Brakes Wheels 1st Gen Tires Wow what crappy tires

Discussion in '1st Generation: 2002–06 R50, R53 & 2004–08 R52' started by mrntd, Dec 5, 2013.

  1. mrntd

    mrntd Well-Known Member
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    I put on my winter wheels and tires (thanks Jason) and got a rude surprise.

    The wheels are S heavies that are about 6lbs heaver each than my 18"s. But the tires. Falken Ziex 512 about 40-50% worn. They are so noisy and don't grip much at all.

    It makes me appreciate the Continental DSWs much more. Even at 18" they are quieter and have a better ride. :Thumbsup:
     
  2. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    Yup I have found that all Falken tires are noisy. I burned the tread off them and switched to Yoko S-Drives. They were on but did not last long the way I drive and I took them to the Dragon.
     
  3. Norm03s

    Norm03s New Member

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    You're really not serious about that combination as "my winter wheels and tires" are you, just in term only. Better to leave the MINI at home than to risk it on snow and ice wearing that combination.
     
  4. UKCoopeR

    UKCoopeR Active Member

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    When i bought my non-mini it came with falken 512s which was going to be my winter setup and they were crap below 45F if you have a set of conti dws (the all season dws not the dw) i would use them in the snow over the 512s (i used dws on my mini for winter before i got a second car)

    I sold the falken 512 bought michelin x-ice3s and it was much safer as a winter setup, have conti dw for summer

    i supposed it depends how wintery your winters are though might not be worth it
     
  5. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    Driving a MINI in the Snow is something everyone should do.

    Its a lot of FUN to run circles around the SUV's in my MINI smowmobile. :lol::Thumbsup:
     
  6. Norm03s

    Norm03s New Member

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    That's why I have a dedicated tire and wheel setup (Winter) for snow and ice. I have driven around more than a few SUV's and 4x4's stuck in the snow.:D
     
  7. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    Yup my Winter setup is a set of R90 boat anchors wrapped in a nice set of Michelin's.

    :Thumbsup: MINI's are FUN in the Snow. :devil:
     
  8. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    As far as noise goes, they all get noisy if they are not rotated often. Many folks don't do that & blame the tires. I did too at one time. Some tires are more noisy than others. A tire guy clued me in on rotations & it does help. High performance tires with stiff construction are generally on the louder side. It's a compromise we make for good warm season grip.

    As far as winter tires go all seasons are at best 3 season tires. Some folks say they are good enough, not me. You only have 4 contact patches about the size of the palm of your hand holding your car on the road.

    Once you drive on a set of dedicated winter tires you will never go back to those "all season tires". Snow tires are cheap compared to the costs of an accident.

    Nick one problem with those tires besides the wear issue is that as tires get old they get hard like a hockey puck & we know how those work on ice. Also those are high performance all seasons, stiff tires suck in the cold. Looking at the tread pattern on those I don't know how the heck they can call them all season? :crazy:

    Free advice, head over to Discount tires & buy some dedicated snow tires. :yesnod:

    Yes I like spending your money..... :D
     
  9. Norm03s

    Norm03s New Member

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    I also enjoy the looks I get from those stuck hunks, gee, you would think they would leave a fella some room.
    Some times, I have to cut a new path.
     
  10. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    So much fun watching the looks of those SUV drivers :shocked: as I go by in the snow covered lane they are afraid to use. Big fun in a little car.

    When I had my Subaru it became a snow machine with 4 snows bolted on. :arf:
     
  11. beken

    beken Well-Known Member
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    Yes! MINIs with snowtires definitely run circles around SUVs in the snow.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  12. Savvy

    Savvy Well-Known Member
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    [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu9OoihEwWI&feature=youtube_gdata_player"]Mini trip to IKEA! - YouTube[/ame]
     
  13. mrntd

    mrntd Well-Known Member
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    They were free so I can't really complain. I will be getting something with a little better bite. I was just amaze at how bad these were.

    The DSWs were fine for last winter. But I didn't have to go out in the bad stuff. Luckily I don't have to commute to work. (it's just down the steps) So I drive when I want to.
     
  14. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    Heh, my commute is shorter!

    Blizzacks are da bomb too. Lots of winter fun with my MINI on them.
     
  15. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    Snow tires FTW! :Thumbsup:

    Nick a friend of mine used to say "free & worth every penny paid". :wink:
     
  16. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    I had a Camaro back in the 80's (Who didn't) and it was only great in the snow with a set of snow tires and chain's.
     
  17. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    I didn't, I had a VW GTI.
     
  18. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    Me either I had a Toyota FX16 GTS. Think Japanese GTI. :wink:
     
  19. lotsie

    lotsie Club Coordinator

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    Running winter tires means you can use stickier warm weather tires in the summer . All seasons suck all the time IMO...
     
  20. Norm03s

    Norm03s New Member

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    I highly recommend General AltiMAX Arctic radials 185x65x15 on Justa holies for winter wear, awesome tire.
     

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