ggv,

Been following your posts. Looks like you're about there. Minihune where are you? Winter storm is a brewing and I am purchasing tires tomorrow. Looking at the Falken 912s as well and the Nitto Neo Gens. What made you choose the Falkens?

MiniMayBee,

How do you like the Nittos? How do you think they will handle the Colorado snows?

 

No I do not!
That's why they are warm and snug in my garage while my Blizzaks plow through the snow. Come spring though - watch out. I bought them from Discount Tire from a guy with a ricer that runs them. He can have his pick of any tire the store sales and he picked the Nittos - pretty good sales pitch.

 

I use Nitto NeoGen 215/40/ZR17 and they are great...i had a set of Fuzion ZRi's in 215/40/WR17 and even they were great...and the fuzions were even good in the snow too!

 

How many miles have you got on them?

 

Falken Ziex 912 in 215/50-16 on stock 16" wheels will work with stock suspension for street use and light snow. While it's a good balance of comfort and handling, don't expect superb handling like a Max Performance summer tire.

Since the 912 is not a particularly stiff sidewall tire the 205/50-16 or 215/50-16 will not be uncomfortable. I run on the street with 205/50-15 and 195/50-15 all the time and it's fine. The runflat 195/55-16 has a stiff sidewall.

It's really up to you what size you want to go with but if snow is possible you want to go with more narrow tires not wider tires. For wet conditions both sizes will work fine. If you're doing just street driving the lighter weight and lower rolling resistance 205/50-16 makes more sense.

For 205/45-16 this fits rims 6.5-7.5" wide and tire diameter is a smaller than stock 23.3". Yes, it's lighter and smaller for better gearing on acceleration but you get speedo and odometer error. 45 series sidewall is also relatively stiff so comfort is a bit less but turn in response is better.
If you have stock suspension then the wheel gap is increased about a full inch. If you have 1.5" drop then it's fine.

 

Thanks for the reply.
I haven't lowered yet, but this may be an excuse.
"Honey, the gap is too big so that's why I had spend more to lower the MINI"
Don't think that one will fly.
Thanks again Minihune.

 

i just recently switched to the NeoGen's but i had over 30k miles on the Fuzion's

 

That's not bad. I'm expecting 20-25K, but I drive rather hard.

 

Modest lowering probably would be a good strategy for you given that you do have snow and use winter tires. For snow you want a little more clearance for ice and snow. A one inch drop would probably work OK. With two or more sets of wheels your ride height would be set for the tallest wheels you do use. Otherwise you have to use coilovers with adjustable ride height and then change it for summer vs winter use or again you can use one height that is a compromise between the two. With coilovers you can fine tune the ride height to make it just right.

 

Last winter I was actually thinking about a lift kit for the MINI. I high centered several times getting out of the neighborhood.
I have been considering coilovers for the very reason of summer/winter tires. I have yet to find the perfect combination of price, performance and easy of adjustment.

 

The Falken 912 comes in a 195 55R 16, the same size as my run-flat. It's narrower than the 205 and might pull through the snow better. Would that size work in a non run-flat? Thanks for the help.

 

Yes, for winter and all weather use the 912 in 195/55-16 would work fine.

 

oh i flogged the hell out of the tires including a few cross country road trips and many many mountain runs

 

are they quieter than our stand run flat tires??? you got the a/s rite? if you go over bumps..can you hear it as loud as runflats???

 

No expert here, but I replaced my oem 195/55/16s with 215/50/16s. I love the way they look and have had no problems with oem wheels, suspension, etc.

 

I Love my Goodyear Eagle F1's 215x45x17's!!!

 

Davavd

thanks for your response; would you happen to have any pics of these tires mounted & on your Mini? I'd love to see what they look like. What type of tire are you running?

Minihune, thank-you again for your detailed answers.

cheers all

greg v.

 

Note that the R56 (2007+) can run slightly wider tires. We run 235/40R17 on ours.

In general, wider tires will give you better cornering grip (wet or dry), increased rolling resistance, decreased grip in snow. They'll cost and weigh more than skinnier tires.

--Dan
Mach V

 

235/40-17 fits rims 8-9.5" wide and my rim is only 17x7"
Will that fit at all? R53 MCS 2003 lowered with PSS9 coilovers. Currently 215/45-17 just clears.

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric $182 each 240 treadwear 23 lbs. 24.4" tire diameter. Comes in 225/45-17 and 235/40-17 and larger.

 

I want to go with Goodyear Eagle F1 215 45 17s as well. I have H & R springs.

I wonder if it will rub???.....Looking under the wheel wells, I think it will work.

 

I went with PZero Nero M&S 205/55ZR16 on an R56 MCS with 16x7 wheels. I chose 55 over 50 for a couple of reasons.

First, stock dia. on my car was 24.5". The 205/55ZR16 are 24.9" and the 205/50ZR16 are 24.1. They are both off of stock by 0.4".

Secondly, this set of tires was for comfort so the taller sidewall serves that purpose. I have 17x7 wheels for more spirited driving.

Third, the speedo on most R56 reads higher than reality. The larger dia. 55 tires reduce the built-in error, bring it closer to reality. The smaller dia. 50 tires would increase the built-in error.

 

I do get some rubbing on big bumps mainly when I have passengers, but I think it's on the wheel well lining and it isn't too bad. I have Mach V springs which are about the same as H&Rs.

 

Is there an issues with 215 16" on the stock 6.5 width rim? For example, I was looking at Falken Azenas and thought the 215/45R16 size would be correct for me but the recommended rim width is 7.0-8.0 inches (according to the Falken site.) It looks like the only size for that tire for a stock size 16" wheel would be the 225/50R16, but would that work?

The reason I was looking at these tires is they came highly recommended for HPDE and autocross, but the person that recommended them doesn't drive a MINI so available sizes weren't taken into account. (I am currently running 205/50 Yokahama AVS ES100s)

 

These are the Kumho Ecsta ASX 215/50/16s.

 

I've seen a lot of postings on the 215 45 17 but does anyone have any experience on 215 50 17 tires on original s-lite wheels? I want to get the best bang for buck when I replace my OEM runflats. I see the 215 50 16s here and they look good but can you do the same with 17s?

Minihume, thanks for all the info on my last question. Mahalo!

Thanks,

Scott