New Tyres - NON run-flat

[jamesrdav]

Looking to replace the two front run flats on my Mini Cooper.
I have the 17" Cooper S wheels and I don't want to fork out for the run flats as I have a space-saver spare and want to improve the ride a touch too.

Anyone got any recommendations?
I've looked at a few, but am not really that knowledgeable.

Any suggestions of where to buy would be gratefully received too.

Thanks in Advance

James

[jwf]

on our forum everyone seems happy with yokohama prad spec 2's goodyear egal f1's or toyo proxyes tr1's all pretty similar in grip and ride but toyos are best for perfomace but cost the most goodyears are the best all rounder and a good price the toyos arnt as good as the goodyears in the wet but are by fat the cheepest

[rich-uk]

I used Pirelli PZero's and Yoko Advan Parada's. They're both very good but the Pirelli's are fractionally better IMO, 1,000,000 time better than then rubbish runflats.

Remember to buy some tyre gunk and a pump if you haven't got a spare.

[redlake27]

There is a big difference in performance between the Run Flat brands. For example, the Goodyear Eagle RSA on the 17" is biased towards winter performance and the Dunlop SP9000 17" is more suitable for UK climates.

On our car we use the 17" Dunlop in preference to the other two options.

Autocar did a back to back on their long term Cooper S two years ago and stated a big difference between the three main run-flat tyre brands, recommending the Dunlop.

[jwf]

yeah theres a big diff between the run flats as well as i used to ahve dunlop sp sport runflats and they wre pretty good as run flats go and once they got some heat in them they held on quite well now on good year egal nct5 run flats and there terrible

[Raify]

on the Mini2 forum there's a list of the tyres people are choosing: www.mini2.com/forum/faq.php?faq=faq_wheels_tyres#faq_faq_replacement_tires

I've got the Pirelli Pzero's which are great.

[mini_ralf]

I put on a set of Federal tyres after looking around for non run flats. So far they have been quite good, durable, grippy and much more comfortable than the run flats that they replaced.

[Naughty Magpie]

I track my car about once a month & I use the Toyo T1-Rs, they are £150 delivered from www.camskill.co.uk for two tyres in 205/45/17 and are superb for grip and in the wet.
If you decide upon the Toyos do not go for the T1-S, these are a softer tyre wall formula and are shite, great for price and general everyday driving but is as bad as the Pirelli Euphorias for dreadful understeer.
The T1-Rs are a more rigid tyre construction and will hold up to harder cornering and weight transfers on track & road.

[jwf]

Naughty Magpie said:

If you decide upon the Toyos do not go for the T1-S, these are a softer tyre wall formula and are shite, great for price and general everyday driving but is as bad as the Pirelli Euphorias for dreadful understeer.
.

yep a mate said extacly the same thing when he put them on his S

[jamesrdav]

I've just ordered some TOYO Proxes T1-R from www.mytyres.co.uk
2 off @ £144.60 including delivery.

Just got to find somewhere in Reading to fit them cheaply and I'll see how much better they are than run-flats!

James

[Raify]

jamesrdav said:

Just got to find somewhere in Reading to fit them cheaply and I'll see how much better they are than run-flats!

[Krusty the Clown mode]

Waaaaaay better.

[/Krusty the Clown]

[baSkey]

so you're going to have sticky toyos on the front and rock hard runflats on the back...

asc+t = on then... !

[jamesrdav]

Indeed I am, I'll get it to oversteer at last!

I'll see what the difference is and probably bite the bullet on next pay day....
anyone want to buy some lovely runflats???!?!

[Raify]

I managed for quite a few months with proper fronts and ruin-flat rears. Good fun on greasy roundabouts!

[jamesrdav]

I think that site I mentioned for tyres could well be in eastern europe!
I rang them on the 0800 number and Borat answered the phone!

I look forward to receiving my recycled bubble gum with TOYO carved in it!

excellent

[tweety]

Just got a pair of Falkens fitted on the standard S rims and they are so much better, plus the price was good at £150 fitted.

Al.

[jamesrdav]

Just had the TOYOs fitted, so much better than run-flats.

Bit of a strange bonus too...went to kwik fit, they initially refused to fit non-run flats, then they would, but couldn't offer me a receipt as they aren't manufacturer approved...blah blah. Because of all that nonsense they couldn't put the cost through the till so.....free fitting! ha ha

I win!

[jwf]

jamesrdav said:

Just had the TOYOs fitted, so much better than run-flats.

Bit of a strange bonus too...went to kwik fit, they initially refused to fit non-run flats, then they would, but couldn't offer me a receipt as they aren't manufacturer approved...blah blah. Because of all that nonsense they couldn't put the cost through the till so.....free fitting! ha ha

I win!

runs out to buy me some toyos mate good work on that

[BigShow]

Finally, some advice on runflats, thanks guys... I'm biting the bullet and replacing all four tyres with something other than run flats... so, is everyone agreed that Toyo Proxes T1-R are the way to go?

[wiz 1]

go for it!

Welcome to the site by the way

Edited by wiz 1 on Tuesday 26th September 20:53