Greetings! I'm in New Orleans where the roads are mostly torn up due to various construction projects Uptown. Nexen tires came with the car when I bought it in 2011. There are tears, eggs, minimal tread left, so it's time for me to get 4 new tires. Haven't bought tires for the car yet!

It's an '06 Mini S Convertible and my driving ranges from annual to bi-annual trips to Colorado and New England - yet mostly driving in and around this crescent city & gulf coast.

My mechanic suggested Goodyear Eagles for $130/ea or Goodyear all-season for $155/ea. However, I'm searching Tire Rack and don't see those Nexens, not that I want the same - want to widen the search. Welcoming your thoughts, Mini community. Is Goodyear a decent tire for Mini convertible? Or what's your favorite for these Mad-Max road conditions + road trips?

 

What size?

Stock sizes for the MINI Cooper S convertible are usually 16 or 17 inch wheels,
which gives you options of 195/55/16, 205/50/16, 205/55/16 in 16, or 205/45/17
or 215/45/17 in 17 for the most part. Could have 18 inch wheels on it.
Could even have had 15s put on depending on year and brakes, but a new S
probably wouldn't have been sold from the dealer with 15s on it.

Do you ever go north on these trips at a time of year when snow/rain/sleet are a possibility?

 

Hankook Ventus V2. Great tires.

 

17's are on it now. Minimal snow/ice if any.
One of 4 is actually the Hankook Ventus S1 - because it was the only proper size tire available on a Sunday when I got a flat a yr ago. The other 3 are worn-down Nexens. Read a review on the Ventus S1 on Tire Rack that the tread runs down pretty quick. (80% worn after 11k miles) Maybe the V2 is better for rough city handling.

 

If going for summer tires, (no snow or ice or subfreezing temps), I'd choose the
Michelin Pilot Super Sport in 205/45/17 (or maybe 215/45/17 - they'd also fit, and
they're currently cheaper than 205, but are also currently on back-order at Tire Rack).
My second choice summer would be the Continental ExtremeContact DW (not the DWS,
which is an all-season) which also comes in 205/45/17 and 215/45/17 and is less
expensive than the M PSS. The Bridgestone Pole Position S-04 is another very good
summer tire, but it's a lot heavier than the PSS or the DW, so it doesn't my top vote.

For UHP All Season tires with not very much snow or freezing weather expected, I'd
vote for the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric All-Season in 205/45/17, with the Continental
DWS06 or DWS as second choice.

 

Great recomendations! I would however give the DWS06 a tie with the Goodyear. The dry handling has been improved significantly.

 

do the dws last longer than DW ? I had DW's and ate thru them in 12K

 

Well, the DW has a treadwear rating of 340 compared to 540 for DWS and 560 for DWS 06.
I know these numbers aren't written in stone, but one would expect to get significantly more
mileage from the DWS and DWS 06 than the DW. People also tend to run summer tires
harder than all-seasons, which may make the difference even bigger.

 

My 06 R52 came with Nitto Neo Gen when I bought it and the second I get new wheels, I will be slapping a set of Michelin Pilot Supersports on them.

I had them for about 20k miles as a summer set on my old WRX and was VERY happy. Excellent grip in the wet, quiet, wore very well and had LOTS of tread left. Price/performance/treadwear seems great compared to other options. If you are confident you won't be seeing many cold / below freezing temps I'd stick with that.

 

Had good experience with Continental DW. They have superb traction on dry roads. Grip and handling during raining days is also good.

 

If you got 55K out of the set you have and were pretty happy with them overall. I'd be buying the same thing again..Just me though...