[MINIAC]

I thought it was about time I added OEM tire information for 15" wheels in the FAQ on factory wheels.

Here's the list I came up with from searching the site:

• Continental ContiTouringContact CH95
• Dunlop SP Sport 200 E
• Pirelli P3000 Energy

As far as I can tell, the Continental tire is the only one making it to the US. This tire is classified as an "all-season" tire and some MINI2ers find them OK in the light snow. Dunlop UK classifies their tire as a "high performance" [below "ulta high performance" and "very high performance"] tire, while Pirelli UK classifies their tire as a "balanced performance" [below "ultra high performance" and "high performance"] tire.

A few questions:

1. Did I leave any tires off the list?
2. Is the Continental tire being fitted on European MINIs?
3. Are the Dunlop or Pirelli tires of any use in light snow?
4. Are there "all-season" tires sold in Europe?

Your input is appreciated

[Cooper76]

Let's bump this guy back up.

What have new MINI owners (past two months or so) been getting on their 15"s predominantly so far? Is it the Contis? I sure hope so... I have read reports that they are pretty tops in what they are designed to do and were compared to the Sumitomo HTR+'s (which I currently have on my 328is). That is a good thing as the Sumis are amazing for their purpose.

So what tires have been delivered???!

[BlackeyedCoop]

Pirelli P3000's on my (UK supplied) 05 Cooper. Look really skinny, but ride and grip pretty well, no complaints so far....

[Cooper76]

Yeah, I hope I get the Contis. We get some decent snowfall days here in Detroit and I am afraid the Dunlops and Pirellis would not be suitable.

I assume you cannot choose your tire selection to the MA, correct?

[Clutch Cargo]

I got the Contis. Their reviews on TireRack.com are not too confidence-inspiring, but I find their performance absolutely awesome, even in rain and snow. We don't get but a few big snowstorms here each year, so I don't bother with snow tires. The one complaint I have with them is that my fronts are just about bald after 27,000 miles. But I do drive them pretty hard!

Anyway it's lucky the tires are so good, because it looks like in America here you only have a choice of two tires in this size: the Contis, and Dunlop Winter Sport M2s. The latter are highly-rated snow tires, for about 50% more than the Conti CH95s.

[mico]

In Europe you get only the Dunlop and the Pirelli option, both entry level tires with no wet grip at all !!

[Cooper76]

OK, so it looks like NA gets the Contis and EU gets the Dunlops and Pirellis. Good news for me as I was hoping for the Contis. As I said in a post above, the Contis were compared similar to the Sumitomo HTR+s which are just fantastic tires for all-season top performance. I too live in an area where snow tires wouldn't be suitable (snows, melts, snows, melts, snows, melts...this is what happens in Detroit), so the Contis (good rain/snow traction, good dry pavement traction) would be perfect. Thanks for the input!

[MINNOW]

Yeah, Cooper76 you'll get the Contis if your MC is equipped with 15" wheels, and MINI supplies for '05MY cars what they have exclusively to North American models from day one.

And that's not such a bad thing as they are a pretty decent tire for OEM. (I can think of many cars factory equipped with much worse tires) Originally I was disappointed not to have any choice whatsoever, but I have grown to accept the Contis, and it helps that I ran two sets of Conti summer tires on an old Jetta I owned (even in the winter) with great result, over an 11 year ownership.

When ordering I asked my MA if I could get some alternate tires from the factory, as in the UK market Continental offers a summer performance tire in the oddball stock size of 175/65R15 called the PremiumContact, but alas, no subs were allowed. I toyed with the idea of swapping the tires after delivery for some AVS100 Yokos in 195/60R15, but the Contis have almost zero resale value alone, so I am keeping them for winter use, and have recently bought a set of 16" R84's with the Dunlop runflats for summer.
Hope you enjoy your tires (and the car they come with)!!

[Cooper76]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINNOW

Yeah, Cooper76 you'll get the Contis if your MC is equipped with 15" wheels, and MINI supplies for '05MY cars what they have exclusively to North American models from day one.

And that's not such a bad thing as they are a pretty decent tire for OEM. (I can think of many cars factory equipped with much worse tires) Originally I was disappointed not to have any choice whatsoever, but I have grown to accept the Contis, and it helps that I ran two sets of Conti summer tires on an old Jetta I owned (even in the winter) with great result, over an 11 year ownership.

When ordering I asked my MA if I could get some alternate tires from the factory, as in the UK market Continental offers a summer performance tire in the oddball stock size of 175/65R15 called the PremiumContact, but alas, no subs were allowed. I toyed with the idea of swapping the tires after delivery for some AVS100 Yokos in 195/60R15, but the Contis have almost zero resale value alone, so I am keeping them for winter use, and have recently bought a set of 16" R84's with the Dunlop runflats for summer.
Hope you enjoy your tires (and the car they come with)!!

Thank you!

Actually, when I looked up the OEM tire brands for the Cooper months ago, I was highly impressed to see the Contis listed. Continental had just come out with that tire (All-Season, Ultra High Performance) in order to compete with the only other top-selling tire in that category and the ones I bought, Sumitomo HTR+, which owns the market share in that category. Of what I have heard about the Contis, they stack up pretty well to the Sumis, an excellent complement. So, seeing that the Germans stack most of their vehicles with OEM Contis, and that this tire is almost brand new and very comparable to the Sumis, I am really pleased that I will be getting them. They fit Detroit-area weather to a tee!

[turboChiken]

My UK Mini Diesel came with Michelins.

[MINIAC]

What 175/65-15 tires are being factory fit on 2nd Gen MINIs?

[Jim Ray]

All weather Continental ContiTouringContact CH95 175/65-15 came as a no cost option on the Cooper Clubman.

Sherry got to try them out in snow on the way through Colorado mountains, said they worked well.