Ditching the run-flats ???
Discussion
Toyo T1R are popular tyres on MX5s (I have a set in 205/40/17) and are known for having soft side-walls. People usually compensate by adding a couple of psi which on an MX5 means 29psi instead of 26psi. Of course, with a lower profile it doesn't matter as much as the side-walls will be stiffer and shorter.
_Leg_ said:
andrew said:
interesting !
i'm not so sure that i could detect softer sidewalls in a modern lowish profile tyre
did you experiment with tyre pressures or suspension geometry on the non run-flats at all ?
You can feel them give a little, feels sort of slushy for a brief moment under hard cornering. Handling is fine, it'll still cock a leg for example, its just a momentary feeling.i'm not so sure that i could detect softer sidewalls in a modern lowish profile tyre
did you experiment with tyre pressures or suspension geometry on the non run-flats at all ?
Once I got used to it I just started to ignore it and press on.
Im running the pressures quite high now. Didnt mess with the run flat set up at all.
Of course Ive assumed its the sidewalls as it didnt do it on the runflats. I have no scientific evidence, just how it feels.
PS. Im on factory JCW 17 inch wheels. Mine's an R56 and my DD.
whether the cause is floppy sidewalls or whatever, i'd be quite keen to avoid slushiness
i've got other cars for making progress in, but even in my dd i don't want any slush
i may have to try and get a test drive someplace
MX-5 Lazza said:
Toyo T1R are popular tyres on MX5s (I have a set in 205/40/17) and are known for having soft side-walls. People usually compensate by adding a couple of psi which on an MX5 means 29psi instead of 26psi. Of course, with a lower profile it doesn't matter as much as the side-walls will be stiffer and shorter.
quality feedback, thanks !I'm seriously considering T1R for my cooper as its my DD and my drive to work is 22 miles of b-roads each way. The way the roads are these days, having a touch more compliance in the tyres will make it a much more comfortable drive and what I'll lose in turn-in I'll gain in comfort & grip compared to the (seriously pants) GY NCT5 RF that are on there at the moment which is more important on those roads.
However, the sensible part of my brain says I should get all season tyres rather than summer tyres...
However, the sensible part of my brain says I should get all season tyres rather than summer tyres...
andrew said:
cheers
whether the cause is floppy sidewalls or whatever, i'd be quite keen to avoid slushiness
i've got other cars for making progress in, but even in my dd i don't want any slush
i may have to try and get a test drive someplace
Dunno where you are but if you're near York you're welcome to bob round for a spin.whether the cause is floppy sidewalls or whatever, i'd be quite keen to avoid slushiness
i've got other cars for making progress in, but even in my dd i don't want any slush
i may have to try and get a test drive someplace
When you change tyers run-flat or non runflat, the presser warning light may come on. It shows in the manual how to reset (it is easy).
I would go summer not all round. I have been running p zero all weather and find it is a bit of a compromise. Defenetly more grip in the winter but not as much as winter's and not as much grip in the summer as summer,s. Worth having both if you are going to keep the car.
I would go summer not all round. I have been running p zero all weather and find it is a bit of a compromise. Defenetly more grip in the winter but not as much as winter's and not as much grip in the summer as summer,s. Worth having both if you are going to keep the car.
_Leg_ said:
andrew said:
cheers
whether the cause is floppy sidewalls or whatever, i'd be quite keen to avoid slushiness
i've got other cars for making progress in, but even in my dd i don't want any slush
i may have to try and get a test drive someplace
Dunno where you are but if you're near York you're welcome to bob round for a spin.whether the cause is floppy sidewalls or whatever, i'd be quite keen to avoid slushiness
i've got other cars for making progress in, but even in my dd i don't want any slush
i may have to try and get a test drive someplace
The Goodyear Vector 4 All-Seasons we have currently fitted onto our Mini Clubman, grip very well in the cold wet & slippery winter conditions we get, if not quite as well in warmer drier conditions.
The racing driver in me says that the Goodyears are definitely less precise on turn in & cornering than the latest new Michelin Energy Savers which come as standard, so the steering feels a bit more vague and less direct when pushed to the limit.
The family man in me says brilliant when it's wet or icy / snowy, and much less wheelspin on cold frosty days with the Goodyears though.
5mpg extra from the ultra low rolling resistance Michelin Energy Savers that came with the Clubman, verified back to back when it was warmer, just from the lower rolling resistance tyres alone, is a significant fuel saving of over £5 on every tankful, so they will definitely be back on asap after the average temps rise above 7deg in the Spring.
And the Michelins grip great when its warmer, and last twice as long as cheaper tyres, so work out less expensive overall if you're keeping the car for more than one set of tyres.
Have also experienced the Pirellis and Dunlops that MINI wheels often come with, and both are poor grip compared with either the Goodyears or Michelins, and the Dunlops in particular made so much road noise that they got binned immediately. Horrible.
Recent tyre tests that might help you choose what you want:
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2012-EVO-Max-...
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2011-Auto-Exp...
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2011-Auto-Bil...
Whatever non-runflat tyre you choose, it will be the single biggest way to transform your MINI overnight, which a new set of good tyres almost always will do.
Hope this helps.
The racing driver in me says that the Goodyears are definitely less precise on turn in & cornering than the latest new Michelin Energy Savers which come as standard, so the steering feels a bit more vague and less direct when pushed to the limit.
The family man in me says brilliant when it's wet or icy / snowy, and much less wheelspin on cold frosty days with the Goodyears though.
5mpg extra from the ultra low rolling resistance Michelin Energy Savers that came with the Clubman, verified back to back when it was warmer, just from the lower rolling resistance tyres alone, is a significant fuel saving of over £5 on every tankful, so they will definitely be back on asap after the average temps rise above 7deg in the Spring.
And the Michelins grip great when its warmer, and last twice as long as cheaper tyres, so work out less expensive overall if you're keeping the car for more than one set of tyres.
Have also experienced the Pirellis and Dunlops that MINI wheels often come with, and both are poor grip compared with either the Goodyears or Michelins, and the Dunlops in particular made so much road noise that they got binned immediately. Horrible.
Recent tyre tests that might help you choose what you want:
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2012-EVO-Max-...
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2011-Auto-Exp...
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2011-Auto-Bil...
Whatever non-runflat tyre you choose, it will be the single biggest way to transform your MINI overnight, which a new set of good tyres almost always will do.
Hope this helps.
The last tyres I had on my old Focus were Michelin Energy Saver and I agree that they are great tyres. A few years before I had Goodyear NCT5 which are also low rolling resistance tyres but there is no comparison. The Michelins are light-years ahead of the Goodyears in every respect. I can't say I noticed any improvement in mpg myself though. That car returned 35mpg regardless of driving style and different tyres made no difference at all (I have various on it tyres over the years including those Michelins & Goodyears P60000s which were a lot better than expected and T1R which didn't really suit the bigger heavier car IMO).
DanGT said:
When you change tyres run-flat or non runflat, the presser warning light will come on. It shows in the manual how to reset (it is easy)....
The pressure warning will come on simply when the system realises there's something that's changed.We've got Kumhos on our Cooper S - 17s and vastly better than the Pirelli RFTs fitted before. £300ish for 4 at our local tyre place (Martins - West End)
I changed to normal tyres a few months back and it is like having a new car. The difference in ride is very noticeable and the handling is better as it is less prone to being jolted by rough roads.
I changed the wheels as well and saved just under 10kg unsprung weight. The car feels a lot more responsive now and I use it more.
These are the wheels Cades Vienna
I put Avon ZZ3 all round and it cost £800 all in. I sourced the wheels and tyres separately to get that price.
I changed the wheels as well and saved just under 10kg unsprung weight. The car feels a lot more responsive now and I use it more.
These are the wheels Cades Vienna
I put Avon ZZ3 all round and it cost £800 all in. I sourced the wheels and tyres separately to get that price.
JamesK said:
Those look lovely - presume they are 18's? Do they do 17's in that range? I want to get some "summer" alloys but want to stick to 17" if possible to maximise the ride quality.
rimstyle are currently offering c55% discount on 17x7 et37 Oz Ultraleggara quite common on mini's but well made and lightweight - will fit r56 mini just fine but might cause a bit of rubbing on the gen1 mini's.i ordered a set on the weekend with yoko ad08's fitted for under a grand.
JamesK said:
I intend to change my run flats at some point but I may get a new set of wheels at the same time so I can eventually have a summer and winter set.
The car is a 55 plate JCW - my question is do I need to do anything else when changing the tyres? What about the onboard monitoring system etc? I don't want to be having to trick sensors into not lighting up my dash etc if I can help it but would also like the option of swopping between run-flats and normal in the short term.
The TPMS uses the ABS so doesn't matter what wheels or tyres your running, so swap all you like. The light may come on after swapping due to it picking up the different rims but simply reset it and be on your way.The car is a 55 plate JCW - my question is do I need to do anything else when changing the tyres? What about the onboard monitoring system etc? I don't want to be having to trick sensors into not lighting up my dash etc if I can help it but would also like the option of swopping between run-flats and normal in the short term.
I run Vredestein Ultrac Sessantas on BBS RZ wheels and the handling is superb in comparison with the Challenge wheels and Dunlop SP01 runflats I had before. There wasn't a massive difference in ride but that's probably due to the coilovers.
Is this true?
http://www.halfordsautocentres.com/Tyres/Tyres-Qui...
I was thinking of ditching the run flats on Mrsjonlk's 08 MSC (flame wheels iirc) and someone's quoted this to me!
Over to the collective PH wisdom.....
Yes it's true.
However... it's not quite that black & white. The Mini can quite happily ride on non-run flats. The ride is over-firm with run flats so fitting normal tyres just addresses that and improves the ride without destroying the handling.
If you get a flat with normal tyres and you don't have a repair kit or a spare then yes you will be stranded. Either get a spare, a repair kit or make sure your AA/RAC membership is fully paid up
However... it's not quite that black & white. The Mini can quite happily ride on non-run flats. The ride is over-firm with run flats so fitting normal tyres just addresses that and improves the ride without destroying the handling.
If you get a flat with normal tyres and you don't have a repair kit or a spare then yes you will be stranded. Either get a spare, a repair kit or make sure your AA/RAC membership is fully paid up
"Q 2. Can you fit normal tyres to a car set up for Run Flat tyres?
No, you should not put non-Run Flat tyres on a car set up for Run Flat tyres! There are two main reasons for this.
Because Run Flat tyres are very hard due to the reinforced sidewall, the suspension on the car is set much softer so the ride is normal for occupants. If a normal tyre is fitted then the ride will feel very soft, the handling will be adversely affected and could present serious safety concerns.
As the car will not have a spare or any other way to deal with a flat tyre, if non-Run Flat tyres are fitted, the car will be stranded if a puncture does occur."
Total and utter b
ks from Halfrauds in the case of the MCS anyway.
Suspension set up has been clearly chosen for non-run flats, which literally transforms the car and get it back to how it should have been in the first place.
A puncture repair kit and/or a simple Holt can is a very good alternative for a few pounds.
No, you should not put non-Run Flat tyres on a car set up for Run Flat tyres! There are two main reasons for this.
Because Run Flat tyres are very hard due to the reinforced sidewall, the suspension on the car is set much softer so the ride is normal for occupants. If a normal tyre is fitted then the ride will feel very soft, the handling will be adversely affected and could present serious safety concerns.
As the car will not have a spare or any other way to deal with a flat tyre, if non-Run Flat tyres are fitted, the car will be stranded if a puncture does occur."
Total and utter b
ks from Halfrauds in the case of the MCS anyway.Suspension set up has been clearly chosen for non-run flats, which literally transforms the car and get it back to how it should have been in the first place.
A puncture repair kit and/or a simple Holt can is a very good alternative for a few pounds.
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