17 replies to this topic

[TopGearRules]

Hello, i got some minilites from ebay just a few days ago, and the tread on them are not very good! Im just wondering where does the cheapest good quality tyres? I tried looking on the kwik fit website as they are doing 25% off four tyres, but it doesn't come up with any results! My tyres are 165/60 R12

Thanks, Alex

Edited by TopGearRules, 20 April 2011 - 06:13 PM.

[Twisty]

try this place very cheap falken tyres. I would only buy yoko's for my mini but falkens are also pretty good, not sure if nankang still make a 165/60/12 tyre but worth a search.

http://www.clickonty...ZE91271H1248255

[Cooperman]

Hello, i got some minilites from ebay just a few days ago, and the tread on them are not very good! Im just wondering where does the cheapest good quality tyres? I tried looking on the kwik fit website as they are doing 25% off four tyres, but it doesn't come up with any results! My tyres are 165/60 R12

Thanks, Alex

Look on the specialist web sites of the Mini specialists for best prices.
My recommendation would be the latest pattern Falken 165/60x12.
With tyres you get what you pay for and there are some junk tyres out there which have poor wet-skid resistance and high wear-rates.

[TopGearRules]

Hi there, thanks for the replies! Are Nankangs any good as they are on the cheap side? Also if i did get tyres from the web where can i have them fitted? Thanks, Alex

[Twisty]

a mate had nankangs on and he said that as a dry weather tyre they were good but not as good in the rain but a perfectly usable tyre for every day non fast road use

tinternet tyre places normally send you to a local garage or to your home / workplace

Edited by Twisty, 20 April 2011 - 06:33 PM.

[MiniLuke]

Hi there, thanks for the replies! Are Nankangs any good as they are on the cheap side? Also if i did get tyres from the web where can i have them fitted? Thanks, Alex

Any small local tyre/wheel place will sort them out for a cash incentive.

[TopGearRules]

Ive seen some on the Minisport website: http://www.minisport...AN14570R12.html

Only issue is that the profile seem to be 70, while the old tyres on the rims say 60. Will this mean i cant fit them? Thanks

Edit: sorry those tyres are 145 profiles, disregard them!

Edited by TopGearRules, 20 April 2011 - 08:23 PM.

[AVV IT]

Are Nankangs any good as they are on the cheap side? Also if i did get tyres from the web where can i have them fitted? Thanks, Alex

I had some Nankangs a while back but noticed a big difference when I switched to Falkerns, so I'd advise that you spend a few pounds more and go with Falkerns instead.

You can have your own tyres fitted at any garage or tyre and ehxuast centre, but be warned that the cost of fitting can stack up by the time you've also paid for valves and balancing. I've even been quoted £17 per wheel for fitting recently, the cost of which would usualy be included in the tyre price, if you were to buy the tyres from the garage or tyre place itself instead, so buying your own tyres elsewhere can be a bit of a false economy sometimes. Also be aware that supplying your own parts can leave you vulnerable if you end up with a problem after fitting. If there is a problem the tyre fitters will take no responsibility as you provided the tyres and the tyres supplier will undoubtedly try and blame the tyre fitter for the problem!!

Before going down that route, as a comparison I would ring around a couple of your local tyre places, and ask them to quote you for a deal on four tyres supplied and fitted, they probably wont stock 165/60/12's, but will usually be able to order them in for you in a couple of days from their suppliers. Then once you have rang around and got some quotes ring them all back again with the cheapest quote you have managed to get elsewhere and then ask them to beat it if they want the business. Some of them will play along with this (even the big chains sometimes) and others won't, but you can save yourself a lot of cash that way, or at least end up with a set of decent tyres for budget tyre prices

[mini13]

strange, I have 165 10 falkens on my mini and the are dire,

the missus has 13" nankangs on her cinq and they are pretty good.

On 10's I'd say go for Yoko's, you can get 008's for anly a few quid more and IMO they are better in both wet and dry,

for 13's continental are a good tyre. dosent really help as you asked about 12's though...

[Cooperman]

strange, I have 165 10 falkens on my mini and the are dire,

the missus has 13" nankangs on her cinq and they are pretty good.

On 10's I'd say go for Yoko's, you can get 008's for anly a few quid more and IMO they are better in both wet and dry,

for 13's continental are a good tyre. dosent really help as you asked about 12's though...

The 165/70x10 Falkens are super. I've won several tarmac rallies on them and on what might be termed 'give & take' surfaces like broken or bumpy tarmac they are much better than an A008, but not quite as good on ultra-smooth tarmac. Wear rate is good too. The key is to run at slightly higher pressures, like 32 psi all round, and to make sure the suspension settings/geometry are correct.
I've also had 165/60x12 Falkens on another Cooper and they were good too, although another friend, 'MiniLandy' on here, has the latest newer Falken pattern/compound and says they are even better.
As for Nanking, I've not heard much about them, but if they were good some of my motor sporting friens would use them, but I can't think of anyone who does. To be blunt, they certainly haven't won any rallies I know of.
You certainly can't fit a 70 profile onto a 12" Mini wheel unless it's a narrow 145 profile. Even a 155/70 x 12 will hit the bodywork on full lock.
Cheap tyres really are a false economy in the long run.

[TopGearRules]

Hey guys, thanks for the comments! Just to say that i didnt notice that the Nankang ones on Minisport are only for 145 profile. Ive been trying the kwik fit tyre search but it doesn't come up with anything! I dont want rubbish unsafe tyres but the good branded ones i have been looking at are nearly £80 each, and i haven't got that kind of money atm! Alex

[Cooperman]

The latest Falkens are available from Mini Spares for £45 each inc VAT. You might get a bit of discount for buying 4 off.
Look in Mini Magazine for other Falken tyre deals.

[mini13]

Well I dont get that, mine have about as much grip as somthing without much grip at all...

Plus I cant seem to wear the buggers out, they,ve been on about 6 years now, normally 008's last me a year.

[ANON]

camskill

[Cooperman]

Well I dont get that, mine have about as much grip as somthing without much grip at all...

Plus I cant seem to wear the buggers out, they,ve been on about 6 years now, normally 008's last me a year.

I used to help with tyre testing for Firestone when they made their first Mini-sized radial tyre back in the 60's and I've been involved in motor sport and all sorts of tyres ever since including tyre testing the old 'works' 240Z Datsuns and Mk.1 Escorts.
Maybe with your Falkens you have a bit too stiff damping but too low a tyre pressure. That can make it seem like a tyre issue, but in fact it can be a suspension problem. Maybe the car is too low and it hits the bump stops over bumpy corners which will kill the tyre's ability to maintain any sort of proper grip. That is why lowered Minis often lack road-holding and handle like 'carp' on ordinary roads.
I can only say that I've used all sorts of tyres, and driving styles have to adapt for different tread, compounds and construction. I've even done well on rallies which were 70% tarmac but 30% gravel and used a 'knobbly' pattern. The road-holding is then severly reduced on the tarmac, but the driving style alters to allow for more 'sideways' driving and the handling is really super. But, try to drive a 'knobbly' like an A008 and you'll likely spin of go off.
I once rolled one of my rally Minis on a section where the road tightened to the left. There was a surface change just on the apex and I was on A008's which just clogged with the small amount of mud on the surface. I do reckon that if I had been on Falkens I might have been able to spin the car without damage as I would have been more positive in setting the car into the corner and they would not have clogged so badly. We went down a 14ft bank, ended on the roof and the dents definately didn't polish out!

Edited by Cooperman, 20 April 2011 - 09:11 PM.