First post here...

Just got my DS/B MCS a couple weeks ago. Great time so far, can't wait to get past the 1k miles for some more fun.

I got the 17" web spoke wheels with perf runflats. I live in NYC and the roads are pretty rough around here so I'm going to switch to non runflats. I'm thinking about gonig for a set of Kumho Ecsta AST tires. I'm looking more for a better ride. I figure if/when I take this thing to the track, I'll get a separate set of wheels/tires. Any opinions on the Kumhos? Ride? Durability? Or should I consider going to a different size?

 

Put a set of the Kuhmos asts on my wife's wrx and she was happy with them. Little rougher than stock, but will be much softer than runflats. She loves the goodyear DS-G3s she's got now. Wouldn't give them to me when I asked nicely.

 

I don't have any complaints on my 16" runflat all season tires. Good handling and good ride comfort.

 

I put a set of Kuhmo ECSTA SPTs on my RX8 replacing the OEM Bridgestone RE040s. Noise is a bit less. Treadwear is better. Ride is about the same (Bridgestones were not RF). The only thing I don't like about them is that either ultimate grip is not quite as good or they just don't feel as secure near the limit.

 

really? I replaced a set of re04's with khumo spt and I found them to have way better traction in the dry and wet... I dont track my car though. I have the AST now and they are louder and harder than SPT. I dont know about the traction since they're still new. The guy who installed my AST did say ASX were better for the same price.

 

I would agree on wet traction - much, much better than the 040s. I don't track my car but I have a couple of favorite entrance ramps that I know very well.
The kumhos only have about 5k on them now so maybe they'll pick up some grip as the tread wears a bit.

 

What about Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 in 215's??

 

I can't speak about them on a mini, but the Kumhos that were on the wife's focus were the best handling tires it ever got. They were MUCH better than the firestone's it came equipped with.

 

I am changing to Bridegstone RE960AS 215/45-17 tomorrow.
Test drove a non RF car and liked it better. Ride/feel and need to have a tire that can handle wet/light snow.

 

Falken FK452/451's grip well. So do Kumho Ecsta MX's and the Hanhook RS somthings....

 

I'm a bit of a Kumho convert, having run them on my off-road 4X4 Durango and my wife's Focus for the past three or so years. The passenger tires wore well, had good grip in dry and wet, and were nice and quiet. The off-road tires on my truck have been outstanding. So, so far as the company itself is concerned, I've been very impressed. Specific tires I can't say for absolutely certain which is better than another, but I had H-rated Kumhos (whatever the line was called about two years ago) and really liked them over the performance Dunlops I tried and the OEM Good Years.

 

When you switch out your RFs what do you do about a spare tire seeing as there is NO room for a spare on the MCS?

 

I have Kumho ASX's on all three of my cars, my wife's Audi allroad, my Lexus ES 300 and my MCS........as a street tire I think they're a really good bargain. The wet and dry traction is excellent, and they are the quietest tire I've owned in years.

I even ran my MINI at a track day event and while they're not exactly track tires (I didn't expect them to be either) they aquitted themselves well, with no edges torn up or excessive wear noted.

They are not as crisp on turn in as the Bridgestones I had on the Lexus, but I'll take that tradeoff in a street tire to get the quieter ride without losing ultimate grip, wearability or ride quality.

 

+1 I'm very happy with the Kumho ASX 205-50-16s I put on in place of the OEM Dunlop 5000 DSST runflats. The ride is a lot easier now and the tires seem to be holding up well. I track my car occasionally, too, but have not tracked it since going to the Kumhos. I know they are not track tires, but have heard that they will do in a pinch as long as one doesn't expect too much of them. That said, I'm happy that I'll be able to drive them to and from the track as well as on it .

 

For Track guys: MX's are basically track tires../So are the Hankook's as I stated above./ And the Azenies are also nice...

The Falken FK452/451's however...well they are very nice driving tires...but I repeat..DON'T TRACK THEM UNTIL THEY HAVE AT LEAST 10k miles...(you will chuck them).......Or just get them shaved prior to buying

The Azenies and MX's run "wider" than standard sizes...215's are like 220's.. ect... (they are slightly over sized)

As for a Spare..A can of slime fix a flat, or a tire repair kit would be wise.
(as if a runflat shreds or you bend the rim you are SOL anyways...)
With the patch kit/ fix-a-flat you can drive it for about 100 miles to get it fixed.

 

Do you have any input on the Avon Tech M500 as a track tire?

 

A lot of people seem to try getting an MC spare and put it behind the passenger's seat. Granted, if your passenger if a big person, he won't have a whole lot of room to stretch around in, but at least you'll have a spare.

 

Right now I'm carrying a foot pump and a can of Slime. I've ordered a Dynaplug and a Continental Tire ContiComfortKit. For other options see this thread.

 

Had ASX on my old 02 WRX. The squealed some around corners, but I drive hard and the WRX was a heavy pig compared to a Mini. Falken 452 would be a good choice if you don't get any snow where you live.

 

Not really...
However IIRC Luke at the tire-rack loves these tires...(the Avons)..
Some good A/S's also include
P-Zero Nero M&S
And the Gsport KDW2 BF Goodrich tires(Concerns of hydroplaning were one of the major engineering goals for this tire)...

Fuzion ZRi's are also cheap(er) tires which are very nice..And aren't truely "crap/cheap" as they are made at the Bridgestone factory...

 

Also if you really dig the Avon Tech M500's they are also sold rebranded as Cooper Zeon Sport A/S tires. ...For welshmenwillnotyield.....

 

For those that want good track/summer tires here's what I recommend as well as many Honda owners who track their cars at Streets of Willow,Buttonwillow, and Thunderhill.
Exclusive Elite (only sold by a certain group):
Potenza RE01R / Advan Neova AD07

Will make your Mini stick like a beast at the track wont' break the bank either.
Ecsta MX / G-Force KD /Falken Azenies (wear down fast) get greasy as well...

If you want a neutral tire for a FF car with a LSD..Look at the OE Integra Type R tire. its very neutral and well balanced for the ITR ...It should work like magic in the mini cooper S or even MC...
(its a bit $$$$ though)

 

Dang...I haven't heard a lot of good about Cooper Tires lately. Does this mean the Avons aren't good, either? The Avons I'm talking abput are the summer UHP tires, not the A/S.

 

Love my pe2's 215/45zr17, great grip, way less road noise than the Dunlop runflats, nicer ride even with the competion coilovers. Carry a Continental Comfort Kit and a plug kit

 

I'm going to replace the 16" runflats with non. The tire place where I've purchased Kumho's for my previous Japanese car tried to steer me away from the Kumho Ecsta's and toward the General Altimax HP, claiming they would wear out faster, were more for the track, blah blah blah. I'm not sure if the real reason is because he was out of them or what. I'm only streetdriving, and just want a bit smoother ride without sacrificing too much grip. Any info on the General Altimax HP? The base price was $89. Also, he had 205/50/16 AND 205/55/16. What difference will there be?