Hello fellow clubpeople!

First post as i await my new clubman-this site is amazing!!!

i have been searching this forum for 2 weeks now and i can't seem to find this info so i hope someone can help me out.

My Clubman is being built June 1st so i have a few days to change a few things on my order. I'm getting a Manual, PS/Blk top, 16inch bridgespoke, leatherette, Premium, Convenience & Sport package. Here's my question. My MA recommended that a get the all season tires (no extra charge) -she said it will be a smoother ride. (I live is los angeles-weather not really a problem) Anyone hear of that? are the all season runflats? i heard that if i don't get the all season that the standard tires are summer tires and those get better mpg. is that true and how much better?

Thanks in advance.

 

All seasons are not runflats. I have all seasons but have the 15" wheels. Can't comment on the "summer tires" vs all seasons...but I do use dedicated snow tires (meaning on their own not very attractive wheels) - however that's something you definitely don't have to worry about in LA!

The new runflats apparently are much nicer - in that they are not as stiff and don't create such a harsh ride as the older versions (like I had in '04) did. Runflats offer that nice safety feature that can come in handy, if you get a flat...and contrary to what many think - they can be fixed with a "plug" if you get a screw in them or a nail...I know as I had several of them. I'm fine with the all seasons, but now that I've heard how runflats have improved I may get them many miles from now when my all seasons wear out.

Some more people will post on tires, no doubt...and some will be have very strong opinions, too I'm someone who has put on 25k miles a year or more...and I've had runflats (back in '04) and then all seasons...

You might want to check this forum https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...splay.php?f=36...or just go with the all seasons and see how you like them for now.

Unless you're into performance driving, you'll probably think your all seasons are just great. Now hold on for more opinions.

 

Last I read, anything over 15" has run flats on them...

 

I ordered my Clubman S with the 16" Bridgespoke wheels and all season runflats. I like them a lot for street driving (which is 100% of the driving we do in the Clubby). If you order the optional no cost Bridgespokes, your car will be fitted at the factory with Goodyear Excellence Run-On-Flat 195/55/R16 V87 second generation runflats (EH2+ humps on both sides of the rim). The Goodyear Excellence is, in my opinion, one of the best second generation OEM runflats in the market today. I also have them in my 2005 R53 MCS. They provide excellent traction, wet or dry and have good steering feedback and comfortable ride qualities. The runflat system TRULY WORKS. I had a bad puncture in the rear left tire of my 2005 R53 MCS last year and was able to drive on the expressway at 60MPH with a tire with ZERO air on it. The car felt like nothing had happened. Since then I am a believer in runflat technology.

Another interesting tid bit: If you order a Clubman S with the standard 16" S-winder rims, the factory will fit Continental all season second gen runflats. Reason? I have no idea. Based on my research, the Continental OEM runflats used in the Clubman S have a higher threadwear life rating (400 vs 200) in comparison to the Goodyear Excellence tires fitted with the Bridgespokes.

I just bought a set of Clubman S takeoffs from someone that recently took delivery of a Clubman S with S-winder rims. Those continental tires will be mounted in the R84 16" V-spokes to replace my already worn out Goodyear Excellence tires.

Will report on the Continental runflats in the months ahead.

Hope this helps.

 

This is not true, all tires greater than 16" are runflats.

 

In the Cooper Clubman, 15" rims and radial tires are standard equipment (Plus spare tire). If you want runflats, you have to pay $500 to get them ""a la carte" or as part of the "sport pack". In the Cooper Clubman you can get the 16" bridgespokes with Goodyear Excellence all season runflats. The other OEM 16" rim, the S-winders, are reserved as standard equipment for the Clubman S.

In the Cooper Clubman you get a spare tire, regardless of tire choice. Whether you get 15" radials or 16"runflats, you'll get a spare (This was pretty much the same way in the previous gen MINI).

In the Cooper S Clubman whether you select the standard 16" runflats or 17" runflats, you will not get a spare tire (But you do have the space for one if so desired).

 

Does anyone know what tire you get when you order a Clubman S with the 17" Pace wheels and All Season tires?

 

Hey, moclubman, I just said "all seasons" aren't runflats. But I do see now, that for the Clubman's 16 inch tires they are all-season runflats http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compar...All&loadRank=2 Mea culpa - I was thinking of my lowly 15 inch all seasons.

 

Runflats... That's what I was told when I ordered.

 

I believe you will get 17" second generation Dunlop performance runflats.

I love those pace wheels by that way (Much nicer than the 17" OEM rim offerings in the R56)

 

Guys, anything above the 15" tire/wheel size is automatically runflats. Cooper Clubman owners are the only ones that get regular radials as std equipment in 15"size.

 

For those of you that have ordered a new Clubman S with 17" OEM tires and wheels, your possible factory out come is as follows:

Dunlop SP Sport 01 DSST runflats (Ultra high performance summer)

Sizes are either 205/45W/R17 or 205/45Z/R17

Continental ContiSportContact 3 SSR (Max performance summer)

Sizes 205/45Z/R17 or 205/45V/R17

Bridgestone Potenza RE050A runflats (max performance summer)

Size 205/45V/R17


The tires above are listed as OEM equipment for Clubman S built at the factory and ordered with 17" tires/wheel package or the "Sport Package".

 

Also remember that Goodyear owns Dunlop so the warranties are the same among both brands of tires.

 

Static: I actually have 16" S-Winder Runflats on my Clubman S. The post I made in a different thread https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...11#post2190211 about all-seasons vs. runflats may be helpful:

"If my experience with our '06 S Hatchback with sport suspension and '08 S Clubman without sport suspension is helpful: I had factory "17 runflats on the '06 and they indeed were like driving on round bricks as bmbulbe pointed out. I bought a set of "15 Borbet wheels and Michelin Primacy MX4 195/60 R 15 88V tires (non runflat), all from Tire Rack who sent them mounted and balanced within about a week. The outside diameter of that combination is very close to the factory diameter, perhaps one more revolution or so per mile as I recall. The difference in ride is like night and day on the positive side, which I attribute to the fact there there are a couple more inches of tire filled with air under the car. I also started getting about one more mile per gallon according to the car's computer, which I read in one thread is due to the fact that it takes less mechanical effort to get (and keep) that setup rolling.

Because of that experience, I ordered the Clubman S without sport suspension and with 16" all season tires (can only get runflats on the S as miniclubman pointed out), hoping that combination would give me the most comfortable ride available from the factory, and my MA agreed. It came with Continental ContiPro Contact SSR 195/55 R 16 87V tires. As Nimcosi has pointed out (and ClubmanS in a different thread I believe), the newer runflats give a better ride and the combo I ordered gives a ride very similar to the '06 after the switch, and they both handle very well (but I don't AutoX either). So, I am happy. Of course, I live in Arizona so I don't have the winter tire issue to deal with .

I'd be very curious to know what would happen if someone put 15" non runflat tires on the Clubman S, keeping essentially the same outside diameter as the original factory 16" or 17" runflat setup if someone is in a position to make the comparison on an S or perhaps a non-S Clubman."
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wow! thanks for all the great feedback!!! Seems like you guys are saying that the all season are a smoother ride.

Are the traditional bridgespokes "summer tires" and if so, do those offer better mpg? if so how much better. just trying to figure out what's the best tire to get. i don't deal with snow but sometimes rain.

thanks again. glad to learn that the 2nd gen. run flats are better!

 

Like many above, when ordering I was told 16-17" are run flats, no matter what.

In L.A. you don't need the performance tires. I don't need them either. I should have ordered All-Season tires but didn't and don't look forward to the shorter tread life.
I explained the treadlife coding to my M.A.(sales dude) when ordering.
Uniform Tire Quality Grade Standards (UTQG) You can read on Wiki...

Congrats on your choice.

 

static - 15" wheels and tires (non-runflat) will give you a smoother ride compared to 16" runflats. This is because the tire has a taller and softer sidewall than the 16" runflats. If you're ordering a base Clubman you can order the Sport Package items ala carte, and skip the 16" wheels and run flat tires. I'm not saying that the 15" setup is better, but it will have more compliant tires. Note that a lower-profile tire with a wider tread width gives you a more responsive driving experience, and better grip in the corners. It all comes down to what's important to you.

 

I got the 16" bridgespokes with the all season option and got the Continental tires.

So far I'm pretty happy with them. The ride is a bit rough, but they've got great traction even in heavy rain. These are the first run flats I've ever driven on, so I'm not sure how they compare to others.

 

Any ideas how much it costs to replace one of the 16" all-season runflats...and how many miles, roughly, people are getting out of them?

my 15" Continental all-season NON runflats cost me recently $109 per tire, mounted/balanced and lasted about 45,000 mi. (I do the non-rotating method where I let the fronts wear out and then get 2 new tires and move the rears to the front and put the two new ones on the rear.....so the first set of fronts were replaced at 30,000 or 35,000 and the second set which were the original rear tires were just replaced at 60,000)

when I looked into spec'ing my car back in '04, the runflats were not too available and were $400/tire

 

The Goodyear Excellence 16" runflats will last you anywhere between 20K-30K miles, depending on your driving style, and with 4K mile rotation intervals in between.

At least this has been my experience in the R53. Maybe they last longer in the R56/R55 as the alignment may be different in the new cars.

 

Static,

In reading your posts I think you need to start differentiating between wheels and tires. I may be misunderstanding you, but your implication is that Bridgespokes are tires. Note that you can get all season run flats OR performance run flats with any 16" or bigger wheel (Bridgespoke S-Winder). I do not know about all season vs. performance for smaller wheels.

 

Bridgespokes and S-winders are 16" OEM wheel styles, not tires.

 

right, my first post stated my question about the tires, i just added that they were bridgespoke 16's-should of re-clarified that in my later response.
Thanks everyone for all your insight. hopefully i'll have some tips soon after i get my club!