I have a new 2024 F55 and am not all that happy with the stock Hankook Optimo run flat tires (205/45ZR17XL) - to me, they are harsh and transmit a ton of vibration from the road. I am considering either the Conti ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus or BF-Goodrich g-Force Comp-2 A/S Plus.

I know the Contis are a good choice, anyone have experience with the BF-Gs?

Scott
2024 F55 S "Big D"
2024 F60 A All4 "Vi"

 

On my '22 JCW Hardtop I replaced my Hankook 205/45-17 runflats with Continental DWS 06+ 215/45-17 non runflats. The new tires are better in ride and handling( especially in the rain). I had about 27,000 miles on the Hankooks and made the switch this Winter. Absolutely no regrets.

 

So you bumped from 205 to 215. Any issues with rubbing or anything else I should be aware of if I make the change?

 

I don't have any issues. I kept the stock wheels and no spacers. The tires have a slighter larger radius but the speedo still reads about 1-2 mph high( 3+ before). I played around with tire pressures but found I just left them the same as before, 39front, 34 rear.

 

Interesting report. My 2017 F56 S, which I bought used (one prior owner) had Bridgestone DriveGuard (not the Plus model) 205/45R17 runflats on them at purchase time and I described them the same way you describe your Hankook runflats of the same size: harsh and transmitting a ton of vibration from the road. Additionally, they took potholes horribly. I burned through a set -- fast and expensively -- from what I would have called minor pothole impacts as compared to my other not-MINI vehicle. Pothole = sidewall bulge = replace tire = $$$.

I switched to Bridgestone DriveGuard Plus runflats in the 205/50R17 size on the guidance of a very strong tire/wheel shop I have been with since the aughts. Improvement was mind-blowing, and no issues with rubbing. The additional sidewall makes a clear difference. How much improvement is due to the move to the Plus from the non-Plus I don't know, since I made the model change at the same time as the size change. But the size change is a no-brainer.

 

Interesting. When I bought the F55 the dealer replaced one tire because as I was inspecting, I noticed a bulge. The car was a loaner and had just shy of 5,000 mi. I had an R56 I bought used and the first thing I did was new tires (and not run flats). The F55 just rides like **** in comparison and I know it is the tires that are the issue. I'll have to talk to my local tire guys and see what they think about going slightly bigger - makes sense from what I'm reading!

 

Definitely going bigger -- even by the minor amount from 205/45 to 205/50 -- is worth conversation. It was literally the first thing my shop suggested and I was skeptical, but the difference has been major. And I would similarly say that my old 205/45R17s "just rode like ****". Seriously, it was so bad that I was thinking I had suspension problems too. May as well have been driving on tires made of rock.

I actually wound up switching recently (and temporarily) to a different model of 205/50R17 runflat for 2 tires (the Driveguard Plus was out of stock and I was running out of tread). Not a giant fan of the new pair because I find something about them not quite as smooth, if you will, but they are definitely neither harsh nor fragile like the old 205/45R17s.

My takeaway is that so long as you choose a tire with good qualities -- whether runflat or not -- getting more sidewall than a 205/45R17 provides will provide discernible improvement. I was ready to bring my tire shop a thank you cake for recommending the upsize.

Corollary takeaway: low profile runflats = yeahno, and that makes sense. And probably not just on the Mini.