I almost ready to purchase my F56 MC. Just trying to figure out a few more things. I live in an area where we do get afternoon rain down pours. My question is should I go with the All-season tires or the stock performance tires on the configurator. I am going with 17" tires. There may be times that I do go up north into colder weather.

 

I find that the Continental ContiProContact performance tires that came with my Roadster were great in dry or wet conditions, as long as the temperatures were above 45°F. I never felt they lost contact, no pun intended, with the road. In colder temperatures, the performance tires rubber become rigid and lost contact with the road. Here in the Midwest, it's suicide to think you can get through the winter with performance tires. I switch to an all-season tire once the temperature falls below 45°F. Hope this helps.

 

The Michelin AS/3 has performed very well for me in raining and snowy conditions. No hydroplaning compared to the famous Continental DWS where the majority raves about. Mich's are currently on sale at Costco for $570 out-the-door. Good luck in finding a set that you'd be comfortable with.

 

I have Conti DWS I've done some pretty scary wet driving with them and so far no hydroplaning, very comfortable and silent, I have 12,000 miles on mine. I'm not a brand loyalist by the way I would go with Michelin if they weren't so expensive. But 570.00 is a great deal

 

I've used 3 sets of Conti DWS since it became available in the market and was extremely happy until my 4th set. In my opinion and experience...something has changed. It did not perform as it used to be hence, led me to Mich's AS/3. Yea can't beat pricing plus comes with lifetime of whatever you can think of...

Got my last set of C/DWS' from Tire Rack like the other 3 sets prior.

 

What's the consensus on replacing the run flats with regular tires?

 

Do it, you'll be really happy

 

Most likely will, I think there's about a season left on these before it snows, depending on how hard I drive them

 

You do not need, or want all-season tires if you just drive in the rain. Most performance summer tires do a better job of optimizing wet traction, especially in the heat of the summer. All-seasons attempt to compromise with rubber compounds that don't harden too much in below-freezing temperatures, and add additional sipes to the tire tread for snow traction. Those same excessive sipes reduce traction and directional stability in the dry. They are downright shifty and unpredictable when driving over metal grated bridges here in NYC (BTDT, never again).

Again, all depends where "up north" is from where you live.
There is a huge difference in the context of that conversation between referring to South/North FL and TX vs. MI and NY.

If you drive over snow and ice, and can not afford to own or store a dedicated winter wheels+tires, than you have no choice but to make do with all-seasons.
If you don't need them - avoid them.
Ii you do need them and can get dedicated summer and winter wheels - do that as well. You will love the improvement in traction and driving pleasure from quality summer & winter rubber!

a

 

I took a turn rather exuberantly today, and the run flats lost traction. THEY SUCK.
I can't wait to get "real tires" or put on the winters. Can't imagine it snowing any time soon though.....

 

A/S 3 fan here...you can always sell the runflats to someone who is turning in their lease!

Sent from my SCH-I605 using NAMotoring

 

That's a GREAT idea!

 

I can't take credit for it though...it didn't even dawn on me until the guy who bought my set of runflats did it! :-)

Sent from my SCH-I605 using NAMotoring

 

I live in Wisconsin. Winter is ice and snow season. Spring and fall are unpredictable.

I have a second set of wheels with Blizzaks mounted. My 05 MCS on Blizzaks is a decent snow car until the snow gets deep enough that it turns my MINI into a snow plow. At that point I switch to my Chevy Avalanche.

You would think with winter tires available, I'd run summer tires in the summer. But In Wisconsin, the season joke is that we have two seasons, Winter and Construction.

So in choosing a 'summer tire' I want very solid summer tire traction, cornering and ride, but I also want solid wet traction and the ability survive if I get caught by an early or late snow storm. It needs to corner well on the twisties. I also need to deal with potholes in roads damaged by winter.

I just replaced my summer tires and rims. I went with 16" rather than 17" rims as on the way back from The Dragon last spring, I went over a pothole with my wife's 2011 Cabrio (sport package, 17" wheels) and blew 1 tire and ruined 2 rims. We limped home 150 miles on a space saver spare.

And in spite of some other comments about all-season tires, that's what I went with. My choice was the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3, the top rated all season tire on Tire Rack. They replaced the Connie all season run flats that came on my car when it was purchased. I couldn't believe the change in the way my 05 feels.

Its only been a day, but I'm already certain I made the right choice.

 

Good man - you are well equipped for the winter, as are most folks who live close-by the Canadian border.

Down here in NY/NJ things are very similar, except our winters do have an end. Alas, I also have a set of Blizzaks for the winter for all my cars (would not leave garage w/out them when temps drop below 40F), and summer performance tires for the good times of the year .

2 data points:
1). Go to tirerack.com's rating of tire performance, and see for yourself how top-of-the-line performance summer tire (e.g.: Michelin PSS) rates vs. all-season equivalent (e.g.: Pilot Sport A/S 3) in wet traction (click on Survey):
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes

2). My Blizzaks were on the last 3/32nds after this winter (3rd on this set of tires), and down to the all-season compound and tread. I am cheap, so I figured I will drive them though the summer and save the wear on summer tires. After temps climbed into 80s, the tires became scary. My MINI was one of the slowest breaking cars on the road, and I would spin and light-up the fronts up every time I wanted to accelerate with a purpose. The latter I could dial back, but the former lead me to take them off and install summer wheels in a hurry. The car was immediately transformed.

If you are the kind of a guy who likes to, and knows how to drive, there is no substitute for the best possible tires for every season.

a