I am buying a used 2008 Mini Cooper S and I want to get the tires that would give me the smoothest ride. What should I look for or avoid?

(I'm asking about factory options - not aftermarket)

Thanks!

 

So you are looking to stay with OEM run flats. I hunk they are all pretty much average at best. I have used the Dunlop dsst summer and continental ssr all season. If I had to choose between the two, I would go with the continentals.

There are a lot on non RFTs that I like much better than these two.

 

What's the reason for sticking with RF's?? Not only are they more $$, but a much rougher ride than Non-RF's, just carry a Slime Kit and you are good to go!!

 

I've just purchased a 2006 JCW Competition Edition (64 produced for Canada only at the end of the Series 1 production). It had the original Dunlop runflats, which were very noisy and extremely rough riding. I've just replaced all 4 with Michelin Pilot Sport Plus All Season tires. The difference is like night and day. I now have a very quiet and smooth ride, and won't be going back to runflats. As my tire dealer says, carry a cell-phone rather than a can of goo and a compressor - it takes up much less room! This may not be so good if you live in a rural area, but I can't remember the last time I actually had to change a flat tire. However, this that may be more about my memory than the big improvement in tire technology over the last 20 years!

 

"Smooth riding run-flat" is an oxymoron, but the only original equipment run-flat that is also a best seller at www.tirerack.com is the Continental ContiProContact SSR. It's a Grand Touring All Season, and has a 7.4 rating (probably the highest rating of any OE run-flat). When you decide to move to non-RFs, you might find smoother riding tires in the Grand Touring category.