Ok, so it's time to buy my first set of new shoes and I have to admit, I am totally clueless and have no idea what to get or what size I even need. I have a 2010 MCS R56, stock everything. Thinking I need to ditch the runflats and go with an All Season tire. Need something that is good in rain and snow since we just moved to WA, but also want something that's not noisy (or at least a lot less noisy than the run flats). Any recommendations as to what to get or where to get them? How do I find out what size I need?

 

tirerack.com

or email alex@tireack.com ... alex is the mini expert and a tire test driver

 

I have have always had good luck with Hankook V12's

 

You can read the side of the tire. You may need a flashlight and point it across the tire so the lettering on the side casts a shadow. look for something like:

195/55R16

or

205/45R17

That's for 16" and 17" wheels respectively, you could have either. The 16" size is a little unusual so you can get a "plus" size to give yourself more choice. 205/50-16 works quite well. For an all season tire I like the Continental DWS, its pretty grippy, very good in the wet and has very good road manners (ie quiet). TireRack is a good place to start, have the tires shipped to an installer near to you.

 

Go to an independent auto shop that also carries and mounts tires. A lot of big box tire places won't replace run flats with non run flats, some nonsense about liability. I've had Toyo, Hercules, Firestone and Goodrich, all 4 season and all served well with no complaints. For the most part tires is tires unless you are looking for specific performance features.

 

We got Pirelli Plus7 all season tires from Tirerack to replace the original run-flats. Huge improvement in the ride and they did great this past winter here in Missouri.

We stuck with the stock size for our Clubman, 195/55R16

 

From your comments here is where to start-

First confirm you have runflats- look on the sidewalls, there should be "RFT" and the size will be 195/55-16 or 205/45-17. If you use a runflat they will always be in those sizes.

Before you replace the runflats consider what you will do if you do get a flat tire. Will you be close enough to home, have AAA for a tow, or carry fix a flat or a compact spare tire in a bag in the boot.

It is true that Costco and Sam's club will not want to replace runflats with non runflats but you can call your local store and confirm this. This may also apply to any tire store and it is due to liability when using anything that is not OEM for a given car.

Changing to non runflats gives you more tire sizes to choose from that may improve ride quality or performance, gives you a more compliant and comfortable ride on the street and reduces weight.

Once you confirm your tire size on the sidewall of your existing tires you can choose alternative sizes for a non runflat. If you have an OEM 16" wheel and stock suspension then you can consider:
195-55-16
205/50-16
205/55-16
If you have an OEM 17" wheel then-
205/45-17
215/45-17
This is a good starting point and these will all fit OK with no rubbing and the load ratings are all OEM or above.

All Season tires are your best choice for dealing with any weather in WA short of deep snow but even some All Season tires will do quite well. This may be a consideration if you drive into the mountains for winter recreation.
These will be a little less sharp and responsive in handling vs Summer tires but will wear longer, give a more comfortable and less noisy ride for street use and come in a variety of prices.

Figure out a budget for total tire purchase including shipping if any, mount and balance, valve stems, and tire disposal of your old tires. If you have not done any alignment then you have the option to get one done now before using new tires. If your old tires have worn very evenly then you can skip the alignment. If you don't know if the previous owner did an alignment or you see a little uneven wear on any of your old tires then you can do an alignment set to OEM specs now for about $120 or less. Ask if it can be done at the tire shop you use.

Using a local shop (including Sears, Goodyear, etc) is more convenient but you are limited to the brands and sizes they stock. Costco and Sam's club don't stock all tires and sizes but they can often order tires for you and have them shipped to your local site where they can install them.

If you do have a Costco or Sam's club nearby and you are a member you might stop in and check what they have to offer and for what price. If they do order tires the shipping cost is built into that price. Their mounting and balancing includes tire hazzard warranty (pays for part of the replacement cost if a tire is damaged and cannot be repaired such as a nail in the sidewall). Some shops charge extra for hazzard warranty. Costco also offers free tire rotation so that you can more even wear your tires. Front tires wear out faster than rears, rotation every 4000-5000 miles is helpful for wear.

Tirerack.com or other online sources give you a wider range of tires to choose from but you may have to pay for shipping. Tirerack has a list of tire installers in your area that you can work with but you have to ask if they will replace runflats with non runflats before you buy.

As for budget, good tires do not have to be expensive. Expensive tires are not always worth the added price. Cheap tires usually are cheaply made but there are some very reasonably priced tires that are good values.

When considering tires that are all Season you still need to prioritize what is important to you-
Ride comfort and quality
Handling
Performance in wet vs dry
Performance in snow and ice
Noise
Treadwear
Price
And for some- looks

If handling is important (you drive your MINI like the Sporty car it is) then Ultra High Performance All Season tires are a good place to look. There is a large selection within this class in the tire sizes mentioned, treadwear will be about 400-500 range.

A good example in UHPAS tire class-
Continental ExtremeContact DWS 540 treadwear
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....emeContact+DWS
205/50-16 $112 each, a little better handling
205/55-16 $106, this size gives more ride comfort
205/45-17 $121, this size gives slightly better handling
215/45-17 $119, more comfort

If ride comfort, noise and longer treadwear are more important then look at Grand Touring All Season tires. They won't handle as crisply but they are fine for street use and are very easy to live with especially if you commute.

Examples for Grand Touring AS tire class-

for 205/55-16 see-
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/survey...wws=N&showcm=N
Tires in the top 6 or 7 are solid with some value tires in the top 10.

For 215/45-17 (there is less to choose from) see-
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/survey...wws=N&showcm=N
The top 3 are good to consider.

So what tire size you do have and what are your priorities and budget?