Hello,

I have a problem. The road noise and, to some degree the, ride quality coming from the MINI is unacceptable. I purchased the car with JCW 18" R105 with 205/40 run-flats with ~9,000 miles on them. I'm mainly looking to fix the two problems stated and increase the tire life. I don't drive on the track and I'm looking for a tire that is good in most conditions besides snow and ice. Oh and I live in western Washington so tires that are good in the rain would help.

Would I see a large benefit changing from run-flats to non run-flat tires in the same size? Or is it best to change wheels to 17" and use 45 or 50 tall non run-flat tires? Plus, would I see a benefit in going from a 205 to 215?

If anyone is looking for some R105s let me know. Trade, sell, buy. I'm looking for some JCW Challenge R112s or the R90s.

Tire and wheel suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

-ToyKnife.

 

There are many ways to address these issues.

Ride quality

Going to non runflats will give you 10-15% smoother ride

Dropping to 17's will give you a 10-15% better ride.

If you did non runflat 17's you'd have about a 25% better ride.

Road noise -

This is a tread pattern specific issue. Look for tires with aysemetric or symetric tread patterns - rotation will be the best way to keep road noise to a minimum.

Wet traction

Narrower tires do better in deep water, making 205's a better choice for hydroplaning resistance.

Directional tires are the best in water, but they get noisy as they wear becase they can't be cross rotated.

1st question to anwser is would you be happy with the looks of 17's or do you like the big wheel look?

Alex

 

Thanks for the help, Alex.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with 17"s on a MINI. The MINI I have just happen to come equipped with 18"s.

As of now, I'm thinking 17"s with non run-flats either 205 or 215 that have a low noise signature.

 

How agressive of a driver are you? Do you plan to do auto X or HPDE?

Alex

 

I do not plan on doing either of the two. Most (~90%) of my driving is normal commute to and from work on the highway between 50-70MPH. I do drive on the twist roads but it is so little that that should not have any effect on my tire selection.

 

If you do mainly highway driving then you wont miss anything going with the slightly narrower tires. The narrower tire has a lower rolling resistance (given the same make) which means better MPG.

 

in order to maintain proper tire diameter, here are your two options for 17" tires:

205/45/17
215/40/17

For both aesthetics and performance, I would choose the latter.

 

If your main priority is comfort and hydroplane resistance, I'd go with
205/45/17 non-runflat. Since you say 99% of drive time is cummuting on freeways.

 

Yes, I know it is sad that most of my driving is on the highway. But I need to work.

If we just consider helping out the road noise problem; would changing from run-flats to non run-flats would that help quiet the inside of the car considerably? Or would 17" still be my best bet? Staying with the 18" would cost less and, mainly, be much easier then trying to find someone to do a swap of wheels.

 

Maybe Alex can chime in, but I just changed from the Dumlop runflats 205/40-18 on GP 18x7 wheel to 225/35-18 Goodyear GS-D3. I thought they were going to be same as Dumlop harshness, but they were like so soft on the roads imperfections. BTW: The GS-D3's are suppossed to be the 2nd best rain tire of all catagories at Tire Rack. Id go with oe size 205/40-18 or 215/40-18.
Here is a partial list of choices-excluding run-flats and over tires $150.
205/40-18
Nitto NeoGen-I though they handled rain good at Dragon.
Yokohama S.drive-Some people like'em-some peolple don't
Toyo Proxes 4-?
other options
215/40-18
Nitto NeoGen-see notes above
Yokohama Parada Spec2-?
Falken FK-452-?
Falken ZE-912-Great reviews on Grassroots Motorsports won their budget tire shootout.
BFGoodrich g-Force Sport-?
Toyo Proxes 4-?
Hankook VentusSport K104-These sucked in rain and they got flat easily.
Yokohama AVID W4S-?
Dunlop SP Sport FM901-Was gonna get these, shop reccomended against, got Hankooks for less?

 

My thought. I've got a 07 mcs ordered with 17" wheels (and stock factory run-flats). I can't imagine 18's. Get rid of both asap.

Go to 16" wheels. Replace those miserable run-flats with "normal" tires, and carry an air pump if you feel the need.

Big improvement in ride. Little trade-off (if any) in handling at least for normal driving. I did this stuiff, live in the Chicago area (with its often poor streets), and am much happier.

You won't grimace every time you see a pothole or pavement seam.

 

ToyKnife, your and my driving situations seem almost identical, speeds, road types... I, too, want to go to NON run flats the next time I change them out. I have the 17" S-Lites. I am curious to see some recommendations. I love the look of the low profile 205/45/17 and the twisties handling of the run flat. I'm a spirited driver but don't track my MINI at all. I just love the thrill of daily MINI driving.

 

The 215/40-18 tire diameter isoversized. Great for fuel economy, but a perceivable decrease in acceleration. Go with a 215/35-18.

 

But are any of the 18" quiet? That is the question.

 

From the tires I have tried, hard to tell about quietness cause its not really on my radar, so I never really paid much attention to that. My bad, I was under impression OP wants rain capability, comfort and quietness, not perfomance thats why I didn't list 215/35-18, any 15s, 16s, 17s,(which may be more comfortable) or any of the Star Specs, AD07, XS, RS-2, REO-1, RT-615 type tires. Seems that the lower (35 series) profile would not be as comfortable for OP as a 40 series tire. But here are some under $150 in case I'm wrong:
215/35-18
Falken FK-452-?
Nitto NeoGen-I though they handled rain good at Dragon.
Falken ZE-912-Great reviews on Grassroots Motorsports won their budget tire shootout.
Toyo Proxes 4-?
Nitto NT555-Bad reviews on Discount Tire
Hankook VentusSport K104/6-These sucked in rain and they got flat easy.
Yokohama S.drive-Some people like'em-some peolple don't

BTW: Where in Eastern Washington?
I was in Yakima, Sunnyside, Moses Lake and Tri-Cities area twice for about 6 months each time, they have a Autocross in TriCities in Keniwick or Pasco, theres alot of MINIs that participate, a great and very friendly group, look them up, I think I found them on SCCA link.

 

This is true. Mainly, quietness, longer tread life and comfort.

I'm on the other side of the mountains. I commute from Maple Valley/Lake Swayer to SeaTac and Seattle.

 

Speaking of quietness, is it possible to get quiet out of 18"?

Plus, could the MINI handle 205/45 R18 or would you get rubbing?

 

Might get rubbing on a Gen1, probably not on a Gen2. Quietness depends more on the tread than the wheel size. Ride comfort (softness) cannot be gotten with an 18" wheel. 17" are marginal but acceptable if you stay away from runflats.

 

I am using Yokohama S.drive 205/40 ZR 18 tires on my JCW R105 without noise issues.

These are not, not run flat tires.