Ok so I've decided to stay with the Swinders really like the looks for stock rims, but the Conti RFTs are driving me crazy. Thinking of going with 205/55 R 16 at this point, but not locked in. I want a good high performance all season leaning toward Pirelli PZero M/S at this point, but wanted to here some other opinions/experiences? TIA

 

I have Bridgestone Potenza RE01Rs on my 2007 MCS and love them. They are super sticky and quiet. I have about 8K miles on them with very little signs of wear. They are non-RFTs though.

Cheers,
Jeff

 

BF Goodrich Traction T/A, V-rated, 205/55/16, all-season, non-runflats.....and keep a doughnut spare behind the front passenger seat. I have S-winders and really like them too.

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...tire-poll.html

 

We have Yokohama S drives on both our MCS and the Clubman. Couldn't be happier with them. Very quiet and pretty darn sticky. Not as sticky as my Hoosiers, but great for a street tire through the twisties!

 

I'm running summer tires because you can get away with that here. I had been running Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3, which is a very sticky tire with reasonable ride/noise, much better than runflats. Tristan now has a set of Yokohama S.Drives which as noted are remarkably quiet and comfortable, comparable to the GS-D3s for stickyness (though there's a question over their wet performance).

Currently Shawn is running Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Spec, very, very grippy, but probably going to be track only tries as they're a bit noisy. They don't make the GS-D3s anymore, so I'm thinking of Michelin PE2s for the next set of street tires.

If I were looking for all seasons I might think of Michelin Pilot Sport or Goodyear Eagle GT, but I havn't thought hard about it.

 

Yea I've grown tired of swapping tires every other season with my last two cars (even though it the best way to go), plus I dont want another set of rims, so they are definitly going to be all seasons. I do want something closer to a summer MP/UHP/HP though, as when it snows anything more than a dusting, I only drive me allroad.

 

I, also, have the GS-D3's and love them.
However, I also run Blizzacks in the winter.
It's a great combo.

 

I ditched my 17" Conti run-flats too. I hated them. Now I'm running 16" Michelin Pilot Exalto's (summer rubber) -- and love them. Huge improvement.

 

I'm also running non-runflat Bridgestone Potenzas G 019 on my '07 MCS. I'm not thrilled with the noise; also, I think they're wearing a little faster than expected. I haven't measured--just a quick look at the fronts the other day in the parking lot. I have about 15,000 miles on them.

One thing, though. Supposedly the size I put on were the same as OEM, but I noticed an immediate change in my gas mileage, and difference in the exact 70mph/3000rpm indication I'd had before. The only thing I did was put on new tires (same gas, driving habits, etc.). The size is 195/55R-16.

Comments?

 

Did your gas mileage get better or worse?

My '07 MCS's Conti runflats now need replacing, and I'm looking at the non-runflat Bridgestone Potenzas G 019 too. And I'm wondering if switching from 205/45/17 to 205/50/17 (on same OEM Crown Spoke wheels) would sacrifice too much handling for the benefit of improved ride and better filled-out wheel arches?

 

It's about 2 mpg worse. Also, what used to be 70/3000 (in 6th) is now 70/3200. Tire rack claims it's a different size from OEM, but it's what showed up on their configurator; I also took the size right from the old ones.

I just laid out another drive for the local club and I noticed there was a little variation between my odometer and Google's point-to-point measurement. That's the first time I've noticed it, but I've used their satellite views all along for these runs, and never had such a variance. Maybe a tenth here or there, but cumulatively the same. Then again, this particular route was more dependent on precise measurements, so maybe I just hadn't paid as much attention to it.

The tires are now about a year old.

 

Primewell PZ900 225/40/18's. Around $95 each at Firestone. Great wet traction.

 

Eek. I wonder if the lower mpg and higher rpms could also have to do with non-runflats being less firm and therefore creating more friction/drag than runflats, making the engine work harder to keep the tires rolling. I'm no expert, but can't see how the tires would be a different size; one would think 205/45/17 = 205/45/17.

 

I agree, we are talking about specific measurements on fixed tire locations. But there is a wide variance from manufacturer to manufacturer.
My theory is they measure the tires without mounting them on a rim.
I think tire rack has a diameter measurement that is helpful in selecting a proper replacement. Even if you don't order from them.

 

Would you believe that is precisely the question I asked the guy at Tire Rack when I called? He said no, it's a different size. I dunnno. Increased rolling resistance (the term I used when talking to him) would explain the mpg difference, but would it have anything to do with the rpm difference, or the distance changes (Google vs. measured). Again, I've used Google's measuring extensively, and have found it to be very accurate in this essentially flat area--accurate when the same route or point-to-point measurement is made a number of times.

4X, if you're referring to their OEM configurator, that's what I used when I ordered.

I remain confused.

 

Mini: Yokohama Parada Spec 2's
Porsche: Bridgestone Potenza's

 

Toyo T1-R. swapped them out with new wheel after 4k miles. they are cheap (when I bought them) and they and very grippy. I've used the older T1-S in the past and the T1-R is better in every way.

 

I'm with Jeff on the Bridgestone Potenza RE01Rs. They have been discontinued, and I found a great closeout deal on TireRack.com for them for $88. I bought a set and was so enamored with the tires (and the price) I bought two more sets to store until I need them. It looks like tirerack is out now (I bought the 2 sets around 3 weeks ago) but you may find another good deal somewhere else.

I've only put about 2k miles on them, so I can't speak about wear, but the grip is great, and I appreciate that when you hit the limits, they are way more communicative and progressive in losing grip compared to the stock runflats.

I haven't noticed any difference in gas mileage, still averaging 29.5 mpg quite consistently.

Steve

 

How quick will you go through a set, I've always read its not good to store uniflated tires for to long the rubber becomes compromised.

 

That's been a topic more than once on the Porsche 356 website. General consensus (and I'm sure someone will correct me if they've heard otherwise), is that they're okay for about 6-7 years, inflated and on the car. A lot of those owners run out of time before they run out of tread.

Fermat, promise you'll run through them before then, okay?

Actually, I know one Tub guy who lost a tire in a big way at about the 7 year mark. Shredded the tire, which shredded the right rear fender, which put them out of control, which made them hit a pole after they'd pretty much slowed (fortunately). Both were okay, and the car got sorted out eventually, but their fight with the insurance company was epic. They didn't have coverage through a specialty/classic insurer, so the same guy who estimates Fords and Toyotas was trying to figure out a 50 year old car. Lesson learned.

 

Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Spec on 05S and 08S.

 

Right but thats on the car, my understanding was always when the tires sit unused and uninflated for more than a year or two (or three, not sure exactly how long) they begin to dry up and break down.

 

I should be OK. I went through my first set of tires in 16,000 miles. I drive around 24,000 miles a year, so if the tread life is the same as the OEM runflats, I'll go through them in 2 years. If they last longer (which I wouldn't mind!) I think I'll still be OK.

I just found this page at tirerack.com. They state that most street tires have a useful life of 6-10 years, if properly cared for.

 

My summer tires are Yoko Parada Spec 2's. Winter tires are whatever crappy runflats that came with it.

I really love the performance quality of the Parada's, but they definitely aren't for the comfort minded MINI owner. They're very noisy, and although the ride isn't bad, it's not great either.