Poor grip from 16" Goodyear runflats? - MINI Cooper Forum

Sirobbo · #1 (**permalink**) Dec 29th, 2001, 07:49 PM

Is it me or has anybody else noticed the very poor grip that the factory fit 16" Goodyear tyres produce in the wet?

I was driving around Wolverhampton on the 27th, the temperature according to the computer was 7 degrees celcius and the roads were damp but not wet. Pulling away from a roundabout the car was struggling for grip, now I`m not blowing my trumpet here but my Cooper is the least powerful car I`ve owned for the last ten or so years and the traction was apalling!

I can only put this down to the tyres. Has anybody swapped the Goodyears for proper performance tyres?

The last Golf I had was a 170bhp V5 fitted with Toyo Proxes T1-S, they were fantastic wet or dry and I`m seriously thinking of keeping my runflats in good nick for resale time and putting some quality rubber on the car, any thoughts?

LMB · #2 (**permalink**) Dec 30th, 2001, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sirobbo
last Golf I had was a 170bhp V5 fitted with Toyo Proxes T1-S, they were fantastic wet or dry and I`m seriously thinking of keeping my runflats in good nick for resale time and putting some quality rubber on the car, any thoughts?

Should have got ASC+T

Seriously though, you are comparing the Mini to your Golf V5, but didn't it have traction control? My dad drives a Golf GTi 1.8T and it has it as standard, so I would have the V5 would have had traction control as well.

LMB

Dom · #3 (**permalink**) Dec 30th, 2001, 07:14 AM

I find that they're quite good in the wet and dry, but then, i got traction control...

On a more helpful note, I'd recommend splashing out on eagle F1's and changing them ever 6000 miles

No wait, that wasn't really all that helpful either...

back to bed...

Dom

zoooooom · #4 (**permalink**) Dec 30th, 2001, 08:34 AM

I have 16" Goodyear's
I sold my 350 BHP 4 wheel drive Pulsar GTI-R for the MINI
so I know about performace and power to weight ratio's
There's nothing wrong with Goodyear's
I do not have traction control
I do not have a complaint about the grip from these Tyres
I do drive this car hard.
Maybe you should wear trainers instead of big boots
Problem solved,and a lot cheeper than new Tyres.

Sirobbo · #5 (**permalink**) Dec 30th, 2001, 08:59 AM

My Golf did have traction control, as did the Golf 1.8T, Corrado VR6 and Golf VR6 that preceeded it. I did not pull away with too much power, but the tyres were **** poor.

I never needed the traction on the VW`s so didn`t bother getting the ACS-T on the Mini. I still don`t think the car was at fault.

Zooom, was not wearing big boots, maybe boots are required in Scotland in your persuit of your next wooly date

but in the West Midlands we leave sheep to the dinner table.

zoooooom · #6 (**permalink**) Dec 30th, 2001, 09:31 AM

you leave the sheep at the dinner table while you do what excactly?

Just a thought have you checked the tyre pressures?

Sirobbo · #7 (**permalink**) Dec 30th, 2001, 10:05 AM

Yep,

Tyre pressures correct, perhaps it was just a very greasy road surface, I`ll go and experiment next time it`s wet.

Happy hogmany!!

zoooooom · #8 (**permalink**) Dec 30th, 2001, 10:12 AM

I take it you are very bored or its not snowing where you are before you went out and checked your tyre already?
check out MINI's in the snow I took that photo today.
I should have done it Friday cos it was realy bad then so I had to slum it in the Shogun.

Basil · #9 (**permalink**) Dec 30th, 2001, 11:52 PM

Are there any problems associated with fitting NON run-flat tyres to the rims ?

Anything in the handbook about that I wonder ?

lightbody · #10 (**permalink**) Dec 31st, 2001, 07:15 AM

Does anyone think like I do that the drive by wire throttle pedal makes it more difficult to accelerate away from a standstill rapidly without wheelspin?

It seems really tricky, compared to other cars of similar size/power/weight. It just seems hard to guage how much power you've asked for - i've ended up doing 6000rpm with wheelspin by mistake - never done that before... roads are very greasy though

Root Ginger · #11 (**permalink**) Dec 31st, 2001, 09:43 AM

I wonder if grip problems was why they swapped to 16" Dunlop runflats not that long after launch? I have no probs with my Dunlops.

As for throttle problems it depends what you were driving before.

Throttle in the MINI is sensitive much like the throttle in the old Mini. I find most modern cars have very unresponsive throttles requiring a large degree of movement for even MINImum(!)throttle input.

Also because there is no cable, MINI get's round the problem of having to take up the slack of the cable before there is any throttle input. Try putting the lightest pressure you can on the throttle pedal and you will find it will rev up slightly. Now try this on a cable operated throttle. You'll find nothing happens until the slack is taken up.

If you're used to a different car that might be why you're having a problem. The throttle is perfect for me.

Dom · #12 (**permalink**) Dec 31st, 2001, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ginge
I wonder if grip problems was why they swapped to 16" Dunlop runflats not that long after launch? I have no probs with my Dunlops.

I've got a November build Cooper and I don't have 16" Dunlop runflats - I got the Goodyears. Which I'm more than happy with

Dom

Root Ginger · #13 (**permalink**) Dec 31st, 2001, 10:05 AM

Mine was late Nov. They must of changed them around this time then. At first I thought they'd fitted non run flat tyres but on closer inspection found they had a big section of writing explaining how you had to have a tyre deflation monitor fitted, don't exceed 50 mph etc etc.

Dom · #14 (**permalink**) Dec 31st, 2001, 10:10 AM

perhaps they were changed due to supply problems???

I know there was a big delay for other customers before I got mine (which came a week early!)

Dom

Root Ginger · #15 (**permalink**) Dec 31st, 2001, 10:12 AM

Hmm dunno. Mine arrived early but I got it late because of the Works conversion.

The question is has anyone with a later Dec build got Dunlops or Good Years?