loads. Alex@tirerack should know if you will rub. Usually for those springs we think about +40mm as the limit for offset so it will be close.

Let us know how things work out and post some pictures if you can later.

 

Hi B-Rad,

I'm going to try them out initially for more spirited driving and a driver's school at Summit Point Raceway (hosted by MINI of Towson, where I bought my car last August, on October 2 and 3) in West Virginia. However, since I've spent this year getting used to really pushing the car and getting the mods pretty much wrapped up, I'll start up with SCCA in the spring even though I'm not even CLOSE to being in a stock class.

I'll be saving up a few hundred bucks over the winter months to try out some wider rubber IF the 205/50s pan out initially. Even if they're super close and I can't go to 225/45s, I will probably end up with Azenis in 205/50 or maybe V700s/710s in 205/50 for auto-x. I don't really don much extended track driving, and truthfully my auto-x experience is very limited. Still I'm addicted and can't wait to get into it in the spring. The October driver's school will be my first MINI track event, so I am brimming with excitement as I get ready to really test this focker out.

So...that pretty much leaves camber plates (which I'm ordering today from RDR) and maybe an ECU over the next few months, but I wanted to get into a set of lighter wheels and grippy non-run-flats before I start tricking my front wheel settings.

Thus far I've only seen 17" TS's on a MINI. I'm such a sucker for 15"ers on these cars, though!!! I can't thank you, SuperMINI, and Bisch enough for nudging me in that direction many months ago.

Marty

 

225/45 15 in short enough in diameter rubbing hasn't been an issue

Alex

 

Really? Even with a 38mm offset and H&R springs? That's great news!

Unfortunately I'll have to wait until the spring or winter until I can w/ 225/45s as I will quickly deplete my funds with this TSs and 711s.

Thanks for your advice along the way, Alex. You are a fantastic asset to us here on NAM.

Marty

 

Its due to the short 23 inch diameter!

Alex

 

Alex,

I'd love to use this size tire but it's not available...at least when I search for the size in Max and Ultra Hi catagories on TireRack.com, only in competition tires. Are there any tire models that are STS legal in this size?

BTW, loving the Nero M+S on the Integra. Thanks.