hey folks
it is time to get new shoes for my mini (05 mcs) and I currently have dunlops on there. I am wondering if folks have advice on tires for me.....I like the performance of the dunlops I have but, frankly, I am doing mostly highway driving to and from work so I am thinking of getting some thing that might work as a all weather tire and still get some performance out of them from time to time. and, if possible, for a decent price. anyone been tire shopping lately? what did you buy?

 

Check out the Kumho Ecsta. There are different models, for your different needs, and they are very well priced

 

The Kumho's get a lot of good press.

I just bought a set of BFG Super Sport A/S tires for both cars, at Discount Tire. They gave me a good deal on them. Prior to the I had BFG S03s on, and prior to that, I'd never owned a BFG tire.

If you go to the tire thread here on NAM, you can read more opinions and advice than you can imagine! ;-)

 

I do mainly highway miles, and have been thru quite a few sets of tires. Currently running (until this sat) the Kumho Ecsta. They are cheap tires, and look great, but after 5-10,000 miles the noise is unbearable, I have about 15,000 on them, and am replacing them because of the noise. They still have quite a bit of life left. But to noisy to drive 140+ miles a day and not get a headache. (yes my alignment is good, and I rotate about every 3k) Of all the tires I have tried the Toyo Proxes 4 have been the best yet. I will be putting my third set on this weekend.

Nik

 

thanks folks for your quick and useful advice. I have gotten another recommendation for the tires mentioned at discount tire co. so I may do a bit more research in that direction. and, thanks for the info on the noisy tires...I like a quite ride if I can get it.

 

I have the G-Force sports by BFG and love them. I got my last set at Tire Doctor in Cornelius.

 

You mentioned you might like all weather tires. I put 17" Bridgestone RE960 All Season tires on my stock rims and they are very nice. I only have 2000 miles on them. I drove them in some snow and ice and they were good. I found them to be a major improvement over the runflats that came with the car as far as ride comfort and performance. I did go from 205/45-17 to 215/45-17 gaining a little sidewall height. This may have contributed to the ride comfort. Can't say for sure

Several people on the forum have run or are running the Goodyear F1 All Season. I have seen nothing but good reports on them.

 

I got bridgestone potenza's from tirerack.com they have some good prices. I wanted to originally get some continental contact II's

 

I was speaking of non runflat tires. You may have meant runflat.

 

What kind of price you willing to pay? I have had great success with Michelin PE2 but they ain't cheap. Doc just put on some Nitto's and I ordered some yesterday. I guess if I live long enough I will try them all. I don't like the run flats, feel like I am driving on marbles. Then again I am sort of a NUT when it comes to the MINI &&^^%^((*&^*^%%&%*())_* and thats my story and I am sticking too it!

 

So far ~2k miles, I like the Nitto Neogens. They say they have a beefed up central edge that counteracts the feathering from the negative camber. We will see. The Khumos were WAY Too loud for my ears .. would rather hear the exhaust burble and intercooler whine.

 

I put on close to 125 miles per day (i.e. my mini is my office). I have been very happy with the Cooper (no joke) all weather tires. We also have put Cooper tires on our Lexus LS 430. They are very reasonably priced and we've been using them for years.

 

Nitto Neogens! They are the best! My husband drives a Subaru and he has a version of them too! They stick to the road great!

 

I just tried to post a long reply and it didn't go through, so here's the short version.

I got 32k miles out of a set of BFGoodrich Traction T/A. They got a little noisy over the last 1/3 of their life, would flat spot if I didn't drive the MINI for a couple of days, but GREAT traction in any weather condition.

I now have a set of General Exclaim UHP, very reasonably priced, great rain and dry road traction, not designed for snow. 10k miles so far, not much wear.

Got both sets at Discount Tire, and they've treated me very well. I rotate my tires every 5k miles.

 

thanks....gotta get new shoes soon and all this has been a huge help!