I could not swap wheels for insurance reasons (although there is another BMW MINI wheels tha I prefer to the S lites, I am sure it is near enough the same weight, but just changing the tyres made the car a whole lot better. It seems that everyoen changes them over and is quite happy, I have yet to see a negative response.

peter

No more cars left, Westpaminis is now just a memory, Good luck to all those hard working dealers left out there, We can tell you its not easy. We have fully enjoyed meeting all the fine folks we have in the business.

Hey PMustang,

I run 16" non runflat performance tires in the summer and have a second set of 16" all-weathers for winter use.  I have experienced a substantially better ride (softer) without run flats. My 2006 JCW MCS is my daily driver used in both urban (lousy road surfaces) and highway miles.  I also take my car to track days and have no problems keeping up with any of the other BINIs, regardless the ridiculous 17, 18 or 19" combinations that folks seem to think is necessary.  In my opinion, Huge wheels = huge problems & expense. After 50K miles driven on 16" wheels, I have no issues with strut tower mushrooming.  As for ebay values on 17 stock S-lite wheels-- they are unwanted boat anchors at about 22lbs each and go for near giveaway prices.

Except for the US (where tires can have no speed rating... though no rating is basically an "S" most tires around the world have some speed rating.

However, most manufacturers have gone away from the old 225/50ZR16 type of nomenclature because the new numbering scheme also includes the load rating. It would look something like 225/50R16 102Z.

Exactly the same Z rating, but with the additional info of the load rating by the "102" code.

 See http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=35 for more than you'd ever want to know on the subject.

Bill

Another tyre question is I may, Does anyone know the difference between ZR rated and R rated tyres? I am guessing ZR is higher speed.

Many thanks. Peter

No more cars left, Westpaminis is now just a memory, Good luck to all those hard working dealers left out there, We can tell you its not easy. We have fully enjoyed meeting all the fine folks we have in the business.

After having numerous problems with the runflats I switched to BF G-Force KDW.  Wow is all I have to say and how much more it made me hate runflats

With modern tires it's extremely unusual to have a flat that a can of goo and a compressor won't fix well enough to get you to a service station... but they do still happen. One of the guys coming to Carlisle had a 175/50-13 come apart on him and curiously the Interstate service place didn't have that size in stock. They made it to the show on an oversize 13" tire, found a couple 175/50-13 tiresthere, had one mounted, and hopefully had an uneventful trip home!

Bill

some folks I have spoke with run with a compressor and tire slime (I guess this is fix a flat) and when making long journeys use a spare they bought from a salvage car or a spare wheel/tyre bought off the net. Peter

No more cars left, Westpaminis is now just a memory, Good luck to all those hard working dealers left out there, We can tell you its not easy. We have fully enjoyed meeting all the fine folks we have in the business.

I heard recently that several high priced cars do not have spares anymore. Guess they figure owners have AAA. Don't believe I could live with no spare.

My brother has offered to loan me his MINI for some tours but I can't see going out in middle of nowhere on a weekend and have no spare....or ruin one of his very expensive run flats.

Opinions I express here do not reflect my wife's.

A can O slime and a compressor will have to do, thanks for your concern,

cheers. Peter

No more cars left, Westpaminis is now just a memory, Good luck to all those hard working dealers left out there, We can tell you its not easy. We have fully enjoyed meeting all the fine folks we have in the business.

Now that you have Non-runflats, don't forget to purchase a roof rack to carry your spare on, once you buy number 5!  AA don't carry spare tyres, so you better have "recovery"!

"Retired:  No Job, No Money, No Wife!  Will travel anywhere for Minis"

hockey91dad@hotmail.com

Drove the car on the dunlop non runflats today and I have to say the difference is very noticeable. You lose the jarring smash when you go over every bump. Much less of a hit now with the non runflats. Definitely money well spent. Thanks everyone for the tips.

Peter

No more cars left, Westpaminis is now just a memory, Good luck to all those hard working dealers left out there, We can tell you its not easy. We have fully enjoyed meeting all the fine folks we have in the business.

Yep, my drive was all highway, I never get enough seat time in a new car test drive (new to me at least) I have had a string of bad (for me) cars. I hope I can sort this one as its awesome to look at and flies on the motorway. Peter

No more cars left, Westpaminis is now just a memory, Good luck to all those hard working dealers left out there, We can tell you its not easy. We have fully enjoyed meeting all the fine folks we have in the business.

I have the 17's with run-flats. When I first got it, I had considered going back to the dealer and negotiating a wheel change! Of course the test drive was on nice smooth roads!

Over time I have gotten used to the ride. It doesn't seem to feel as harsh as it was when i first got it. Once the tires wear out I will make the change to regular tires though.

went to 18s off the bat. have not looked back. doug

The BMW guy told me he was running 19s! and noticed right away.

peter

No more cars left, Westpaminis is now just a memory, Good luck to all those hard working dealers left out there, We can tell you its not easy. We have fully enjoyed meeting all the fine folks we have in the business.

YES I went to REG tires  straight away   18in fact

Just ordered Dunlops NON runflat, they come in this week, lets see what happens, I will let you all know.

What I will say is that I went to BMW/MINI for my cracked windscreen (replace under warrantee they said!) and I asked the head of service about the tyres, He said they are CRAP, Said the best thing I could do is put on non runflats and that when he was doing BMW service on the road in the station wagons he used to change them over first thing. I also felt the sidewalls of an off the rim runflat and non runflat, like a brick on the runflat and much softer on the non, Lets hope for the best.

Peter

No more cars left, Westpaminis is now just a memory, Good luck to all those hard working dealers left out there, We can tell you its not easy. We have fully enjoyed meeting all the fine folks we have in the business.

Pete - before you ask, I don't think that 10" Mini wheels with balloon tyres will fit, even if you change the callipers...

Clubman & 1275GT - its hip to be square!

Better ride, better handling, lower unsprung weight, cheaper. Win, win, win, win.

Bill

Not a wuss, even got a great raise today, just don't want to lose 500 bucks or so on a dream expedition to tire land.

Just gathering info for a correct decision.

Let me guess hotel, you ride to work on a nice smooth highway, mine is all twisty back roads built by brits! haha. Peter

No more cars left, Westpaminis is now just a memory, Good luck to all those hard working dealers left out there, We can tell you its not easy. We have fully enjoyed meeting all the fine folks we have in the business.