Did you know that in early Spring, Bridgestone does a $100 off if you buy 4 S-03s. That's what I did thru Tire Rack last year and was told that Bridgestone pretty much do that offer every year (I saw they did it again this year). At least that puts them down to the price of the Goodyears.
I've been very happy with the tires...especially in the wet.
So the question is where the yokos fall into that lineup as far as grip is concerned.
It's hard to rely on recommendations and what you read in the forums. Most people have only used one other tire over stock, and they are all such an improvement over the stock runflats that everything gets great reports. People like jason, and ian's recent experiences with all-seasons, are really the only way to compare one to the next. So please, jason, try out a few more tire models for us.
No no, NoNo--I don't really want you doing that. The thought had just crossed my mind.
I agree... I switched from runflats to Toyo Proxes T1-S and they are great... but I have no idea how good they really are compared to other tires. I would like to know, but without spending a fafillion dollars on tires every year.
Back from the Farmer's Market. Quaint, but not much there. Lots of plants and produce. I did get some soaps that I'll share with mom and some jerky. There's never a bad time for jerky. They had all different kinds, all organic, farm-raised, blah blah. I went with some terriyaki and buffalo. Then I realized that I can probably expense it. Jerky's food. I have to eat. That makes me happy. They ship anywhere in the country. Johnson's Smokehouse in case anyone's interested.
I've now worn out a set of S-03's and a set of G-Force T/A's on the MINI. I've also watched tire wear on a couple other MINIs with the Goodyears. These tires are all good choices, and it comes down to a matter of budget and performance preference mostly.
The S-03's seemed to have good overall tread life but were less sticky that other tires. The S-03's do behave very predictably at the limit even when worn out and when wet. The tread design is getting a bit dated however. I had these on a BMW for a while before the MINI. I preferred the Michelin Pilot Cup Sports to the S-03's on the BMW, but the Michelins are even more expensive.
The G-Force T/A's are a bargain -- about half what the S-03's cost. They also delivered much better dry and wet traction than the S-03's, and have a higher "fun" factor (e.g., controlled sliding is much more easily acheived with the T/As) at the limit. They did not last as long as the S-03's however. The G-Forces were a much smoother and comfortable ride on the highway than the S-03s.
From the sidelines, the Goodyears seem to hold up better than both the S-03's and the G-force T/A. Both the other One Lap MINIs were riding on the Goodyears and after 6000 highway miles and 8 track events the Goodyears were still looking almost new. These might be my choice to replace the T/As.
I have not run Proxes but I have never heard anyone say anything bad about them.
G-Force Sports are half of S-03's. Anything with a T/A in the name is considerably more expensive (using tirerack for pricing). The T/A KD is about the same price as the S-03.
That may be true...but I had an A4 for 4 years (running both the summer/winter separate set-up) prior to the MINI and ran S-03s, Michelin Pilots and Dunlop (came on the Audi) and with the MINI went with the S-03s because of the stiffer sidewall, great rain performance and cheaper price than the Michelin. I too preferred the Michelins (as LePew said) but they cost way too much.
And honestly, I had the runflats on the car for about 2 weeks before I switched them off, so the performance of the runflats never figured into the equation for me.
Jason seems to be our resident scholar based on his experience with some of the top tires. Perhaps Josh or I could swap with you for a week or so to see how the Yokos compare.
Of course, now that I think of it, no one has mentioned the Kumhos yet.
Theo
"Conservation may be a sign of personal virtue but it is not a sufficient basis for a sound, comprehensive energy policy." - former VP Dick Cheney
LinkBack to this Thread: http://www.mini2.com/forum/new-york-new-england-region/47160-new-england-off-topic-banter-most-brilliantly-proposed-cape-cod-mini.html
The AutoGuide.com network consists of the largest network of enthusiast-owned enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
AutoGuide.com provides the latest car reviews, auto show coverage, new car prices, and automotive news. The AutoGuide network operates more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share opinions as a community.
I used to live in Seattle. 
