The title says it all, We'll finally be losing the old S-Heavies and all season runflats for new rims and performance summer tires. My current thought is 17" ultraleggeras and 205/45/17 Dunlop ST Sport Maxx tires. There are a couple reviews on tirerack.com from MINI owners, they seem to like them very much, saying that they help stop the car from trying to jump off line thru a bumpy corner. Hopefully this is true...


Should I be looking for a diferent wheel or tire??? and I cant even imagine a tighter-handling car than the MINI currently (the only other car I have driven in my 4- month driving career has been a Subaru Outback wagon), so I am ready for my mind to be blown.

As a side note, I installed a Helix CAI on the car, and I love the noise as well as the noticeable increase in power, especially up hills. Thanks helix!

 

If all you are looking for is a performance summer tire, there are some proven choices. (but don't try to use them for winter/snow driving)

BEST
Falken Azenis RT-615 (best grip, but firm/slightly noisy ride)
Hankook Ventus Z212 (slightly less grip, slightly softer/quiter ride)

There are others, but they cost more money. The tires listed above are the proven "street" autocross tires. In other words, they do great as the ultimate street tires. I would expect they should last you about 20,000 miles if you didn't race on them. Maybe more. If you want a tire that lasts longer, you'll have to give up some grip because the tire will be harder.

 

Thanks for the advice, mitch. I am planning on either garaging the car during the winter, or putting on the old s-heavys with their all season runflats. I'll take a look at those tires, too.

BTW, the only way that I could justify buying all new rims and tires was that buying the O.Zs and Dunlops was about the same price as buying 4 new runflats...o.O

 

I'm pretty sure you'll find that the Falkens and Hankooks are about 25-45% less than the Dunlops.....and they provide more grip.

I don't know if you realize it, but the Sports Car Club of America Solo 2 program features a "Street Tire" class. Over the last couple of years, participants have tried just about every DOT legal tire available and have found that the Falken and Hankooks are the fastest.

(just in case you didn't know)

Good luck with what ever you decide!

 

May want to consider the Goodyear Eagle F1 in 215/45-17 as well... great performance & they're especially good on wet roads, I think they saved my bacon at least once this summer in a torrential downpour.

 

Congratulations for ditching the RF's.
I did, and bought the cheapest BUT with the BEST rating Tire Rack offers = General Exclaim 225x45x17 and I'm impressed with them; quite, excellent grip wet and dry, and look good. Ways, ways superior than the run flats.