175 60 16 winter tyres on a F56 Cooper S
Discussion
Anyone got a set of 175 60 16 winter tyres on a F56 Cooper S? They are an approved size but strike me as being somewhat narrow for a relatively powerful front wheel drive car. Not worried so much about the cornering grip but the ease of losing traction. I ask as can potentially get a deal to on a set but not going to do it if going to ruin the car.
Narrower tyres should give you better traction in the snow/ice. I see where you're coming from regarding cold/dry cold/wet traction though. I imagine that they are that narrow to enable studs in markets that require them. Why not buy a set of wheels/winter tyres for a bog standard Cooper?
Goatex said:
Anyone got a set of 175 60 16 winter tyres on a F56 Cooper S? They are an approved size but strike me as being somewhat narrow for a relatively powerful front wheel drive car. Not worried so much about the cornering grip but the ease of losing traction. I ask as can potentially get a deal to on a set but not going to do it if going to ruin the car.
We have an F56 Cooper S too, albeit with the JCW Pro kit fitted so the power is slightly increased over the standard Cooper S. And in the wet on the OEM Pirelli tyres the traction is abysmal so I understand your concerns about dropping down to the narrower 175 tyre. Obviously in the snow it's another matter altogether, but for the rest of the time I'd be reluctant to fit something that narrow.If you are getting a good deal on them I can't see any harm in buying them and trying them out, if you don't like them if imagine that you would be easily able to sell them on again with little loss.
Just go with std. 195/55/16 winter tyres rather than the narrower tyres...
Unless you live in a location where the roads are covered with snow a large % of the time, the std. size will give you a better compromise between extreme and normal wintry conditions.
I actually have gone for 215/45/17 winter tyres on my MCS as we only have a few snowy days in the UK usually
Unless you live in a location where the roads are covered with snow a large % of the time, the std. size will give you a better compromise between extreme and normal wintry conditions.
I actually have gone for 215/45/17 winter tyres on my MCS as we only have a few snowy days in the UK usually
I am not sure I agree with all this wide tyre advice apart from the chap that said that the Minis often have wider tyres than are needed. Wider tyres are at their optimum in dry conditions. As soon as it is either wet or snowy then a narrower tyre has to be the better option. A narror tyre has less water to dispel/snow to cut through and so is more likely to be in contact with the surface.
Try driving a Porsche or BMW Motorsport through standing water. obviously Minis probably have an advantage already being front wheel drive as opposed to Porsche and BMWs et al. Chris Harris also does a similar 'study' on the handling track at Millbrook - driving a car with 'bicycle tyres' around it.
The door card sticker should intimate the size of the winter tyres for your model. They are usually a smaller diameter and width.
Pip
Try driving a Porsche or BMW Motorsport through standing water. obviously Minis probably have an advantage already being front wheel drive as opposed to Porsche and BMWs et al. Chris Harris also does a similar 'study' on the handling track at Millbrook - driving a car with 'bicycle tyres' around it.
The door card sticker should intimate the size of the winter tyres for your model. They are usually a smaller diameter and width.
Pip
Had the same question. In the end I opted for 195 55 16 which I think is a good compromise. I thought the 175 would be just too narrow unless you're driving on snow all the time. I live in the highlands of Scotland and not had any issues yet. I put mine on in Dec and normally take off in April. If you get a good winter tyre you will have the benefit of a better grip due to the tread and a narrower tyre.
Ended up getting a used set of 16" Victory spoke wheels and put 195 55 16 non run flat Continental Winter Contacts on them. Very happy with that set up and looks like may get a chance to test them in anger this week if the latest forecast is anything to go by. Certainly feel the difference compared with the 205 45 17s summer tyres in that the steering is a bit lighter, wheels easier to spin and less confidence inspiring through the corners but still good fun - I feel the 175s would have been a step too far though.
I have a Mini with 16" rims, when i enquired with BMW/Mini as to what winter tyres i should put on they suggested a specific steel 15" rim and tyres. (does not look so good as black alloys....but then road salt does not look so good on alloys when it starts eating them!)
These are therefore 1" narrower, They easily bite through standing water where as in the "summer" months i find the car likes to "aqua" plain owing to the footprint and tread patterns being so different
I was also asked for the reg/vin no. of the car so that I got the correct wheels for the car so there would be no issues with the brake calipers, and the exact fit to the hubs of the car
If you live in Scotland I would suggest winter wheels/tyres are 100% necessary, but you have to have the correct stuff for your car!
My local tyre supplier is also careful in making sure that the tyres he supplies me are the correct ones for BMW's/Mini's otherwise they don't fit proper!
These are therefore 1" narrower, They easily bite through standing water where as in the "summer" months i find the car likes to "aqua" plain owing to the footprint and tread patterns being so different
I was also asked for the reg/vin no. of the car so that I got the correct wheels for the car so there would be no issues with the brake calipers, and the exact fit to the hubs of the car
If you live in Scotland I would suggest winter wheels/tyres are 100% necessary, but you have to have the correct stuff for your car!
My local tyre supplier is also careful in making sure that the tyres he supplies me are the correct ones for BMW's/Mini's otherwise they don't fit proper!
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