Ok so I'm selling off my BBS wheels for some spending money to get 6ULs and I'm pretty much decided on some 15x9 with my current setup and advice in another thread however, I have a significant problem that has stalled this.
Recommended tyres sizes are:

• 225/45/15
• 245/40/15

In the UK they are apparently non existent.
Literally searching Continental, Toyo, Hankook, Pirelli, Yokohama, Firestone all give no results.
Some have 215/45/15 which may be ok but I'd need some knowledge from the folks here.

So what on earth are people in the UK running and where you getting them?
Its getting to a point where I'm tempted to try to buy the wheels and tyres from Emilio and ask for the postage estimate.

 

https://www.camskill.co.uk/m12b0s689...5_15_225_45R15

https://www.camskill.co.uk/m12b0s116...0_15_245_40R15 (but out of stock)

DMACK also has an option in the DMT-F but I can't find stockists / prices:

Asphalt Tyres

ZTF may also have an option soon:

ZTR CIRCUIT TYRE 15 INCH

Most of the above are more the 'road legal track tyre' than something I'd want to daily in UK (wet) weather though...

Not sure if importing US tyres is fully road legal - I don't think they will be E marked so you may run into issues if anyone looks too closely at them...

 

Someone on here also mentioned running a 225/45/15 Federal 595 RS-R in the UK. Can't find them, but would probably make decent road/occasional track day tires.
There is the older Avon ZZR in a 245 size that will also work as a street tire, but not much point in using them over better fitting options.

The 205 AR1 is effectively a 215 and will work ok on 9s.
The 205 Kumho Ecsta has also been found to be quick on 9s I believe, also someone on here.

Excited to see that MRF might build a 225. They are supposed to be quick.

 

I use 205/50R15 595RS-Rs on mine - I've not found them available over here in a wider size than that though...

 

I mean I've been driving on Toyo T1Rs for years but they at least have wet driving ratings on them where as R888 and Advan are just "nope".
The track can be wet so why not produce a tyre? Or am i mental?

205/50/15 seems far easier to get hold of in many options but is that OK on 9s?
Seems a stretch.

Do we have any more UK dailies to chime in?

 

The eco-system in the EU just isn't there to support a 15x9. There are no decent street tires wider than a 205 in a decent fit (after they discontinued the 225 R1R) and as you've seen the situation for track orientated tires is not much better.

The smart thing to do is to drop down to 15x8s. Tons of 205s to choose from that do well in the rain and they will be an optimal fit. For track work you can run 205 or 195 full slicks (of which there are many in any compound you desire) and be faster than any of the 225s R-comps available to us at comparable prices. And should the supply of 225's pick up they will still work well on the 8s.

 

AR1s are your best bet. I have used 595RSRs and AD08Rs in 205, and both are wider than your typical 205 tire, the RSRs even more so.

 

That was probably me.

I wanted 15x9s for a while but the tyres weren't there. It was just flaky availability 225/45R15 R888s. When Nankang came out with the AR1 and then Federal the 595 RS-RR in that size, I thought I could buy 15x9s since 3 options means it's OK to commit the £900 to the wheels. Anyway, I did that, the supply of the RS-RR and R888 dried up (though I'd already bought a set of RS-RR), so it looks like the only option is AR1.

It gets more complicated too, since ideally I want 900/500 with a super 200TW 225/45R15, but probably only half of the UK trackdays I do end up dry the whole time, and there's no good 205/50R15 wet tyres, so I've ended up with 195/50R15 Bridgestone touring tyres on a 7 for the wet and my 700/400 setup is probably too much for that already.

 

The Toyo T1-R is an old tyre, I think those are almost 20 years on the market right now.
So plenty of options in 195/50/15 or 205/50/15 in Europe which are a nice upgrade to the T1-R.
If you use the tyres on the road daily, Michelin Pilot Sport 3 is the best all-rounder in my opinion.
If you like to give up some tire wear and low temperature/wet performance you can go to something like the Toyo R1-R, Federal 595 RS-R, Nankang NS-2R, Yokohama AD-08R.
If you still have the choice of wheels and you do not care about the very last bit of performance then an 8" wheel gives you more/cheaper tyre choice in Europe.

I am also going to order new 195/50/15 tyres for the MX-5 for this summer. I am a bit disappointed by the choice right now, the Bridgestone RE-002 were one of my favourites due to the great steering response.
Bridgestone did not bring the RE003 to Europe unfortunately... I also have a set of AD08R's, but I keep those for track days only. I am thinking of giving the Yokohama Advan Fleva V701's a try this summer

 

When we developed the original 15x8 +36 fitment back in 2005, the 225/45R15 street tires was a figment of our imagination. I happened to have good contacts at Hankook and Nitto tire. Those two contacts have since moved onto Nexen and Maxxis. Before they did though, they helped us get the 225/45R15 Hankook RS2 (Z212) into production. They made limited batches as it was a new size for a street tire. To make sure my customers would have access to the tire, we purchased the entire production batches of the RS2. That helped other tire companies with EHP (Extreme High Performance) modles take the plunge on that size. The Nitto was easy, having Toyo as their parent company. Toyo already had the original 225/45R15 RA-1 in production so the NT01 was an easy sell.

Point is, it takes a customer willing to place a big order for any tire company to take the risk on a "new" size that has no sales history in that market. Once we established sales history for that size, and later the 245/40R15, the ball was rolling and other tire companies quickly jumped on board. It takes some lobbying, social media, organizing enthusiasts and racers. Just wishing for it doesn't make it happen. Someone has to write the check.

 

One thing to consider. Here in NZ a 225 on a 9" is not road legal. It doesn't meet the tyre manufacturers recommended rim width. However a 225 on an 8" is.

So it may be that an 8" is a better way to go, IF you have similar rules and you have a road use vehicle.

Presuming insurance etc. MOT etc. would be affected if the same as here.