Like many others, I'm ready fairly soon to replace the stock 17" runflats with something to hopefully get a much smoother or softer ride. I guess I'm tired of feeling every small bump in the pavement on my stock Conti SSR 17" runflats. I almost didn't buy my MCS, simply because of the harsher ride on the runflats. But I thought that I would ultimately regret not getting an 'S'. Of course, now the Justa with the 15" tires, that I didn't get, isn't looking so bad after all.

Anyway, after reading many of the recent posts on this topic, it seems that the best or recommended choice - if you don't want to risk going to non-run flats - is the Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position RFT.

Assuming that I make the switch to the Pole Position RFT's, my question is how much of difference in ride quality will there be between a 16" and a 17" tire? Clearly, I already have stock 17" MINI wheels and I'd like to stay 17". But if the 16" Pole Position RFT's have a much smoother/softer ride than the 17" Pole Position RFT's, then maybe I should try to find a set of used 16" MINI OEM 6-spokes to hopefully get closer to the Justa like ride comfort.

Granted, I'm making the assumption or believing the recent and very positive reviews that the Pole Position RFT has a ride quality (i.e., softness) that approaches non-run flats. If that isn't true, then possibly I should reconsider and start looking for a place in the back to keep the MINI spare to go with the set of non-run flat tires.

 

With the same type of tires, 17" vs 16" would give a small improvement but it won't be an obvious difference. You might consider Koni FSD shocks if you want to improve ride quality.

 

In my opinion, I think the 16" would provide better ride than the 17" just because of the additional sidewall. Go to the dealer and just try driving the two different tires but with the RFT. See if you can feel the differences. Non RFT would give you a more smooth ride than that. Perhaps a trip to your local mini club would also provide you with done better info to see what you would like.

 

Also for a cooper, the space is kind if limited for a spare and cargo. Many if us who moved to a non RFT have AAA roadside assistance and also an air pump some plugs just in case we need them.

 

I would also suggest going to the dealership and test driving an MCS with 16" wheels and runflats vs an MCS with 17" runflats and same suspension options.

The difference if any will be due to the tire sidewall difference since suspension is the same. I doubt there will be that much difference.

The Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS runflat is quite an improvement over OEM runflats. Already that will be an improvement in ride comfort so I don't think you have to worry much about moving to 16" wheels from 17" just to get enough comfort.

Looking at the tirerack test results-
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=164

Ride comfort and lower noise with good handling was reported in a BMW using 245/40-18 runflat tires.

195/55-16 $145 each, 25 lbs
205/55-16 $125 each
vs
205/45-17 $185 each, 22 lbs

The 205/55-16 has a tall tire diameter of 24.9" and the tallest sidewall, it weighs more at 28 lbs

I don't think you will have any problems using your stock 17" wheels and trying the 960AS runflats in 205/45-17.

 

thanks. Sounds like I should just stick with my stock 17" infinite stream wheels. No need to spend a non-trivial amount of time trying to find a deal on a set of used OEM 16" 6-spoke wheels. Plus, by replacing the stock 17" wheels with 16" wheels, I'm lowering the value of the car - for now what looks like no good reason.

I still have a few more thousand miles left on the conti SSR's, after that I think it's pole position RFT's unless something better comes along in the next few months. Hopefully the 205/45-17 pole position RFT's go back on sale. It looks like they went up in price recently.