Hello. I'm trying to decide on wheels and tires to go with a new 2008 MCS. I'm generally most attracted to the 17" Web Spokes, but these come with run flat tires and I've seen lots of posts of people complaining about the harshness of these tires. I don't really understand what a run flat tire is anyway, and if there are any benefits to having them...?

To understand what kind of motorist I am I'll mention that I'm planning on decking the car out with at least Sport Suspension to go with the JCW Engine Kit, and am also considering 18" wheels+tires, but am hoping to strike a balance of ride comfort and handling (possibly weighted toward handling, but not necessarily all out track handling).

Sorry if I sound hopelessly confused and trying to have my cake and eat it too. Once I get a little advice I'll start to build a more intelligent game plan.

Thanks very much, help greatly appreciated...

 

Buy a set of rims and tire aftermarket. All the MINI rims will come with runflat's (except 15" MC's) which you would have change. Plus after market 18"'s are cheaper.
A runflat tire is just that, a tire that runs while flat. This means that if the tire is flat you can still go about 50 miles to get you to a repair shop, town, etc, etc. The ride is a little harsher because of the stiff sidewalls but it's a lot better in the R56 than the older R50/52/53's

 

I believe that the MCS wil come with runflats on either 17" or 16" set up. That being said, because the MCS does not have a spare, the runflats will allow you to keep on going in case of a flat and get you safely to the nearest service station. The side walls are unbelievably stiff, so this will impact ride quality. Of course, all that is subjective to where you live, type of roads you drive on, etc..... I'll give an example, here in Houston we have terrible roads so having the runflats was brutal, I'm not exagerating either. Again, because of where I live I gave up a little tire performace going to a 16" all season tire, but the ride is sooo much better.

I bought the MINI mobility kit that I carry in my boot just in case of a flat, keep in mind that I do not have a spare. If you are heading for the sport suspension, take a look at your roads; if you do a lot of city driving then I would advise against the sport suspension in combination with the run flats. All this is subjective to what we all feel is a compromise between comfort and good handling. A good 16" wheel/tire set up will also give you very good handling and comfort.

Anyway, my 2 cents... good luck with your choice.

 

Runflat tires-
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=56
They provide decent ride matched with the stock suspension, and no spare tire is needed. If you flat a tire you don't have to fix it in traffic or bad weather, you drive it home slowly under 55 mph and fix it later. This is safer for some owners. But the stiffer sidewall leads to more discomfort for daily driving and very high replacement cost per tire. They last about 13,000 to 22,000 miles depending on how your drive and if you rotate your tires.

If you plan to get 18" wheels later you can buy any stock MINI wheel whether 16 or 17" but they will be runflat. If you want to sell your stock wheels unused you can buy replacement tires and wheels early and have them ready to install the day you get your MINI. Do it separately from the dealership. If you order a wheel that is popular you won't have a hard time selling it and you don't have to store the extra wheels. If you want to use the stock wheels for winter tires that works too. Sometimes your buyer will want the wheels for that use.

If you want a smoother ride, 18" wheels are not a good choice- they are heavy and require a lower profile tire. There are some things you can do to minimize the stiffness of the ride if you do use 18" wheels. Pick a tire that is more comfortable like General Exclaim UHP from tirerack.com- talk to Alex, he knows MINIs. Try it with the stock suspension but if it isn't smooth enough try Koni FSD shocks. If that isn't good enough then Coilover suspension would be smoothest and adjustable usually for ride height and for stiffness/dmapening of the shocks.

 

I thought that MINI finally started shipping spares with all the cars now, because of people complaining about being stranded. It's not like the car isn't set up for a spare. The tire is off to the left, so the S exhaust still shouldn't get in the way.

 

The benefit of runflats is that you wont have to lug around all the cash you had in your wallet prior to replacing a tire.
I have runflats, and I kick myself for replacing the Pirellis that were on the car with another like set. Boy, if I could only turn back time. Those tires + the sport suspension + the roads I have to traverse on any given day = all the fillings in your teeth falling out.
I have since purchased one of those cool little Slime Emergency Flat Tite kits, which has all the goodies needed for roadside repairs, including an little compressor. This is in anticipation of getting some non-runflats installed.

In all honesty, if you have to have a runflat tire replaced (like around where I live), it is a 3-7 day wait to get them in. Then most of the places dont have the know-how to get the tires on or off the rim without damaging it in someway. Then there is the cost. I paid 556.00 for two runflats installed. It would have cost me 528.00 for a set of four comparable non-run flats. Yes, I kick myself.

 

i just went through this myself with a damaged r/f after 9000 miles. Plan for replacing the tires out the minute you drive it off the lot. if you like MINI rims great; if not, spec and ship your new tire+rim combo the week before your arrival date. I have the sport suspension and 17" rims; I like the combo here in the city, and I prefer the bigger sidewall vs the 18" profile.
Good luck in your decision!
06 MCS, bfGoodrich GSport Force + Demon rims (modwheels.com)

 

The web spokes are rather heavy wheels. They weigh something like 22.5 lbs. each. You can get much lighter wheels from other sources. I replaced the OEM Crown Spokes wheels on my MCS with wheels that weigh less that <16 lbs. each. This improves ride, acceleration, braking, and handling. Spend some time in the Tires, Wheels, and Brakes forum here on NAM. You will pick up a lot of info about wheels and tires.

Plan on replacing both wheels and tires when you get your MCS. I still have my set of Crown Spoke wheels with Dunlap runflat tires. I've switched back and forth (had to get centering rings for the new wheels) and the difference in ride quality is quite significant. The new wheels have Michelin Pilot Exhalto PE2 non-runflat tires.

18" wheels with the Sport Suspension and runflats seems like it would be a bone-breaking setup, to me. IMO, 18" wheels are for looks. They wont improve handling. If you watch the wheel tire forum, you will see that many racers and autoxers use 16" wheels because they can be much lighter than 17" or 18". They seem to think the weight reduction is more helpful than the reduced sidewall height.

Minihune seems to be the wheel and tire expert around here. His advice is good. I bought Michelin Pilot Exhalto PE2 205/45-17, but I probably should have listened to his advice and gotten Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 215/45-17. They are not available in 205/45 and I was a little shy about changing the tire width. From what I have read since, it doesn't seem to be a problem. The reviews in Tire Rack and Consumer Reports favor the F1 GS-D3. There are lots of different models of Goodyear Eagles, so watch the number/letter designations carefully.

 

BTW, I'm carrying a Dynaplug tire repair kit, and a Continental Tire ContiComfortKit in case of flat tires. The ContiComfortKit seems to be similar to the Slime kit mentioned in another post, but much more expensive. I'm amazed that Amazon is selling the Slime compressor kit for only $25.00.

 

That's about what I paid for 4 runflats, shipping, and mounting...

Just buy your tires ahead and keep a pair around just in case.
Tire rack had those tires here about 26 hours after I ordered them, btw. Regular ground shipping. Then again, they have a warehouse in GA...

 

Did someone say runflats?

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Hope the photo works.

Earl

 

I got the 17" web spokes. I like them but considering the alternatives, I wouldn't get them again. I did it because it was much cheaper getting them with the car, but they were still too expensive.

I'd skip the SS option. You can get the JCW kit later if you want, and it probably will give better results.

Ride the car stock awhile before getting stiffer suspension or jumping on some 18"s. You might change your mind. I DO believe that 18"s will handle better, but I think you lose more comfort than gain handling. Getting rid of the runflats will help.

I'm not sure where I'm headed. I was going to do the JCW kit, but after a 200 mile ride, my kidneys said they'd prefer not. I'm thinking maybe a good rear sway bar might be an option. But I'd really like to lower the car a little without giving up too much. And to top it off, the wheels I really like weigh 24lbs... Such is life.

In the end, get what you like. Unless you're married...

 

try this one

I have a good photo but can't make it work. Anyone I can e-mail it to and they can post it??

Earl

 

Sure. You can find my email address on my web page. Put "NAM" in the Subject line.

 

A lot of people have mentioned the stiffness of the Sport Suspension and how the run flats add to that. There's no doubt that's true for the R53, but for a new R56, the car has been smoothed out considerably and even with 17" RFs the ride is significantly better.

I replaced the factory RFs with some 18" non RF Michelin PS2s, and even with the practically non existent sidewall, the ride is better. But, one thing I really miss is the instantaneous turn-in of the RFs; it really is a big part of the go-kart feel of the MINI. A JCW suspension'd R56 with 17" RFs would be a great compromise between handling and ride.

 

I have a photo of an new tire by Michelin that will not "go flat", however, I can not post it here (don't know how). If someone can give me an e-mail address not through NAM but a regular e-mail address then they could post it.

Thanks,

Earl

 

It is definitely subjective. I live in Houston as well and have no complaints with my runflats. The ride is no marshmallow, but I didn't buy a sports car to feel like I'm in a Camry. The only time I notice a difference is the noise and some bump when I'm on a stretch of rough grade highway out in the country. I can go over railroad tracks with the best of them on 17" all seasons that came with my MCS.

 

Anyone who is just getting their new MC with runflats and is thinking of buying new wheels and tires, check to see if you have the new tire sensors mounted individually in each wheel. My new MCS came with them. I preordered my mags and non-runflats from a tire dealer before I got my car. Came time after my MCS arrived, I went to have them installed, and the tire shop said they can't install them. They needed the four special sensors. Since it was a "no choice" deal, I said get them. Waited three days, just called them now to see if they came in, he said it is now backordered from Mini.

They make it a law to have these sensors, they make them expensive ($235 for a set), and they are low in stock.

I feel so much less secure in the knowledge that I have no spare. I have tires, wheels and rims that are special order and hard to find, and sensors that are mandatory, but very unavailable and very expensive. I cannot use a fix-a-flat type material in a pinch, because it will probably ruin my sensor, which will cost $60 and will probably be backordered.

I have always checked my own tire pressures religiously for decades. Now I have to pay mega-dollars for a high-tech system that does it for me, but....it does not, in "ANY" way, help me in a jam with a flat, in the middle of a long trip.

Why do I feel so much, less safe, for so much more $$$$$$ ?
Have I gone "back" to the "future"?

 

When was your MC built? This is the first I've heard of MINI going to wheel sensors. Up to now it has been determined by wheel rotation speeds.

 

My car just came in last wed. I talk about it more in this thread, towards the bottom.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=112068

After the fact, I did look at the other new Minis on their lot, and I did see more of the new sensors installed. They definitly look different. All metal valve stem with a valve stem cap, which is grey plastic and bigger. It says on it "TPM INSIDE" - "RESET TPM"

 

Post a picture please.

 

Here it is. The valve stem cap is the size of a dime.

Why not showing? I ran a test in test section. The picture is in the test sect.

 

Thanks for posting the picture

Wonder if these sensors can be swapped over to aftermarket wheels

 

Yes they can.
The tire dealer gave me that option, but I'd rather have a complete working extra set of wheels, just in case.
I'm going to use the new mags and non-runflats for summer, and the OEM wheels with RF's for winter.

 

Do you still have a button to reset the TPMS or does it reset automatically once the low pressure condition is cleared as in the Subaru?