I have two sets of wheels- OEM 16s and OEM 15s. i am trying to come up with the best combo for the softest ride, year-round. Here are some possibillities:

Summer: ContiEcoContact: 175/65/15 (I already own these, they ride ok.)
Winter: ??? All season 215/50/16 (I would have to buy these tires)

OR:

Summer: ??? 215/50/16 Summer tire
Winter: ??? 175/65/15 All season tire

Any suggestions on which is a better plan, to optimize ride quality? (I have some back problems.) Or, ideally, if I could find a solution in one tire type, where I wouldn't have to change. But doesn't the all-season tire ride rougher than a summer tire?

Thanks for the help. I have a 2006 S, and I live in Eastern MD. We get only a little snow, but plenty of freezing weather.

 

What was your budget???

You have plenty of options.
Talk to Alex@tirerack.com to find out more about what sizes would be possible for both all season and summer tires.

I'd suggest one tire to do everything. For most people high quality All Season tires will do very well for street driving and give you all season use. Summer tires cannot be used safely in snow. They won't last as long either. Ride quality varies with the tire you choose- there is nothing lacking in All Season tires if you choose the right one.

Start with Ultra High Performance all season tires.
Bridgestone Potenza Pole Position RE960AS 400 treadwear, H speed rated
185/65-15 $74 each 24.4" tire diam. 20 lbs
195/60-15 $74 each 24.2" tire diam. 21 lbs
205/60-15 $78 each 24.7" tire diam. 23 lbs
205/55-16 $114 each 24.9" tire diam. 24 lbs
or
Yokohama ADVAN S.4. 400 treadwear W speed rated
205/55-16 $134 each 25" tire diam (bit large but will fit)

215/55-16 is not a size used for the MINI. At 25.3" tall it is one inch larger than stock and would barely fit and would throw off the speedo and odometer reading. It would show less miles traveled and lower road speed than true speed.

In Grand touring All Season (more comfort less performance)
Goodyear Eagle ResponsEdge
195/60-15 $92 each 24.2" tire diam. 440 tread rating
or
205/55-16 $108 each (a bit tall at 24.9" but will be OK)

Or
Bridgestone Turanza LS-V
205/55-15 $125 closeout each, 24" tire diam 400 treadwear

 

As far as continental tires are concerned.

Are you sure you have the ContiEcoContact EP (passenger All Season tire)
175/55-15 $87, T speed rated, 22.6" tire diam 15 lbs 300 treadwear
These are only available in limited sizes too small for the MINI. They are used for the Smart FourTwo.

More likely you have ContiTouring Contact CH95 which is standard for MINIs with 15x5.5" wheels. I have them too but they are very basic Grand Touring All Season tires.

For this brand the ContiProContact is a better tire in this class. 400 treadwear
195/60-15 $67 each
205/55-16 $88 each
But it's not like the Goodyear Eagle ResponsEdge which is much higher rated.

 

minihune- have you tried the RE960AS PP's yet?

kinda torn between those and the AvidW4's right now... probably going to
get the W4's for my MCS as winter tires (dry day only).

 

Thanks for the help, minihune. Yes, I am running ContiEcoContact3 tires. No, they are not all-season, they are summer tires, I believe.

I am really just interested in the ride quality. If I go to an all-season, from the summer tire- will I notice a decrease in the ride quality? In other words, will the ride get rougher?

 

Rougher ride from All Season tire alone? No.

That depends on which tire you choose of those in All Season.

There are rough riding Summer tires and rough riding All Season tires.

Rubber compound, tire design and tread patterns all are factors for ride quality.

 

Do you know of an all-season that rides as well as the ContiEcoContact3?

(Correction on my original post- I meant 215/50/16)

 

215/50-16 is not a common size for the MINI.
A search for tires in that size at tirerack.com shows no tires available.

So 205/55-16 is the best size and look at the tires in post #2 for choices that are comfortable-

Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS
and
Yokohama ADVAN S.4.

 

Thanks, I'll look into those.

The problem with the 205/55-16 is it has less sidewall than the OEM tire. I would rather go the other way, to get better ride.

 

While that might be a consideration the selection of 16" tires isn't that good.

You are much better off with 205/55-16. The 55 series sidewall works well on the MINI for street driving and the actual tire selected does the rest.

You get a better ride by both-
Selecting the right tire
and
Selecting the appropriate/available tire size for your rims and your suspension.

 

The Goodyear Eagle Responsedge is available in 205/50VR16 and that should give you an overall diameter of 24.07 inches which is pretty close to the 175/65-15 at 23.96 inches. These are my next tires! They show very high dry cornering ratings and have great reviews.