I'm tired of the OEM runflats after 6000 miles. They get real loud after they warm up, so I'm thinking about going with non-runflats. I recently did a full day at the MINI Motoring School out in Thermal, CA, and they run Continental ExtremeContact Sport 225/40ZR18 without any rubbing issues on the stock Cup Spoke 18" wheels with sport suspension.

I currently have the Pirelli Cinturato P7 runflats - 205/40R18 on the Cup Spokes and the JCW Pro coilover suspension.
Was considering the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ in the same size - 205/40ZR18 - or the Continental ExtremeContact Sport 215/40ZR18

Anybody have any thoughts between these two tires and these sizes? And, yes - I've read the many other tire posts here and other sites, and still can't seem to settle on a tire and size.

Thanks

 

There isn't much difference between a 215 & 205. I run 215s myself, just a personal preference.

The more significant difference is that the Michelins you're looking at are all-season tires, whereas the Contis are summer tires. Do you need/want the benefits of an all-season tire? The Michelin Pilot Super Sport would be a more accurate comparison to the Extreme Contact Sports.

To that point, I had two sets of the PSS on my R53. I loved the way they grip in wet or dry. Not much road noise to me, and they gave a pretty comfortable ride. That said, I seemed to burn through a set in ~ 20K miles or less. I've read good things about the Conti Extreme Contact Sports, so when I ditch the runflats on my JCW, they'll be my pick.

 

What they said. Both the Continental ExtremeContacts and the Michelin Pilot Super Sports are fantastic tires.

 

Thanks for the replies - just needed a little push to get over the hump on my choice. Looks like I'm going with the Continental ExtremeContact Sport 215/40ZR18.

 

* If indeed they were running Cup Spoke stock 7" wheels in CA. and 225's they were operating outside the guidelines of the tire manufacturer which states the min wheel width to be 7.5 in. The tire patch to ground is reduced stressing the sidewalls building up excessive heat in cornering and hard meneavers....It was a sophmoric move on part of the person(s) who did that in California Motoring School and contradictory for the task they desired.

 

I run the new version (discount tire exclulsive) of the extreme contacts. Have been pretty happy so far, the are a little noisier at low RPMs than the extreme contacts, but I think they handle like a michelin


https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tir...tact-sport-srs

 

I ran the Extreme Contact Sport in 215 width and loved them. I got 33,000 miles out of the set. I would have gotten more if I had been more disciplined about rotating.

 

I agree with that......but in my opinion MINI is the one who screwed up by "only" putting a 7" wide rim on the stock Cup Spokes in the first place! The configurator even listed the 18" cup spokes as being 7.5" wide for a very long time despite much discussion about it being incorrect on their build site! I wasn't happy to learn after receiving my new F56 JCW that the rims were only 7" wide, as the stock P7 tires just seem too narrow for such a big MINI! I still have them on and the look has grown on me, but if I ever dump the runflats I will likely go with the 215's due to the 7" rim width (not 225's). I have 225/45/18 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ tires on our R60 Countryman S All4 and they absolutely transformed the ride and handling (along with the 18" Turbo Fan Wheels over the runflats on 17" stock wheels which I really don't care for one bit!), so I will likely stay with the Michelin's for the JCW as I don't track it.

 

yah I put 8 in on my JCW.

 

Both are good tires. 215/45 17s Michelin PSon my JCW and for comparison, I have the Continentals 205/50-15 on my NB Miata. For me, Michelins over the Contis solely because they give a audible warning that you are near the limit of grip. The Contis are practically silent. Both have similar performance and I'm happy with both. My JCW came with the P7s and I swapped them out after 300 miles for the Michelins and 17x7.5 NM Eng. RSe05. Night and day difference. Also got an inflation kit for insurance.

 

I measured 5mm clearance between my stock 205/45/17 P7 tire and the strut, don't see how a 215 (& larger) can fit. I would check the clearance on your specific vehicle to confirm.

 

The wheels (RSe05 17x7.5) have a +40 offset. No rubbing.

 

Oh, not stock 54mm offset, that should keep it from hitting the strut.

 

Really depends on the wheel mine only have 38 offer but no rubbing