I am planning to purchase a set of more aggressive tires for the upcoming summer with occassional autox...

does anyone have experiences with the above size comparison?

would i loose a lot of tire dimensions/diameter going to a 215/45/16 from 205/50/16? Thanks.

The Falken Azenis only have the 215/45/16 but not 205/50/16. Thanks

 

Just based off of the math:

205/50/16 - 611.40mm (24.07in) diameter
215/45/16 - 599.90mm (23.62in) diameter

That is a difference of 11.5mm (.45in), by the math. The actual variance would depend on the tires as the measurements are usually just close estimates. The gotcha may be the load rating though, you would have to check.

 

Yea, thats what i thought the diff would come out to close to an inch... I think I am better looking into the same tires size (205/50/16) on a better performing tire like yokos es100, s03s, and others...

 

Doesn't Mark use the 215/45/16 AzenisSports on this SSR comps for his auto-x setup?

 

Here is a list of sizes for for the Falken Azenis replacement, the Falken-615.

http://www.falkentire.com/updates/615_micro_sizes.htm

The only 16" is the 205/40/16 with a listed diameter of 22.5" (~1.6" shorter)

A comparable tire, the Kumho MX comes in a 225/50/16 with a diameter of 25.1" (~1" taller)

Which way do you want to go? Both should fit a MINI with stock springs. I'm not sure about the 225/50's on a lowered MINI.



Hmm...I see Yokohama has an ES100 in a 225/45/16. It's the same diameter as your 205/50. You would probably need a 7" wheel with a wider offset. These aren't as sticky as the 615's or the MX's, but if they fit...

Anybody know if these ^ will fit a stock MCS with 16X7's with an ET40mm?

 

Well again based on the math, the 215/45/16 is 1.8% smaller (both diameter and circumfrence) while gaining 4.9% in footprint. Sounds like a good trade to me. Again you will have to check the load rating though, it goes down as the sidewall decreases. I had 215/50/16 mounted on my X-lites and had no problems with them.

 

If you want a tire apx. 24" in dia. you may want to wait for the Advan Neova $$$ or the Hankook z212, expected to be cheap. Both of these will be available in a 205/50/16 and are expected to be on par with the Azenis. The Advan's will also come in a 225/45/16 and the Hankook's in several other 16" sizes.

 

For those looking at various tires-
Not all tires come in all sizes. It will always be a compromise for a certain tire is offered only within certain sizes that will fit the MINI. In addition you need a tire that will fit your wheel rim width as well.

If you mount a wider tire on a narrow stock rim then you'd get less tire width than if you mounted the same tire on a wider aftermarket rim. For every 1/2" wider or more narrow the rim is than what is optimal width for the tire you gain or loose about 0.2" of tire "section width" (edited).

Lets compare-
215/45-16 (wider,good for performance/autocross/track-less selection)
Approx. width range 7-8" Recom rim width 7" tread width 7.4" Diam 23.5"

205/50-16 (good for street use/lighter weight)
Approx. width range 5.5-7.5" Recom rim width 6.5" tread width 7.3" Diam 24.1"

If you talk to alex@tirerack and you use stock 16x6.5" rims then the best fit is with the 205/50-16 tires. If you have 16x7" rims then the 215/45-16 tires will fit as well and offer slightly more usable tread width.

 

It's not tread width that goes up or down .2" for every .5" of rim width change it's section width. Tread width is less affected. Tread width measurements are a bit like tread wear ratings as well in that not everyone uses the same standard so while compareing one Falken to another you are pretty safe but to compare a Falken to a Toyo based on the tire makers specs is not a good way to do it. It would be much better to establish your own means of measurement and measure both. Wheel widths biggest effect is on tire stability, wider provides a more stable base. The optimum rim width for a tire is the widest rim recommended for that tire by the maker not the "measureing rim width" which is a industry standard for a given size tire in order for buyers to fairly compare tire sizes.