Has anyone measured tread depth on new stock continental runflats? I have 17100 miles on a 2010 S. I'd say I drive my Mini like a Mini, not like a corolla. I can feel my wear bars and it looks like I have about 1/4 tread left. Is that normal for these tires? I wasnt looking to buy new tires every 17000 miles at 230 each. I rotated every 7500.

 

We went through our RFs under 15k miles -- and we were to the threads. Not unusual if you are hot on the throttle. My Challenger's Pirelli PZeros were burnt within 10k miles, but that's a slightly different story since I loved to spin those.

 

Look into regular tires and dump the runflats. Rotate the tires every 5k too.

 

AGREE with Yetti96....dump the run flats and rotate every 5K.
I've got Yokohoma s drives with 2K on them and they still look new. I don't drive hard but like the turns.

 

My 2007 was recently on a dealers lot with 17k miles and bald tires (wear bars were gone). From when I looked around to see if I should be worried it seemed like this was relatively common depending upon your driving. The stock RF's from what I've read here on NAM seem to wear way faster than what you'd replace it with. I'm sure someone who's gone through a few sets could give a bit more insight on what tires to replace with, but I'm certain I won't use the same tires that came on the MINI. The dealer I purchased my 07 MCS from replaced the tires with run flats (had to pass inspection, and well...I wasn't going to pay for them).

 

My wife has 40k on her stock 17" Conti runflats. Getting close to the wear bars. May get another 5k out of them.

 

Could be worse. You could own an Acura NSX. Those things ate rear tires every 8K miles at $300 a pop...

Anyway, if you are at the wear bars you have about 3/32 of tread. Most new tires are in the 9-10/32's. Your tires are really getting to the point where they aren't safe in wet weather. The chance of hydroplaning is greatly increased.

Face it you bought a car that handles well, the price you pay for that is increased tire wear. You can give up some grip and get tires with a higher tread wear rating that will last longer, but where's the fun in that?

As for runflat or not, that's up to you and your comfort level with regards to flat tires. You can roll the dice and just get regular tires, and you can by a mobility kit from BMW, (slime/fix-a-flat and a compressor), or buy a space saver spare from Ford and store it behind the passenger seat, or be brave and rely on AAA/MINI roadside assistance, or buy runflats.

The car will handle better, and ride better with conventional tires. And as you have found out they cost a lot less.

I bought a set of runflat snow tires and wheels because I just didn't want to deal with a flat in winter. And how much hooning can you do in winter... When I replace the original tires this spring, they will be non runflats. ( they will probably have about 14K miles on them and they are almost to the wear bars...