I have 16" wheels and am currently using Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 205/50x16 tires which are awesome in the wet or dry until it gets below about 50 degrees which is all winter in the Northwest.

Since it's so rainy here during the winter, I need opinions on the best wet tire in typically 40 degree weather.

The only data I can find says the Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position, which is the top rated UHP all-season at the Tire Rack.

I sure wish the Tire Rack also listed the ambient temperature during their tests and purposely did some cold weather (but not ice) testing. It would be even better if the Tire Rack could convince the manufacturer's to publish their data on coefficient of friction wet and dry versus temperature.

Any other input on this?

Thanks.

-AndyW

 

i have the same tires as you but on a 17" wheel. i just got bridgestone blizzaks for my 16" stock wheels they are 205/60/16. i will have them installed by tomorrow morning but they are nice fat wheels and have excellent ratings in all weather and at 90 a tire you cant beat that

 

Thanks for that, but we almost never get snow/ice in the winter in the Northwest so I don't think I need that extreme a winter a tire and from what I've seen, winter tires are pretty compromised in the wet which is the opposite of what I'm looking for.

I want the tire with the maximum wet grip at 40 degrees Fahrenheit which is pretty typical here. The F1 GSD3's clearly go off below 50 degrees and I could get wheelspin into fourth gear when I was 185 whp and I now have 215 (thanks Jan!), so I want something better in the colder/wet conditions of the winters here.

Anybody from the Northwest found their perfect winter tire with excellent wet grip, even in the cold?

Thanks.

-AndyW

 

What part of the Northwest are you from? Did you relocate recently?

Actually, you live west of the Cascades, and there is very little snow over there, but everywhere in the Northwest that is east of the Cascades gets mountains of snow. In my end of the Northwest, we had snow so deep last winter that my son and I waded out in it up to our hips to shovel out the driveway and we had to do the same to reduce the amount of snowload on our elevated deck.

You should travel east some time. The country out here is GORGEOUS once you get past the high desert in the middle of Oregon and Washington. It's well worth a motor in your MINI!

 

I really like my Nokian WR's when it comes to this, it can be 5 degrees and out and its like they dont even notice. They have a fairly aggressive tread pattern, and I would say they cope with standing water quite well. Obviously on wet surface your grip is going to be compromised when compared to dry, but the WR's always give me good confidence in the wet.

I am running 225/45/17, which is huge, so they arent great in the snow because of that, but I suspect if they were something like 215 even that they would do a pretty good job there too, as they do have severe weather ratings.

 

I'd have a look at the Toyo R1R. In early season testing this year at the National Solo level they were evaluated as the top tire by several leading drivers for grip in cold/wet conditions.

Cheers,

Charlie

 

Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S? Have them on the wife's BMW and they do great when it's cold and rainy here.

 

i run mich pilot a/s's on my G in the winter temps. it came with the
stock wheels when i bought the car. it's very grippy in the cold.
not sure if they offer them in our MINI's sizes...

 

I liked the old Toyo T1S which was replaced with the T1R for lots of wet and cold driving. I used them when I lived in the north east.

 

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....1=yes&place=37

They do not compensate for "wet" weather, as you can see by the ratings. I got these fitted this morning so it is too soon to give my review on them but they seem pretty hefty.

 

Agreed the 960's are the best UHPAS in Mini sizes.

Our majority of summer tests are done on all types of tires somewhere between 65 degrees and 90 degrees. We try to plan for weeks with similar conditions so the variables are limited in our testing.

Our winter tire tests are done on groomed snow 20-40 degrees air temps. We may run winter tire tests on the road in these same cold conditions.

We don't test in the cold and rainy fall as were extremely busy for the last 4-5 months of the year.

Alex

 

SAve some $$$ and get the Kumho ASX. Denver gets cold and wet, and we get snow too. How have my Kumho tires done so far? Excellent! I would highly recommend these tires!

 

For the $ you can't beat ASX, agreed!

Alex