[RYN]

I am currently thinking about buying a MINI Cooper. I am trying to work out running costa and would like feedback on the tyres.

I love the look of the 17" S-Spokes and as everyone knows they come with run-flats.

What i was wandering was how long these tyres seem to be lasting after a while, do they seem to be wearing quickly etc?

I spoke to my dealer and he has told me that the tyres will prob be about £200 each to replace so the tyre life is important.

Thanks for the info, RYN

[3GGG]

By far the biggest running cost of any car is the depreciation. With the MINI having the lowest depreciation of just about any current car, you need not be concerned about replacing a couple of tyres a year.

[noahe]

My Pirelli Eufori@ tires on 17" S-Spokes still look new at 9,000 km. No discernable wear difference front-to-back. So unless all four are wearing like crazy, evenly, I can't tell.

The tread-wear ratings are different from manufacturer to manufacturer, so you can't really compare the numbers on the sidewall, except against other tires in the same manufacturer's range.

No mistake, the tires are soft, so aggressive driving will eat them up.

[Damo]

Have to agree to the last postee. Mines going in for its first service (about 9000 miles) and the tyres are fine. I don't rag my car everywhere and don't have a tendancy to turn the traction control off either, but my tyres do get a good work out! I'd say my tyre's have got another 9000 miles in em, theres at least 0.7-1.0cm left on em.

Mine are the Eufori@'s aswell.

Trust me the 17 S spokes are worth it

[Mini Beemer]

If one of the run-flats gets a pucture is it a case of throwing the tyre away completely..... can no repair be done to it?


Also, if you do need to replace a run-flat, can you replace it with a normal tyre (same size, just not run-flat). What price does a standard 17" 205/45 tyre cost?

MB

[Morty]

Quote:

Originally posted by Mini Beemer
If one of the run-flats gets a pucture is it a case of throwing the tyre away completely..... can no repair be done to it?

It depends how big it is. I think it's just like a normal tyre.
The only benefit you have is that you don't have to change the tyre for your spare when you have a flat.
You can keep driving and keep almost full control and grip on the road.
(trust me I know !! and I'm glad to have runflats)

[Damo]

Quote:

Originally posted by Mini Beemer
Also, if you do need to replace a run-flat, can you replace it with a normal tyre (same size, just not run-flat). What price does a standard 17" 205/45 tyre cost?

MB

The Manufacture says NOT to mix non run flat tyres on the same Axle. So you'd have to have both fronts or both rears non run flats. Although they don;t recomend mixing the run flat tyres with normal tyres at all.

There's probably a really good reason for it and no doubt someone of here will offer the reason why.

[Dom]

Quote:

Originally posted by Damo


The Manufacture says NOT to mix non run flat tyres on the same Axle. So you'd have to have both fronts or both rears non run flats. Although they don;t recomend mixing the run flat tyres with normal tyres at all.

There's probably a really good reason for it and no doubt someone of here will offer the reason why.

I'm guessing as runflats have stiffer sidewalls... having tyres flex different amounts by large margins under cornering may affect handling?

Dom

[Mini Beemer]

Thanks folks







I thought it would probably be the case that both tyres on the same axle should be the same type. Which manufacturer doesn't recommend this - BMW/Mini or Pirelli?

[Damo]

Quote:

Originally posted by Mini Beemer
Thanks folks
I thought it would probably be the case that both tyres on the same axle should be the same type. Which manufacturer doesn't recommend this - BMW/Mini or Pirelli?

Preety sure I read it in the Eufori@ bumf from Pirelli, so I'd say BMW/MINI would recommend the actual same, in fact they'd probably go further and say don't mix tyres fron or rear not just axle's. Tend t agree though, My family have always kept the cars with the same tyres all the way round. If front 2 go then replace with same make. Going to get my garage to swap fronts with the rears on Wednesday, although There isn't any difference in my opinion between front and rear on my car tread depth wise.

[noahe]

Quote:

Originally posted by Damo


The Manufacture says NOT to mix non run flat tyres on the same Axle. So you'd have to have both fronts or both rears non run flats. Although they don;t recomend mixing the run flat tyres with normal tyres at all.

There's probably a really good reason for it and no doubt someone of here will offer the reason why.

Yes, just like not mixing bias-ply tires with radials, the run-flat is different enough to upset the car if you've got one run-flat, and one radial.
The run-flat is heavier, so that would affect acceleration and braking, giving a bias to the lighter wheel spinning on acceleration, and locking up earlier on braking, giving the ASC+T and ABS a good workout.
The run-flat has a stiffer sidewall, so it'd be like running one tire hard, and one soft. The car would pull like hell on acceleration and braking.
You'd upset the balance of the car significantly to mix types on the same axle. To a lesser degree, even a new tire/old tire will do this, or different brands on the same axle. All bad ideas.

[HarryHBMCC]

Even having different tires on front and rear axles can cause problems if there are sufficient traction differences between them. Winter tires only on the front or only on the rear can be fun in a snowy parking lot but disastrous on the wintry road.

Harry

[Mini Beemer]

I'm still not convinced there would be a problem as long as the tyres on each axle are the same. Our Big Beemer has 18" 255/35 on the rear and 18" 225/40 on the front. Looking closely at them there is quite a visual difference. Of course, it's rear wheel drive... like a proper drivers car should be

[Damo]

Quote:

Originally posted by Mini Beemer






I'm still not convinced there would be a problem as long as the tyres on each axle are the same. Our Big Beemer has 18" 255/35 on the rear and 18" 225/40 on the front. Looking closely at them there is quite a visual difference. Of course, it's rear wheel drive... like a proper drivers car should be

Yes but the chassis has been designed to tkae tyre's like that. Hell Lamborghini have 250 tyres at the front and 350/400 tyres at the rear, but the car is ment to have those tyres. I wouldn;t fancy doing it to a mini because the chassis has been tuned to have the same tyres all round.

Don't mess with physics you can't win (although the Nissan Skyline is good a cheating!)

[HarryHBMCC]

With RWD, it isn't so bad. You can put winters on the rear and have good traction, steering may be a little light but you can compensate for it. On a FWD car, however, putting them just on the front wheels will have you doing 360 degree spins! Putting them just on the rear is silly so if you're getting winters on a MINI, get 4!

If your fronts are bald, you may find just putting them on the back is similarly bad, you may find it VERY tail-happy. Some may like that...

Harry

[Mini Beemer]

According to the Q & A section on run-flats on the Pirelli web site, the most important thing is to have the safest tyres (run-flats) fitted on the rear axle. See here for more info.



MB

[noahe]

Quote:

In any case, note should be taken of contra-indication from car manufacturer.

I dunno... Take a FWD MINI. 60%+ of the braking, all of the steering, and all of the acceleration is done by the front wheels. And they say to put the runflat on the REAR wheels?

I've had two blow-outs in my life, and the one on the passenger side front wheel was much scarier than the blow-out on the driver's rear.

Incidentially, both make me happy to spend the extra $$$ on a run-flat.

[Mini Beemer]

Quote:

Originally posted by noahe

I dunno... Take a FWD MINI. 60%+ of the braking, all of the steering, and all of the acceleration is done by the front wheels. And they say to put the runflat on the REAR wheels?

I agree... I thought this was kinda strange

MB

[Mini_me]

Quote: Originally Posted by Damo (original)

Yes but the chassis has been designed to tkae tyre's like that. Hell Lamborghini have 250 tyres at the front and 350/400 tyres at the rear, but the car is ment to have those tyres. I wouldn;t fancy doing it to a mini because the chassis has been tuned to have the same tyres all round.

Don't mess with physics you can't win (although the Nissan Skyline is good a cheating!)

When talking about different size of tyres I'm inclined to agree for the Mini since it is a well balanced car front to rear. However find it hard to imagine that the difference in grip and handling characteristics between standard and runlats of the same size could be that great that it would upset the car.

My first car understeered so badly (safety characteristic) that when it came to renewing the front two I went 2 sizes up (wider) and still wasn't able to provoke the rear (with it's old skinny tyres) into stepping out.

I'm going to echo Mini Beemer "I'm still not convinced there would be a problem as long as the tyres on each axle are the same."

[beken]

Well, I just blew out a Pirelli Euphori@ this morning. It was a front tire. Seeing as air pressure went to zero really fast, I don't think it is repairable.

I'm going to put a pair of new non-RF's on rear and move the back Pirelli's to the front. I have snowtires for the winter so this should not be an issue. I'll report later on what I think.

This is the third time I've had a RF tire lose air (in 2 years?). I also have a 22 year old car with H rated tires on it and have never even had to pull out the mini-spare.