I just install 4 new tires (Conti DWS) in the size of 215/45-17. Wonder what is the best tire pressure I should run to have the best balance of comfort and road feel?

Thanks

 

No doubt you'll get lots of "look at the door sticker" feedback. And, better, look at the manual where they lay it out for all the different Mini bodies in Justa, S and JCW. That's where I looked (I run 225/45 17 on a coupe S with Michelin PS2's).

The other thing to know going in is that manufacturers commonly tweaked their pressure recommendations in the U.S.--typically upward--following the Explorer roll over debacle. If the car you look at--any car--has the now standardized tire pressure sticker on the driver's doorjamb with white background, with black, yellow and red details, it is the post-regulatory regime change recommendation (the new regs also standardized the sticker itself and its location). So, why does all this matter? Well, in general the manufacturers moved toward a safety margin for high temp, high load environments, which means they upp'ed the pressure in many cases. I first came across this on the VW/Audi boards where folks figured out comparing notes across posts (and sticker pictures) that for similarly equipped cars, the Euro. recommendations were commonly lower than the U.S. ones, and that they often went up (sometimes a lot) for U.S. spec. models from 2007 on. That tied to U.S. owners of post sticker change cars to start complaining of poor ride quality. Since gen 2 starts w/ 2007 coupes, to get insight here, you would have to try to ferret out Euro specs. Frankly, if available I would trust those because they reflect the manufacturers best judgment absent a further U.S. regulatory overlay, and they already contemplate common Euro legal speeds of at least 130kph (81 mph).

Finally, to really get it right, also consider your driving situation--how loaded is the car usually (manual recommendations get into this) and are you in a warm weather and higher typical speed situation (which would indeed suggest higher baseline pressures).

Failing all this, hopefully you get practical advice from Clubman owners running 215's, and even DWS's specifically.

 

With all the information that MP1.6T reported, which is very true, I run 35 psi. in mine ---

 

I run 38 psi all around and find the ride still compliant at that tire pressure.

 

I have 205/40 - 17 and run 36 PSI. When the tires were new I used the 'old' Nascar trick. I ran a 10-20 miles on the freeway then I pulled over and used a laser thermometer to measure the across the tire's thread. The temperature was the same across the thread. This means it was wearing evenly. After 25K miles the wear pattern is pretty even, so I guess the old trick does work.

 

I drive a mcs 2011 with pirelli r 17 run flat . What's posted on the door sticker is 27 to 28 psi depending on load of car, is that possible? Since all of you run 35 to 38 psi ?
Thanks for reply

 

I run 215/45/17 Nitto Neogens. I have them filled to 35psi. That is what works best for me.

 

See my reply above (post 2). If you are outside the US, what i discussed there could be your situation.

Having said that, yes 28 psi sounds awfully low if you have 17's, presumably 205/45-17's. Low enough it would be pretty easy to bubble a sidewall and/or bend a rim with a low profile 45 series type tire. My 2010 U.S. spec MCS that came with 205/45-17 Dunlop runflats has a tire pressure sticker calling for 38 psi (and 41 psi if run at high speed). Like other posters here, I had also concluded 35-36 psi made more sense (now w/ 225's as I mentioned above).

Separately, Mini USA recalled a small number of 2010's for faulty pressure stickers when equipped w/ 17 inch wheels--erroneously they had the pressure sticker for 16" wheels. You say you have a 2011 though, so it wouldn't seem to apply.