So I go in to the dealership expecting to get service done thats covered under warranty. Next thing you know, I need two new tires. Ah well... here is my question.

I've got an 03 MCS and looking to get new tires but would like your opinion? Also, where should I get them? I've seen a few on tirerack.com and even checked out tirevan.net in which they come to your home or office and install them.

Any ideas?

 

Most important question you should have answered in your original post... (trust me it will come up FAST):

Do you care about whether you are using runflats or not? Non-runflats will drive better, but increases the chance you will be stuck on the side of the road without a spare tire... unless you also buy the Cooper spare tire and carry it around in the back.

 

Run-flats ride like you're on tanktreads. I love my BF Goodrich Eagle F1's....very grippy dry and an excellent rain tire. I think we got them at tirerack.
BTW, I carry a can of Fix-A-Flat and a small 12volt compressor in the car.

 

I was actually going to ask whether people prefer run-flats or not but didnt ask cause I didnt want to post a thread with so many questions, haha...

So I was just looking for preferences on both sides.

 

I love my BFG G-Force KDWs. Excellent wet or dry. Great ride to.

I got them and the OZ Superlugarra wheels form Tire Rack mounted and balanced

 

When my runflats finally die i'm going to replace them with non-runflats. But i'm going to be getting some all seasons. Probably the Toyo Proxes 4s or the Falken Ziex ZE-512s.

Been reading good things about both, still don't know which i'm going to pick though.

 

StartTday,

You have options. You can replace just two of the runflats with new ones from the dealer (most expensive but convenient) or order runflats from tirerack.com (talk to alex) or get a pair of new or nearly new runflats from other MINI owners in your local MINI club.

If you want to replace just two of the tires with non runflats for now you can do so and keep them both on the same axle, front or back. Match the tire size to those you have already. 205/45-17 if you have 17" S-lytes or 195/55-16 if you have 16" X-lytes.

If your good runflats are also more than half worn out then you have the option to replace all four tires at one time and get tires that match each other but not necessarily the stock sizes. In the case of 17" wheels you can use 215/45-17 which is slightly wider but gives you many options on which tires to choose, while the stock 205/45-17 sized tire is much more limited.
For the 16" wheel a popular tire size is 205/50-16 or even 205/55-16.

So what size wheels do you have for your MCS? 17" or 16"? Do you do any performance driving or only street driving? Do you care about performance or do you want smooth ride quality, lower noise, and longer tread life? Is there much rain or light snow in your area or is it dry almost always? Do you have a separate set of snow tires?

Most people that have mild weather will do OK with an All season Ultra High Performance tire like Avon Tech M550 A/S or Pirelli P Zero Nero M+S. Falken Ziex ZE-512 and Toyo Proxes 4 are also popular. Many of these will give longer life and a smoother ride than with other more performance oriented tires while keeping the cost down to less than $100 per tire.

 

Run Flats OK - I have all seasons Run Flats GoodYear (17") that I use for the winter. For summer I prefer the Yokohama Parada (17") they are great: I could feel the difference within 2 miles. My experience with Tire Racks was very good and has good price.

The imporant thing is to keep your tires properly inflated; I know it for experience - right on the way back from the Dragon - that a good pressure makes a HUGE difference. BTW Thank you Haemish .

My question is which wheels should I use? I would like to keep the run-flats on the 8 spoke Lite Standard and put the Parada on true light wheels.

MD STREGA2

 

I've been very happy with the Toyo Proxes 4, should be ordering my second set within a couple of weeks. They are ultra high performance all season tires, they stick good and do ok in the snow, and have a tread wear rating of 300.


Nik

 

I like Falken Ziex ZE 512 tires. They did great in the snow the first year I got them but snow traction is a little off now that I'm half way through the tread. The tires are great in the rain. I got the 512s from R-Speed in GA (the same folks that sponser one of the NAM boards) and found them to be top notch people to deal with. But if I were to get tires again in the DC area I will go to Radial Tire in Silver Spring . Radial supports the local autocross and SCCA comunity and I have nothing but good to say about them. They also will work with Tire Rack (or at least they did when I got my SSRs. It did not hurt any that they had the best price. Parking around their site is a little tough.
John
links
www.tirerack.com
www.rspeed.net/mini

Radial Tire
9101 Brookville Rd.
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: 301-585-2740
Fax: 301-585-1398

 

I agree with John-boy about Radial Tire. I have purchased two sets of tires and a set of wheels from them. Great service, price was unbelievable and they rotate & rebalance the Toyo Proxy 4's I purchased every 6K miles at no charge.

pjo

 

How many miles did they last for you and would you say you were soft, average or hard on them?

/gary mc

 

eagle f1s i believe should be good year! :smile:

i love my bridgestone re750, and have never had any trouble despite turning to non-runflats