I'm interested to know if there is any rubbing with the stock suspension. I tried the Wheel & Tire forum, but they just seem to be arguing about Paulo Uber.

 

Using any stock 17x7 MINI rim and stock MINI supension from any year MCS from 2002 to 2007 there should be no problem with any rubbing when using any 215/45-17 tire.

Different story if you lower your MINI as the 215/45-17 is slightly taller than stock tires and also a little wider. Also using wider than stock rims or using wheels with less offset will risk rubbing usually in the rear against the inner plastic wheel wells.

Ignore the arguing about PU.:impatient

Tackle some real problems.

 

The wheels would be Center Line RPM 17x7 with a 42mm offset. I don't plan on lowering.

 

17X1? Awesome!

OK, joking aside, I used to run RPM's until they were stolen off of my car. They are AWESOME wheels.

 

Not sure how I manage that typo. 17x7, 42mm offset.

 

I have 17X7 et42 and 215/45/17s on my stock 07 MCS. No rubbing issues.
I also have 215/45/17 on 17X7 et45 wheels on my lowered 04 MCS. No rubbing there either.

 

Just switched from the 17" s-lites w/pirelli 205/45/17 runflats to 17" ASA wheels and 215/45/17 Avon M500's last week. No problems so far with rubbing, and an immediate improvement in ride comfort because the Avons aren't runflats. Went on a few twisties and the grip of the tires is good. Hope that helps. I wouldn't expect any problems with a 215/45/17 tire in fitting it on a mini.

 

Thanks all. So, do you see much improvement in handling with the 215 over 205? How about ride comfort and noise?

 

I'm curious - what would be a corresponding slightly larger tire in a 16" size?

 

I've seen alot of people go to a 205/50 size tire with 16" wheels instead of the stock 195/55/16 set up.

 

I have Centerline RPMs in 17x7 with 215/45-17. They didn't rub with stock suspension on my 2003 MCS. They did rub in the rear with H-sport springs that lowered my MINI about 1" front and rear. Rubbing happened with both Yokohama AVS ES100s and Bridgestone Potenza S-03 tires in that size.
The rubbing was only a little and wore down with use- both tire edge and inner plastic wore. Only rubbed with two passengers in the back and over roads with dips. No rubbing with only me driving and on smooth roads.



Centerline RPM 17x7 with H-sport springs on 2003 MCS.

Handling will vary with the specific tire you buy and it's performance class and design more than if you choose a specific size. Same with ride comfort and noise. You can choose tires that will give you the desired benefits in various sizes but there can be limits. Talk to Alex@tirerack for more info.

Slightly larger and wider tires in 16" size are common. Normally 205/50-16 works but some owners like 205/55-16 and that's fine for street use and stock suspension. You'll get a broader selection of tires to choose from than if you look only at 195/55-16.

 

I think you mentioned in another thread that you were going with-
Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 in 215/45-17. Tirerack.com has them in stock for $168 each. They are ultra High Performance Summer tires.
240 treadwear A traction W speed rated 22 pounds
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....lot+Exalto+PE2

Very good to excellent test results from tirerack-
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...ay.jsp?ttid=54
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...ay.jsp?ttid=54
Very good ride comfort, noise comfort, and handling under real road conditions. V. Good dry track handling and Excellent wet handling.

If you want a cheaper tire in the same class in the same size consider
General Exclaim UHP for $73 each. Good price!
380 Treadwear AA traction W speed rated 18 pounds
It gets good ratings overall for good street manners and better tread life.

Test show better road manners but not as much performance under dry or wet conditions.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...lay.jsp?ttid=4

Everything is a compromise (trading off one thing for another).

 

Thanks for the info. I did see the reviews and tests on tiretrack.com. Also, I have some Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S on an Integra and quite like them. Not sure how much difference there is between A/S and PE2, though. It is tough to figure out just which tires would be best.

 

When searching for tires-

Set a budget (some are up to $200 each).
Think about how long you want your tires to last- 1 year or up to about 3 years- that's being realistic given how hard some MINIs are driven.
Think about what you are using your tires for predominantly- Street only or a mix of performance driving: autocross, track, driving school, etc.
Do you have other goals: you want the tires to have a certain appearance for looks, car show, other reason.
You have a special tire size in mind or you have special requirements due to upgraded suspension parts: lowering springs, big brake kit, etc.

Tirerack.com has many good tires in various classes by many manufacturers, in various prices to suit different needs. Reviews are done by owners and can be bias but there are usually large numbers. Tests are done by tirerack at their facility using BMWs and tires of a representative size. It's hard to find good reviews for so many different tires from various auto sources.

While in general you do get what you pay for, some tires are quite good for lower price while others are very high priced and don't really offer that much more performance or wear.

Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S (High Performance All Season tire)
Doesn't come in sizes for the MINI 17" rim, closest is 205/50-17 ($166) but it's larger than stock at 25.2" or 225/45-17 ($160) at 25".
400 treadwear A traction H or V speed rated
Other good sizes for the MINI possible:
195/60-15 $89 H speed rated
205/55-15 $126 V speed rated
205/50-16 $163 V speed rated
205/55-16 $113 H speed rated, $135 special price V speed rated
H speed rated are OK for street use, not for track, V speed rated is designed to tolerate and function at higher speeds and higher operating temperatures.

Online tire survey (323 submissions).

Surveyed Averages
1 Rank within category

Wet
8.9 Hydroplaning resistance
9.0 Wet Traction
Dry
9.0 Cornering Stability
9.3 Dry Traction
9.0 Steering response
Winter
8.2 Light Snow traction
7.6 Deep Snow traction
7.6 Ice traction
Comfort
9.0 Ride comfort
8.6 Noise comfort
9.0 Treadwear

1,822,908 Total Miles reported

Would You Buy This Tire Again?
Most said: "Probably" (Average of 8.5 out of 10)

How Did This Tire Rank In Its Category?
1 out of 21 tires (Score of 8.7 vs best tire in category score of 8.7)

Ratings Key
Superior (8.6-10)
Fair (2.6-4.5)
Excellent (6.6-8.5)
Good (4.6-6.5)
Unacceptable (0-2.5)

Good test results-
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...ay.jsp?ttid=60
Good blend of road comfort with good dry and wet handling.
Can drive in some light snow.
It was compared to the Bridgestone Potenza RE950 and I had that tire on my Maxima, handled great in the wet, a very good tire that wore well and offered good everyday comfort and manners. And the RE950 is an Ultra High Performance All Season whereas the Pilot Exalto A/S is only a High Perf All Season tire.

Comparing the Pilot Exalto PE2 to the A/S-
They are different. PE2 comes in the stock MINI size for 17" wheels, A/S does not. PE2 is lighter by about 2 pounds (varies), wears much faster 240 treadwear vs 400 and cannot be used in the snow but does offer much better wet traction and higher levels of performance. 205/45-17 is $124 each but on back order. 215/45-17 is $168 in PE2.

For performance driving and general street use the Pilot Exalto PE2 is very good. Under wet conditions and no snow it excels. It has a premium price depending on which size you want.

The A/S isn't a good match for the MINI in 17" rim sizes but is workable in 15 or 16" wheels. For 17" rims I'd look at Ultra High Performance All Season tires.

Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS
400 treadwear AA traction W speed rated
205/40-17 $151 (has lower max load rating of 1102 pounds)
215/45-17 $131
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S
400 treadwear AA traction Y speed rated
205/50-17 $195
225/45-17 $178
Pirelli PZero Nero M+S
400 treadwear A traction W speed rated
205/40-17 $113
215/40-17 $117
215/45-17 $122
225/45-17 $129

For 17" MINI rims, for the cost and relative wear and performance
consider the PZero Nero M+S (common with MINI owners).
Good tests-
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...ay.jsp?ttid=52
Talk to or email Alex@tirerack.com for more info.

The Bridgestone RE960AS is pretty good as well.

 

Thanks for that.

Driving situation:
Twisty country roads of Carmel Valley and Big Sur, Hwy 101 to Los Angeles or San Jose, minimal real city driving. What I want from a tire is fun driving, safety (fast stopping, great handling), and as much comfort and little noise as possible given the previous requirements.

At this time, no track or slalom, but who knows... Haven't driven in snow in decades. I think the A/S were the best choice of Michelins available for my Integra at the time. I also probably thought A/S would be better in rain. We don't get much, if any, rain in summer, so I thought summer tires... All weather in California really means: brush fires, mud slides, and earthquakes.

I seem to recall posts with people saying that they were not happy with their PZeros. The come through the tirerack tests with somewhat lower numbers than the Exalto PE2s in handling.

Cornering Stability
PZero: 7.07
PE2: 7.36

Steering Response
PZero: 6.98
PE2: 7.10

Braking
PZero: 6.79
PE2: 7.09

Predictability
PZero: 7.05
PE2: 7.31

Overall Track
PZero: 6.97
PE2: 7.22

Handling
PZero: 7.37
PE2: 7.32

Not quite sure how the PZero came out ahead in handling when the PE2 beat it in the other handling categories.

Looks like the Pirelli does better in comfort and noise.

Comfort
PZero: 6.85
PE2: 6.80

Noise
PZero: 7.10
PE2: 6.73

Overall Road Rating
PZero: 6.97
PE2: 6.95

 

Robin,

OK, I think you will like the better handling Ultra High performance summer tires over the longer wearing UHP All Season tires. They are designed with compromises in opposite directions with some overlap. Summer tires will wear faster but handle really well, you can make them last longer by getting alignment once yearly, rotating tires, and checking tire pressures each week. On directional tires you can even flip tires- dismount and remount on the opposite side of the car to make good use of inner vs outer treads. Stock alignment lacks enough front negative camber so wear is usually on the outer front edges with any sort of aggressive driving.

I used to buy tires that last a very long time but that was for sedate family cars or minivans. By the time 4 to 5 years pasts the tire rubber gets all old and hard, this increases ride noise and harshness and decreases handling and safety. Now I buy tires with plans to replace them in about three years and I get fresh tires which are vastly better than worn out tires with some tread left.

For your situation
PE2 in 215/45-17 is certainly possible.
General Exclaim UHP is also possible, trading better lower price for some loss of handling, longer treadlife and some increase in comfort.

Then the next step up the performance ladder would be-
Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 (Max Performance Summer tire)
205/40-17 $79 closeout 20 lbs. Very low max load rating of 992 pounds, Not for the MINI for street use.
205/40-17 $125 max load rating 1021 pounds, 22 lbs each W speed rated
215/40-17 $152 max load rating 1074 pounds, 19 lbs each Y speed rated
215/45-17 $132 max load rating 1356 pounds, 22 lbs each Y speed rated
225/45-17 $177 max load rating 1356 pounds, 23 lbs each W speed rated
225/45-17 $149 max load rating 1477 pounds, 24 lbs each Y speed rated
280 treadwear AA traction
W speed rated is better than Y for performance applications but most drivers will do fine with a Y rated tire.

Personally I prefer the Max Performance class for the great handling in dry or wet with reasonable comfort. I'd pick 215/45-17 for street driving and these are special prices. Best part is your MINI is capable of using the "Max performance" designed into the GS-D3. If you have time try going to any Goodyear store near you and waltz in and ask about the GS-D3 and see what the staff has to say about that tire (note the retail price too!). Prices vary so don't wait too long if you want it.

 

I just realized the A/S was for All Season. I don't want All Season. This is California, we don't have seasons -- unless you count the fire season and the mudslide season.

I've been looking at the test data at tirerack.com on the:
Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3
Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2

The track data is very close. In the slalom they are within < 0.02 seconds of each other in wet and dry.

On the track, the GS-D3 beats the PE2 by 0.17 sec in the dry and 0.35 seconds in the wet.

Based on the times of the Eagle RS-A (the benchmark comparison tire) it looks like the track and slalom were giving better times during the GS-D3 run. So, to my mind, these tires are really too close to worry about the differences in actual track data.

In Braking, the GS-D3 seems to win by 1.3 ft., in spite of the conditions seeming to be more favorable on the Michelin run.

The PE2 beats the GS-D3 by 0.01 g-Force in the dry, and the GS-D3 wins in the wet by 0.02. However, R2-D2...

The interesting thing is that the subjective tests have a larger variation. The Goodyear clearly wins in handling and the Michelin gets higher points in comfort and noise. The overall rating favors the Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2. I'm still leaning towards the Michelin.

 

The Goodyears seem to be the clear winner ...

 

How so?

"We're sorry. There has been an error. Please start again by selecting your vehicle make and year."

 

For street use the two are close.
In 215/45-17
GS-D3 for $132 each 280 treadwear AA traction
PE2 for $168 each 240 treadwear A traction

Your choice. Both would work ok.

A/S or A&S or M+S or M&S are often designations for all season tires.
True you don't have much in terms of seasons but the reason for choosing all season tires is for slightly longer tread life and slightly more comfort for daily driving. Your individual results will vary with which tire you choose, what size tire and how your drive.

For street driving all season tires of high quality are fine but you can reach the limit with very aggressive driving/ high speed cornering. If you do track events then the Goodyear GS-D3 would be a good choice. This doesn't mean you cannot drive well on the track with all season tires, you can but they might not tolerate it as well (they might be really worn).

 

Edited my preivous post to show snapshot of tire comparison.

 

The subjective owner data does favor the GS-D3. I like the lower price.

The tests are done at different times with different sets of comparison tires. While you can generally compare the raw times it's not a head to head comparison. You have to put them both on the track in the same car in the same size with the same drivers evaluating and scoring them under the same conditions. You can get a relative idea of how good the tires are based on the tests with respect to the other tires being tested. You can ask Alex@tirerack.com about the validity of comparing the numbers.

Both tires are good. I would think that in a head to head comparison the GS-D3 would have a slight edge especially so in wet conditions. Also sometimes the tires are not both available in the same size, so you'd pick one tire based on the limitation of one size over another. Not true in this case but it is a factor sometimes.

See if you can find any MINI owners in your area that have either tire on their car and go for a ride.

 

The subjective owner data does favor the GS-D3. I like the lower price.

The tests are done at different times with different sets of comparison tires. While you can generally compare the raw times it's not a head to head comparison. You have to put them both on the track in the same car in the same size with the same drivers evaluating and scoring them under the same conditions. You can get a relative idea of how good the tires are based on the tests with respect to the other tires being tested. You can ask Alex@tirerack.com about the validity of comparing the numbers.

Both tires are good. I would think that in a head to head comparison the GS-D3 would have a slight edge. Also sometimes the tires are not both available in the same size, so you'd pick one tire based on the limitation of one size over another. Not true in this case but it is a factor sometimes.
Two GS-D3 tests done at different times (different cars)
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...ay.jsp?ttid=45
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...ay.jsp?ttid=50

See if you can find any MINI owners in your area that have either tire on their car and go for a ride.

 

I've sent a message to Alex.

I hear that there isn't much profit in Michelins. That could factor into a dealer's recommendations.

I have difficulty putting much faith in the user survey data. I suspect few of them have any kind of reference point. At least the more recent test data uses an Eagle RS-A as a comparison standard. However, the subject part of the tests puzzles me because it does not seem to match the objective numbers.

I may have to toss a coin...

 

$144 difference in price for a set of 4 is a lot of coin