I need street tires for 16" X-lites. I really want the Azenis but the RT215's are all sold out and the 16"s are only in 205-40. They are about 2" smaller diameter than stock. The new 215-45-16 won't be out till maybe 2nd qtr. 2006. I don't care about wet weather as I'm in SoCal. What do you recommend? I just want real sticky ones that maybe ok for Autocross too. GRM tested Hankook and though cornering was OK, the straight line accel and decel were not real good - ABS would probably kick in a lot. High void area in center of tire. I don't mind a little smaller, but 2" smaller - yikes. I think Andy runs that but I do some highways and that may be too small except for autocross. The 205-40-16 RT615 on stock rim would probably be bitchin for autocross though. Would Yok A032 (H?) be Ok? What size?

thanks in advance.

 

205/50/16's S03's or GSD3's.

 

I've had both the S03 and the GSD3 in 205/50/16. To decode... the S03 is the Bridgestone Potenze Pole Position S-03 and the GSD3 is the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3. The Bridgestone has more grip than the Goodyear, but is more expensive. Neither one will last all that long. I drive a lot, and have started doing autocrosses and track days - I barely get a summer out of these tires. They both get noisy towards the end of their life.

If you want a lot of performance, these tires fit the bill.

 

Toyo Proxes T1Rs in 215/40/16 are working great for me. Cheap, light, short, quite, smooth, and fast (street and track). Better than factory in every way (unless I run over a nail).

Wes

 

You're looking for a good street tire that can be used for autocross and fit a 16" rim on a MINI.

Yokohama A032 don't come in good sizes for 16" wheels, only 225/50-16 which is 24.9" tall (a bit too large for lowered MINIs but could be run with a stock suspension). 60 tread wear, A traction, 23 pounds. $149 on special for hard compound.

Looking just at 215/45-16 tires from the tirerack.com:
http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=EZ3&url=/tires/Compare1.jsp&width=215%2F&ratio=45&diameter=16&sta rtIndex=0&search=true&pagelen=20&pagenum=1&pagemar k=1&RunFlat=All&x=106&y=5
Bridgestone Potenza RE010/RE040 120/140 tread wear respectively
Yokohama A022H0 120 tread wear $208 each
Note this size fits rims 16x7 to 8.5" wide for optimal fit. The stock MINI rim is 16x6.5". These tires are less well suited for street use due to low tread wear ratings and relatively high cost per tire.

Hankook Ventus Rs2 Z212 $85 each (autocross/street) 200 wear 20.5lbs.
http://edgeracing.com/tire/1517/

For 205/40-16 tires at tirerack:
http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=EZ3&url=/tires/Compare1.jsp&width=205%2F&ratio=40&diameter=16&sta rtIndex=0&search=true&pagelen=20&pagenum=1&pagemar k=1&RunFlat=All&x=44&y=6
The selection of street tires with better tread ratings is much better as are some of the prices.
BFG g-Force T/A KDW2 $124 each 22.4" tire diameter (shorter than stock)
Kumho SPT $78
Yokohama Parada Spec 2 $71
Note these tires are meant for rims 16x7-8" wide. Tires in this size are well suited for daily street use and can be taken on the track (but they can wear)

Talk to Alex@tirerack for more info on these tirerack options.

Also in 205/40-16
http://edgeracing.com/tire/1533/
Falken Azenis RT-615 $89 each 200 wear (autocross/street tire)
18.3 pounds each. This tire and the Hankook Z212 are better suited for "autocross" and track use with capability of being driven on the street due to 200 tread wear rating.

 

I'd give the Hankook z212's a shot - they were pretty quick in Grassroots Motorsports street-tire shootout...