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The Tyre Recommendations Thread

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Max

Tue Mar 20 2007, 08:37PM

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Hear what you say Andrew and I trust Roland.

However I do think its horses for courses...

I'm impressed with my Nankangs currently and also have a set of new GS-D3s ready to go on...

What can I say other than the following (for me anyway) have been really great and have got me out of a few wet incidents (ask DK 8O ):

1. Nankang NS
2. Goodyear Eagle F1s (aka GS-D3)
3. Toyo T1R

I don't sell tyres either nor am I connected in any way to the industry

Just a buyer and a driver

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Dave

Tue Mar 20 2007, 11:13PM

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Still cant believe the Nankangs either and that somehow you and Tom even got them on my recommendation too. :o Still the best ive had for the price by far! �46 a tyre is bargain and they totally wipe the floor with any other tyres ive ever used on the Mini. Next up will be Avon ZZ3's and see how they perform on the mini but honestly these damn Nankangs arent wearing out! Done loads of miles and been hammering it around and the damn things arent wearing! Still really soft to the touch too....

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CoopersTom

Wed Mar 21 2007, 10:25PM

Registered Member #246

Joined: Mon Aug 14 2006, 11:00PM
Location: Romsey, Hants
Posts: 119

Im the same Dave.
Cant belive how well the Nankangs perform (specially when they warm up) and mine are hardly worn at all.
I have never used any other, more expensive performance tyres but i find it hard to believe that they can be twice as good seeing as they are twice the price tag!?

I would recommend them to anyone (even just for the smoke and noise they make

)

Dave

Thu Mar 22 2007, 12:23PM

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Joined: Mon Mar 13 2006, 12:00AM
Location: Southampton
Posts: 4708

I would recommend them to anyone (even just for the smoke and noise they make

)

Mine are pretty quiet though..... but smoke... ohhhh yes! Opps! :oops: I'm not a boy racer at all! Its limited incidents where not having an LSD causes my inside tyre to just light up.

MINI Project Loon : MINIProject.co.uk

Neil the Hat

Thu Mar 22 2007, 12:46PM

Mini'ing Around...

Registered Member #8

Joined: Sat Jan 14 2006, 12:00AM
Location: Southampton
Posts: 1168

I dont think I have been overly impressed with my Toyos...

When the fronts are gone I am considering going with your recommendations and fitting some Nankang NS to my S in size 215/35/18 and at �60 a corner they are a bit of a bargain.

Later on probably 215/40/18s from Falken.

All in all the Toyos have been a bit cr^p when it comes to punctures and the back end is fairly twitchy.

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Max

Thu Mar 22 2007, 09:03PM

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I would recommend them to anyone (even just for the smoke and noise they make

)

And you drove my car at Abingdon with the Nankangs on Tom so you do have additional experience of them

Max

Thu Mar 22 2007, 09:05PM

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and your former username on here and other sites was what exactly? :oops: :oops:

BOYR4CER

pmsl as well at that

Max

Thu Mar 22 2007, 09:07PM

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Neil the Hat

Fri Jun 08 2007, 08:51AM

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Posts: 1168

Max wrote ...
I dont think I have been overly impressed with my Toyos... When the fronts are gone I am considering going with your recommendations and fitting some Nankang NS to my S in size 215/35/18 and at �60 a corner they are a bit of a bargain. Later on probably 215/40/18s from Falken. All in all the Toyos have been a bit cr^p when it comes to punctures and the back end is fairly twitchy. So tell us about the punctures Neil? Were you just unlucky then?

Basically Max, it was both of the left hand tyres, think I picked up a couple of screws from the gutter.

I also think £110 a corner is a little steep, as I am mostly doing motorway driving.

I think I will be moving to the Nankang NS's at least on the back within a month or so.

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Matty

Thu Jul 12 2007, 01:37PM

Registered Member #368

Joined: Tue Mar 13 2007, 12:00AM
Posts: 22

URGENT HELP. My car is currently at BMW Hexagon havign some work done to it. They have picked up on the fact that the front tyres are only 2mm over illegal and need replacing pretty soon. They have said they'll fit me replacement tyres at cost cos of the probs i have had with my mini which works out at £95 each (though of course they'll be run-flats)!. Don't know whether to accept this offer or not and source some non run-flat tyres myself. However, i assume i can't really mix run-flats on back and standard on front and so will need to replace all tyres. This will be much more expensive i guess. What do tyou think i should do. Got to get back to 'em today.

Neil the Hat

Thu Jul 12 2007, 01:52PM

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Matty wrote ...
URGENT HELP. My car is currently at BMW Hexagon havign some work done to it. They have picked up on the fact that the front tyres are only 2mm over illegal and need replacing pretty soon. They have said they'll fit me replacement tyres at cost cos of the probs i have had with my mini which works out at £95 each (though of course they'll be run-flats)!. Don't know whether to accept this offer or not and source some non run-flat tyres myself. However, i assume i can't really mix run-flats on back and standard on front and so will need to replace all tyres. This will be much more expensive i guess. What do tyou think i should do. Got to get back to 'em today.

I would say if they are going to only charge you £95 a corner for runflats I would probably go with that.

That works out at £190 for the pair which is very good - it would be unlikely that you would be able to buy 4 decent regular tyres for that price.

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Matty

Thu Jul 12 2007, 02:34PM

Registered Member #368

Joined: Tue Mar 13 2007, 12:00AM
Posts: 22

Thanks for reply Neil. Yes it does sound tempting doesn't it!. But was thinking, having read loads of you guys recomend the Nankang NS tyre, if they are only around £60 a pop and if they truely are much better than run-flats, theres not that much in it (£50) between the 2 run-flats and 4 of these. What about the tyre pressure sensor if you don't use run-flats. Does it still work?.

Dave

Thu Jul 12 2007, 03:15PM

Registered Member #140

Joined: Mon Mar 13 2006, 12:00AM
Location: Southampton
Posts: 4708

The pressure sensor uses the ASC/DSC wheel sensors to monitor drag on each wheel so wheel size and tyre wont have an impact as long as all are the same

If you are running 17's then the Nankangs can be £40+ per tyre. Mine were £46 from http://www.topgear.co.uk. Much better then runflats? well there's more grip and the car feels more stable but I would add mine are 215/40 R17s so I should have more grip with 10mm more width per tyre. Its really a price game to me.....£600 for a full set of runflats or £200 for a full set of non runflats. Didnt take me long to decide and take the risk of getting a flat tyre one rainy dark winter evening which why I carry my friend TyreWeld and hope for the best

MINI Project Loon : MINIProject.co.uk

Technodread

Mon Nov 05 2007, 10:48AM

Registered Member #476

Joined: Mon Nov 05 2007, 10:26AM
Location: Syresham
Posts: 3

Hi All,

The Pirelli run flats on my wife’s Cooper S Works need replacing, I was just going to go for direct replacements but after reading this thread I think I am going to go for a set of the Nankang NS2’s.

My question to you is regarding the size.

We currently have 205/45 R17 fitted to the car, however a few people on this thread mention the 215/45 R17, will these fit on our standard 17 inch mini wheels?, will the handling/stability be better given the extra width?

Your thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Max

Mon Nov 05 2007, 01:37PM

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Joined: Sun Jan 15 2006, 12:00AM
Location: On a Canal Somewhere

Posts: 3989

Technodread wrote ...
Hi All, The Pirelli run flats on my wife’s Cooper S Works need replacing, I was just going to go for direct replacements but after reading this thread I think I am going to go for a set of the Nankang NS2’s. My question to you is regarding the size. We currently have 205/45 R17 fitted to the car, however a few people on this thread mention the 215/45 R17, will these fit on our standard 17 inch mini wheels?, will the handling/stability be better given the extra width? Your thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated. Cheers

Welcome on here Technodread

I'm no tyre specialist; but this is how it worked out for me on my MCS:

"Tyre sizes The diameter of the 195/55-16 tyre/wheel combination is 24.44"

The diameter of the 205/50-16 tyre/wheel combination is 24.07"

This is only a 1% difference. There should be no real difference on the road. For the new tyre size the speedometer and odometer will read approximately 1% lower that the stock tyre.

Just as a point of interest, the diameter of the 175/65-15 is 23.96"

The diameter of the 205/45-17 is 24.26"

The three different tyre/wheel combinations were selected by MINI because they would not have to change the programing for the computer that calculates the speed and distance. The 205/50-16 falls within the stock tyre sizes so I wouldn't worry about it."

I would recommend going to a good local tyre place (not Kwikfit) where they know what they are doing and take their advice.

If you go down this route get some tyre weld in cans and a pump that works of the ciggy lighter.

Regards

Max :d

Technodread

Mon Nov 05 2007, 02:33PM

Registered Member #476

Joined: Mon Nov 05 2007, 10:26AM
Location: Syresham
Posts: 3

Thanks Max,

Just spoken to Top Gear in Northampton, both sizes are fine, it's just up to me which ones I choose.

The Extra 10mm on the 215/45 R17 will give small amount of extra grip. So given the windly roads near me I think the wider tyres sound like the ones for my wife.

I will be booking to get them fitted on Saturday.

Thanks for the tip about he Tyre Weld and Pump, will be taking a trip to halfords at the same time.

Cheers

D

Max

Mon Nov 05 2007, 06:40PM

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Joined: Sun Jan 15 2006, 12:00AM
Location: On a Canal Somewhere

Posts: 3989

Technodread wrote ...
Thanks Max, Just spoken to Top Gear in Northampton, both sizes are fine, it's just up to me which ones I choose. The Extra 10mm on the 215/45 R17 will give small amount of extra grip. So given the windly roads near me I think the wider tyres sound like the ones for my wife. I will be booking to get them fitted on Saturday. Thanks for the tip about he Tyre Weld and Pump, will be taking a trip to halfords at the same time. Cheers D

No worries mate.

When you get some decent rubber on y not you and yours come and join us for a meet?

http://scnm.net/forum-t39724.html

Worth a look anyway?

be good, mainly

M

[ Edited Mon Nov 05 2007, 06:45PM ]

Dave

Tue Nov 06 2007, 04:11PM

Registered Member #140

Joined: Mon Mar 13 2006, 12:00AM
Location: Southampton
Posts: 4708

Ummm the proper size is 215/40 R17s not 45 profile. Should be £46 at Topgear

I just ordered some new ones recently too. They are great in the dry but not the most amazing in the wet. But for £46 a wheel they are good value.

MINI Project Loon : MINIProject.co.uk

Max

Tue Nov 06 2007, 06:29PM

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Joined: Sun Jan 15 2006, 12:00AM
Location: On a Canal Somewhere

Posts: 3989

Thanks Dave [as usual the Oracle is on the ball

]

Technodread

Fri Nov 09 2007, 09:04PM

Registered Member #476

Joined: Mon Nov 05 2007, 10:26AM
Location: Syresham
Posts: 3

Thanks for the help all, I am sure the ones on the car are 215/45 R17 and they were supplied with the car, so will probably go with the same size replacements.

Off tomorrow morning to get them fitted so will have bit of a blast tom afternoon, blow those cobwebs away, and kick my winter blues away

Cheers All

D

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