[Garry]

What do you think of the 205/45 tyres on the 17" wheels...

1. Are they wide enough for the 7" wide rims?

2. Do you think that the tyre profile is too low?

3. Is the tyre gripping enough in the wet?

4. Should larger tyres have been fitted to limit the risk of kerbing or pothole damage to the rims?

5. Is the car capable of taking larger size tyres?

Interested to know peoples opinions...

[KarmanS]

Quote:

Originally posted by Garry
What do you think of the 205/45 tyres on the 17" wheels...

1. Are they wide enough for the 7" wide rims?

2. Do you think that the tyre profile is too low?

3. Is the tyre gripping enough in the wet?

4. Should larger tyres have been fitted to limit the risk of kerbing or pothole damage to the rims?

5. Is the car capable of taking larger size tyres?

Interested to know peoples opinions...

1. Not sure if they are wide enough, but it's wider than the 15 and 16" rims so I suppose it will give some more grip. Personally, 205mm on a 17" rim seems a little too narrow to me... got to give it some wider tires (215 at least I feel...) to match its aggressive stance

2. The tyre profile is definitley too low considering the wheels are at the furthest ends of the car. Curbing will be an issue, but the car is small enough that it allows us to park conservately and leave adequate space from the curb.

3. not sure, have not tested one...

4. Could always go for the 16" rims instead with the higher profile tyres, but I love the look of the 17" rims.

5. AFAIK, equipped with a 17" rim, there is already minimal space between the wheel arch and the tyre. If fitted, I feel that the 'thicker' tyre may be prone to scrapping the wheel arh. However, one should go for the 16" rims if they worry about such problems.

My $0.02

[Llama]

I presume that chunkier tyres could be fitted as I've seen a Silver Cooper knocking about in Oldham with 18" wheels (not BMW) fitted.

However the advert that I saw for these wheels myself in EVO mag some time ago did say that there was a small suspension mod to perform in order to fit these so my assumption would be that this may need to be carried out for larger tyres on 17" rims.

[Red & White Cooper 2]

Robin Ford who was on the Mini design team said the following in CAR magazine:

We had to re-write the rule book on tyre and component clearances. In fact we threw the rule book away. There's meant to be 15mm clearance for tyres. Now there's actually a benign foul in extreem circumstances. ... the 17" wheels on the Cooper S were a nightmare to accommodate. I think the sweetest-handling Mini was one with the smallest tyres - it's a pity the run-flat tyres were added late in the day.

[Garfield]

Is that the full quote? Will a 225/45R17 squeeze in there? Nevermind that it's a taller diameter by .5 inches.

[Red & White Cooper 2]

The quote I've given includes all the relevant information on tyres. Although the article was a background article on the Mini I thought the comments relevant to those considering fitting larger than standard tyres, particularly to the 17" wheel.

If the original question concerns a Cooper, I am amazed that when the 16" wheels are considered adequate for the Cooper S, that anyone is thinking about fitting larger than standard 17" tyres to a Cooper.

[MadMiniManiac]

The mini has tons of grip and handling finesse, adding wider tyres will increase grip but only at the expense of the much acclaimed handling.

[Llama]

Makes me wonder though what tyres are on the Cooper near me with 18" wheels on, I'm intreagued...

Might leave a note on the car as I don't want to go looking dodgey snooping around the car without permission!

Anyone interested in knowing if I find out?

[MINIAC]

Quote:

Originally posted by Llama
Makes me wonder though what tyres are on the Cooper near me with 18" wheels on, I'm intreagued...

Might leave a note on the car as I don't want to go looking dodgey snooping around the car without permission!

Anyone interested in knowing if I find out?

18" wheels would most likely be fitted with 225/35 or 235/35 tires ... which means only 78.75mm (3.10") or 82.25mm (3.24") of sidewall

[Llama]

Don't forget that a suspension mod is needed for 18's though.

[MGB Boy]

On a more fundamental level, what particular brand/model are the tires? I presume they are different in the U.S. vs. other countries, correct? From squinting at some of the NAIAS pics, it appears the 16" tires are Goodyear Eagle NCTs...

-Ricardo

[KarmanS]

Quote:

Originally posted by MGB Boy
On a more fundamental level, what particular brand/model are the tires? I presume they are different in the U.S. vs. other countries, correct? From squinting at some of the NAIAS pics, it appears the 16" tires are Goodyear Eagle NCTs...
-Ricardo

From seeing the Cooper S in HK, I noticed the tires for the 17" rims are Dunlop SP Sport 9000 DSST. They are available in the states. Looking at Tirerack, I've noticed that they don't sell the sizes the MINI will wear. I assume they will carry them sooner or later since they are one of the largest online tire vendors out there.

Here is Tirerack's description of the tire: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/dunlop/du_s9000dsst.jsp

[JV]

I should have paid more attention, but the 17" tyres on my MINI (fitted as standard on the S-spokes) are Pirelli - I have no idea which exact tyre though - I'll have a look tonight if nobody beats me to it.

[LMB]

Quote:

Originally posted by Garry
What do you think of the 205/45 tyres on the 17" wheels...

1. Are they wide enough for the 7" wide rims?

2. Do you think that the tyre profile is too low?

3. Is the tyre gripping enough in the wet?

4. Should larger tyres have been fitted to limit the risk of kerbing or pothole damage to the rims?

5. Is the car capable of taking larger size tyres?

Interested to know peoples opinions...

Since you have got them, I would like your opinion

I will tell you mine tomorrow

LMB

[Garry]

My opinions on the 17" Pirelli tyres:

1. I would like the tyres to be wider - 215 or 225. The sidewall just protrudes from the rim with a large beading that is part of the run flat system. The rims are exposed to potential kerbing due to the 'narrow' 205 tyres.

2. The 45 series profile adds to the potential for rim damage. Again wider tyes may help, or a 50 or 55 series tyre.

3. The tyres grip well in the wet. It has rained in Bristol for the last couple of weeks no slips or loss of traction. Little road noise.

4. The wheels are a great design. Larger tyres may provide additional protection from wear and tear.

5. Don't know if larger tyres could be fitted.

In summary, great wheels but owners should take into account the use the car will get. If prone to country lanes, rough roads or city kerbs be careful.

Hope this helps!

[LMB]

Quote:

Originally posted by Garry
My opinions on the 17" Pirelli tyres:

1. I would like the tyres to be wider - 215 or 225. The sidewall just protrudes from the rim with a large beading that is part of the run flat system. The rims are exposed to potential kerbing due to the 'narrow' 205 tyres.

2. The 45 series profile adds to the potential for rim damage. Again wider tyes may help, or a 50 or 55 series tyre.

3. The tyres grip well in the wet. It has rained in Bristol for the last couple of weeks no slips or loss of traction. Little road noise.

4. The wheels are a great design. Larger tyres may provide additional protection from wear and tear.

5. Don't know if larger tyres could be fitted.

In summary, great wheels but owners should take into account the use the car will get. If prone to country lanes, rough roads or city kerbs be careful.

Hope this helps!

Now that I am in a position to comment I agree with everything you say

We are just going to have to be VERY careful

But don't they look the business

LMB

[MGB Boy]

Hmmm, Dunlop in HK, Pirelli in UK. I stumbled onto this press release this afternoon...

-Ricardo


Wednesday January 23, 11:00 am Eastern Time

Press Release

SOURCE: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

New Minis Arrive on Goodyear Eagle Run-flat Tires

AKRON, Ohio, Jan. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Goodyear run-flat tires have arrived in America on the most British of motorcars -- the 2003 Mini.

The Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S cars, now made by BMW, are due in the States in March. The original British-made Mini hasn't been sold here since the early 1960s.

Goodyear Eagle NCT 5 EMT run-flat tires, manufactured in Fulda, Germany, are a summer-tire option on all Minis coming to America.

Byron Meyer, original equipment consumer marketing manager, said today that only V-speed-rated (certified for speeds up to 150 mph) versions of the 195/55R16 run-flat tire are approved for Minis coming here.

Meyer said Goodyear all-season run-flat tires, available in 16- and 17- inch wheel diameters, are in development in Fulda and Lawton, Okla.

Goodyear extended mobility technology allows high-performance tires -- on standard wheels -- to run without air fully loaded for up to 80 miles at speeds up to 50 mph. A tire-pressure monitoring system is standard equipment.

The run-flat tire's strength is derived from a sophisticated reinforced flank. When inflation pressure is lost, the reinforcements prevent the tire from leaving the rim and avoid any noticeable loss of handling, comfort and safety, Meyer said.

"You shouldn't see any Mini Coopers stranded along the road in America with a flat tire," he said. "Motorists, riding on Goodyear run-flat tires, will continue on their way until they can have the tire inspected."

Minis wearing run-flat tires come without spare tires. An all-season conventional tire, yet to be approved, will require a spare in the trunk.

Meyer said, "Goodyear is excited to have its highly visible run-flat tire technology on an equally high-visibility car. The new Mini evokes images of a swinging London back in the 1960s, but if you look beyond its cute-as-a-button looks, you'll see a modern BMW."

BMW now owns Mini, and German engineers designed this reincarnation.

"To understand the attraction this car will have to so many people, it's important to look back at its roots," Meyer said. "And in the case of the Mini Cooper, BMW stayed true to its roots."

The original Mini, introduced in 1959, sold 5.3 million cars in 41 years. But that's not the whole story. The miniskirt was named after the car. And the Queen knighted the first Mini designer.

Unmistakably Mini, the new Mini Cooper and its supercharged Cooper S retain its classic appearance while adding interior space and modern engineering, down to its run-flat tires.

To add fuel to the fire, BMW makes the Mini affordable. The base 115-hp Mini Cooper will retail for $16,850 including destination charges, while the 163-hp Mini Cooper S will sticker at $19,850.

Goodyear already is the world's leading manufacturer of run-flat tires, with applications on the Chevrolet Corvette, Chrysler Prowler and BMW sports cars.

"We're finding that specifically tuning run-flat tires on new exciting cars, such as the Mini Cooper, is the best way to increase run-flat applications," Meyer said. "Watch for more fitments down the road."

[paddlefoot]

Hey guys

For those of you who have the 17" wheels on your cars - has anyone got the drift/pull issue reported elsewhere? Or do they find the car tramlines more than usual?

The reason I ask is I would like 17's on my S but having had a Rover Mini on 13" wheels - the tracking/alignment/pulling hassles are a hell of a lot worse than on "standard" 12" wheels. I realise that it's a completely different car, but I'm now paranoid about big wheels on small cars and the "style over substance" issue that have risen with my old Mini.

If this reply is not "good", please forgive me - this is my first one

[Garry]

Here is some Pirelli information on the following web link.

http://www.uk.pirelli.com/en_GB/news... Master=200007

Cheers

[snoopy]

Some people have been asking about 225 on a 17". Well I have seen one of the coopers that are done up for the MEL GP with 225. May be some photos posted soon.