I'm never going to be racing my new MCS - a comfortable ride is most important to me. When configuring my MINI online, which tire/wheel combo do you guys recommend?

Thanks,

Rob

 

Stick to the stock 16" wheels, and stay away from the sport package. The stock run-flat tires have a reputation for contributing to a rough ride, so you may want to replace them with non-run-flats once you get your car. Check out tirerack.com - select your model of car, and then choose the decision maker option. Set "ride" as your number one priority, and it will give you a bunch of options.

 

To start out do not get any 17" rim. Like Bee1000n said stay with the 16" rims. If you have room save the runflats on the 16" rims for long tirps and pick up a set of four MC 15" rims for around town. The tires do not cost much to replace and give a very nice ride. You will not loose much if anything in "around town" performance.

 

Welcome to NAM!
(Next time, try the wheel and tire forum here)

But you answer your question, the smaller the wheel, generally the better the ride. If you get 18'' tires and wheels, you're in for a rough ride. 15''s are gonna be the nicest ride.

 

My 2005 MCSa came with 17 inch wheels and runflat tires (Sport package). Big mistake. After fitting 16 inch wheels (SSR) and 205/50-16 non runflat tires, the ride is a night and day difference.

 

See if you can test drive a MCS with the stock 16'' wheels. You may find that you won't need to make any adjustments. Unfortunately this might be hard to do since most dealers load their cars with the packages that include 17'' wheels... There is a significant different between the ride with 16s vs 17s especially when you add runflats to the equation. Personally I was pleasantly surpised to find that I like my ride with the stock 16'' with runflats. I was expecting to hate the runflats since I remembered thinking the test ride was kind of rough, but I guess I just don't like the combination of 17s and runflats.

 

This doesn't directly answer your question, but if you are serious about getting a more comfortable ride, get Koni FSD shocks. They will have a much greater effect than the relatively small differences made by wheel/tire combos.

 

All info above is correct...we have an MCS w/Sport pack and 17". I was expecting rough ride, and got what I expected.

 

Woops. I apologize for the misplacement. I work for a forum software company, so I should know better. :P

Thanks to everyone for your advice. I look forward to the additional input - you guys are so thorough!

 

I swear I must be the only one that thinks my runcraps don't ride that rough & I have 17's Even when people get in my Mini they usually comment on how the ride is much smooter than they expected. I am going to get some Goodyear non-runflats next month just to see if the grass is greener but I have really been OK with the ride so far. Of course for all of my driving life I have driven small cars so it's probably just what I'm used too

 

I have the Goodyear runflats on my Cooper and even with progressive springs, they still ride really hard [16" wheels]. I just bought a new MCSA and it has 16" Dunlop runflats....there is a world of difference. When my Goodyears finally wear out, I'm putting on Dunlops.

 

I agree with this. The reason why. I had a 2003 pre-softy suspension with 16" runflats. The ride was a little harsh. Nothing to complain about since like bamatt mentioned, I too was use to a similiar ride. My 2006 post-softy suspension rode like a Cadillac on the same stock 16" runflats on the way home from the dealer. Both sets were Dunlops. The suspension makes a huge difference.

 

195/55/16's. otherwise try 205/50/16's.