Countryman suspension & Potholes = ouch

[Lewes4th]

Bought Countyman S All4 with optional "sport suspension". While it handles very nice on highway, the suspension is simply awful with big-city potholes. Attempt to avoid, but when I do hit a pothole my teeth almost loose their fillings. The car practically bottoms out and I'm surprised I haven't blown a tire or bent an alloy wheel yet. Perhaps its the nature of the beast, but any suggestions for giving it more of a forgiving "bounce" without totally revamping the suspension? Thanks.

[MINIAC]

If your car has run flat tires that will contribute a lot to harshness.

It's best to avoid potholes

[chromelover]

Happy with the ride in my Countryman personally, but I don't have runflats. That said, i'm comparing it to my last car (a Fiat 500) which, in comparison, was like riding one of those kids bikes with solid rubber tyres!

[Lewes4th]

Yep - it has the Pirelli Cinturato 205/55 R17 Run Flat tires. New tire suggestions ? thanks

[marmite66]

I drove an SD Countryman on 19s with sports suspension this afternoon and it nearly had my fillings out too. Already drove it on the std 17s and it was better for sure and that was on runflats. Wheel size clearly pays a big part too. But look at non-runflats too, they made a huge difference to my Cooper S Clubman

[Dlanod]

I have a Cooper S All 4 with Bridgestone Dueller HP sport 18" run flats and it's pretty bumpy over potholes. Standard suspension too. Not as bad as an A3 S Line I had a few years back though- and it didn't have run flats.

[JK's Mini]

Folks, I just had to replace one of those Pirelli runflats after getting a screw in it....£234!
Never mind the price (which was the cheapest at the time) but getting your hands on one of them was difficult! There was only 1 in the city I live in and it would have been a 2-3 day wait otherwise!

[JudgeS]

Runflats make it much worse.

[bensidewalker]

I have runflats (18s I think? I got the cheapest alloy upgrade) and standard suspension and I think it handles quite well! Definitely much better than my previous convertible MINI, even with the 3 GTT strut braces I had on it!

[jinh9222]

2011 countryman S All4 drive,

like most comments said, the ride gets really bumpy on uneven roads. and the suspension feels really stiff. But the worst part is that I ran over an Pothole on the freeway, when I got home the right front and rear tire were damage with lumps on the side of the tire. The tire were so NEW and on back order I waited two weeks. Then I went to get an alignment at Mini dealership, i was told both the struts were damage. I brought the car to the body shop for repair last friday, ( this is really funny) the struts are also on back order. I'm waiting another two weeks to have it FIX!.

To all my fellow MINI runflats tires be aware of the potholes they are dangerous !!