Hey all, new guy here. I just bought an 06 MCS that had 15" winter steelies and bridgestone blizzacks. The car drove perfect and you could literally drive it with 2 fingers on the wheel, I was very impressed. Yesterday I switched over to the factory 17" wheels with very worn ze912 and WOW... It was scary. It was tramlining bad and you had to drive with both hands on the wheel to correct it every second or so. It brought back memories of my 2010 camaro SS which tramlined like a b*tch.
I bought this car for my wife and she was so impressed in how it drove with the winter tires and rims, however she will not be impressed now.

Is it because the falken 912 are worn out that is causing it to follow every road imperfection and have to white knuckle it with 2 hands on wheel..lol.. I am searching as we speak for 4 new tires for her. The car drove perfect straight and true with 15" winter rims and tires. All replies will be appreciated and some tire suggestions would be great also. Thank you

 

New tires going on tomorrow, General G-Max AS-03..hopefully all will be good afterwards.

 

Handling IS VERY different with 15's vs 17's....
The fact the old tires are VERY worn might make a big difference.
I for one Also run 15's snows....
and I have run 16's general UHP's (the model that the g-MAX replaced), and was happy except for the wear rate.
One thing is the lighter rims with the smaller tires makes the car ride/handle differently...kinda more playful with the smaller rims!! (heavy 17' rims on a MINI imo ruins the handling..makes the car all LOOK but no go..I think the perceived handling gain from a 16 to a 17 IS overrated), and makes the steering heavy and slow...and can actually slow acceleration....(reducing rotating mass is worth about 4X the gain in reducing the weight off the car elsewhere!!)
So much so, I bought a set of rims from a 2013 cooper, and put a slightly wider tire on it for regular commuting/driving, then are keeping the 16's for "fun".
Funny thing is, the rims cost me about $100 after I sold the narrow cooper OEM tires, and the TPMS that gen1 cars do not need....
Then tossed on a set of H speed rated General Altimax HP
Performance Grand Touring All Season tires...about $230 after rebate (free shipping) and wow...ride is a bit softer than I had hoped, but for commuting, fine. MPG's went up a couple MPG's too!! Too soon to know for sure but looking like about 32 from 30.
Went with Size: 185/65R15 cause it is almost an exact match diameter wise, to the OEM 16 size...195/55r16...slightly narrower, but still more grippy than my 15' 195 width snows....
I actually run a 205 (or is it a 215) on my 16's.....nice grip, but just like with 17's...watch for potholes!!

 

Always replace worn tires, you'll be better after that but may still have a little tramlining depending on your roads.

see
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=47

 

new tires...all good

 

Good to hear!!
I have been happy with the tire that the General G-Max AS-03 replaced....was decent performance for the $$ IMO.
If you notice it still feels funny at all a bit further down the road, the Bushings in the MINI's front end are rubber, and they tend to wear/shrink a bit...and this can cause some issues with steering feel as the cars age a bit or get a few miles.

 

Actually it`s night and day difference.
The new tires are quiet, handle great ride perfect.

 

I guess that means = "not so scary" anymore