I just snagged a set of centerline 18 inch wheels at 16lbs a piece off of one of our bretheren. Can anyone make a good recomendation for a stock r56 that is primarily used just for transportation. I want sticky but dont wnt to rplace tires evry six months

 

I'm running with the Falkens FK 452 215/40/18 in my Mini. I have them on my AMG and MCSC and cannot say enough about them. Very quiet tire and good thread wear which was a major concern due to the convertible noise. I went with the 40 profile, although it increased the circumference a bit (my speedo is off now), I wanted to maintain some comfort.

Edge racing has some great prices on these and other tires. Check them out
http://www.edgeracing.com/tires/2154018/

 

Im running the cheapest Hankooks available for 215/35/18's. They have lasted me 44K miles. I could probably go to 60K on them but my front left tire has major grand canyon cracking going on. I am going to see how far I can push it until it blows. Great tire btw. Still handles great after all the miles and abuse. You can pick them up for like $75-80 a tire which is crazy cheap.

 

Reported this thread because it is in the wrong forum.

 

The centerline RPMs are 18x7" with +42mm offset. Make sure you get the centering rings that come with those wheels. If not you can order them through Centerline for about $19 per set of four. Just online order them for MINI cooper.
see
http://www.centerlinewheels.com/whee...ehicle&data=32

For tires you can try-
205/40-18 (stock MINI size like JCW wheels)
Ultra High Performance Summer tires
Yokohama S.Drive $138 each 300 treadwear
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....rtnum=04YR8SXL
Edited based on EVO tyre review results (see below)

If you don't mind stiffer sidewall then these are also good for street driving-
In 215/35-18
Ultra High Performance Summer tires
General exclaim UHP $85 each 380 treadwear (comfortable tire)
Avon Tech M500 $88 each 280 treadwear

Or in Ultra High Performance All Season tires
Goodyear Eagle F1 All Season $134 each 420 treadwear
Kumho ecsta ASX $100 each 420 treadwear
Continental ContiExtreme Contact $105 400 treadwear
Sumitomo HTR+ $91 each 360 treadwear

Or in High Performance All Season tires
Kumho Ecsta AST $75 each 400 treadwear (more a value tire)

 

Yokohama S.Drives got HORRIBLE test results in the Sept issue of EVO. I'd avoid like the plague - they did a summer tire test....the new Yokohama was at the bottom (the new Goodyear Asymmetric cleaned up).

I had the Parada Spec-2 in 215/35/18 and was quite happy with them, especially for the price. The A/S GY F1's would be a perfect choice for year round use if snow or cold temps are an issue.

 

The thing about tire reviews is check what was the car used and how was the test conducted. Was the testing primarily for performance or for street use for things like noise and ride comfort. If the Yokohama S.drive got poor scores for noise and ride comfort then that would be bad for the OP who was looking for a street friendly tire.

If the tests were primarily for good handling in wet or dry then the S.drive may not be a good choice. If the test car was very high powered compared to the MINI then you have to make adjustments for the differences in the cars.

The OP was looking for a tire for:
basic transportation
Sticky (enough)
Not wearing out in 6 months

 

You recommended the S.Drive (based solely on a MINI size and Tire Rack being a NAM vendor). The EVO test results against other tires in class were the S.Drive placing (near) dead last. What does it matter what car they tested on? Braking and wet/dry handling have no relationship to 'power'. The dataset is still valuable whether the tires were tested on a Yugo or Ferrari.

 

i like my sumitomo HTR+'s. these are my second set on my hobby cars
through the years and these have one of the best ride comfort, super
low noise, and nice grip, nice looks, and virtually available anywhere..

 

A VW GTI was used for testing (quite similar to a Cooper S actually). Blind testing (tires were covered until driver was in car - same driver for all tests).

All tires were with 225/45/17 - winner of each gets 100pts and the rest a percentage based on how close to the test leader.. Test were: Lap Times, Lateral G, Subjective, Straightline Acceleration, Wet Corning, Wet Braking, Dry Braking, Rolling Resistance

Results:

1. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric
2. Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta
3. Continental ContiSport Contact3
4. Bridgestone Potenza RE050A
5. Michelin Pilot Sport PS2
6. Pirelli PZero Nero
7. Kumho Ecsta SPT
8. Dunlop Sport MAXX
9. Yokohama S.Drive

Comments about the S.Drive: "Lowest rolling resistance and a set of low to middling scores in the dry tests were the Yoko's high spots. It came dead last in all the wet tests, generating so little grip that in the straight-line braking it took a massive 12.1m (38ft!) further than the best tyre"

Interesting sidenote - they tried a few sets with 225/40/18 to see how things would change - the car was 2.5sec slower around the course, despite having more treadwidth and shorter sidewalls

 

I have the BFG g-Force T/A KDW 2's in 215/40/18 and think they are great in wet/dry weather. Now, some say they are noisy, but I came from a Chevy Tahoe with BFG Mud Terrain TA's and they were NOISY!

 

I tried to find the original article but no luck yet.

It's looking bad for the S.drive though based on that EVO review.

Interesting how Yokohama can release a "modern" tire like that. Maybe it was made for a MINIvan.

Not much else for tire reviews for the S.drive
http://www.1010tires.com/tiresearch....y=Summer+Tires

Anyone own the S.Drive and use them on a MINI????

I'm trying to look up the Goodyear F1 Asymmetic (new from UK)
I see only 245/40-18 at tirerack for $235 each
Hopefully more coming later.
http://www.goodyeartires.com/eagle/eagle_allTires.html
F1 Asymmetic not yet listed.

 

For the OP.

Another possible street tire in

205/40-18 in Ultra High Performance All Season tires

Toyo Proxes 4 $114 each 300 treadwear, 20.5 lbs.

Or in
215/40-18 (24.8" tire diameter- slightly taller than stock)
Falken Ziex Ze-912 $112 each 360 treadwear 21.7 lbs (UHP All Season tire)
Toyo Proxes 4 $118 each
Falken Fk452 $125 each 300 treadwear 22.5 lbs (UHP Summer tire)
Toyo Proxes T1R $135 each 280 treadwear 22 lbs (Max performance Summer tire)
(some of these also in 215/35-18)

 

http://www.eaglef1.eu/ - no good MINI stuff it seems for the new Goodyears besides 215/45/17, but I'm sure they will come in time.

 

Seems like the US is slow to get this promising tire.

I checked it out for the UK site.

Only that size you mentioned as a potential.

Could we get lucky and get anything else in 17" or even in 15" or 16"?

Heck, I like putting Max performance tires on my MINI for daily driving.
It's darn fun.

 

I have RE01R's on mine.....damn fun is more like it.

I don't see smaller sizes coming for the new F1's. The trend these days is larger OEM wheels and tires (my FX35 came with 20"), so 17" has become the new 15" (standard 'performance' size, larger than that being optional)

 

Ditto on the RE01Rs. I have them on my MINI right now. Had plans to remove them for other street tires but...

I just can't!:lol :

Maybe next week.

 

wow!! the next time i have a homework assignment I'll just post it here.
Thanks everyone for all the feedback and insight. I was considering the yokohama evs100s but think I'll look at some other choices. I didn't realise there would be such variety in 18s.

 

Bridgestone Potenza = awsome. Of course when the bridgestone comercial is on you can smile at the end, when the MINI slides around into the gas station.

But seriously I have 18's for daily driving, I beat the hell out of them and I think I can get 2 1/2 -3 years with them. I do have steelies and winter tires for a few months.

 

T18dryver,

I would have to agree on brownflyer's review of the Falken Fk452. The tire will give you a comfortable quiet ride and also give you the performance handeling you are looking for in wet and dry conditions. I suggest the 215/35R18 to keep them at stock height, but if you want a bit more side wall you can go 215/40R18. Just remember that the 40 series sidewall will affect your speedometer and odometer readings. You can check out our tire availability at www.edgeracing.com. If you have any other questions just let me know.

Leo Barrios
800-489-5353 x211
leo@edgeracing.com
http://www.edgeracing.com

*If you place an order on-line, please refer to Leo as your salesperson. Thank you*

 

thanks leo
I'll order around the 20th

 

Leo from edge racing helped me pick out the Falkens FK 452, 215-35-18 @ $100 each, I'll give some feedback in about a 1,000 miles.
Thanks everyone!

 

Sounds like it's to late to chime in but I know there are some in my Mini Group that run a 215/40/18's which is what I would get to do it over again. I run a 215/35/18 Pirelli pzero nero. I would love a little bit more tire under me. Some of our group (including me in a 16") run the NItto Neo Gen's which I really like as well.

 

Now that I have had the 215/35/18's for a while, I wish I had purchased the40's or even 45's. Ride is a little to harsh on potholes and minor bumps. and it would have filled in some of the wheel well gap!