OK so I think that my tires need replacing. One of the front tires has no visible tread. I do not want runflats. I want a quiet tire that grips. Yea ok I know that thats a contradiction but I hate a noisy tire. Also I want to stay at the $100-$120 price. Make a suggestion please...I think I need it soon.


I should have mentioned that they are the 16" 195-55 R16

 

Yoko AVS E-100s (I think that's it) are about $100 each. Good for the price. Tire Rack had a special on Goodyear F1 GS3Ds for about $100. That's great for the price. Ditch the run flats as fast as you can, and when the new shoes are on, slap yourself in the fore-head for not doing it sooner!

Matt

 

Are you going to keep the slicks for track-days?

 

Good Year Eagle F1 GS-D3. Came out first in recent tire comparison...ranks number 2 on Tireracks comparison. Just put a set on my MCS and the car is SOOOO quiet and smooth now. Great for rain or dry or autocross. A little pricier than your range ($133) but I would recommend making the stretch.

 

I should have mentioned that they are the 16" 195-55 R16 I like the goodyears but they dont make them in my size.

 

There is very little available in 195/55-16 besides runflats. How about the Goodyears in 205/50-16?

 

Or 205/55-16. I'm sure those would work. Call Tirerack and they will tell you which tires are suitable replacements.

 

205-50-16s

Goodyear GS3Ds..........................$117 (Y speed)
Pirelli PZero System Asimmetrico.....$91 (on Special, W speed)
BFG g-Force T/A KDW 2.................$115 (W speed)
.
.
.
Kumho ECSTA 711.........................$54 (Z speed)

There are tons! That's just a few....

 

Ok I am stupid about tires...well just not that educated.

Can you put a different size tire on the wheel and still have the right speed, tack...readings???

Do they fit the rim?

 

Did you ever rotate the original OEM Dunlop tires??
If you didn't, that answers your question.

 

Yes you can. I believe in the OEM R84 16" V-spokes you could go as wide as 215 and probably as low as 45-50 sidewall.

Ask Alex, the guy from Tirerack.com or send him an e-mail. He'll hook you up with what you need.


PS: As soon as you replace your tires remember to:

Rotate ever 5K miles RELIGIOUSLY
Keep them balanced
Keep the car aligned
Keep the tires at least to the minimum recommended COLD pressures

 

A particular rim width will accept a variety of tire widths within a range. A 205 wide tire will fit your 6.5" wide rim fine.

The diameter of the tire will affect your speedometer and odometer readings. The general recommendation is to keep your readings within 3% of OEM. You can check differences between tire sizes here: http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html. Note that there is already some size variation even in the OEM tires (depending on the tires that come with 15", 16", or 17" wheels). As long as the tire is close to 24" diameter, your readings will be within MINI specifications. Both 205/50-16 and 205/55-16 are good sizes. In any case, Tire Rack will make sure you choose a good fit.

 

Try the goodyears in 205/50/16. I was in the same boat as you, got the gs-d3s, and will put them on in the spring after winters. Also, you have options with tires on a 16 inch tire, have fun:

http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCal...?action=submit

mb

 

I have the S-Lite 17s... doesn't look like they have the goodyears for me... darn

 

215/45's work perfectly on S-Lite 17's. That's what I've got on my MCS right now.

 

No rubbing? Even with the car full?

 

ninjamini -

If you don't want to change wheels - try Toyo Proxes 4 in 205/50-16 at $82 from http://www.onlinetires.com I am on my 2nd set of Toyos and Tire Rack does not sell them.

 

215/45/17 fits great with stock suspension on stock rims.

I've had several sets of the yokohama ES100's and have been very happy for a budget minded performance tire.

 

At MINI UNITED I tried so many times, 'till the chased me out, the new Run Flat Dunlop on a small slalom (all MINIs run flats now will come from the dealer with these tires). Extremely impressed by the Dunlop RF handling ...

My MCS '03 had the Pirelli Euphoria which were very hard to drive Much better with my MCSC '05 that has the Good Year Run Flat but not as smooth as the Dunlop which I understand, here in US, run about $220.00 per tire.

MD STREGA2

 

I haven't loaded four large people in the car to check but there is a LOT of clearance between the tires and body. I'm sure it wouldn't be an issue.

 

has anyone tried ? http://<span style="color:#0000ff"><...A KDW 2</span>

i made a quick comparison on tirerack.com, looks like very good tires

 

my buddy has it on his G35C and he likes it. coming from Pilots, I think that's a fairly decent comment. I might try a set myself next to see how they are.


fairly inexpensive and packs a punch.

 

Spoke to Alex today from TireRack, thanx Alex.

He suggested:

BF Goodrich Traction TA
-or-
Bridgestone Potenza G009

I brought ut the Pirelli P zero Nero m&s

Size 205-50-16

Install $60 at a tirerack install center.

Thoughts on these tires?

I want 1st: Quiet, 2nd performance, 3rd wear

 

I got em, nice tires, quiet at first, but now about 15k into them they are alittle noisy. Not sure I would buy them again. I have been very happy with them as far as preformance though.


Nik

 

ok, whomever listed the yokohama avs es 100's is right... I JUST WENT THROUGH THIS! i had 29k (miles on my run flats - ALL! of wich were slicks) i had only 100$ a tire to spend... so i got them... let me tell ya, the car is so much better and i get EXTREMLY better launches from the avs 100's (with an 05 cooper s)

one small down side, i got 205,50 16's id go 205 40 16's as there is a bit of roll over caused by the new wheel/tire combo that you will not be used to... took me 3-4 days of hard driving to get my bearings back and i am able acheive 10~ mph faster in most corners and when teh car 4-wheel scrubs it is still very easy to control.

all in all for 84 $ from tire rack.. prolly one of the best buys for the $

southern cooper S'
(the one guy allways willing to smoke them tires)
~mark