Hey everyone!

So my MC came with Pirelli (sp?) tires and I noticed the other week that they are begining to grip a little less than before, so I'm looking at getting some "all season" replacements. I'd love to get a set of summer and winter tires, but it will have to wait a while. Anyways, I have a couple questions...

Is there a brand of tires to stay away from? If so, why?

Is there such a thing as a performance all weather tire? Are they worth it?

Hopefully I'll be able to find a nice set of "winter" wheels later this year, but doe now, I'm assuming that these tires will be on the MC yearround. Thanks!

 

I don't know which brands to avoid, but I do know two I'd recommend, based on price and performance. I have the Kumho ASX ultra high performance all seasons on both my MINIs and the ride is sooo much nicer. It seems as if my gas economy has improved somewhat and they even work ok in light snow...not great, but better than bald eagles. I'm thinking seriously of going to the General Exclaim when these wear out, though, even though they are listed as ultra high performance summer tires. As such, some of their reviewers [as well as the company itself] also claim that they can handle light snow.

For winters, you'd want the Blizzak REVOs, if there are any left in stock...great tires, with cheap pricing...but seem to be on closeout, I guess because they are being restyled.

 

I'll second the recommendation of the Kumho ASX. IMO they are a great A/S all around tire. While not great in snow, what A/S is? They are very good in the rain & work well on a dry road. As for size I'd recommend 195/60/15. Slightly wider than the oem size, but not to wide to kill their snow performance.

The Revo's were a close out & NLA. Keep an eye out in the marketplace here. Lots of good deals on snow tires & rims show up there.

 

We had the Pirelli performance summer tire on our Mini and I have to say that was one of the worst tire I have ever had on a vehicle! I have had good luck with Kumho before but I did not have the all season kind that Chuck and Welshmen has. Check out Tirerack.com and you can check out the reviews for all the tires they carry even if you dont buy from them. It has been very helpful to me in the past.

While I don't think that there is a true performance all season I do believe that there probably a happy medium. Something that will do good in most conditions but not great. jmho

 

to be honest i am not sure what to avoid, but i do know i'd stick with main-stream brands.. off brands can have good tires, just usually bigger brands have the money to properly develop a tire, these days though tire technology has advanced so much i doubt there's really awful tire brands

also, i go by a tire company's involvement in major international racing, Bridgestone and Michelin for example are in F1... i do not have the cash to buy their tire but i would if i had the $$$

 

Word of warning, you can find some one who will either love or hate any tire out there. I have over 14 years experience in the tire business and I have seen it with every brand, top to bottom.
I did have a set of Kumho Ecstas on my Mazda3, when I traded for my Mini and I agree, they are a very good tire. I Have owned many sets of Nittos, also a very good tire. (Especially the NeoGen)
Read the reviews in tire rack, but just be aware, if you look hard enough, you will find a bad review on any tire.
Sorry, I am in Alabama so, no recommendation on the snow tire.
Good luck

 

thanks for the iput everyone!

I'll do some research on the kumhos, and see what I find. I was thinking of sticking with a local tire shop if I can, since the owner is great. I think they deal cooper tires, but they said they could order all the "usuals", Goodyear, michillin, firestone, etc.

Any thoughts on those brands?

 

OK since you said Cooper Tires I'll have to say that in the past I had a set. They were absolute carp. I'll never buy another Cooper tire. That is just my experience & I'm sure others have had good luck with them.

Discount Tire may be another local place for you to check out. I think they have a store in Dayton. I've had good luck with the store here in town.

 

I searched tire rack with the above and found the tires, so I'm hoping to pick a pair of these up soon. Now, hopefully I can find a local dealer that has them

 

Discount Tire can order them if they don't have them.

You said a pair of tires. If you run 2 different size tires on your car you will give your ABS system fits. Best buy 4 to keep them all the same size.

 

Please, everyone, do not avoid Goodyear... my pension depends on it.
I'm replacing my run-flats this week with Goodyear Eagle F1 all-season.

 

I would watch out if Firestone is having a blowout sale on some of their tires; if you know what I mean by blowout.

 

I have a set of the General Exclaim UHP's in a 215/45-17 on mine now. They are a real decent summer tire, great in the rain but no way would I try them in snow. When the temperature gets below about 40-45 F, they are squirrelly as all get out. I thought I was driving on marbles.

I've been using the Hankook Ice Bears for a winter tire the last 3 seasons and really like them. I've been on 2 ArcticMINI runs to Newfoundland with them and have not had any problems in some pretty severe weather. The price is quite attractive also.

 

If you looking for an inexpensive tire that is somewhat performance, a really nice daily driver and does well in rain and very small amounts of snow I'd suggest the FALKEN Ze-912. I currently have a set on my MINI and i really like them. Much smoother than the factory eufori@s that came on mine, but then again they are 205/45/17. I think i paid like 110 a tire....

 

Hey Chuck, I just purchased my second set of Cooper Zeon Sports because I had such good luck with the first set. They lasted longer than anything I've had on it to date (@110 miles a day) and they don't handle bad for daily driver tires.

I just ordered a set of Yoky Parada Spec 2's for spirited driving events to put on my new wheels.

 

Since I might be able to get the Coopers a little cheaper, I might try for those CHKMINI. Did you use them in snow any? How about the Kumho's in snow?

Chuck, I will be getting a full set (4 tires) not just a "pair"...my mistake on typing that one.

I've always got Goodyear tires in the past on my other vehicles, and had no issues...then again, they were SOLELY for a daily driving car. How do the eagle f1's handle in snow and compared to some of the others out there...how do they compare?

 

CHMINI I was thinking of you when I typed, I'm sure others have had good luck with them.

To be fair to Cooper tires, my experience was long ago, 14 years to be exact. Man can I hold a grudge or what? Since CHKMINI has recent positive experience with Cooper's I'd go with his recommendation over mine condemnation.

One thing you have to remember is that the tires you are buying for your Cooper will be a different size than the ones CHMINI has used & may behave differently.

I only drove on my Kumho's in one snow storm. They worked OK, but as you already know a dedicated snow tire will be worlds better.

IMO there is only one A/S tire that really works well. It's the Hakka WR.

http://www.tirefactory.net/WRPassengerSpecs.htm

 

Last august, I put a set of Goodyear Eagle F1 All Seasons on my '04 MCS. They ride and handle better than the run-flats I removed and worked very well this last winter, which was one of the worst Chicago has seen in a long time. Very happy with them.

 

Hey Carve, I drive to/from Springfield-Columbus every week day and have had no problems with the Zeons. Keep in mind that I'm running 205/45 17's which aren't snow carvers in any brand, but even the heavy snows this past winter didn't keep me off the roads.

 

So, it looks like I will be hunting for the best prices for one of the three tires:
1.) Kumho ASX ultra high performance all seasons
2.) Cooper Zeon Sports
3.) Goodyear Eagle F1 All Seasons

My current tire size is 175/65 R15s... but there was one recommendation 195/60/15... would this be the size to look into for all three above? If not, any recommendations from those that are currently (or have) run one of the three above?

 

Robb the 175/65/15 is a hard size to find. My guess is that it will not be available in the tires you've listed.

I'd go with the 195/60/16 or a 205/55/15. If you want the tire to perform in snow the 195 will be better than the 205.

 

I went from 175/65/15 to 195/60/15 with Bridgestone Potenza RE9060AS Pole Position. Very nice tire. Worked well around here this last winter and it gets great ratings.

 

Thanks. I can't wait to get the new tires. I'll let y'all know how I like them in a few days.

 

I picked up the new Goodyear F1 all-season tires yesterday. The only drive has been from the tire store to home. Here's what I noticed... Way more quiet!!! seems to be smoother... not quite as harsh on the bumps.
I love them. I'll let you know if this changes.

 

Glad to hear the good news!

What size tires did you end up with?

I've been calling around to the Tire Monkeys trying to find mine...and NO ONE carries 175/65s...thinking I"ll make the jump that Crashton mentioned and try finding tires at 195/60/15 or 205/55/15. Assuming I can convince the dealer that this size WILL fit on my wheels.