Hello MINIacs! I threw together a quick guide for pretty much any MINI tire application. I tried to filter out the tires I think aren't up to the task, and I try not to be critical unless I've driven the tire. If I haven't driven the tire I rely on Grassroots Motorsports magazines' real-world testing feedback, which has proven to be very trustworthy. My primary criteria for recommendations are overall dry grip [lateral, longitudinal, accel and decel], steering precision and response. I make no concessions for tire noise or treadwear, and I also highly recommend having summer and winter sets and leaving the all-seasons where they belong; on your mothers' Buick! _________________________________________________________________ Tires below arranged by recommendation per size in summer, all-season, and winter. Stock MINI tire sizes: 175/65-15 [24.0” OD, 114mM sidewall] Dunlop SP Sport 01 Continental ContiProContact Bridgestone Blizzak WS-60 195/55-16 [24.4” OD,. 107mM sidewall] Dunlop SP Sport 01 DSST RunOnFlat Dunlop SP Sport 5000A DSST / Continental ContiProContact SSR 205/45-17 [24.3” OD, 92mM sidewall] Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 / Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08 Falken ZE-512 / Goodyear Eagle F1 All Season Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25 RFT 205/40-18 [24.5” OD, 82mM sidewall] Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 Range = 23.8” to 24.6” OD _________________________________________________________________ Fifteen Inch tires, stock diameter: 195/60-15 [24.2” OD, 117mM sidewall] Yokohama AVS ES100 / Falken ZE-912 Falken ZE-512 / Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position Michelin X-Ice Xi2 205/55-15 [24.0” OD, 113mM sidewall] Yokohama S.drive / Falken ZE-912 Falken ZE-512 / Kumho Ecsta ASX 225/50-15 [24.0” OD, 113mM sidewall] Toyo R888 / Hankook Ventus R-S2 Falken ZE-512 Sixteen Inch tires, stock diameter: 205/50-16 [24.0” OD, 103mM sidewall] Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec / Toyo R1R Falken ZE-512 / BFGoodrich g-Force Super Sport A/S Goodyear Eagle Ultra Grip GW3 225/45-16 [23.9” OD, 101mM sidewall] Hankook Ventus R-S2 / Toyo R888 Falken ZE-512 Seventeen Inch tires, stock diameter: 215/40-17 [23.8” OD, 86mM sidewall] Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08 / Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec Falken ZE-512 / Continental ContiExtremeContact 215/45-17 [24.6” OD, 97mM sidewall] Kumho Ecsta XS / Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 / Toyo R888 Falken ZE-512 / Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position 235/40-17 [24.4” OD, 94mM sidewall] Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08 / Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 / Toyo R888 Kumho Ecsta ASX Eighteen Inch tires, stock diameter: 215/35-18 [23.9” OD, 75mM sidewall] Hankook Ventus R-S2 Falken ZE-512 / Continental ContiExtremeContact 225/35-18 [24.3” OD, 79mM sidewall] Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 Sumitomo HTR+ _________________________________________________________________ Ryan’s Tire Choices [warning, this section will make your car quicker!] Summer & Track: 205/50-15 Toyo R888, Federal 595RS-R, Bridgestone RE-11, Yokohama AD08, Kumho XS, Yokohama A048, Hoosier R6, Kumho V710, BFG g-Force R1, Falken RT-615, Toyo R1R 225/45-15 Toyo R888, Hoosier R6, Hankook R-S3, Toyo R1R, Nitto NT-01 205/40-16 Falken RT-615 205/45-16 Hoosier R6, Federal 595RS-R, Bridgestone RE-11, Toyo R1R, Dunlop Winter Sport M3 215/40-16 Kumho V710 215/45-16 Falken RT-615, Kumho XS, Kumho V710, Bridgestone LM-22 225/45-16 Hankook R-S2, Yokohama A048, Toyo R1R 215/40-17 Dunlop Star Spec Z1, Yokohama AD08, Kumho V710 225/40-17 Hoosier R6 215/35-18 Hankook R-S2 I hope this helps! Cheers, Ryan
You don't recommend 225/50/15 for track use? I see lots of people running this, but I also see the benefit of 225/45. - Marc
Ryan--what about 225/45/15 Nitto-01? Same compound as the Toyo R888, different tread pattern, and the Nitto's are good out of the box--no need to shave.
If you don't mind the extra sidewall slop and overall diameter then it's no problem to rock it, but like you said a 225/45-15 will be better every time. Sorry, I missed putting the NT-01's in there, will add them shortly! Thanks for the help.
If I might suggest to split up among summer and all season? Makes a diff for those north of the mason dixon line (at least for this lazy mini maniac!) Also while I just put on a set and not fully tested I am liking the set of 215/35/18 Nitto NeoGen's
I keep hearing good things on the NeoGen's, but have yet to try them out. At this time their 280 UTQG treadwear rating puts them in a category where people are looking for a high-wear summer-only tire. The way I sorted the tires for stock size and diameters are: Summer tires All-Seasons Winter
Great list. I am sure I will coming back to this thread for reference. What about the Kuhmo XS or RE-11 225/50/16? (if they would fit) I know the size wouldn't help with gearing, but it gives you wider versions of two of grassroots motorsports' top rated tires.
--->ScottinBend: the track tires are only listed in the "Ryan's Choice" section. At that point it should be easy to know which tires work for you. --->dwatkins: I'm sure you could fit a 225/50-16 as long as you're keeping your ride height and stock, however they are about a half inch taller than stock so your gearing would be hosed in auto-x, not to mention the squishy sidewalls would numb the steering. Opt for the 215/45-16 Kumho XS or 225/45-16 Toyo R1R instead!
I've seen fitment on 225/50/16 be about 50/50 - lots of people rub in the rear, on the interior. There is a metal piece there that causes issues.
I agree. Most tires over 24.5" diameter have rubbing problems on the MINI, whether its R53 or R56. If the car is lowered the problem is only more prominent. I ran 225/40-18 R-compys on MM2urbo and had to "flatten" the rear fender inner sheetmetal seam [the one PGT is referring to] as well as practically remove the fender liners and wheel arches to get the tires to clear through the suspension travel. It was more work than the tire size was worth, IMO.
225/35/18 is a great size for the MINI, but only about two tires to choose from (both good but pricey).
^^I listed the two I know of [the Michelin PS2 and Sumitomo HTR+]. Do you know of any others worth owning?
Toyo T1R and Goodyear F1 Asymmetric (MUCH better than the Sumitomo's and Toyo...slightly better than PS2's). I think Yoko makes the Parada Spec-2 as well in that size....a VERY competent budget tire
Really.........? I had heard and read that it was kinda on the bottom of the summer high perf. tire list.:confused5:
This is good reference, everyones opinions on tires is a bit different. My first set of GDS3 in 215 45 17 stuck like glue, the current set feel like a set of Sears Oreo cookie discs. I may look at the Dirreza's next, but am not sure if I want something stickier.
215/40 17 Falken RT615's.....very sticky and got about 15k on the current set. Just a little smaller in diameter so it throws off the speedo about 2 mph though. Very happy with them although never really made it out to the track or autocross so Im probably going to switch to something with a little more treadwear and sacrifice a little grip :frown5: Steve BTW: Ryephile thanks alot bro for putting this all together....much appreciated by all of us!
I got 3 times the wear out of the first set of GSD3's and they were at least twice as good, go figure. I was just about set on the 615's, then a new round of tires came out and many were said to be better than them. I may just get the 615's anyway since they are a proven item. I need grip more than treadwear at this point, but I'd like to get at least 8-10K if possible.
The Falken 615's have great steering feel but lack ultimate grip, whereas the Goodyear GS-D3's have painfully squishy steering feel but actually good grip considering their 280 UTQG. I do agree the Parada Spec2's are a good budget tire, but since the Dunlop Star Spec Z1 is close enough in price I don't see the point in getting the Parada's anymore. My experience with the Toyo T1R is similar to the Falken 615; good feel but low overall grip. I haven't driven the Goodyear Asymmetric because it tends to be in larger than normal [for MINI] sizes. Thanks everyone for the feedback and the personal experience!