Mataku,
Holeys are great rims for the MINI. They measure 15x5.5" and will fit a tire as wide as 205/50 or 205/55 but it is a job for a performance tire specialist shop. I took 205/50-15 track tires and holeys to Costco to mount and they just shook their heads and declared "those won't fit and we can't mount them". A few hours later they were mounted and did fit just fine with the help of a tuner shop.

The apparent and perceived grip of a tire will vary with the size, sidewall height, inflation pressure, rubber compound, tread design, suspension components, etc.

205/50-15 is the size for autocross and track performance. With stock suspension and alignment you won't make full use of the 205 width and if you drive really hard you will wear out one edge much more than the other. MINIs are camber challenged in the front so the inner edge won't wear down much if you corner hard.

205/55-15 is a popular size for street driving where comfort is important and you don't go crazy in the corners. Many excellent performance tires with soft rubber come in this size but they might cost a bit more like the Bridgestone S-03s.

195/55-15 seems like a nice compromise and selection is fairly good. An example is the Avon Tech M500 for $76 , BFG G-Force Sports for $67, Kumho Ecsta SPT for $69, Yokohama AVS ES100 for $61, etc.
http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=EZ3&url=/tires/Compare1.jsp&width=195%2F&ratio=55&diameter=15&sta rtIndex=0&search=true&pagelen=20&pagenum=1&pagemar k=1&x=90&y=11&RunFlat=All

So just check your price range. Ask yourself if you need a tire that will last longer or if about 20,000 miles is OK. Do you do alot of commuting or more urban driving (195 tires would be lighter and give less rolling resistance and higher mpg if inflation is good). What weather requirements do you have, any rain or light snow- if so an All season performance tire would be worth a look.

Talk to Alex@tirerack.com about your tire requirements first and try to pick a tire that suits your needs. Then check to see what sizes it comes in. If you look at sizes first it narrows your selection of some very good tires at reasonable prices. Good luck.

 

thanks for the comments guys. I'm still looking for a set of holeys to get. they've been going for outrageous prices lately, but hopefully some more will come by.


I drive around Chicago a lot were the roads are okay for the most part but there are really crappy parts. These will be my summer tires, so they won't have to face too much. I do plan on autoXing that's why i'm keeping with the 15x5.5 to stay in h-stock. In terms of price range, i would definitely like to keep it under 100 per tire with range of around 25,000 would be okay.

so what do you guys recommend? I'm looking more towards 205, but in terms of series?

 

i went from the stock 175/65 to 205/50 avs-es 100s. I love it.

 

Doesnt snow much in Texas....

 

Are you saying that you want to use the holeys and these tires for street use AND take them out to autocross in at some point? If so then the smallest outer tire diameter will help. 205/50-15 would be good but not as comfortable for street use only- still better than the 45 series tires I usually use for daily driving. I have a set of 205/50-15 track tires that I drive on the street and it's fine.

If so then you can go with a more performance oriented Max performance tire like:
Bridgestone Potenza S-03 $138 each (expensive but really good)
http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=EZ3&url=/tires/tires.jsp&tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Potenza+S-03+Pole+Position
Goodyear eagle F1 GS-D3 (only in 195/50-15 for $89, has low 82 load rating)
http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=EZ3&url=/tires/tires.jsp&tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Eagle+F1+GS-D3 (not ideal if you carry four people/haul stuff regularly)

Or if on a budget consider:
Avon Tech M500 for $78 (highly rated, decent test results)
http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=EZ3&url=/tires/tires.jsp&tireMake=Avon&tireModel=Tech+M500
Yokohama AVS ES100 for $75
http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=EZ3&url=/tires/tires.jsp&tireMake=Yokohama&tireModel=AVS+ES100
Kumho Ecsta MX for $97
http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=EZ3&url=/tires/tires.jsp&tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=ECSTA+MX
BF Goodrich g-Force T/A KDW2 for $98
http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=EZ3&url=/tires/tires.jsp&tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=g-Force+T%2FA+KDW+2
Bridgestone Potenza RE-750 for $103
http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=EZ3&url=/tires/tires.jsp&tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Potenza+R E750

Ask Alex@tirerack about- (good price, nice test results, or new tire)
Kumho Ecsta SPT for $65
http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=EZ3&url=/tires/tires.jsp&tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=ECSTA+SPT
Yokohama Advan A043 for $103
http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=EZ3&url=/tires/tires.jsp&tireMake=Yokohama&tireModel=ADVAN+A043

 

finally! got my second set of holeys coming. although I don't have the money yet, i'm starting to look into the tires. The ones I am considering most are:

Kumho ASX or SPT

Avon tech m500 or 550.


I'm having trouble deciding between the all season performance and summer performance. I do plan on switching out for the winter, but it does rain in chicago really sporadically. I mean, how much of a difference will the all season versus summer type really make in terms of cornering?

Also, you said that 205 is hard to fit and need a specialty shop to do so. Does this mean that discount tire direct would not be willing to?

The reason I want a local place to do install is that I want their road side hazard protection. I don't really want to deal with online protection.

anyways, thank you so far for all the help.

 

If you check with your local tire installation shop, they will tell you whether they can mount a 205mm wide tire on a holey rim.

For light snow the all season tires are better.

For rain both tires are OK.

For cornering the summer tires are better but if you are doing only street driving it doesn't really matter.

For tread life the all seasons are better.

Comfort tends to be better with the all season tires but some max summer performance tires are also comfortable.

Talk to Alex@tirerack.com for more info if needed.