Mini JCW GP 2 (2013) -Tyres HELP???
Discussion
Hi Guys,
I'm sure there's some on here that may be able to help with my conundrum.
Along with the below any general advice/warnings etc would be helpful.
Currently contemplating acquiring a Mini JCW GP2 - but I am slightly concerned about the Tyres as they were specially developed by Kumho but are a soft compound more track focused tyre.
Do any of you know a more versatile tyre that can be used in winter as well and is better wearing - Unlikely that I am going to track the car so want something that works better in colder temps and rain where the Kumhos are hopeless...
Thanks in advance
Anyone.
I'm sure there's some on here that may be able to help with my conundrum.
Along with the below any general advice/warnings etc would be helpful.
Currently contemplating acquiring a Mini JCW GP2 - but I am slightly concerned about the Tyres as they were specially developed by Kumho but are a soft compound more track focused tyre.
Do any of you know a more versatile tyre that can be used in winter as well and is better wearing - Unlikely that I am going to track the car so want something that works better in colder temps and rain where the Kumhos are hopeless...
Thanks in advance
Anyone.
Tyres are tyres are tyres.
Just because the car comes with a certain tyre doesn't mean you can't change them to something else more suitable.
Conti S/C 6 are good, Goodyear F1 Assy 3 are good between these 2 there is pretty much nothing to chose.
You could always have a nosey through tyrereviews.com, there is a full section on professional tests done on pretty much every tyre on the planet.
Just in addition to the above for "true" winter use you should really change to winter tyres when ambients fall below 8 degrees but most people don't, the difference is incredible if you do.
Just because the car comes with a certain tyre doesn't mean you can't change them to something else more suitable.
Conti S/C 6 are good, Goodyear F1 Assy 3 are good between these 2 there is pretty much nothing to chose.
You could always have a nosey through tyrereviews.com, there is a full section on professional tests done on pretty much every tyre on the planet.
Just in addition to the above for "true" winter use you should really change to winter tyres when ambients fall below 8 degrees but most people don't, the difference is incredible if you do.
E-bmw said:
Tyres are tyres are tyres.
Just because the car comes with a certain tyre doesn't mean you can't change them to something else more suitable.
Conti S/C 6 are good, Goodyear F1 Assy 3 are good between these 2 there is pretty much nothing to chose.
You could always have a nosey through tyrereviews.com, there is a full section on professional tests done on pretty much every tyre on the planet.
Just in addition to the above for "true" winter use you should really change to winter tyres when ambients fall below 8 degrees but most people don't, the difference is incredible if you do.
I appreciate what you mean about the factory fit tyres - they really grippy when warm but crap in damp and wear rate is very poor. Just because the car comes with a certain tyre doesn't mean you can't change them to something else more suitable.
Conti S/C 6 are good, Goodyear F1 Assy 3 are good between these 2 there is pretty much nothing to chose.
You could always have a nosey through tyrereviews.com, there is a full section on professional tests done on pretty much every tyre on the planet.
Just in addition to the above for "true" winter use you should really change to winter tyres when ambients fall below 8 degrees but most people don't, the difference is incredible if you do.
The tyre size is slightly unusual so it does limit the tyres available for the car.
Thanks for your recommendation on those tyres, as you say there is pretty much nothing to chose unfortunately.
I would just search for a similar tyre with slightly better wear and adjust driving for the worst conditions. Overall you'll likely use the car more in dryer conditions which will allow you to enjoy the qualities this car offers, otherwise the car perhaps isn't right for you. Alternatively buy a set of winter wheels and tyres, or just another set for warm, whatever suits.
I moved off run flats 205/45r17 to 215/45r17 Federal RSR595's which are stickier tyres, but also fine for pretty much all speed limit driving, adjusting for very wet. Standing water will get you perhaps if simply going too fast, but that happens with any tyre if outdriving them.
Don't forget the brakes you have. Changing for a lesser or inadequate tyre to still have on in the dry may simply trigger your DSC prematurely. I have the same brakes on my R53 believe it or not, even before fitting these brakes I considered tyre choice for dry weather stopping ability too, not just the corners. So it's worth considering maybe.
I moved off run flats 205/45r17 to 215/45r17 Federal RSR595's which are stickier tyres, but also fine for pretty much all speed limit driving, adjusting for very wet. Standing water will get you perhaps if simply going too fast, but that happens with any tyre if outdriving them.
Don't forget the brakes you have. Changing for a lesser or inadequate tyre to still have on in the dry may simply trigger your DSC prematurely. I have the same brakes on my R53 believe it or not, even before fitting these brakes I considered tyre choice for dry weather stopping ability too, not just the corners. So it's worth considering maybe.
I am with E-BMW. If you want tyres good for the winter get another set of winter tyres. These are not just for snow but low temperatures (below 7 Celsius is their optimum I believe). I have a GP Mk I and have Dunlop Max runflats for summer and Vredesteins for winter with another set of wheels.
Runflats are not for everyone but hey ho and the Mk I runs with OEM 18" wheels - quite big for a small car.
Is not the Mk II 17" ?
Pip
Runflats are not for everyone but hey ho and the Mk I runs with OEM 18" wheels - quite big for a small car.
Is not the Mk II 17" ?
Pip
I have run AD08R as daily drivers on our MINI for 1000s of miles in all conditions & soaking wet winters, and they are pretty good in the wet if you want a trackday capable tyre that you can also use on the road.
They are B rated in the wet.
As long as you give them a couple of miles to warm up on the coldest mornings, they are the ideal trackday tyre for all year round road use.
If you want a road tyre that is superb in the wet, wears slowly and can also cope with occasional use on track, consider Michelin Pilot Sport 4.
They are A rated in the wet, work superbly from cold, grip well, and the long life with 8mm tread depth from new makes them cheaper to run per mile than cheaper alternatives.
The corners may wear/fray/chunk a bit with extended on-track punishment unlike AD08R, but they are superb in the wet and will last twice as long on the road.
PS4 won the latest EVO 2017 Tyre Test:
"Testers John Barker and Kim Adams considered its feel “peerless in the wet” and also praised its performance in dry conditions, concluding that the Pilot Sport 4 is “simply a great tyre.”
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2017-EVO-Summ...
https://www.evomagazine.com.au/tyre-test/
Hope this helps - let us know how you get on.
They are B rated in the wet.
As long as you give them a couple of miles to warm up on the coldest mornings, they are the ideal trackday tyre for all year round road use.
If you want a road tyre that is superb in the wet, wears slowly and can also cope with occasional use on track, consider Michelin Pilot Sport 4.
They are A rated in the wet, work superbly from cold, grip well, and the long life with 8mm tread depth from new makes them cheaper to run per mile than cheaper alternatives.
The corners may wear/fray/chunk a bit with extended on-track punishment unlike AD08R, but they are superb in the wet and will last twice as long on the road.
PS4 won the latest EVO 2017 Tyre Test:
"Testers John Barker and Kim Adams considered its feel “peerless in the wet” and also praised its performance in dry conditions, concluding that the Pilot Sport 4 is “simply a great tyre.”
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2017-EVO-Summ...
https://www.evomagazine.com.au/tyre-test/
Hope this helps - let us know how you get on.
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