Yee-haw!! - got my production # today - should be at the dealer in the 1st week of June.

I think the spec is pretty much set in stone but I have a question about the run-flats. My Clubman S will have 16" Bridge-spokes and non-sport suspension - should I ditch the run-flats as well for ultimate comfort or is the peace of mind for family transport (my wife will be using this for shuttle runs when the Bus isn't necessary) worth the slight decrease in ride comfort?

What are your thoughts motorers?

 

I would. We have had ours a month and I'm already looking to ditch them. I also purchased a spare tire....just in case

 

We decided to keep runflats on our Clubman S for the peace of mind and the difference in ride doesn't seem that significant to me with the radials based on my driving the '07 Cooper in and around the Boston area's bumpy streets.

 

http://www.techmax.ca/run_flat_tires.htm


just just follow the links.

 

I've got the same tires and suspension set up on mine, which I'm set to pick up tomorrow. I'll let you know about the ride. I test drove only on 17" and sports suspension (in two different S Clubmans), and frankly that seemed pretty comfortable, so I think 16" and non-sport is going to be seem downright cushy.

 

Got our Clubman S with Sport and 17" dunlop run-flats this week. The ride is so much more comfortable than my wife's 2002 Lexus SC430 that has the original Bridgestone run-flats.

I believe the new generation run-flats (probably all brands) have been greatly improved now that this market has grown - and as soon as the Bridgestones are worn on the Lexus we're going to switch to exactly the model Dunlops that came on the Clubman (they stick like glue too!!!)

 

Interesting, tigermann. If you're right about the improvements, I'll have to bear that in mind when the all seasons I ordered wear out. I had run flats on my '04 MINI and though the safety factor was great, the next two times around I've gone with all seasons. jonabad's post seems to go along with yours.

 

personally it doesn't seem like the run-flats are needed, especially when it comes time to replace them. from all i've seen they can get expensive quick...

 

I have the regular suspension and bridge spokes with runflats on my R56 and the ride comfort is just fine for me and my family. I also have winter runflats, which are a bit rougher, but still fine. I think runflats have come along way over the last few years and we (my wife particularly) like the safety of them.

But a lot of ride quality comes down to past experience. I remember reading a post on NAM right after I ordered the R56 in which the guy was very unhappy with the ride quality. It was making me nervous (had I not paid enough attention during the test drive???) until I got the the end of the post when he said he was currently driving a BMW 7 series. That's a much different point of view than the Jetta Wagon I sold to get my MINI.

I'd give your runflats some time and see what you think.

 

Thanks for the input everyone. I'm coming off 2 cars w/aftermarket suspensions - KW coilovers then H&R Sports/Bilsteins. It was quite comical having my mother visit on one occasion and take a ride in the KW equipped GTI - she probably should have been wearing a Hans device for all the abuse that her neck took - I of course thought the 3" turbo back and ramrod stiff suspension was essential at the time... I think that the run-flats/stock suspension combo will be like butter in comparison.

If not I'll just take care of them hooligan-style w/some smoky burnouts and try the all-seasons instead

 

I thought about getting rid of the runflats on my ride, but after driving on them for about an hour I said NO way, they're not that bad. I've heard bad things about the gen I's, but the gen II's seem to much improved. Enjoy the Clubman when you get it

 

We've only had our Clubman S with 16" Bridgespokes and non-sport suspension a little over a week but so far we've been pleasantly surprised by the ride quality of the run-flats (Goodyear Excellence). We were expecting a noisy, uncomfortable ride but over the 400 mi. we've driven (incl. 1 four-hour roundtrip and the rest around town), it's been noticeably smooth and quiet. We've been told by a first gen. Cooper S owner that the run-flats get hard and noisy after about 8,000 mi. so we'll see what happens. If they're too annoying or expensive come replacement time, we'll switch to regular tires and a spare. For now, why not give 'em a shot; they may not be a problem for you.

 

Early run-flats were voted to be crap by most tire reviewers. When these were a new idea, there was not a lot of choice out there. Also, many of the cars were outfitted with the new run-flat tires as an afterthought.

The advantage of the Gen 2 cars is that they pretty much knew they were going to use run-flats when they designed the new car. There may have been design compensations figured in. The tire manufacturers also improved the breed.

I believe that many of the people that are using run-flats have 16", 17", and larger wheels and tires that have smaller profiles. Regular tires in these sizes with 50 and below aspect ratios will run rougher than my 165 R 13 tires (with a 78 aspect ratio) on my other car. The point being, are they basing their opinion of run-flats on their only experience with this size tire or have they been able to directly compare a run-flat with a non?

As they say, your road conditions may vary.
And with that, I don't have much faith in run-flats, but I will try ours and see how they do for our roads and our driving. (I'll still carry a spare tire)

 

I've got the 17-inch runflats on my Clubby S with sport suspension. I don't mind the ride and was surprised that my 85-year-old mom didn't mind them on the 130-mle home trip. I was going to switch them out, but decided to keep them until I have to change them and then maybe I'll go the alternative route and put a spare in that great little spot under the rear cover area. I want to change the wheels too so I'll probably do that at the same time.

I've heard the 16-inch runflats feel ok.

Enjoy your car. My Otto is the best thing in my life.

 

I wouldn't usually reply since I don't have a clubman, (but considering it), but I am looking at my 2 new 17" Dunlop runflats for our '06 MCS in my garage from Tirerack for installation tomorrow.
We have about 23K+ miles and have put new winter tires and wheels on last winter ($1,200) and now needed to replace 2 of the Dunlops...I figure we have about $1,900 investment in tires on this 2 yr old car. Not complaining, pretty much what I expected, but wow I think I'm going to buy futures in rubber. The Dunlops stick like glue but don't last real long and don't ride real well, but we decided to stick with them.

 

I have been concerned about having no spare in the Clubman S that I just ordered. I realize it come with runflats, but I may want to swap them out for regualr tires once they wear out. Is there a recommended spare tire option, that can fit in the Clubman S (where could it go)?

 

What defines a Gen 2 runflat? Date of manufacture? Some other designation on the tire? Is there a list of "Gen 2" tires now available. I didn't see anything at the Tire Rack website. Sounds like the only criteria is that the runflats on newer MINIS are just that...newer.

 

I have got the same exact setup as you do (16" Bridgespokes with Goodyear Excellence runflats) and we are VERY HAPPY with them. Great ride quality and handling.

Keep 'em

 

The Clubman has a spare tire well that it fits in (under the boot floor, inside). From what I've heard, the spare should have a 15" rim and it still doesn't fit over the front rotors, so it would have to be swapped with a rear if you have a front flat. I purchased a spare for $50 but haven't tried it on the front yet. When I change the brake pads next week, I will try it then to know for sure if it will clear the front rotors.

 

We have the run-flats on our Clubman S - and we are both pleasantly surprised on how smooth it rides - compared to our 05' MCS that had run-flats - which we got rid of because the ride was VERY rough.

Donna

 

For what it's worth we ordered the sport suspension and it came with run-flats. Straight away we got 15 in wheels with 195/55 tires.

The improvement in the ride is welcomed on long trips and I think only the auto crossers would lament the lower g's. A 15in spare will work with the Clubman too as noted above.

For those with 16's a couple cans of flat fix in the boot could be a good option.

SF

 

www.minimania.com has the spare wheels for sale.

 

Also price them @ Classic MINI bmwparts@classicautocampus.com or Morristownmini.com They both sell for MSRP less 20% , no sales tax for out-of-state residents. Classic sells theirs "assembled" $191.00 plus shipping (They come from MINI as 2 pieces and the tire has to be mounted. Order them separately, and receive a $25.00 savings.

 

I had 16" run flats on my '03 S and the non-run flats are significantly more comfortable!

 

Gen 2 runflats have better ride/handling characteristics (Like normal radials) and use double humps (EH2+) Gen 1 runflats (EH2) use humps only on one side of the rim and gen 2 runflats on both. I have gen 2 runflats in my 2005 R53 S and the ride is much better than with the gen 1 Dunlops it came from the factory. In the 16" size, Clubmans come equipped with Gen 2 Goodyear Excellence Run-On-Flat tires with double EH2+ humps. Hope this helps.