Hi - I'm looking for a recommendation for replacement tires on my R56 with 17" wheels. The car has 22,000 miles and the OEM fronts (Dunlap SP 01 205/45/R17) are just about shot. I am looking for a better ride and longer life from my next set of tires. Should I stick with run flats or switch to a conventional tire? Any recommendations on brands and models? Thanks.

 

Pilot super sport gets my vote...

 

Do you want to stay with summer performance or go to all seasons? If summer performance, I would try Hankooks V12 or Conti DW.

I would tend to stay away from run flats due to ride quality.

 

This is my daily driver and I live in So Cal so I can probably get away without all seasons. But let's say I wanted an all season, what would you recommend then?

 

I just started using the Continental Extreme Contact DWS a few months back and I like it. Comfortable and quiet on the highway but it should not be considered a sporty tire.

 

For a year round tire I highly recommend the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S in 215X45 ZR17. I've had mine for 15K and have driven them hard in every kind of weather but ice. I don't do ice ! They really stick, don't track, are very quiet, have a decent ride and carry a 45K tread warranty. They're also about half the price of those horrid RF's my MINI came with. When these Michelin's are gone, I'm getting another set!

 

Thanks for the recommendations, everyone. I will check these out. The Michelins sound interesting.

 

In addition to checking our Michelin AS tires, you might consider moving from 17" to 16" wheels IF you are looking for a more comfortable, softer feeling ride. I just made this move and am thrilled by the noticeable difference in ride quality.

 

Hankook V12s! Best bang fornthe Buck. I have done some searching and narrowed it down the V12s. I am on my second set of run flats. I can almost buy 4 rims and tires for the price of a set of run flats.

 

Forget Runflats unless you must have them due to risk of a flat tire on busy streets or at night.

If you like your stock 17" wheels then keep them for now and consider

Non runflat tires

205/45-17

215/45-17

Both are fine with the stock tires being the best choice however both sizes are OK and may expand your ability to consider a given tire.

Summer tires-
Wear faster but allow for more grip, better handling, and in a warm climate will work fine for you wet or dry. Expect some to last about 14,000 miles. If you do low miles per year then this might be a good choice otherwise you may change tires once a year if you corner fast.

All Season tires-
Stick to Ultra High Performance All season tires if you can as they have good handling with longer treadlife. A good compromise and very good for wet or dry and will handle colder weather and some light snow.

Hankook Ventus V12 evo K110 Max Summer tire
205/45-17 $89 each 19 lbs, 280 treadwear
Good budget performance tire, may be a little noisy as it ages or wears.
215/45-17 $96 each 22 lbs, more expensive and heavier for slightly taller tire size.

Other Max Summer tires

Michelin Pilot Super Sport
215/45-17 $157 each 21 lbs, 300 treadwear
New release from Michelin to take over for the longstanding PS2.
Excellent overall street tire with both handling and street comfort good.

Bridgestone S-04 Pole Position
215/45-17 $177 24 lbs, 280 treadwear. Very good handling but more expensive and heavy.

Continental ExtremeContact DW
205/45-17 $131 19 lbs, 340 treadwear
215/45-17 $123 20 lbs.
Excellent overall tire for street use for the price. Good reviews and tirerack test results. Common choice for MINIs.

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric
215/45-17 $159 each 22 lbs 240 treadwear
Excellent handling tire, a little more expensive than the DW

For those that want super handling and don't care about faster tire wear and live in warmer climates- then
Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec
215/45-17 $139 each 23 lbs, 220 treadwear
Great handling, faster treadwear when cornering and braking hard.

For All Season Ultra High Performance tires-
Continental ExtremeContact DW
205/45-17 $118 each 20 lbs, 540 treadwear
215/45-17 $118 each 20 lbs
Great tire, great price, You trade some handling for much longer treadlife
Very good in three season weather - light snow.

Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus
205/45-17 $196 22 lbs, 500 treadwear
215/45-17 $173 22 lbs,
Good tire but more expensive.

Bridgestone Potenza RE960 AS
215/45-17 $173 closeout 25 lbs, 400 treadwear

Yokohama AVID EnVigor W
215/45-17 $104 each 24 lbs, 560 treadwear
Good value, good street tire.

Lots of good choices.

Confused? Talk to Alex@tirerack.com extention 294

 

I have been running the Kumho ASX in 205/40-17 size and I have liked it on my justacooper. I now live in Atlanta and these tries seem to do just fine in the heat. Feel very direct and sporty. By far, the Kumho ASX is my favorite tire I have driven on the Mini and I have had several tires in all sizes and classes. These just feel good.

 

205/40-17 is not a stock size for the MINI with 17" wheels
Tire diameter is less than stock at 23.4" which is one inch small.
Some odometer and speedometer error and less road clearance with larger wheel gap for stock suspension. If you have lowered suspension then not as bad except for bad roads.

It will still work and has adequate load rating. 40 series is stiffer than 45 series so a little better handling in corners for rough street ride and not good for potholes. Good price. $78 each 420 treadwear, 19 lbs

see test results (not as good in wet)
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=113

Another good value tire-
Yokohama AVID EnVigor V (High Perf All Season)
205/45-17 $111 each 22 lbs, 560 treadwear

 

Agree about the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus. Great tire. Quiet, good grip wet or dry and smooth ride. They have a 45k mile tread life warranty - very rare on an ultra high performance tire. On my second set. Go with the 215 size. Better grip and fills out the wheel well just a bit better. They are also cheaper than 205's.

 

Well, I'm a bit late for the party, but I just wanted to throw in a vote for the Conti DWS tires. I've had them on for about 22,000 miles and they are still showing D, W, and S (Dry, Wet, Snow) and so I expect to get atleast another ~25k out of them (much more than any of my prior RF selections). Being in SoCal you may not need the Snow part, but I did encounter some snow (~3in) and ice with these this past winter and they responded admirably. Granted this is probably why they lack a bit of grippyness, but as a true All Season they hit the mark.

That being said, I am very interested in the EnVigors as they were my #2 and if I thought I'd being spending more time in a no Snow zone, I could see myself going that route. Happy Hunting!

 

small correction in red above

 

I plan on ordering a New set of Wheels and Tires before my car arrives.

Im staying with 17 7.5 and wonder if I should stay with 205/45/17 or go with 215/45/17 ???

Going to try out the Conti DW's, I have Coilovers ordered for some drop and performance plus the 19mm H-Sport RSB.

Thanks

 

I'd recommend the 215's. I have the NMa springs that lower the car 1.2" and have had no clearance issues at all.

 

Thanks for your Feedback Dwight,I'm going to be on coilover's and plan to drop about 1.5 in or a little more.

Is there a Hugh difference with 205 vs 215 ???

 

There is lot's of great information here. I have one additional question. I went for the Pilot Sport AS Plus tires in the 215 45 17 size. When I went to have them fitted the tech said there was barely enough clearance between the Dunlap 205's already on the car and the front struts. They said the 215's would rub on the struts in front and recommended going with 205's (which costs an additional $120.00 for the set).

I have the Sport Package with the 17" Crown Spoke OEM Wheels. Is the tech wrong or does this particular wheel not have enough of an offset for me to use the wider tire? Is there a remedy for this?

Thanks,
David

 

I think that tech is blowing smoke. I put Goodyear GT 215/45's on OEM Webs and no problem even when I switched to Konig Britlite wheels. I'm on the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S's now and still no problem. Oh, and my MINI's been lowered 1.2", too. Sounds like that "tech" is just trying to sell you more expensive tires!

 

Dwight and Minihune -

i checked the clearance between the tire and the strut on the front myself. With the stock 17" Crown Spoke rims (48mm offset) and the stock 205 Dunlap RF's there is a finger width or 1cm clearance between the side wall of the tire and front strut at the closest point. Are you guys sure the 215's will work? If so I will have them mounted. Is it possible that the 205's are overinflated causing the side wall to sit to close to the strut? What pressure should they be at?

Thanks,
Dave

 

I have been using Dunlop 225/45R17 tires on my 2007 MCS. The car is lowered about 1.4", and there has been no rubbing under any conditions.

Remember, wider is not always better. Sometimes those factory engineers aren't so dumb, especially when compared to guys like me that post on internet. Unfortunately, most of use never get a chance to try very many tire and wheel sizes, so we have to rely on second hand information. Such information is often good, but who knows just how good?

Happy Trails,

Joe