I'm looking for new tires for my '03 MC, 175/65/15. I can choose from the following; Pirelli (p3000e), Goodyear, Big-O, Uniroyal and Conti with all being about $100/ea.

I have Conti's now and am not too impressed with them, there an ok tire.

Anyone have recommendations or other brands that might be available?


Thanks

 

Been doing some online research and found some Yokohama YK520 that seem to have great reviews and there only $75 each.

 

Tirerack lists a lot of performance tires in 195/55-15. Even the top-rated one there is only $56.

 

Well, I went to look at the Yoko's and drove home on BFG Traction TA's 205/55/15. All I can say is WOW! What a significant improvement in ride, cornering, handling, traction and they are super quite, a very smooth yet solid ride. I had no idea tires can make such a huge difference. Total cost $466, I'm happy.

 

Hows it going? you might try Just-Tires, i went with Dunlop Direzza's
about 105 a piece. if your going from runflats to regular tires i think
you'll like these tires also TireRack has a great website to compare
different brands good luck. so i see you got your tires good luck

 

I have an o3 Cooper with 175/65/15's that are looking to be replaced soon.
Suggestions on:
going to a larger wheel?
staying with the same wheel but going with a different size tire?

Hoping for a bit more stickiness in the handling department but have limited finances.

jayski
03 VR Cooper

 

Use the stock 15x5.5" rim and replace the stock tires with-
205/55-15 Ultra High Performance All season tires for best comfort and longer treadwear at a reasonable price.

Continental ContiExtremeContact for $82 each
400 treadwear A traction V speed rated
Kumho Ecsta ASX for $64 each
420 treadwear AA traction V speed rated

or
In the same size High Performance All season tires find-
Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S $126 each
400 treadwear A traction V speed rated (a very comfortable tire)
BF Goodrich Traction T/A V for $84 each on special
440 treadwear AA traction V speed rated
Yokohama Avid V4S $74 each
500 treadwear AA traction V speed rated
Bridgestone Potenza G009 $92 each
460 treadwear A traction H speed rated

For more info contact Alex@tirerack.com

 

Thanks for the above advice - can I ask you a couple of "split hairs" advice questions?

I am trading in my engine-troublesome 2007 MCS (2 fuel pumps!!) for a 2011 base Cooper and want to try and "bump up" its performance (acceleration + handling) while maintaining warranty at a reasonable price.

1. So I have ordered the light R81 (12 lbs.) wheels, and the sport suspension - no sunroof to save weight ( and I might do rear seat delete to save more weight).

2. I am buying a second set of 15" R81s ($200 used) for winter tires (Western MA , with some winter drives to Toronto & Montreal).

Note: On my 2007 MCS I have been using 195/55R16 Michelin X-Ice on some R83s, and in summer 215/50R16 Falken Ziex 912s on Konig Feathers (15lbs.). The X-Ices were "adequate" in bad snow/ice (my prior cars were WRXs with Michelin X-Ice) - I wished I had a narrower tire; the Falkens were NOT good in the wet (hydroplaning) and lots of torque steering issues with a hard start - great cornering on dry roads.

3. I am going to sell the OE tires, and my priorities for new tires are (in the $100/tire price range):

Winter: excellent safety in unexpected snow and ice, and pretty good handling when below 32F (which it is from December to March). So I am leaning towards Michelin X-Ice 185/60R15s - although they are about 1/2" wider than the stock 175/65R16 size - they are 2 lbs. lighter, and .3" shorter (tiny acceleration and COG lowering advantage) which I am hoping will up the winter nice weather performance driving a bit.

Summer: As I am more mature, I am actually thinking I would prefer better/safer traction in our fairly frequent heavy rains than absolute dry road performance (but I don't want a wimpy narrow tire, so am thinking about:

Yokohama S Drives in 195/55R16 - 2 lbs. lighter than 205's, and .7" shorter (so almost COG almost lowered 1/2" and small acceleration advantage) - and a 7" tread width, still fairly wide for handling, but perhaps better rain performance than the 205's at 7.4"

Note: I would actually love to get the 195/50R15s - 1.3" shorter (I can deal with the speedo error and slightly worse gas mileage) which I think would give me significantly better handling (lower) and acceleration - but I will probably get grief from the tire installers and dealer (not really wanting the hassle of swapping out the wheels every time I go in). Is this a totally crazy option?

Thanks in advance for your opinion!

ps. So two "implied" handling questions contained above:

1. Does a lower car that results from a shorter diameter tire, have the same effect (assumed same spring firmness) as lowering springs (e.g., springs that lower 1/2" - a 1" shorter tire diameter).
2. We see a lot of talk about "wheel" weight - not so much about tires - does the "2 lbs." that I am mentioning above make any significant difference? (I am assuming that the 12 lb. holies plus 19 lb. Yokos (so 31 lbs. total) would outperform the OE Bridgespokes (20 lbs.) with a 21 lb. tire (so 41 lbs.) - assuming that the tread width and sidewall height of the tire are the same.

 

I use 205/50-16 Dunlop Star Specs when autocrossing.

I use the 175/65-15 OEM Continental ContiPremiumContact 2 on the street. In combination with the sport suspension the balance is perfect and the car is sure footed in dry and wet.

You might want to spend some time driving yours before fixing something that isn't broken to begin with.

 

hmmm....

not sure which tires are coming with my base...All-Season I believe (sales worked off online build which does not specify)...

I am sceptical, but will see if I get the Continentals - thanks for head's up!

 

Summer tires are standard and the all-seasons have to be specified on the on-line build configurator. Surely the dealer knows which they ordered. My local dealer has two 2012's with holies. Both have the ContiPremiumContact 2's. However, some dealers in other regions seem to always specify all-season tires.

No matter what comes on the car it wouldn't hurt to ask the dealer to swap them for you. Especially if they configured it without asking what type of tire you want.