I've got the stock 16x6.5 "Spider" spoke (I think it's called that...) rims with 195/55/16 stock rubber on.

I want more grip!

I'm not doing autocross, so I don't want track tires, but I live in SoCal, so I do want summer tires, because I'd rather gain performance at the loss of having to drive like a granny 3 days a year.

I noticed some people discussing 215/40/16 Kumho's. I'd love the low pro wide tire, but I don't see how a 215 can fit at that aspect ratio when stock is a narrower tire with a larger aspect?

If 215's don't fit reliably, what do people recommend as far as a 205/40? (or 205/50...)

Also, which aspect ratio's in a 205 and a 215 keep the speedo accurate (give or take 2-3 mph)

Tire life, within reason, can go to hell, and I care more about performance than ride quality.

 

215/40 is too small! its nearly 7% smaller

stock size 195/55-16 is 24.44'
215/40-16 is 22.77,

what that means, is that at 60 mph actual speed, your speedo will red 64.3

closer to stock size is 205/50-16, which is only 1.52% difference and you have tons of choices, not only that, it'd fit the 6.5' wide stock wheels not an issue

minihune would probably chime in here later with more choices, but given you are running the stock wheels narrow width, i was going to suggest 215/45-16 which would give a lower profile, and not set your speedo off too much, but most 215/45-16 are designed for 7' wheels

205/50-16 is likely your best bet

 

Well either 205/50 or 215/45 is better than stock in terms of grip for sure. So that helps right away, thanks.

I'm in between these, size/performance dependant:
215/50 Avon Tech M500 $89
215/50 Falken Ziex Ze 912 $86

205/50 Kumho Ecsta SPT $87
205/50 Toyo Proxes t1r $93

215/45 Falken Azenis RT-615 $89
215/45 Hankook Ventus Rs2 Z212 $90

And will the speedo get farther off the higher speed it gets, or does it stay 5mph constantly... and finally, will it be too high or too low?

 

Also, I've heard that the Eagle NCT 5's it comes with stock kind of suck traction-wise. So I would probably see a big handling difference even with only a 205/50 UHP tire?

Or no.

 

i can tell you that i have experience with the kumho SPT and the Azenis, ive ran both, Azenis defenitely is a grippy tires, but i toast those now in 15,000km (i run more negative camber)

the kumhos are good in the dry, in the wet they are... a bit less than good i guess is the right expression for it, that said, i didn't wear them to the bar as i had a blow-out with one, still, 40% tread all around and i got over 19,000km out of the 60%, you do the math

I've also heard great things from friends who run the T1R

the speedo will be off ever so slightly the higher speed you go, you will notice it most when looking at the tach, your tach speed will be a bit different at a said speed

i switched from 215/45-17 summers to 195/55-16 winters, they are just a teeny bit smaller and there's a small difference in rpm at say, 60 mph

 

Want grip. Don't care much about treadlife. But want good street tires you can live with for daily use. You're just like me!

Bridgestone Potenza RE-01R (also happen to be good in wet handling)
205/45-16 fits rims 6.5-7.5" wide, perfect fit 7" rim 23.2" tire diam.
180 treadwear $151 each 21 lbs 83 load rating is low but usable
205/55-16 fits rims 5.5-7.5" wide, perfect fit 6.5" rim 24.9" tire diam.
140 treadwear $109 each special price 26 lbs
225/50-16 fits rims 6-8" wide, perfect fit 7" rim 24.9" tire diam.
140 treadwear $117 special price 27 lbs

For you the 205/45-16 is smaller than stock for lowered gearing but wheel gap will be more. It's a comfortable tire so ride harshness isn't bad though a 45 series tire. Load rating is low so two people in the car most of the time is good. Too bad cost is high at $151. 180 treadwear isn't that bad but it is soft rubber.

The other two sizes are taller than stock by about 1/2" which means less wheel gap but not as good for lowered MINIs. Both sizes can work but weight is a bit more and treadwear is low at 140. Prices on special are worth the price of admission.

215/40-16 fits rims 7-8.5" 22.8" tire diameter
(mounting a wider tire on a narrow rim usually increases tendency to tramline on grooved highway surfaces- quite annoying.)
Good example-
Falken Fk452 $80 each 300 treadwear 20.5 lbs UHPS tire
http://edgeracing.com/tire/3131/
and also in 205/50-16 for $77 each (better size for street use) 22.4 lbs

225/45-16 fits rims 7-8.5" wide 24" tire diameter (better for 16x7 rims)
Falken Fk452 $93 each
Hankook ventus Rs2 Z212 $93 each 200 treadwear Max Perf tire

215/45-16 fits rims 7-8" wide 23.6" tire diameter

Of the tires you listed
Falken Ze-912 is the only UHP All Season tire and doesn't offer the same level of handling and grip as the other summer tires.
For Falken the Fk452 is much better for handling.

 

Likin' 225's, and the aspect ratio, while not great, is about as good as I'm gonna get on a 16" rim...

Any issues with rubbing with this setup on stock suspension? I've looked around the forums, and I've seen mixed responses.

Bridgestone POtenza RE-01R ($468 for 4) are def. nice. Very nice. But I may go with Kumho Ecsta SPT's ($298 for 4) or Falken Fk452's ($324 for 4) b/c of price - unless the difference is just that big. Wet handling don't matter.

I live in SoCAl, rain 5 days a year - I'll prolly just get a summer tire

And btw - the pic you have with the rear tire popped off - is awesome. That musta been fun to deal with ; )

 

I think with stock suspension the 225/50-16 will fit but you can check with Alex@tirerack to confirm no rubbing. Maybe it could rub if you put three large adults in the rear seat. Ha!

The RE-01R has much better handling than the Kumho Ecsta SPT (still a very good tire with good value and reasonable treadlife).

 

Probably last question:

I have CVT. CVT dies with high revving. Will the odometer reading be off, or will the engine actually rev higher?

Thanks.

 

Your odometer has nothing to do with reving the engine high or not.

Odometer measures what distance you have traveled.

If you use smaller diameter tires then you will clock in more miles than actual by a few miles per 100 traveled. If you don't want that then stick to stock sized tires or slightly larger.

Your engine will rev like it has in the past, tire size will not affect that.
Use the appropriate gear for the speed you are going and the engine will not rev excessively high.

 

I'm an idiot - I meant tachometer. I thought I read somewhere that your tach will be off, and I was confused because that didn't make any sense...

 

Nope, tachometer measures engine rpms and is not affected by any change in wheel or tire size per se.

Larger or smaller than stock sized tires leads only to changes in speedometer and odometer, the more it varies from stock the more error you get.

 

so, if one didnt care too much about tach speed issues.....would a stock car sit lower on 205/45/16 compared to my 195/55/16 stockers? I wouldnt have to change any suspension work, right?

 

205/45-16 are 23.2" tire diam
195/55-16 are 24.5" tire diam

1.3" difference in tire diameter or up to the axle, your MINI is 0.65" lower to the ground. Wheel gap is increased with stock suspension.

With my wheels I run about 1.7" clearance in the front off the ground and I drive daily. I don't care much about speedo and odometer error for daily driving. I adjust.

 

i have been using 205/45R16 tires for about a year and have been really pleased with the lowered height and effective reduction in final gear. the increased wheel gap was kinda lame, but i got some h-sport springs a few days ago to fix that
:-)

good luck

ps i have been using goodyear eagle f1 gs-d3 but i don't think those tires fit what you are looking for

something like the kumho ecsta mx or hankook Ventus Rs2 Z212 you would prolly like cheap and awesome in the dry, the goodyears i have aren't as good in the dry but awesome in the wet

 

Well, now I'm pretty dead set on the 225/50/16 Bridgestone POtenze RE-01r's. It's just sticker shock/saving up at this point =P

Thanks everyone who posted a reply!

 

Next round of tires I will be getting that size as well. Currently I run 215/50/16's