Joey's Cooper Thread; Suspension Thoughts

[YSSMAN]

I've got a set of Goodyear Eagle GTs (well, off the top of my head, I believe that's what they are) on my Celica, and they work pretty well. I can get through most of the insane snow we have up here without any problem, although actual traction once moving seems to be a little on the skittish side depending on road conditions. Otherwise, dry performance is pretty good the rest of the year, and I can't complain too much about driving in the wet as well. A good tire, but it wasn't my choice - they came with the car.

I'd have a look at the BFGoodrich options. They tend to have pretty solid performance at a good price. I think its the Traction T/A that would be fitting your needs.

 

[Joey D]

You guys tend to get a whole helluva lot more snow than we do so that's good to know they do decently well. They are probably on par with the TRZ's I have right now.

I'll have to give the T/A's a look too.

 

[Duke]

I'm honestly not a big fan of Goodyear tires at all, or Continentals either. I think the both (Goodyear especially) charge way too much for what you get. I don't know the prices on what you're looking at.

I'm partial to Dunlops and Bridegestones, myself - had very few complaints about either brand.

15" wheels are getting tougher to find a good selection in, as the world tends farther towards overcompensation in the inch department. I'm having trouble finding decent reasonable tires for my daughters GF8 (did you see what I did there).

 

[Gil]

See if there is a Kuhmo that will fit the bill.
They tend to be as good or better than the other major tire makers for like half the price.

 

[Joey D]

The Eagle GT's are $80 a piece and the Conti's are $100 a piece. I've always had good luck with Michelin's but the Exaltos are $140 a tire which is way to freakin expensive for tires. Really my limit is about $100 a tire since I can float $450 for a set, its much better considering tires for the Blazer were $800.

The only Dunlops I found were Signatures, which didn't seem to offer really any performance with them. Sort of just a basic tire you put on a Camry to sit in traffic.

The only Bridgestones I found were Potenza RE92's which have gotten awful reviews.

The Kumho's I found that fit are Ecsta ASX's which got decent reviews, but they are the same price as the Goodyear's with the Goodyear's having more promising reviews in the wet and snow.

And you are right Duke, it seems like the tire selection in 15's has gone down quite a bit. I don't know why since it seems like it should be a popular rim choice.

 

[Duke]

16" seems to be the price of admission these days.

 

[Joey D]

So it seems, but I really don't want to up date my rims right now since everything I like is way to expensive. I suppose I could snag a set of Cooper S wheels someone on North American Motoring is off loading, or I really suppose I could troll a Honda forum and pick some wheels up off of there since I believe the Cooper uses a 4x100 bolt pattern.

 

[Keef]

...my daughters GF8 (did you see what I did there).

She drives an old Impreza wagon? If so, awesome.

 

[Duke]

Check the offset/backspacing, though... BMW products sometimes are not common (and fairly particular) about those dimensions.

[edit] $80 for those Goodyears sounds OK. Normally G/Y is wayyy more expensive than that; like in the $140+ range.

 

[Famine]

Joey - Toyo Proxes T1-Rs.

Accept NO substitute.

 

[Joey D]

Check the offset/backspacing, though... BMW products sometimes are not common (and fairly particular) about those dimensions.

[edit] $80 for those Goodyears sounds OK. Normally G/Y is wayyy more expensive than that; like in the $140+ range.

Looking around on some MINI forums it looks like the pattern is 4x100 but I can't seem to find out the correct spacing. It doesn't really matter though, I'm not getting rims any time soon. At least not until I get my own place so I have room to store them.

I agree most Goodyear's are very expensive, the Eagle LS's I had on the Blazer cost a new borne and a kidney to buy. I think a set of four was $1,000 .

And Famine, I hope the Toyo Proxes T1-R comment was a joke. I do drive in the snow from time to time .

 

[eiriksmil]

It doesn't really matter though, I'm not getting rims any time soon. At least not until I get my own place so I have room to store them.

Slowly take up more and more space.. That way you're taking over your parents place without them noticing it before you're moving out anyway..

And Famine, I hope the Toyo Proxes T1-R comment was a joke. I do drive in the snow from time to time .

All terrains are NOT suitable for snow or icy conditions anyway.

 

[Famine]

I drive the MX-3 through snow on T1-Rs. Best. Snow. Grip. Evar.

Seriously. I never even noticed a loss of grip until I got out of the car and fell over.

 

[Joey D]

All-seasons work just fine for the snow we get here, really Michigan only gets a few "holy Jesus" snows a winter. Most of the time it's only an inch or two, which I can deal with. Like I said if it gets really bad I have the S-10 or even my dad's work G-van, or if I really have to the POS Pacifica.

Toyo doesn't even rate the T1-R's for snow and ice since they are classified as a summer only tire. Cooper's do not do well with summer tires and snow. The loaner car I got over the winter damn near killed me because of the damn tires on it and the snow.

 

[Perfect Balance]

You do realize that the tires choices (especially the continentals) and the fact that you've got a big bulgy, squishy tire on a small rim is all part of the reason you get that "wiggly" feeling?

The continental tires' treads are made up of little tiny pieces of rubber, making them flex very easily. Have you ever driven on a set of snow tires that felt all soft? That's why.

I would look for something with nice, solid blocks of tread. Also, sticking a 205 tire on a rim meant for a 175 also adds to the soft feeling. Drifters stretch thinner tires on wide rims to preload the sidewalls, making them stiffer and more responsive. Sticking a wide tire on a skinny rim has the opposite effect.

If I were you I'd suck it up and but another set of wheels that will properly fit a decent sized tire on there. If you really want all seasons, then at least get some kind of high performance all seasons so you get a stiffer sidewall.

 

[Joey D]

I never got a wiggle from the Continentals at all and I had the car quite fast. Actually the Continentals were the stiffest tires I've ever had on a car because they were run flats. It was only when I switched to the Yoko's I got the wiggle and it only happens at higher speeds and on roads that are combed a certain way. Plus they are only T rated and MINI requires at least an H rating on their cars for whatever reason.

The Goodyear Eagle GT's appear to be some of the highest performance rated all-seasons out, so I have to imagine they'll be ok.

 

[Omnis]

Kumhos have treated me very well.

 

[YSSMAN]

Seeing as how our wheel sizes are similar (205/55, 15") and what we'd both likely want from the car... Tire Rack is showing that Khumo Ecsta ASX ($67) is a halfway decent option at a lower price. The ratings seem to be pretty similar to the BFGoodrich Traction T/A ($91), so it may not be a bad value.

Although those Bridgestone Potenzas are insanely expensive. I love my car, but not for $155 a tire.

 

[Famine]

All-seasons work just fine for the snow we get here, really Michigan only gets a few "holy Jesus" snows a winter. Most of the time it's only an inch or two, which I can deal with. Like I said if it gets really bad I have the S-10 or even my dad's work G-van, or if I really have to the POS Pacifica.

Toyo doesn't even rate the T1-R's for snow and ice since they are classified as a summer only tire. Cooper's do not do well with summer tires and snow. The loaner car I got over the winter damn near killed me because of the damn tires on it and the snow.

Well, as I say, not only did I not have any trouble with the MX-3 - which has a V6 perched over the front axle line - on T1-Rs in snow, I barely noticed there was any snow there. And it was of sufficient depth to make the front splitter a snowplough. Back at the ass-end of January we had a bit of a snow dump here too - and there's lots of hills here - and I was overtaking on single carriageway roads. Couple of days later it had turned into compacted lumps of ice and I was literally driving over it without a single moment of slip (while a neighbour in a Focus was losing it everywhere at 5mph).

I can't think of any reason why the MINI and the MX-3 would be that different - same layout (FWD), about the same kerb weight (2,400lb for the MX-3, with a 65:35 distribution) and even the same approximate tyre and wheel size (I run 205/55R15 on a 15" 4x100 rim as a stock size). We've got pretty much ballpark power and torque ratings too (135hp to 120hp and 118lbft each). There's no physical reason I can think of that would make my car unimpeachable on T1-Rs in snow and yours dreadful.


But, even if it were, the number one rule of driving in snow is "don't". If you have no confidence in the T1-Rs in snow and other options than the Cooper for those days when it does, use them instead and still put the T1-Rs on. Apart from Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3s (which I don't know if they are an option for you) there's no tyre we've come across that's as good and as inexpensive.

 

[GTI20VT]

Nice car, I own a Mini Cooper D and I love this car. 👍

I show you a photo of my Mini in Montmelo Circuit (Catalunya/Spain/Barcelona)

 

[Joey D]

I still don't think I could buy summer only tires and trust them to work in Michigan. It also gets spine shatteringly cold here with will make summer only tires useless. I know it's doesn't get that cold in the UK, so that might be why you can drive decently well with the Toyo's. My only concern would be that we'd get 6" and it be -30 with the windchill.

Anyways, I think I am going to breakdown and buy some rims. I really like these to be honest. They are called Tucson by MB Wheels and are pretty reasonably priced. Plus they sort of look like the JCW rims.

They are only $83 which is good and at 15 x 6.5" wide which means I should be able to fit a 195 series tire without issue on them.

 

[Famine]

I still don't think I could buy summer only tires and trust them to work in Michigan. It also gets spine shatteringly cold here with will make summer only tires useless. I know it's doesn't get that cold in the UK, so that might be why you can drive decently well with the Toyo's. My only concern would be that we'd get 6" and it be -30 with the windchill.

Even so, -30F doesn't make snow and ice any more snowy and icy and the fact is I can drive my distinctly-similar-to-yours car on snow and ice on those tyres without any problems.

And for the days when it's fine, you'll have the best tyre available on your budget. If it turns out to be shart on snow and ice, somehow, you can always use the S10 on those 7ish days a year...

 

[Joey D]

The temperature affects the property of the rubber, no it doesn't make the snow any less but it changes how the tire behaves. I'm sorry I'm still not going to run summer only rated tires all year around, they could be the best things in the world but I'm not going to chance it. If they do end up being crap on snow and ice I'm still stuck with them because when I move I'm not taking the truck with me.

Besides I can't even find a dealer in the area that sells Toyo tires.

 

[Azuremen]

Famine, I kind of want to call BS on the T1-R's working fine in snow. The RT-615, older Azenis, and the new Kumho XS are a joke in the snow compared to, say, snow tires. A great deal of slip and a complete lack of information when turning or braking. Triple the stopping distances as well.

And the temperture will very much modify how well tires work. The XS are much less grippy below around 35 degrees F.

I have to go to work now but I'll be back with a lot more of an opinion in a bit.

 

[Famine]

Famine, I kind of want to call BS on the T1-R's working fine in snow.

S'fine, but I've had the car 6 years and it's on its second set of them.

I swapped the P6000s off, in reasonable condition, when it became apparent they sucked wang. The T1-Rs transformed the car - in the dry, wet and snow. We went to a friend's back at the ass end of February and left quite late at night while their entire street (and much of the neighbouring two) was a block of compacted ice of varying depths and the time meant it was about as cold as it was going to get (I recall it was -3 that night, so about 25F - we're also right on the coast and are susceptible to Arctic and Siberian winds) and I just left without fuss - while a neighbour of theirs was just losing traction everywhere and struggling.


Now, I'll grant you I grew up in one of the coldest, highest, snowiest, hilliest cities in England and, as such, learned adverse conditions driving quite early on in my driving career. But the car itself is a cracker in the crap and the tyres have improved that somewhat.

I'll add that we shod the nearly-twice-as-powerful ST220 on them as well and we didn't have any issues while living in Cambridgeshire in the week-a-year it snowed either. And they were an awful size - 225/40R18.

 

[Perfect Balance]

pretty reasonably priced.
...

They are only $83.

So one of the absolutely cheapest wheels available is only "reasonably priced"?

 

[Joey D]

$400 for a set of wheels seems reasonably priced to me and my budget. They look good and they will provide a wider area for a wider tire. I am not going to spend a fortune on rims because I think it's ridiculous. I really fail to see what's so funny about it, you were the one that told me to suck it up and buy wider rims, which I am going to do.

 

[Perfect Balance]

I was just pointing out that your "reasonable price" is one of the lowest prices you'll find anywhere.

Kind of like if I found a brand new car for 1000 bucks and said it was "reasonably priced."

That's why I 'ed

 

[Joey D]

I don't know, I find them reasonable. I suppose I could get something used but looking around on craigslist only yielded a bunch of bling bling and stock Honda rims in my size. Really for the price, they look good and will offer a safer, better solution to my tire problem.

Plus I'm fairly confident one of my rims is slightly bent, and the cost of one MINI rim would be close to the cost of 3 of these rims. It doesn't make sense.

 

[Joey D]

Nice car, I own a Mini Cooper D and I love this car. 👍

I show you a photo of my Mini in Montmelo Circuit (Catalunya/Spain/Barcelona)

Sorry I missed this, nice Cooper 👍! How does the diesel engine run in the D's? We don't get them here in the state (yet) but I have to imagine it's decent enough. What kind of mileage do you get with it?