Mini Cooper S R56 - what tyres?

[Tea Cosy]

Running on Pirelli P-Zero 205/45/R-17 run flat tyres and the ride is truly awful. Non run flat tyres is now a must.

Local specialist recommended Yokohama (model not given), or Hankook Ventus S2.

What are the current popular choices? For use on standard UK roads, all year round.

[steve-5snwi]

Uniroyal Rainsport 3's for me ......... although i'm tempted to try Michelin PS4's next.

[doogle83]

There's a bit more chat on options HERE.

I have a JCW and am probably going for a full set of PS4's next month.

[Miglia 888]

Michelin PS4 - approx £125 each in 205/45 17" size. Nothing else grips as well, that lasts as long.

If you want to further improve the ride, unsprung weight, rotational mass, pothole resistance, acceleration & mpg, consider downsizing to lighter 16" wheels and some 205/55 PS4 (approx. £90 each in that size), with the £140 saving funding the purchase of the 16" wheels from eBay. Hth.

[Mr Ralph Jolly]

I have Hankook Ventus V12 Evo K110 205/45 R17 V (84)
£100 a corner. I don't drive on the limit but they are quiet and feel ok to me in the wet and dry, BMW homologated too.

[curlyks2]

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric for me.

[Alan16ac]

If you are on a budget, Kumho KU39s if you can still get them, if not Kumho PS71s.
If you're not fussed on price, then any of the Michelins (PS3, PS4 etc) or Continental ContiSportContact 3 or 5s.
I often see Uniroyals recommended, but they're a massively false economy as they'll last you all of two minutes...

[steve-5snwi]

Given i've got over 20k out of my Rainsports i'd still take my chances with them

[Alan16ac]

steve-5snwi said:

Given i've got over 20k out of my Rainsports i'd still take my chances with them

If that's 20k on the fronts, you're definitely not driving your Cooper S properly
Either way, you're the exception not the rule. It's well documented that they wear very quickly.
I change my tyres when they're about 3mm too.

[Tea Cosy]

UPDATE: Ended up going for the Michelin PS4. @ £125/tyre incl fitting + £45 wheel alignment. What a difference. The ride is definitely not as hard and makes a typical bumpy British road far more bearable. Also notice the car is far less twitchy on the corners. I just have to hope I don’t get a puncture otherwise I’ll have to call the breakdown service. Overall a worthwhile investment which has made the car far more enjoyable to drive.

[MrC986]

Tea Cosy said:

UPDATE: Ended up going for the Michelin PS4. @ £125/tyre incl fitting + £45 wheel alignment. What a difference. The ride is definitely not as hard and makes a typical bumpy British road far more bearable. Also notice the car is far less twitchy on the corners. I just have to hope I don’t get a puncture otherwise I’ll have to call the breakdown service. Overall a worthwhile investment which has made the car far more enjoyable to drive.

Pop a can of tyre seal in your boot along with a small plug-in tyre compressor - unless you have a major hole in your tyre, that should cover most eventualities.