I bought 07 MCS about 2 months ago and have about 1200 miles on the car. I was wondering if I need to get Goodyear all season F1 or will the stock Dunlops get me through the maryland winter which is usually not that harsh (baltimore area)

Edit : Forgot to add I have 17" wheels. 205-45-17

Thanks
chandresh

 

my buddy with a MCS running those YouFoolria's did fine in the chicago
winter.

 

Since you somehow missed the other thread that is discussing the exact same thing right now:https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...php?t=116063If your roads get cleared pretty quickly, you might get by just fine. Performance tires and cold temps don't work well together, though, even if there isn't any snow on the pavement.

 

They will if you live in Hawaii. Winters are sunny and 75 with a bit more rain now and then.

Talk to others in your area and see if they have had the need for winter tires or good All Season tires or if summer tires will do (and drive slowly).

Do they plow snow in your area? If so then All Season tires sound better to me.

I lasted 5 winters in Chicago on cheap generic All season tires on both cars but I didn't have a MINI.

 

Does he have all season or performance? I m assuming you are refering to the performance dunlops. If he did fine in chicago, then i m sure they will work

But then shipping charges will cost me more than the tires! .. kidding

I can wait till temperatures drop a little and see how its affecting my ride but then I guess it might just be safer to get some good all season and stick with them. I will just get rid of the fun flats and sell them on marketplace here.

Sorry about that. You are right . I don't know how I missed that.

Thanks for your input guys.

PS: I just moved here about 3 months ago so don't know much about winters. But from what I saw from last year when I was visiting, there wasn't much snow and whatever little they had, it got cleared pretty fast.

 

You can ask around at work and see what others do-
Keep on snow tires for the winter- studless vs studded
Keep on All season tires for year round use- non runflat All Seasons might be better than Runflat All Seasons- but tires do vary a lot.

Always drive slower in the snow and watch for snowfall with freezing and thawing then cold that makes roads icy and slick.

 

I hate using the runflats in rain, I've slid out before. I would say drive like you have a corolla and you'll be fine.

 

i will be definitely getting rid of run flats. I m just not sure whether I want to invest in new tires so soon after buying car and hence, the dilemma. if it had been about a year, run flats would have been off the car in no time.

i usually drive pretty slow and safe. I never go above 5 over speed limit and always avoid long distance in snow or rain. And my office is about 400 yards from my house so sometimes i just walk (recently someone started messing with mirrors when i left it at home so i just take the car with me).

 

Ok another question

Are Avons All season better than Good year Eagle F1 all seasons?

Edit : Reviews and test results at tirerack are better for avons

 

Check this tirerack test
http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=EZ3&url=/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=87
Finished
1 Pirelli PZero Nero M&S (Ultra High Performance All-Season) 225/45R17

• What We Liked: Civilized road manners while being easy to drive at its limits
• What We'd Improve: Wet traction
• Conclusion: A tire focused on dry traction and ride quality

2 Goodyear Eagle F1 All Season (Ultra High Performance All-Season) 225/45R17

• What We Liked: Initial steering response and overall traction, especially in the wet
• What We'd Improve: A little more linear responsiveness
• Conclusion: A great performer with lots of wet and dry traction
• Latest Test Rank: 2nd (very close)

3 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S (Ultra High Performance All-Season) 225/45R17

• What We Liked: Solid road handling
• What We'd Improve: Wet and dry traction
• Conclusion: A former class-leader that's beginning to show its age
• Latest Test Rank: 3rd

4 Bridgestone Potenza RE960 AS Pole Position (Ultra High Performance All-Season) 225/45R17

• What We Liked: Road manners and handling
• What We'd Improve: A little more dry and wet grip
• Conclusion: A popular tire featuring an all-season personality
• Latest Test Rank: 4th

Given the 2nd place finish for these very good All Season tires, it seems the Goodyear F1 All Season is better than the Avon Tech M550 A/S.

In stock sized 205/45-17 there is only the Avon M550

In 215/45-17 you have many to choose from
Avon Tech M550 from $99 each
Goodyear Eagle F1 All Season from $130 each

 

Yep, you want to make sure you can keep good traction so as not to mess up that gorgeous paint !!

FWIW, I drove on run-flats through an entire winter before I swapped them out a few months ago. They did fine last winter. Of course, I don't recall driving through any snow that was deeper than maybe 3 or 4 inches.

I think that would be the case for you, too. The roads around here are kept pretty clear during the winter... I'll hand it to the plow crews, they work long hours.

This winter I'll be running on Goodrich Traction T/A's on the recommendation of Alex from the Tire Rack. But I didn't change from the runflats for their lack of performance in the snow. I changed because I didn't like the stiff ride of the runflats.

 

I Goodyear Eagle F1s are available in stock size too so I will probably go with them..however there are not many reviews available on tirerack for Eagle F1s so i m concerned.

The Avons test results are here
http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=EZ3&url=/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=55

And i looked at reviews from mini owners and they all seem to be happy with them


Chris,

Did you have performance run flats or all season runflats?

 

They were Dunlop all-season run-flats.

 

Thats surprising..

I guess 07s come with performance tires only.. because i saw the configuration online and there is no option for all seasons

 

Ah! I was browsing the other thread.. and found these great set of all seasons which are pretty cheap as well..

https://www.edgeracing.com/tire/5560/

Falken Ziex Ze 912

Any feedback on them? They are just(?) $82 and I think I can get the whole set under $400 shipped.. add another $100 for installation and i will be set

 

Yes, you can select All Season tires in the Configurator. If you select the sport package, just click on update options, and you have an option for performance or all season.

If you don't get the sport package, then on the 3rd step in the configurator, select Wheels, and scroll over to the end of the options. The last item is All Season tires.

I live in Michigan, so I ordered the all seasons - hope they work for me! My MINI is due at the dealers tomorrow - hopefully I'll have it middle of the week!

 

My original equipment Dunlop all-season runflats were very poor in snow. Okay on dry cold pavement. Not dangerous, just more slipping then I expected and I had to drive more carefully in winter weather.

I think it depends on what you are after. If you want to have spirited fun drives during the winter I'd say they are unacceptable. If you just want to get to work, they probably will get you there.

 

Well I m replacing the run flats anyways because theyr are performance and not all seasons. However, i think all season run flats can get you through a mild winter .. not sure they will be OK in michigan weather.. depends on how the streets are cleared.

 

Buy the F1s
I am considering doing the same.

 

I bought the Falcons 912.. so far so good and t hey cost about $40 less than F1s.. I might go with Goodyear F1s on my next set

 

You had run-flats, right ?

Did you have a problem finding a shop around here that would/could remove the run-flats ? We took ours to 3 different shops before we found one that could remove them. And another place refused to even try. The shop that did get them off charged us an extra fee for the low profile run-flats. :impatient

No more run-flats for me !!!

 

The F1s specifically indicate in all the tests that they are excellent for dry wet and light snow (few inches). I don't specifically know the the specs on yours.
I paid $146 each at my local Goodyear dealer installed.

Runflats from what I hear, are not as good in general since they are so hard, but they should work if they are all season indicated. If they are considered summer performance tires, then just forget it, runflats or not.

I also live on Long Island. You are in VT? I may have gone the route with snows and swapped them out once April came. It snows more than a few inches in Vermont? Right. Avoid summer performance and dress your MINI for where you live is the best guide.