Mini Cooper S (F56) | PH Fleet

The Mini gets its first upgrade. Post warranty claim, that is...

By Adam Betteridge / Sunday, 28 September 2025 / Loading comments

Firstly, a huge thank you to everyone who responded to my first fleet update. The list of tweaks and suggestions has grown considerably – and I’ve definitely learned a thing or two from the PistonHeads' hive mind.

Of course, with the chrome trim being my original gripe, the universe had other plans. Just two short months into ownership, the F56 suffered a broken spring – not exactly what I had in mind for lowering. Amazingly, it managed to snap clean in two while sitting completely stationary. Familiarity, as they say, breeds contempt.

Given the praises I previously sang about how reliable the F56 has been, this felt ironic – though it turns out broken springs are a fairly common issue on these. Thankfully, a quick trip to MINI and a few calls to the warranty team got me back on the road. While it would have been the perfect opportunity to upgrade all four corners with new springs and dampers, the warranty covered most of the repair and recovery… though not the cost of a new alloy wheel, which was damaged while the car was being moved. Naturally, it was one of the freshly refurbed ones.

Still, with the Mini up on the ramp for a few days, there was an upgrade which I had factored in for a few months later. One clear recommendation from the comments was to ditch the 18-inch JCW Cup alloys and switch to 17s. After a few months of driving on the 18s (and three years on the 17s), the difference is becoming obvious. Road noise isn’t unbearable by any means, but it’s noticeably more intrusive on the larger wheels.

Obviously, running the larger wheels and lower-profile tyres increases road noise and general harshness. MINI’s standard run-flat tyres originally offered on the car didn’t help matters – they've long been criticised for being overly stiff and compromising ride comfort.

To make matters worse, the previous owner had fitted tyres that I’m 99% convinced were manufactured by Playmobil. The compound was so hard it may as well have been plastic. Handling wasn’t quite as vague in the wet as the lucky-dip steering of my old Focus ST, but the grip – especially in the rain – was uninspiring. Enter some fresh Michelins. Tyre reviews usually focus on supercars on circuits or SUVs off-road, but for the rest of us, the right set can transform everyday driving.

In this case, the Mini now wears Michelin’s new CrossClimate 3 Sport tyres. Building on the all-season success of its predecessors, the “Sport” version is aimed at performance-oriented cars that still live on real roads. In short, it’s for people like us who enjoy a fun car but use it daily. Crucially, they’re genuine all-season tyres. No swapping when the temperature drops, and no sense of being a compromise – they just work.

On some cars, changing tyres brings only subtle improvements. Not here. Road noise has dropped enough to make me wonder how bad the old set really was, and as a bonus, the (admittedly small) pops and bangs from the rear are easier to hear. Dry grip is excellent, with sharper turn-in and steadier motorway composure.

But the real revelation is in the wet. The CC3 Sports impressed so much I started looking forward to rain. Grip is confidence-inspiring enough that I even switched traction control off; it just wasn’t needed. For someone who once worked at a lightweight British sports car maker where rain was the enemy… that’s saying something.

The tyres might have arrived earlier in the build than planned, but that means some proper real-world testing is underway. With summer now behind us, there’s the prospect of rain, winter miles, and maybe even a cheeky track day or two.

So, while the original plan was black stripes and de-chroming, the Mini has instead ended up with a fresh set of sticky black shoes – and, yes, some spot lamps for good measure. In short, handling and grip have been improved, night-time visibility is better, and the suspension is now attached to the car. Quite a busy month for the Mini. Next up? Well, let’s not make any promises this time…

FACT SHEET
Car: 2015 Mini Cooper S (F56)
Run by: Adam Betteridge
On Fleet Since: June 2025
Mileage: 79,133