Tires, Wheels, & Brakes Discussion about wheels, tires, and brakes for the new MINI.

Best 17" Runflats?

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Old 03-06-2004, 01:11 PM
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I don't believe I've seen this topic covered at all (or at least in some time)... What are folks' opinions on the best all-season runflat and also the best performance runflat; both in 17" to fit the stock 17" SLites?

I just changed over from my winter tires (15" Blizzaks) and realize that I need new tires! I've been considering switching to a non-runflat and chancing it on the no spare situation...but before making that move, I figured I'd ask here for people's opinions on replacement runflats. What do you have, and why?
 
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Old 03-06-2004, 07:45 PM
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I'm in the same boat. I need new tires and would like to switch to non-runflats but don't feel comfortable doing so. I am on the road a LOT ( my Gary is a little over a year old and has 50K miles!) and most of that is in rural areas. I had to replace one tire already due to road gators and it was difficult to say the least. No dealers in Chattanooga carry the Pirelli euforis...so I'm very interested in what others can suggest! Thanks for your help.
 
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Old 03-06-2004, 11:15 PM
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I don't think there are too many choices... the SP9000 DSST that i use
which came on my R90's are pretty good. Its not harsh as some
might put it, not terribly noisy considering its a performance tire.
It's got very good grip (factory suspension) and I take my mcs
through the turns very fast with predictable control.

con's are that it tends to flat spot easily (tire memory) and they
are VERY HEAVY tires vs other performance non r/f tires. I don't
see myself replacing the wheel with r/f tires after the SP9000DSST's
are worn out.
 
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Old 03-06-2004, 11:46 PM
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However, having had both the Pirelli and Dunlop runflats, I preferred the Pirelli's. My driving style and twisty local roads make it hard for me to go much more than 10K on a daily driven street performance tire.

But if I had to buy new tires, I would definitely not buy runflats if performance was more important to me than convenience.
 
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Old 03-07-2004, 12:21 AM
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I think most of us are trying not to keep the runflats so we have the opposite problem.
You might try calling Alex@tirerack for an opinion but the choices are very limited.

I drove my Pirellis with S-lytes and thought that they were OK on performance, nothing that good, very heavy, very harsh riding in 17" size and very very very expensive to replace compared to non runflats.

I have a set of R90s with Dunlop sport 9000 tires but they are just sitting in storage because I have Yokohama ES100 215/45-17 tires on light rims to Motor in.
 
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Old 03-07-2004, 12:54 AM
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A great source for replacement run-flats is to keep your eye out in the marketplace forum for someone who is buying a new MINI and immediately installing new wheels/tires.

For example, I just purchased a set of 16" OEM wheels AND performance runflats with 200 miles on them for $400 (less than the cost of 2 new tires). I bought the set just for the wheels and am just about giving the basically new tires to a friend, as the wheels will soon be dedicated race tires.

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Old 04-25-2004, 08:01 AM
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hmmm, I was looking at prices on replacing my 17" dunlops with the same, and was astounded, 238 a tire!!

So, I began lookin at these with Falken Ziex ZE-512 tires. Though, I may also go with the wheels from edgeracing, and the tires from tirerack (cause I think they have a bigger selection of tires, just not the wheels I like). Has anyone heard anything or seen these wheels on a MINI, or know anything about those tires?

Now, I would be a little worried to say the least about road hazards causing me to lose a tire. I have seen cars on the side of the turnpike with shredded tires, and I would feel SOL if I had no spare.

Now the question, would Runflats save me from a total blow-out condition? If not, then I really can't see the benefit of runflat tires, when a 7$ can of fix a flat would do the same thing!
 
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Old 04-25-2004, 12:26 PM
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The 512's are really nice all season tires. They are pretty much a bench mark
in the sportcompact car community for all-seasons. :smile: The ST115's are another
good choice for quiet ride...they are being used by stereo fanatics.

I believe the runflats will save you from a complete blow-out condition as
it really can't blow-out on its own (from low air pressure). It will need to take
a huge beating from road hazard to blow it out completely. The only thing
that will save you then is a spare. fix-a-flat will not fix it.

I don't plan on buying runflats when my DSST SP9000's wear out... I'll
probably look into Spec2's, ES100's or the 512's...something in 205/45/17
size.

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Old 04-25-2004, 03:21 PM
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Actually, moved over to the yokohamas, the parada or the AVS es100, working on deciding which way to go.
 
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