Should I use 225/50 tires on the front of an MR2

Original post.
Date: Tue, 2 Jun 1998 16:05:51 -0500 (CDT)
From: rande@qni.com
Subject: MR2 BFG 225/50x14 on front wheels - opinions wanted

Sorry to use Announce but I need to get some new autocross tires by the end
of  the week and I would like to get opinions from others while I have time.
I would like to hear from anyone using the BFG R1 in 225/50x14 on the front
of a '91 or '92 MKII turbo or NA. Or from anyone who has any comparisions of
the 205 to the 225. I need to order new tires as soon as possible. I corded four
tires last weekend (got them all to wear out at the same time :)

I have been running the 205/55x14 on the front but am considering trying the
larger size. I have heard it will make the front turn in better but that
transitions (slaloms, etc.) will not be quite as crisp. Also, I won't be
able to dial-in as much camber with the 225 compared to the 205's due to the wider
section width. I have spacers to compensate for some of this. With my
current 205's I haven't been running as much camber as I could so it may not be a
problem. The 225's seem a bit wide for the 6 inch rims but I have seen
several MKII NA's running them with good luck.

Will the 225's generate more stress on the front end? I have the Suspension
Techniques anti-sway bar on the front and I broke a link mount on the right
strut a couple weeks ago. I'm wondering if the added grip of the 225's
will put more stress on the endlinks, mounts, etc.

Also, I have always started with full tread depth, not shaved, and have been
able to get about a year of use from a set. I put the last set on in June or
July last year so they probably have 20 to 25 events on them. This seems
to be reasonable to me. Would shaving them give me any longer wear or more
predictible handling? Or both?

Thanks in advance
Randy Eickhoff
rande@qni.com

On Tue, 2 Jun 1998, RiksAutox@aol.com wrote:
>I know Brian Priebe is using the 225/50-14 tires on his car and is winning the
>Pro Solo II division right now.

On Tue, 2 Jun 98, 1carlson@mail.airmail.net (Bryan Carlson) wrote:
>I have been running the 225's on 15's on the front of my MR2 turbo (91) with
>2.5 degrees negative camber. Pleanty of clearance (this without spacers) but
>nothing bigger will fit. They make the steering VERY heavy for manuevering
>but at speed provide little negative effect. The 205's are a bit crisper b/c
>of the better rim to section ration but the front end was still quite
>intuitive on the car. It did allow the front to stick but I would be
>concerned about your front sway bar links since the ST is notorious for
>breaking them without big tires. I tried the switch first by switching my
>dead rear tires to the front. I just switched back to the 205's and the
>steering is lighter, but on the auto-x course I think that the 225's were
>definately faster, especially for cutting back on front end push under mild
>throttle and hard turning.
>Good luck!
>Bryan Carlson

On Tue, 02 Jun 1998, Scott and Glenda Meyers <autox@earthlink.net> wrote:
>ALL of the fastest Solo II SCCA MR-2's, either Turbo or NA, run the BFG
>225x50x14's in front. The advantages on most courses overall (not piece by
>piece) will add up to a lower time. I have no road racing experience with this
>set-up.
>
>We are concerned that when BFG changes to their new "G-Force" tire, with
>symmetrical construction, that we will no longer be able to run the 225's in
>front. Only time will tell.
>
>I have not heard of consistent breakage of parts associated with the use of
>225's in front on MR-2's. Make sure you tighten down the camber bolts (on the
>strut housing) to maximum factory specs, or they WILL come loose :-) I know
>this firsthand.


On Tue, 02 Jun 1998, Randy Chase <randyc2@home.com> wrote:
>I think the differences on the MR2 are not huge to go from 205s to 225s
>ont he front. I think it makes the front end stick a bit better, and I
>didn't notice I was giving up much in crispness.
>
>You will need the 1/4" spacers to fit the tires on, but mine do not rub
>(except a tad bit on full lock) at -2.7 or -2.8 camber. If you can get
>more than that, your fortunate. I know one other MR2 driver who gets
>over -3 degrees, and can not use the 225s on the front on his car.
>
>I *think* the added stress is more from the fatter bar, not the grip.
>
>You might consider upgrading the end links to 93+ links. But I haven't
>had any other problems, other than bending the original links on my car.
>I know some other MR2 drivers have created beefed up link attachments,
>but I have not had mine break off yet. key word "yet". I have heard of
>people tearing off the swaybar mounts, but I have not had that happen
>either. Knock on wood.
>
>I got 60-65 events on various surfaces last year on BFGs. This year I am
>running Kumhos. I always ran the BFGs shaved as I wanted predicability
>and I have read that shaving can increase life, as you get less tread
>squirm and heat generation.


On Tue, 2 Jun 1998, "Jeremy Engel" <enge0214@tc.umn.edu> wrote:
>
>i don't know if i can be much help here but....
>
>i am running the BFG 225/50/14 on my MKI. i have them mounted on six inch
>rims. in fact i heard the the 225s were designed for six inch rims (its a
>NEON thing). as for the handling i could not speak. but the tires are
>great and they work very well with six inch rims.


On Wed, 03 Jun 1998, Rob_O <rjo@aye.net> wrote:
>one of our local "heros" on the autoX course used to run a 91 Turbo with
>205s' on all 4 corners. Worked quite well for him as he was able to
>bring home a lot of money on the Pro Solo circuit.
>
>My suggestion, head for a big event and see what the fast guys are
>running. The fast guys know what works!!!


On Thu, 4 Jun 1998, "Justen Simpson" <simpson@lake.canberra.edu.au> wrote:
>225 is way too wide for a six inch rim if performance is the goal. An 8
>inch rim is the recommended min for a performance 225 tyre. You can use a
>smaller rim but the tyre wall flex and tread squirm defeats the purpose of
>going to the larger tyre width. For your rims i think the 205 is about
>right (i run 205/60 on an 8 inch rim at the moment) and you could
>potentially go slower with the wider tyres.