Does anyone have experience with any tires sized 195/60/15 that have very stiff sidewalls? I dont want to go to runflats but I want less squish than passenger tires. I know that with this size, the sidewall is high and squish is anavoidable. But I need that sidewall to absorb potholes on the crappy roads here, yet I dont want to loose my go kart handling. Any sugestions are welcome.

 

I've been looking at this thread, might healp Why not 15's??????

 

No need to be concerned about the runflat part of it (runflats not available in 15").

As a very rough rule of thumb, a higher performance tire has a stiffer sidewall. Search at TireRack in the Ultra High Performance and Max Performance categories. You might also consider 205/55/15 size for a better selection of tires.

 

I didnt realize that runflats do not come in 15s. Anyway, I dont want to go with 205/55 because the tire would squish more than a 195/60 on the same width rim. It seems logical that if the sidewall is more vertical its stronger and has less squish. If the tire is "balloon like" (hanging over the rim) then the sidewall isnt being utilized effectivly and it has more squish.
This real life example helps prove my point: My car has on it now, 15x6.5 steel rims with 205/50/15 kumho summer tires. I have had on my car as well the 15x5.5 mini cooper holey rims with the 175/65/15 contis. The steering responce was better with the 175/65 than it is with the 205/50. Rubber wasnt an issue, the 205 tire was a kumho high performance summer tire, and the 175, those stock conti all seasons. The weight difference may have had something to do with it, but then again my heavy s-lights have superb handling. I feel it was the vertical sidewall that provided the responce, my experience has convinced me to at least try 195/60, or even 185/65 to better match the 6.5" rim width.

 

I like Kumho MX
Good stiff sidewall and grat performance overall. Very crisp turn in. Only thing else I can think of is Michelins but they're pricey

 

Kumho is replacing the MX this year....at least that's the rumor.

Toyo T1-S
Falken RT-615
BF Goodrich KDW

Note that TireRack doesn't sell the Falkens. EdgeRacing does.

Hankook Z221 (or something like that) is a good compromise, with a slightly quieter ride than the Falkens, but not quite as much grip. But it is available in a WIDE but short 225/45/15. You chould probably post on the STX autocross thread (or do a search on that thread).

 

I'll make a note of it.

 

The only thing I can find in a 195/60-15 that might be considered a performance tire is the Yoko ES100's. I never tried them, so I can't say how they work. I've read they don't last very long, but your results may vary.

 

I'm lucky to get 8k miles out of 400 treadwear tires.

 

Toyo T1S and T1R don't have stiff sidewalls at all. Used to have it on the car that I now have the Kumho MXs. Decent tire but very soft and mushy feeling.