Hello All,

I am on my second Mini and looking to swap out the stock runflats for some good non-runflats that handle well and won't break the bank.

On my last car, MCS Hardtop, I ran Hankook Ventus HRII H405 and they were great for what I needed. I know that they are not the best tires, but they were comfortable for my daily commute, and a decent tire at the track. And, they were only $75/ea!

Unfortunately, they are no longer in production. I've looked through old threads, and couldn't get a good read on this. So here we are.

I am running 17x7" wheels, so probably looking for a 225/40 or 45. Does that work?

Suggestions?

thank you thank you thank you

 

What suspension are you running? Stock? Any plans to lower it?

225/40-17 only gives you choices in R compound competition tires not for any street use.

225/45-17 is too tall and would give you taller gearing which is not good for rapid acceleration.

205/45-17 and 215/45-17 are the common tire size choices although you could consider 215/45-17 or 205/40-17.

You want a tire that handles well and can be used for track duty but is not as costly.

From Hankook-
Ventus R-S3 Extreme Summer tire
215/45-17 $139 each, 200 treadwear, 22 lbs, 24.6" tire diameter
Ventus V12 evo K110 Max Summer tire
205/45-17 $90 each, 280 treadwear, 20 lbs, 24.3" tire diameter, W speed rated

Dunlop Direzza ZII Extreme Summer tire
215/40-17 $159 each, 200 treadwear, 22 lbs, 23.8" tire diameter
BF Goodrich
Rival Extreme Summer tire
215/45-17 $139 each, 200 treadwear, 21 lbs, 24.7" tire diameter

Sumitomo
HTR ZIII Max Summer tire
215/45-17 $83 each, 300 treadwear, 23 lbs, 24.5" tire diameter
Kumho
Ecsta LE Sport Max Summer tire
215/40-17 $97 each, 280 treadwear, 20 lbs, 23.8" tire diameter
205/45-17 $87 each
Bridgestone
Potenza S-04 Pole Position Max Summer tire
205/45-17 $109 each, 280 treadwear, 23 lbs, 24.3" tire diameter


Of these-
The Extreme Summer tires will give you more grip but faster tread wear, they are especially good if you do track your MINI. But for daily driving they can be firm riding and noisy.

Max Summer tires are a good compromise, still good handling and slightly longer wear with resonable prices. If you can afford the Bridgestone S-04 it's the best tire of this class I listed but not the cheapest.
see tire rack test for the S-04
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=174

 

Are you looking for a summer tire or all season?

 

225 too much for 17x7. I'd recommend going with 215. that's all I'll say...

 

If you are looking for a balanced good handling tire that you can use for daily street use and will not be using it for the track then-

An Ultra High Performance All Season tire will work.

see
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/survey...=N&sortValue=0
General G-Max AS-03 $90
Kumho ecsta 4X $92
Both in 205/45-17
Also both come in 205/40-17 and 215/45-17
low sidewall profile and firmer riding 40 series gives better handling
higher sidewall 45 series gives slightly smoother ride with good handling

If you are doing any track driving then a Max or Extreme Summer tire would make more sense.

 

205-45-17 Continental DWS
one winter on them and they are excellent. 2007 R52

 

I ran the same tire for several years going through several sets and never had an issue with the snow.

 

Yes, the Continental ExtremeContact DWS is a very good Ultra High Performance All Season tire but costs a bit more at $122 each, 540 treadwear, 20 lbs.

Tire rack test results-
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=165

 

True but given tires are the most important equipment on your car I'd say they are well worth it

 

My suggestions were with a modest tire budget in mind for the OP.

Up to a point you do get what you pay for but there are some good values out there. All of the tires I mentioned are a compromise of performance, wear and good value.

 

Kuhmo 4x

 

Definitely worth a look.

tirerack test results-
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=151

 

For an extreme performance summer tire, any of the aforementioned ones are hard to beat. For a DD max performance summer tire, I'll tip my hat to the Hankook Ventus V-12 EVO; I had a few sets on my S2000, and they were fantastic. As for an UHP All-Season....the Goodyear Eagle GT (W-rated) is an awesome tire for what it is. I just had a set on my S2000 for a long trip, and was VERY surprised at the level of dry grip (ALMOST as good as some summer tires). Wet grip was as good as you'd expect from a higher end all-season. As for road noise, I had a fully opened exhaust (SWMBO was VERY happy when I got the MINI) so I can't really comment on that; however, I've been told that they are fairly quite compared to some others on the road.

I've read that there are some other very good tires that fall into these categories, but these are the ones that I know first hand. I will say one other thing though, very few people can really drive a car fast enough on track, or the street (myself included), to really exploit all the benefits of a max performance summer tire, let alone an extreme performance tire. While the Ventus V12 is a max performance tire, it's quite good in the rain, but in all honesty the Goodyears felt just as sticky in the dry, and even better in the rain, so ask yourself if you REALLY need an extreme/max performance tire for DD, when a good UHP all-season will suffice.

Please don't take this as me trying to talk you out of something, because I'm not, hell I ran extreme/max performance tires for years on all sorts of cars, and just recently tried a UHP all-season. This is just me wanting to give my insight into tires lol, and get another post (just hit two LOL).

Mike

 

If you do not drive your MINI in the show try the Conti DW's. Fair price and the best wet tire on the market. You give a up a little in the dry compared to the Dunlop RF's that were surprisingly much better then I thought. Stiff side walls made turn in at the track quick and predictable. The DW's are my DD tires and also my wet track set up. On the track in the rain the tires were mile apart better than what everyone else was running in the rain that day.
The instructors were betting if a could slow to make the hair pin turn after charging up the hill at the Ridge Motorsports Park. My time up the hill was very close to my dry time so I was caring lots of speed. I few time I was not sure it they would find enough grip but they always came through. Was a little iffy. I heard later they were thinking of black flagging me for pushing to hard in the rain and then waved it off as I was consistent every lap. Consistently pushing her hard but always in control but pushing the boundary's. On the street there are excellent in all conditions. I bought a second place in AZ now and I would go to summer tires not rain rated if I keep the car down south. My wet track day set up is my street set up so the car is very fast and predictable on the street in all conditions. If you have a performance car tires is not place to save $100. Stupidity in my book. I see guys withhigh performance cars- Maserati-Porsche putting cheap all season tires on them to save a few bucks. Dangerous and stupid.
It like Jordan playing in hiking boots.He could do it but it would not be his best game and you would still ask the question why?

 

Seriously, Everyone. Thank you for all of the input, I definitely have a better idea of what I need. As they say, I did not know what I did not know, so damn. Thank you All.

DHFREAK, I totally agree; most drivers don't exceed the capabilities of their cars, and the Mini definitely has more ***** than I do (so far!); but, the Bridgestone S-04s, Goodyears and Contis are out of my price range.

BRAMINATOR, an all season tire will probably work best. I live in LA, likely no snow, my daily driver, and track once every 2-3 months.

RA2FANATIC, looks like 215/45 or 215/40. I had 205s on my last Mini, and hell, if I can get a little more rubber without going to tall or rough, awesome.

MINIHUNE, damn Man. THANK YOU! Of the choices you suggested, these look the best: Hankook-Ventus V12 evo K110 (but only 205/45-17); Sumitomo- HTR ZIII; and Kumho- Ecsta LE Sport.

Any thoughts on how these compare against each other or to the Kuhmo 4xs?

 

OK Here is my problem with this post
1) bigger tires with cost you more than 205s

2) more rubber up front will change handling. The car will steer more floaty and you will increase your understeer by having more grip in front.

It you don't push your car stick with 205s and you save the money you desire.

 

If you are in the sunbelt area no snow, I would opt for the Nitto Neogen ZR.



They run appx $96-$108 dollars per tire SHIPPED to your door and are very popular among the MINI crowd for both performance (ZR Rated) and handling in both wet and dry weather. While they have a 280 wear rating, they do wear much better than that at least on the MINI's probably since it is considerably lighter car than most other cars. ( IMO what the MINI GP2 should have had stock.....but that's another discussion...)

This tire is specifically designed by the manufacturer for cars running camber, as our MINI's do. Run tire pressures around 36# you should be happy with that. ( Tire pressures always checked cold )

For 2nd Generation MINI like yours, running a 17" wheel, the best size is 215/45/17. ( 1st Gen MINI 215/40/17's works great )

17" Nitto

If you have 16's, then 205/50/16.

16" Nitto

I have a set of these on 17" MINI Black Crown Spokes and had these in 16" on a set of Enkei's. Both were equally as good.

In the last 6 years, they have become such a popular tire, they started manufacturing them right here in the USA.

On my 18" JCW MINI wheels, I do run the Conti DWS ( Dry/Wet/Snow) as some have recommended above. A terrific tire in all respects, but they also make a Conti DW ( Dry/Wet ) which I hear is equally as good if you are not in the snow with your Roadster.

 

Just an FYI here but the wear ratings are very arbitrary and are really only useful when comparing tires within the same brand. I currently have a set of RE11s (180) and they have way outlasted a similar sized set of Toyo T1Rs (240) I am pretty **** about tire pressures and drive fairly consistently.

Each company pick's their numbers and there is really no correlation that is meaningful when comparing tires all at say 200 from four different companies.

 

Minihune is on point, as usual.

All seasons can get pretty chewed up on the track. The Sumitomo HTR ZIII would work as a low cost summer option.

Kumho 4X is great for a fun all-season. They will get it on the track.

 

Running the stock suspension, and will likely keep it.

Based on the TR Tests and reviews, this tire looks great and perfect for what I need.

Overall, the S-04 and the HTR ZIII look like the winners; but, it is hard to compare the two against one another. Whereas the HRT ZIII did better in its group, the S-04 have a higher overall rating. User ratings are about the same.

In the end, the difference is about $100 (or 30%). Are the S-04s that noticeably better?

AMEN