New Front Tyres

[Smitty]

Well I was hoping that my tyres would last the whole of the summer but the front right is know too worn (I think it was my trip rund Silverstone that put the nail t the coffin) and just noticed my front right has a big slash in the outer wall and has lost a lot of pressure :sad:

As a result - two new front tyres for me - but which are best to go for?

I had a read through iankings thread (here (http://www.newminiscotland.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=17325)) which was helpful. Seems Federals could be the best bet for 17's on a Cooper or maybe Toyo Proxys. Am I right?

And i'm using this oppurtunity to ditch the run-flats! :D :D :beer:

Current running the stock Pirrelli run flats, and they will be staying on the rear for now.

[Big Gordy]

I must say I've been mightely impressed with the Federals:yes nod:
John Barrie, ex mini racer, recomended them to us some time ago and they don't disappoint:thumbs up:

[Smitty]

I must say I've been mightely impressed with the Federals:yes nod:
John Barrie, ex mini racer, recomended them to us some time ago and they don't disappoint:thumbs up:

Whats the make/model of your Federals Gordy?

I'm guessing they are good in both dry and wet conditions?

[Craig]

Whats the make/model of your Federals Gordy?

I'm guessing they are good in both dry and wet conditions?

I believe they are SS595 tyres mate and they will be getting put on my 17"s for winter. :thumbs up: I believe they are great in wet and dry from what John and Gordy has said before. :yes nod:

[Smitty]

And I pressume they aren't run-flats?

I'm guessing you chaps aren't that silly!!!? :p ;)

[Big Gordy]

Craigs right they're SS595:thumbs up:
To be honest I really don't drive it enough to pass a true judgement on how they perform but I've never had any "incidents" with them whether it be wet or dry on any of the runs I've been on:smilewinkgrin:

[Big Gordy]

And I pressume they aren't run-flats?

Correct:thumbs up:


I'm guessing you chaps aren't that silly!!!? :p ;)

I wouldn't go so far as to say that:hand:

[Smitty]

I've just phoned 3 local fitters - all have told me that they will do not advise fitting non-run flats to standard MINI wheels.

2 of them actually point blankly refused to fit the tyres, saying that they do not want to void warrenty/insurance. Am I geting screwed around here, or am I missing something?

[The Dogfather]

Federals are not great in the wet but good for the price, Uniroyal Rainsport 2s are the best - review here (http://http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Uniroyal/Rainsport-2.htm) they cost about £100

Yes, the tyre places are screwing you around, I had the same BS when I replaced mine.

[Crombers]

To be honest I really don't drive it enough to pass a true judgement on how they perform

Oh yeah :rolleyes:, like the time a few of us nipped up to Knockhill & you wee'd all over me :Whistle:

[Smitty]

The Federals seem quite cheap - I was expecting £100 per corner, even for non-run flats. Want something with plenty of grip for all seasons and all weather! What about Pirreli Non- Run Flats?

Good to hear i wasn't the only one getting screwed around....i'll just BS them back or take my business elsewhere!

[Smitty]

Toyo Proxies, fitted and balanced for £89.99 per corner. Sound reasonable? I know Gismo is running these and never had much problems with all his power, so guess they'll be pretty good for my tiny little cooper! :moonie:

Other option was Avons at £90 - i've heard good things previously, but for cars like Saxo VTS, Astra GSI's (Chave cars in effect!). Thoughts?

[Big Gordy]

Oh yeah :rolleyes:, like the time a few of us nipped up to Knockhill & you wee'd all over me :Whistle:

Aye but you were running your 18's that have terrible 'wet' tyres on them:Whistle:

[Big Gordy]

Federals are not great in the wet

Mmmmmm.....never had a problem with them to be honest:idea:


Uniroyal Rainsport 2s are the best

....in the wet but what are they like in the dry:confused:.......hold on we stay in Scotland so scrub that question:rolleyes:

[Big Gordy]

What about Pirreli Non- Run Flats?

Don't think you can go too wrong with P7's or P Zeros but are they not rather expensive:eek: almost as much as the run flats:Whistle:

[Smitty]

....in the wet but what are they like in the dry:confused:.......hold on we stay in Scotland so scrub that question:rolleyes:

You stay in Scotland....I now (unfortuantly some would say) stay in Englandshire. Wait a minute....still bl**dy wet down here too!! :p

Reckon i'm going to go ahead with the Toyo's, unless anyone pops up in the next few hours and say's - "God no, they are rubbish!"

Turns out I actually have a Federal SS on my front left at the moment. But it's the one that the tyre wall is coming away from the rest of the tyre...as a result I'm now a little put off!!

[RyanK]

I have just changed from Pirelli Pzero neros to Toyo T1-R's. Toyos are in another league imo. The Pirellis were seriously hard and actually made me check my dampers once on the Mini One.

Toyos handle well in both wet and dry roads. Only thing I can fault is that the tread seems to be going down awful quick ha

[Gismo]

Toyo's ok from my perspective :thumbs up:

[josh_r53]

t1-r's all the way for me........... camskill.co.uk is the cheepest in uk me thinks

[Big Gordy]

Don't think they've invented a tyre yet that would tame the horses your front wheels are churning out Alan:eek::Whistle:

[Smitty]

Only thing I can fault is that the tread seems to be going down awful quick ha

That could be more to do with your Driving style Ryan ;) :p

Going to see the difference in price between the T1-R's and the Proxy CF1's before getting them changed.

I'll hav eto stick with the Pirrelli RF on the rear at the moment - can't justify the cost of replacing them when they are no where near the lower limit.

[Big Gordy]

I sold two RF's on here not so long ago and got 80 quid for them :Whistle:Paid for one and a half Federals:smilewinkgrin:

Dammit....forgot your in Lem Spa....dohh

[The Dogfather]

I've had Toyos, Rainsports, Pilot Sports, Conti Contacts and Federals - but I won't be changing brand again, Rainsports will be replaced with rainsports - that should tell you all you need to know.

Oh, they work well in any conditions including the dry and Toyo are crap in comparison.

[Craig]

never had the rainsports Paul, but I will check them out. I have toyos on my 18's and never had a problem. :confused:;)

[The Dogfather]

Toyos are great at first but performance falls away rapidly IMO.

I had them on my Smart Brabus which has similar performance to the Cooper Works Kit MINIs. I found the Michellin Pilot Sports to be a better tyre after a bit or wear.

[Scottie]

My next tyres will be Kumho Ecsta £240 for four tyres.

for winter I have my Toyo winter tyres.

I currently have the Federals and for the price range they seem to handle well enough for my day to day drive.

[GAJ]

I have the Kumho Ecstas on the front now, been pretty impressed with them, especially at the price they are.

[Craig]

My next tyres will be Kumho Ecsta £240 for four tyres.

for winter I have my Toyo winter tyres.

I currently have the Federals and for the price range they seem to handle well enough for my day to day drive.

interesting Fi.... mine will be for winter, but I just can't stretch to the toyo snowprox as I would rather have them.. ;)

[The Dogfather]

One winter tyre to look out for is Nokian WRG2s, I had them on my MINI last winter and the MX5 the winter before. They are actually a good performance winter tyre as well.

We have a 1 in 4 on the way up to my house and the Nokians managed to get the MX5 (RWD) up the hill in snow when some some 4WD soft-roaders were really struggling. It was quite amusing going past them in a roadster:D

[Smitty]

Well getting Toyo T1R's fitted tomorrow for £90 per corner so not bad. I will report back on performance.

I guess tires come down to personal preference at the end of the day - all I know is that RF's suck!

Checked pressures tonight - the Federal with the tear in the side wall was running at 1.5 bar - not good. And that's just happened very quickly as I checked the pressures a couple of weeks ago :sad:

[Ally S]

I'm pretty sure you cant run a mix of runflats and non runflats. I had to change all 4. The tyre fitter bought my good rear runflats off me.

[Big Gordy]

As long as they're on different axles Ally its OK to run a combination of the two:thumbs up: Another fact that's not too well known is that your supposed to fit your newest tyres on the rear. Reason being normal motorists will find it easier to control the front sliding about than the rear......apparently:rolleyes:

[Smitty]

Another fact that's not too well known is that your supposed to fit your newest tyres on the rear. Reason being normal motorists will find it easier to control the front sliding about than the rear......apparently:rolleyes:

But MINI motorist are no nromal motorist are they....:cool: :Whistle:

Plus, with the MINI - you have to be giving it BIG licks to loose the back end. It's much easier to achieve understeer than oversteer in these wee cars! Unless you are coming into the Complex at Silverstone....eh Stoney? ;) :p

[Big Gordy]

But MINI motorist are no nromal motorist are they....:cool: :Whistle:

Ain't that the truth:Whistle:


Plus, with the MINI - you have to be giving it BIG licks to loose the back end. It's much easier to achieve understeer than oversteer in these wee cars! Unless you are coming into the Complex at Silverstone....eh Stoney? ;) :p

I think the concern is that on most front wheel drive cars when you loose the back you become a passenger in the proceedings:rolleyes: whereas if the front goes you just have to lift off and it usually comes back:smilewinkgrin:

[GAJ]

Plus, with the MINI - you have to be giving it BIG licks to loose the back end. It's much easier to achieve understeer than oversteer in these wee cars!

It's surprisingly easy to lose the back end if you have new tyres on the front and old on the back, especially in the wet. Sadly, I know this from experience!:Whistle:

[Smitty]

It's surprisingly easy to lose the back end if you have new tyres on the front and old on the back, especially in the wet. Sadly, I know this from experience!:Whistle:

I think i'll learn from your experience and take it easy GAJ :thumbs up: ;)

Well they are on and instantly - what a difference in ride quality at the front. Much smoother and don't feel as if my spine is going to break of my wheel is going to buckle over every drain cover (slight over exaggeration, but you get the point :p)

Absolutely pissing down of rain so haven't tested the grip levels, far to dangerous to do so. I'll wait until it's dry and the tires are properly scrubbed before judging the performance!