I need new tires on my 2005 MCS, I'm looking at Conti DWS 215/45ZR17 91W XL B, but I'm not sure if they will fit and work on my mini. the tires that are on it now (Just bought it) are two different tire brands but are
205/45R17. Please help I'm so Confused and don't want to make mistakes. I have wanted to buy a Mini for so long now I have one and dont want to screw it up.

 

Should be okay. But the tires might look ballooned out a bit. 10mm in width difference won't affect handling or ride height much.

 

Thank you beken, What tires would you recommend, I'm not a speed demon but do like the handling and the quickness of the mini (is the reason I bought this car). Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

I have the Conti DWS on my 04 mcs, in the 215 45 17,, No issues at all

 

Nothing but good reviews on that tire and that size around here. I went to the 215s in a Michelin Pilot and love the ride as well. Plenty of examples how the size works problem free in the forum.

 

Firestone 215's here, no issues here except for insane cornering velocities

 

I put 215/45/17 AVID ENVigor (W)(Ultra High Performance All-Season) on my '02 MCS one year ago. I now have ~10K on them and they still look new. They are real quiet, smooth and offer great performance for an all season tire. Would have no issues about buying them again. Only negative is they are not great in deep snow, but it's an all season tire not a snow tire.

 

I was looking into getting some Hankook Ventus V4 ES H105....Anybody every tried Hankook tires before? They look really nice and are decently priced. I really want to get rid of my run flats. Do I need to get a certain Hankook tire to fit my 16' Five Star MINI rims?

 

NightFlyR, RKHGC, Clubman S Turbo, 36rodder,
Thanks for the help, I'm going next week and have them installed. Probably keep one of the best old tires for a spare. Too bad you can't install the under car spare kit on an S model.
Thanks again,
Greg

 

+1 on the AVID ENVigors

 

This is what I have on 17inch factory rims

215/45R-17 Continental ExtremeContact DWS XL

Which I think is pretty much the same tire.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...p/photo/103592

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...p/photo/103592

 

I just put a set of Hankook Ventus v12 evo k110s on my 2005 MCS. $580 out the door at my local garage, including balance and alignment. It was either those or a set of Bridgestone Potenzas. The Hankook's were highly rated on TireRack and were almost 1/2 the price of the Potenzas, so I figured I would give them a try.

So far, I like them. They are very quiet and performed well at the track yesterday where I ran about 50 laps in 85 degree heat.

I've had them about a month and a half, so we'll see how they do long term. If I don't like them, the price was certainly right.

 

I have the Hankook all season tires in 215/45/17. They have been a superb handling tire the past spring and summer. I do not know how they are going to do this winter.

But hey, our MINI's are front wheel drive!!!

 

I previously had the Continental DWS"s in 205/45/17. They did a great job last winter and were great in rainy conditions. They, however, did not feel near as sporty as my Hankooks. When I say, "not as sporty", I mean they wallowed a lot through corners and did not seem as crisp.

 

I have the same on my 2005 MCS and they're super quiet! I've only got a few weeks on them. Im interested to see how they do long term.

 

My just-acquired 2005 S has the Hankook Ventus V4 ES H105 in the 16" size on it. They seem to be pretty good tires, but they are not real high performance. I will be getting some 17" next spring, and I think I will try the new Michelin Super Sports in the 215/45 size. TireRack's test shows them to be superior to the Bridgestone RE-11's, and they have a 300 tread wear rating.

 

I'm using Yokohama Avid Envigors. The Continental DWS's are very good also. Though I don't have them, I noticed the MINI Dealers here put them on their CPO cars.

The Yokos have been very good, but not the ultimate in grip for highspeed cornering. They are very good in rain. I don't think I've every hydroplaned with them on at all. In the winter, I run dedicated snowtires, but I'm pretty sure these tires would be fine in a pinch, if the snows come before I've done the changeover, or if I'm in a mountain pass and hit some unexpected snow.

 

Thanks for all of the great replies and info. Now I really have a delema lol, all of this information was really needed.

Greg

 

If you're not racing your car and you need a good general road tire, then pick pretty well any tire within your budget range. I think a lot of people (likely not on this forum) go by how they like their tread pattern to look. However, if you do worry about the fine details on how your car handles, then yes, you will have to do some research on what tire does what. Another factor might be wear. High performance tires generally wear faster and cost more.

High performance all season tires are good compromises for most of us. I don't think you could go wrong with your first choice. The conti DWS have been reviewed here very favorably. Perhaps your dilemna is just your indecision. There are other tires, but if you have a favorite, then I would stick with it.

I went into this mode when I bought my current tires (the Yoko Envigors) because I was dissatified with my previous tires. Being in Canada, pricing of tires is quite different than in the USA. So Conti's and many fall out of the running unless I buy tires in the US. But that introduces a whole bunch of other issues outside of this thread's subject at hand.

Good luck with your choice.

 

Personally i would stick with the 205/45R17. I went to 215/45R17 on my 2009 and I don't like the way they handle. The handling was much crisper and sure on the stock tire size. I went to the Conti non run flat tires. I left the stock size on my wife's car and it handles perfectly. The tires looks a little better because it fills out the wheel well a bit better and looks a little fatter but the handling change is not worth it. I would carefully consider it before changing tire size from the stock size. The stock tire size will be on the tag on the drivers inside door.

Regards,

Pat