mdsbrain.com MINI Blog

Thanks to a deal from a local DCMM club member Paul!, I have a great set of lightly used (had 2500 miles on them but look new) 16″ Mille wheels with Continental ExtremeWinter tires 195/55 R16.

I’ve put about 200 miles on these since they went on and the ride is totally different from the 17s. Its almost like going from runflats to non-runflats. This wheel and tire combo is 9lb lighter per corner and I can feel it. Car turns faster and accelerates moderatly faster. Braking also seems slightly improved. So till the warm weather returns my R99s and BFGoodrich KDW2s are in storage.

Bringing the wheels home:

Installed, the car’s appearance is dramatically different to me (anyone notice mods I forgot to blog? lol):

Also check that rear tire gap, it seems a tad smaller.

Also my car got a boboo on the way home the other day.

Its a hole about the size of a quater in my aero side skirt.

Better view:

Like V27.1 this seems to be a baby step update to increase the overall speed of the NAV. Although it says it does nothing for US cars.
Link to download. 137mb compressed
Link to GB voice hacked version for cars without the GB voice from the factory. Thanks to omascow for supplying this.

How to install.

Detailed info on this update.

Updated to include GB voice hacked verson 9/26.

Well it happened to me. Well more like it was pointed out to me. I had my bonnet open while showing the guys from “MINI Custom shop” on Sunday my baby.

My passenger side is mushroomed. So bad I cannot reinstall a M7 STB.

See the back screw? Either way I push the plate I cannot even start 2 of the screws. The passenger side is also the side I hit very hard back in February causing a bubbled runflat.
Compare it to the driver’s side which Is just fine.

So what do I plan to do? Well its a hard one because I am running on H-Sport springs. So I plan to mention it at my next scheduled service on Sept. 21st. We’ll see how they handle it or call me crazy and say its not a problem.

UPDATE – I spoke to my SA about my upcoming appt on Sept 20th and mentioned the mushroomed tower. She said its a common issue and they have fixed several. Interesting no? But that they should have the part in stock so it shouldn’t take to long. And if I have to pay is up in air or not depending on if they blame my springs for it or not. Regardless if Stock or JCW suspension equiped cars have the issue.

I don’t want this to sound like Gabe’s WMS pulley review but here it goes.

First impressions in the first 25miles:

Swapping from Runflats (EMT) tires to standard tires can be summed up with (here it goes) ……..WOW.

The ride is so much softer, more comfortable and the steering wheel turns normally now! I took a drive down my favorite road at the speed limit in my fresh new, unworn-in tires and the ride was so SWEET. Not even focusing on the grip. Just the difference from harsh, hard as rocks runflats to soft and drive-me comfy tires.

But then there is this one small thing so far in my short drive that is going to take some getting used to. Tire noise. I’ve never experienced it like I have in these tires. So I guess I’ll keep my steering up more often to droaned it out.

But so far ……………..WOW!

I plan to run these tires pumped up to 32-33psi. Anyone have any other suggestions?

Pics:

Oh and did you see my hot new front plate holder thanks to RednWhiteCooperonline.com

On a great MINI run yesterday I thought I dodged a large rock in the road but I hit it (pic below). Later I noticed the tire has a very obvious bubble in it. So here we go again on a tire replacement. Although this time I decided on a different course of action. Since 3 of my tires (including this one) have 4/32 (which will last a while I know!) of tread and the ride is killing me I am going to go with 4 normal tires.
I just placed an order for 4 205/45YR-17 BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW 2 RF from TireRack. I should get them in 1-2 days they say. Then I will mount my recent new runflat on my spare. So it will be like having 5 new tires.

Why did I go with these tires?

I have read the reviews for months and have had first hand experience with the grip they give while riding and driving in my friend’s Scion TC. Originally I had planned to replace the tires with a set of Avons but when Ian (GBMINI) wrote on his blog that the cornering in these tires wasn’t what he expected I turned away from them. I knew if Ian wasn’t satisfied I would just be plain pissed since I drive my car hard and corner aggressively.

Also you can’t beat the aggressive look of those tires. THEY’RE HOT!

EDIT -

Bulge: