Usually you get RFs with your new car. I got all-season ... no choice.

Now the question is ...

Obviously its better to have summer tire and non-RF.
Realistically, if they are fairly new, thats throwing away $800+ which I got a real hard time justifying when they are probably good for at least 20K miles. No Xcross, No track days ... just daily commuting. I don't know about everyone else but thats a LOT of money on a $25K car to just throw away ... (selling them will get little back, used ...)

All opinions welcome ... dont need to know which tires to buy or prices ...

So ... for your daily driver (no racing)

Who has kept them until worn out and THEN bought better tires?

Who didn't care and immediately bought better tires?

 

I kept mine til worn out (one year...oops, had some fun), but then I went out and bought the same thing (now 2 years). When these wear out I'll buy still another set...I'm staying w/ all-season for commuting purposes.

 

ME TOO

 

Yeah, I painfully waited for mine to wear out, couldnt waste them either. I was so happy when they were ready to be replaced.

 

mine came with SP9000's...

the PilotA/S' that came with my other car sticks
like glue.. like S03/GS-D3 territory.

not all A/S are 'bad.'

 

I kept mine 'till the fronts wore out (OOOPS! did I forget to rotate?) That took 1/2 winter, a spring, a summer, and a fall (20,000miles). I've got winters on now and high performance summers go on when it warms up (GY F1 GSD3).

I wasn't going to just throw the tires away that I just paid for...so I completely see your point.

mb

 

Wear them out first. You're right about the resale value, and they'll serve you well enough just to do the commuting thing.

 

Bottom line is for me it was 10 months, 10,000 miles and my second flat runflat when I replaced mine.

The expense of replacing these things is what caused me to get rid of mine.

Replaced them with winter tires. In the spring I will probably get new wheels and tires from Tirerack and leave the winter tires on the s-lites.

So I was upset with the replacement cost of the runflats each time I got a flat tire. By the time I am done I will have spent so much more with new winter tires, new wheels and new summer tires.

 

Put the crack pipe down... You're dreaming if you think your all seasons stick better than your summer Dunlops, or any summer RF for that matter. Absolutely no way! You've just got something in your brain that's blocking reality. Admit it, you're just anti-RF. I guess what I'm saying is that I respectfully disagree. Hope I didn't misinterpret anything. The lack of praise for the Dunlops combined with the praise for A/S tire (WTFO?) has me baffled. A/S = jack of all tades, master of none.

Since you obviously won't believe me, here's a quote from Michelin's Director Technical Marketing NA about RFs (Dec, 2005), "Stiffness of the [RF] sidewall improves the lateral ability and cornering power ... You have to have a good tread design and compound to stick to the road, but inherently, a self-supporting tire has better lateral cornering power."

When are people going to learn that RFs rule? Just get away from the 1st generation, as they are not the industry standard today.

It's like talking to a wall. But I hear ya...price is what drives you to non-RFs. There's no other reason...

 

Take a look on Tirerack at the ratings of Bridgestone 050s. They are about equal to F1s. Second generation RFs.

 

The Brigestone RFs is where my money will go...if I keep the MINI that long. I've driven them on Bimmers and they rock.

 

I pulled my stock A/S tires off the car less than a week after I picked it up. I mounted a set of Toyo T1R's on the stock holey's. I did get another set of stock 15" wheels off of ebay though and mounted the all-season tires on them for winter use. I've now got three sets of wheels and tires, the third set is for racing. My all-season tires should last me at least three or four winters.

-Keith

 

I call it the opinions of the people who use them ... which does matter in real life.

 

Is everyone who contributed to those surveys a driving enthusiast, or even a credible source? Those surveys are statistically worthless, as it's not a controlled test on a level playing field. They're rating a tire against a scoring scale where there's no attempt to standardize. Yet, we look at those numbers and determine a rating? Remember, even the lowest tire on the scale had someone saying it was the best. Typically the people that respond to those surveys either love something or hate it, and that's what compels them to respond. It's pure emotion, and the opposite of science.

 

Drove the stock tires till they were shot. Switched and never looked back.

Matt

 

Who cares? If they are everyday people explained their problems or what they like ... the more ppl who answer, the better the data base. You always got to throw out the lows and the highs.

Bottom line, I've seen lots "scientific results" but when ppl actually use them, they hate them ... and people's opinions are far more important to me than a bunch of numbers.

 

Got rid of mine at the point of sale.

Until RFs consistently outperform their cousins in terms of lateral grip, braking grip, wear, comfort, and, weight, I'll stick with the summer only stuff. They're catching up, but I don't think they are there yet. Peace of mind factored in...the RFs are great. But I'm a risk taker

 

you still have a long way to go, son.

 

Why the personal attack? "Son" is very derogatory, and for all you know that could be upsetting to me (which it isn't...I just consider the source). But I do consider that a blatant violation of the forum etiquette rules, so you may want to think twice the next time you can't hold in your emotions.

Regardless, sorry my innocent humor upset you, and that I chose you to communicate the valid points of experts. Due to your sensitivity, I'll steer clear of using you again.

Cheers!

 

Keeping my X-Lites and A/S RFs as my winter set-up and buying a set of 17" rims and max-perf (non-R/F) tyres as my summer set-up

 

I realize my opinions are different than most on this subject (and maybe I have to be a bit more contentious to drive the points home). Anyway, I drive upwards of 130 everyday, and I like the safety aspects of RFs, and the performance of my Dunlop SP Sport 9000s is more than adequate. Hell, even my winter RFs do a great job in sub freezing temps. I know I could go out and source the world's best non-RF and the performance would be as great, maybe even better. But I don't like the thought of a blowout at the speeds I can legally drive. I had a RR blowout at about 75 driving from DC to NC a few years ago in my Audi A4 Quattro. I credit the Audi for the controlled stop. The tire was a non-RF Dunlop SP Sport 9090. Great tires. Mega confidence inspiring. But I truthfully can't tell the difference in performance between those and my Dunlop RFs. But I sure know which is safer. Hope you don't have to look back from a disastrous accident caused by a blowout one day (yours or someone elses).

 

Im confused. The question is to keep the AS RFs until they wear out or switch to a better tire now? ... Its not about going RF or Non-RF ... that is not the issue. So what are you saying about the subject

 

You're not confused. You're sarcastically making the point that I'm off topic. You're right.

Get rid of the A/S anything, because they're not worthy of the MINI. RF or non RF. Buy summer tires for good weather and winter tires for the cold. Be smart and safe and buy Bridgestone RE050 RFs, and never look back. Tire Rack just lowered the price too.

Satisfied?

Cheers!

 

Define better.

 

I kept my runflats until they wore out. Believe it or not, I got 62,000 mile on my original runflats (Goodyear Eagles on an 03 MC). I replaced them with non-runflats, mainly because of the cost. To be truthful with you, I have not noticed much difference in ride quality. I commute 70 miles each day.