I am looking for recommendations for summer tires for my wife's 2007 Mini Cooper S (48,000 miles). It has some awful run flat tires on it now and they have never handled well. As we live in New Hampshire, I have another set of Mini wheels with Kumho snow tires on them and the car actually handles better with snow tires than with the run-flats.

Definitely want to go with conventional tires rather than run-flats. I have a spare donut which we keep in a bag in the back. As my wife drives rather conservatively, a real performance tire is not necessary. Would like tires that ride well and handle well. Stock 16" wheels.

Any recommendations?

Seamus

 

hello fello namshirite. we haeva facebook page if you didnt know already

i just got sumitomo htr z 3's in a 215/45/17, not sure what size you would need, possibly 195/50/16

but they are super sticky even in the wet, super quiet and can be rotated all around the car since they can rotate in both directions, they were also fairly cheap, got mine for 78$ a piece and a $50 rebate

 

Good handling, good treadwear, and good ride comes in all-season: 195/55-16, 205/50-16, 205/55-16 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3

205/50-16 Continental Extreme Contact DW for a summer tire. Good dry traction, great wet traction, fair treadwear, good ride.

There are tire tests and customer reviews/surveys at TireRack.com plus many, many threads here.

 

Michelin is definitely the way to go. I had previously been quite impressed with Bridgestone Potenza series but the Michelin's have better grip in dry & wet.

 

+1 on 205/50/16 Conti Extreme Contact DW (I have them on now)
They definitely ride well and handle well, especially in the wet.
They're also fairly light for their size and wear fairly well.
You will notice a bit softer turn in compared to run-flats, but despite
that their overall grip is impressive.

 

I have my wife on Michelin Pilot Super Sports - fantastically sticky, quiet, comfortable tire. Unfortunately for you, PSS's start in 17" sizes only.

My summer tires are Bridgestone RE11a's. Another great all around summer tire with slightly greater dry traction than Michelin PSS's, but also shorter life span.

My summer autoX tires are an old set of Hankook RS3's. Superior dry traction, OK wet traction (for the first 1/2 of the thread, I'm on the second 1/2 now). A bit noisy and harsh to be a good daily driver.

For 16" stock wheels, go with 205/55-16 RE11's.
TireRack presently lists them for $137/each.

a

 

+1 on the Continentals. I have the DWS and really like them. The DW is their summer tire (Dry Wet) and the DWS is their all season (Dry Wet Snow).

 

Thanks. I think I'll get the Continentals...

 

Past experience with Michelin prevents me from ever recommending them to anyone... So my recommendation is Bridgestone Potenza RE760 Sports. I've had them around 20k miles and they are sticky, wearing great and very reasonably priced. Don't just take my word for it, read the reviews online.

 

+1 for Continental DW, though I run them in 215/45/17 on my 2009 Clubman S. For someone who drives conservatively there are probably other choices that have higher treadwear (life), but it makes a great summer tire.

 

Agreed, the Michelin A/S 3 or Pilot Super Sport tires drive excellent in wet/dry conditions! When you go from a run flats to conventional performance tires the handling and steering response is jaw dropping, I just install a set of Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires and boy do they grip better! The Michelin A/S 3 are great as well and have 15k more tread wear so if you want to save a little cash and gain more mileage out of your tires these are the one to get, unless your wife drives the Mini like a kid in a new car you don't need the Pilot Super Sports.

 

I live my Bridgestone RE11s. I am on my third set and get 25000 miles out of each set. Incredible grip dry and wet. Definitely summer only though. No snow capabilities of any kind.

 

Agreed, I have used the RE760's and now RE11's. Both are great tires without issues of any kind, what I like most is the performance on both didn't decline throughout the tire life. The RE11 out performs the Michelin PSS in the lower temperature ranges IMO.

 

Would you share you experience? The reviews are excellent for Michelin Summer performance tires, work well in cold weather also. Did you have any issues with the tread warranty?

 

Michelin PSS are my recommendation, they are amazing. Just verify the tread warranty, as 15k (half the 30k warranty) is all you will get out of them on the extreme high end.