Hi All,
My 2012 Cooper recently clocked 50k miles. During my last service appointment, the dealership recommended tire replacement. The original wheel config it came with is 16" wheels, run-flats which I think are way too expensive. What would be your recommendation - brand/model and where to buy in NJ?

Thank you!

 

If you only do street driving in a Cooper S and use OEM suspension then you can use-

Max Summer tires if you live in only a warm area and don't mind better performance and fast tire wear.

Ultra High Performance All Season tires if you want a blend of good handling, a little better tire wear and use during some cold weather but not deep snow

Grand Touring All Season tires if you want more ride comfort, lower noise, longer tire wear and a little less crisp handling with use during cold weather.

Tirerack.com is a good place to shop, look for 205/55-16 which will give you better choices. OEM is 195/55-16 but favors runflat tires.

 

I too have a 12' S but live in Atlanta so we can get away with a high performance summer tire.
I've tried Michelin Pilot Super Sports, GREAT tire, great handling, great wet performance but they'll only last you about a year and a half due to the soft tread compound. Then I tried some BFG G Force Comp 2's, though a good tire, the only thing that was better about them over the PSS's is they lasted a little longer. Now I'm on some Toyo Proxes 4 Plus-All season tire, and they're fantastic. Not as performance oriented as the Michelins but they handle just as good as the Comp 2's and better than both previous tires in the rain. I run 215/45 17's.
If she's your daily go with a good all season, like a Conti ProContact or the Proxes 4's (or any other high rated tire with matching reviews). If she's a weekend fun car, I'd go with a ultra high performance summer tire.
Avoid run rocks like the plague. They ride like crap, they're noisy, and they cost double what a great regular tire costs. Keep you a can or 2 of TPMS safe Fix-A-Flat and a little "cigarette lighter" powered pump in the boot. I've had a nail and a screw get into a couple tires along the way and have had 0 issues using the Fix-A-Flat, keep an eye on your tires and change them when they need to be changed and you'll never need more than a can of that stuff to get home/to a tire shop. I also have roadside from my insurance and also AAA just in case.

 

Thank you for the reply, minihune!
Tirerack asked me to go with 205/50-16 max while the dealership advises to stick with the original configuration of 195-55R16. Mini dealerships have Hankook which seems to be a decent brand along with Kumho though I am tempted to go with Pirelli P7.
Regards!

 

2nd on 205/50-16. Had 'em, liked 'em. They fit very well with no issue running them out.

 

MINI dealerships are obligated to stick with OEM tire sizes.

Pirelli Cinturato P7 is a common name and comes in three different tire classes-

Ultra High Performance Summer
High Performance Summer
Grand Touring All Season- only this one has tire sizes like 195/55-16 and 205/50-16

By itself 205/50-16 is fine for OEM wheels. Which tire specifically were you considering. Brands are deceiving as nearly all brands have bad and good models and different price points.

Do you need to drive in cold weather and how long do you want your tires to last? What about tire budget- there is a large range of prices.

 

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Being in NJ, I need all-season tires with good wet-traction. I drive my car like a normal passenger car, no sharp turns or high speed driving. I rarely touch 80 on highways and mostly drive under 70. The roads in NJ can be terrible with potholes and cracks, I wonder if 195/55R16 is the best option here due for that reason. I need long lasting, fuel-friendly tires with good ride comfort unlike the run-flats I have now.

Thank you!

 

You don't have to stay with OEM tire size.

Considering you want all season then for a Cooper S the Ultra High Performance All Season tire class is the place to start.

205/50-16 works well, fits and has good tire selection and good value.

BFGoodrich g-force Comp-2 A/S has good reviews- $95.51 each, 400 treadwear
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests...y.jsp?ttid=222
Good in both dry and wet. Decent liveable road manners for daily use
Also options for other tire sizes-
205/55-16 $95.92 each, no real need to go any taller, ride is decent enough.

Alternative other UHPAS tires in 205/50-16
Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 $111 each

Or in 205/55-16
Bridgestone RE980AS (new model) $107 each
Cooper Zeon RS3-G1 $91 each

 

Sorry, I had to wait a bit.
I finally bought 4 Cooper Zeon RS3-G1 205/55R16's for 83.xx each, $50 rebate from dtd and $100 from coopertires.com, about $75 for installation and balancing. About $270 in all is quite less than what I initially expected.
The tire installation shop however warned me about negative effects of bigger than standard tires on the transmission.

 

 

And what are the known negative effects of bigger than OEM tires on transmission?

Search for them and let us know what you find.

In general the transmission can keep up with tires. If tire size is wider than OEM you get a little more drag and resistance but more contact patch and a little more traction. If tire diameter is larger then you get a little speedo and odometer error but it isn't much. If front vs rear axle tires are different sizes and tire diameters don't match it isn't a big deal for two wheel drive cars, they just spin at different rates.