Mini2na I'm looking at the Goodyear Eagle Ultra Grip GW3 in a 205/50/16, they are rated pretty well in the TireRack Survey. Will have America's Tire put them on at your recommendation. Thanks for that BTW. If they give rewards for Referals I'll give them your name!!

 

As with ANY tire shop.... Go overboard with your statement of concern for a job done right. Ask for the best installer, even if you have to wait. If you are so inclined, as I am, watch the tire changeover from the front of the bay. Even if you don't know what you're looking for, by asking any question of the guy doing the job and waiting there.... they will be more careful.

If you're ordering on-line, call around for mounting/balancing charges (I purchased my Kuhmo's at America's tire). Local sales have no shipping charges and often include the lifetime mounting and balancing in the quote.. America's tire quote complete was $30 PER TIRE cheaper.

 

This morning, while discussing our kitty naming dilemma with the other half, (I did tell him there was one vote for a no-change) we threw out a bunch of names and decided we would name him after our original and favorite PBK (pet before kids) who was also a tiger kitty - FRODO!

So this will be Frodo2 or Frodo too. So - sorry RJ... I think Mini2na wins out in the "honor the MINI with a pet named after him/her" deal.

The funny thing is that our original Frodo was actually a girl kitty...

So... Mini2na - don't tell me the brake dust can get worse! I'd like to hear about your pad replacement research. I'm not sure how many miles I'm supposed to get on the originals. We are now at 37.5k and rising!

The look I would like to get with the wheels would be something like this:




As to the CAI - I reeeaaallly liked the way it sounded so I'm going to be sad if there is no fix.. I think I also got a little better gas mileage. At least they admitted in an email that another MCSa was also having some weird codes so we'll see. I see that they are having their 14% off sale so I'm going to be mightily tempted while I am there

 

Well Minicounter you can't blame a girl for trying.

I agree with you on the brake dust, it's awful, I'm thinking of a pad change once Molly is out of the Warranty period. On the bath I gave Molly over the weekend I used Prima Slick on the wheels, so far they look like they did the day I cleaned them. A plus I think.

I'm getting more and more anxious about the tires though. Will my OEM's live until September/October time frame?? Or am I going to have to put All-Seasons on and not get new wheels and tires next Summer?? Timing is going to be key, wish I had a clue.

Here is a pic. of the Wheels I'm looking at...
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...t+Silver+Paint
For Tires I'm leaning towards the Yokohama S-Drives.

 

Minicounter - I've seen that picture before on some site. Those wheels would look sweet on Bluebell. Almost any ceramic pad will give less brake dust than the OEM ones. The best reviews for street pads seem to be coming out about the Carbotech Bobcat pad available from http://www.autoxcooper.com/carbotech_brake_pads.html
Nice name for your cat by the way! Didn't even know Frodo was in the running.

RJ - Aquestion for you. Did your OEM tires give you all the grip you needed on the street? (I won't even mention the harshness of the run-flats) Personally, I did not need any more grip for street driving. My only need for that was for AutoX. If your answer is no, consider buying your wheels and putting UHP All-Seasons on for "all seasons"..... One set of wheels, one set of tires and they will lasts lots longer than the S-Drives (and my Kuhmos). I'm running my All-Seasons on my Team Dynamics for my regular driving. And you will be safer beginning NOW rather than pushing it until fall. Whatcha think about that?

 

I see your point Mini2na, but I haven't found an All-Season that I like, either the Tread Pattern isn't what I want or the Survey is skewing my choices. So I'm not sure what to do?? I'll keep looking, I've got to come to some kind of decision and soon!!

I'm going to have to make another AZ trip soon too, but this time Molly will have to stay home.

 

Goodyear Eagle GT? Cheap tire with good ratings. Great wet weather behaivor. Just drive slow on those few days with snow and ice. I also will consider the Bridgestone Potenza G 019 Grid. You can get better ranked tires, but boy does the price jump up.

Just trying to help you rationalize your purchase NOW!

 

No...not NOW!! I felt the tires tonight and they really aren't that bad, still a good deal of tread left, just want to be on the safe side and not have to go through ANY part of the rainy period with the tires she's wearing.

BTW...I'm on my way to PHX in the AM, so won't be online 'til Monday PM...Have a Great Weekend all...I'll miss MY Molly Car, but Family Duties Call.

 

Psssst... Molly. Can you hear me?
RJ's away, can Molly come out and play?
Love, Frodo

 

Mini2na... glad BlueBelle is not closer... your child is bad....

BTW - the cat name thing was done by hubby who, I don't think, is even aware of the other MINI names

BlueBelle had a great time in the "big city" yesterday. Saw more MINI's than we see in a year down here! I think she enjoyed catching up with them all. There must be a "no wave" zone within a few miles of the dealership though - but when we got back on the freeway headed home she got a warm greeting from a PepperWhite/Black MC!

Wow we have quite the thunderstorms going on right now. Kind of cool as long as you don't have to go out!

Number 1 son is on his way up for this graduation weekend! I haven't seen him in a year! I am so excited!!

 

So Minicounter, did you get your Alta intake issue solved?

Have fun with you son!!

 

Hey Molly! Thanks for a great night of frolic. I'll never forget those curves with you. Hope can do it again soon.
XOXO Frodo

 

Aww, Scoop is jealous! But she sends happy twisty wishes to her Northwest coastal friends!

 

Hmmm ... I think we are definitely hitting the teen years!

Mini2na - it's probably time for "the talk" with your young man or you'll be taking care of a clubman as well

No real resolution on the intake. They replaced one Of the pieces that was worn and replaced my exhaust tip where the powder-coating was coming off (stealth exhaust) They suggested we wait until they come out with their own ecu flash to fix the problem. He said they would make me a deal We'll see....

And yes - it was great to see my son! He just got a promotion so it looks like he will be reenlisting. Probably a good thing in this economy.

 

I hope you thanked your son from all of us.

 

Dear Frodo,
Our little romp in the Twisties has gotten me grounded. Dad caught me trying to sneak back into the garage.

Scoop...don't be jealous. You'll have to come down and join us next time!!
Please thank your Son for his Service, it is much appreciated!!

 

Hey MINI Friends!
Getting ready to drive to Packwood WA for a weekend of Autocross. I can't wait. Just hope it doesn't rain too much and turn the wife off to camping and going with. She's not sure she wants to compete just yet... we'll see.

I need to wash Frodo so the magnetic numbers don't mar the paint. Change the tire/wheels from my beautiful TD 1.2s to the Crown Spokes/Kuhmos. Sticky tires..... YUM! Finally, and probably the most challenging is to pack Frodo full of Autocross and camping gear. I think it will make me want to get a rack and a box for the top.

Molly, sorry you got in trouble. Me too, but it was worth it. Maybe we can get Scoop, Kermit and Bluebell out with us some time.

 

So I told Hubby that I had made a decision, "I'll just get All-Seasons for now and wait on the Tires & Wheels, until after we get him his car of choice!!", he said "No, go ahead and get what you want, the Fiat Panda may be out later next year or maybe we'll see it at the Autoshow in February, the Kia Soul is going to be hard to beat though." "Well Dear if you insist!!"

Molly's OBC is saying another 4500mi. 'til her next service, what service do they do @ 22,000mi??

 

Sooooooo, whacha gettin? Enkies and S-Drives or Enkies and All-Seasons?

 

Mini2na I'll be getting the Eagle Ultra Grip GW3 for Winter Driving, then next Summer I'll get the Einke's and S-Drives!! That is if my OEM RunSmacks can hold out for a few more months, otherwise I won't have any choice but to get All-Seasons.

 

Oh....
I heard "now" and "get what you want" and thought you were springing very soon.
Molly will look beautiful with new wheels. Frodo is already smitten and who knows what Einke's on Molly will do to his tune. .... saying nothing about the twisties!!

 

I will certainly pass on the thanks to my son from my MINI friends

Sadly I'm thinking about going "practical" on my tire/wheel choice this time. My tire guy would like me to go to go with a zexius all seasons 205/50R. I have one that I put on last December when I had my last nail that has about 10k on it and it is holding up much better than the Proxis that have 20k and are basically done. I could get by with only getting 3 tires at this point.
Also I could powder-coat the existing wheels or maybe go with the anthracite-brakedust look I have now.

When I was at Alta I saw the trick of adding a vinyl strip to the wheel for a color offset. They had a red stripe on the feathers that looked good.

I like to use my local Les Schwab for tires because the manager is a friend and they take care of me. Kind of limits me though...

I hope Frodo has a good time at the autocross. We look forward to hearing all the details! Oh and the girls will want to know if he has found any new dance partners.

 

Minicounter what kind of mileage are you getting out of the Les Schwab Tires??

Mini2na after my Emergency Trip to AZ I'm going to have to wait on Tires, besides I still have "some" life left in the OEMs. If I have to make another Emergency down to PHX, I'll definitely have to rethink my Tire scheme anyway. My Step-Dad will be having another surgery either Monday or Tuesday, so I'll be sitting by the phone in case I'm needed.

I checked out the Goodyear Eagle GTs, I'm happy with the Tread Pattern, but not the Tire Rack Survey, I'll keep looking for another option.

In regards to the Wheels, the Einke RS-M's will look very SHARP on MS MOLY!! But will have to wait 'til next Summer.

TGIF...well tomorrow anyway...Happy Friday Peeps!!

 

Well I probably can't blame it all on the tires... I got less than 18k on the originals and I have about 21k on these.

I have never had tires last very long since I have lived at my current location. You have to understand I have a good 18 mile 'autocross/like' road to travel 2x's a day that has very little traffic on it! So - I'm not really complaining but just pay the price.

RJ - I will certainly keep your family in my thoughts and prayers... I hope all things turn out ok. I understand Phx has some of the best medical care available. Keep us informed.

Hope you all get sun this weekend!

 

Which OEM Tires did you put on?? I've got the Goodyear Excellence RFTs, I'd like to think I can get 22,000 out of them. That's about October Time Frame, when I'll need my next Service and a Tire Change will fit into that Schedule very nicely...now how to make my RFTs last until then??

Thank you for your prayers Minicounter. Back in March when I drove down, he was out of the hospital by the time I got there and was doing really well. 3 Stents were put in, but 2 have failed. So last week one was repaired, but he was really drugged up and took awhile to recover. This time another one is going in, but it's not a repair. Dr. is saying he will still need 2 more after this one, but the Family is wondering if a 2nd opinion isn't in order...we'll see. He's 73 and stubborn as an Ox!!