I will be replacing my Goodyear run-flats (sooner the better, as I am not a fan of these tires). I intend to get the best performance type all-season 215/45 x17 tires I can. I live in northern Indiana (snow) and can't afford a second set of wheels and tires for summer/auto-x just yet. I haven't seen any performance comparisons for all-seasons tires in any magazines. Anyone have a good or bad experience auto-crossing certian brands of hi performance all-seasons tires on their MINI?

 

Since winter is coming on, I was considering Continental ContiExtremeContact as a "universal" set of shoes for the MCS. They show a P215/40ZR17 & P215/50ZR17 on the Conti web site, and they show up well in TireRack's comparison lists. I'd appreciate comments from anybody who has tried them.

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Tom Clark, Clarksville MD: CR '02 MCS

 

You might check e-bay or ask your dealer if they have any 15" all season "take-offs" and keep them for winter use. Cost should be close to or less than new 17" tires alone. Then you have the whole winter to save up for some good high performance summer tires.

Johnna

PS You'll be pleasantly surprised by the extra peppiness you'll feel with the lighter 15" shoes.



>>I live in northern Indiana (snow) and can't afford a second set of wheels and tires for summer/auto-x just yet.
>>

 

I don't know about high performance, but I've completed a full season of autocrossing w/just the 15" Contis that came with the car. They were great in the snow/ice last winter. These come-up from time-to-time on ebay w/sets of four premounted on the 7-hole Alloys for ~$400.

Other than that, I've had good luck on my old Nissan 200SX SE-R with some of the Dunlop all-seasons (I'm thinking the old D60 JLBs but these have been since replaced). Bit loud, usually, but good traction both winter and summer.

 

Sumitomo's HTR+ is available in a 215/45-17 size, and is an excellent high performance all-season. Randy runs 'em for his road tires. That should be convincing enough

Cheers,
Ryan