7 replies to this topic

[M0U5EY]

Hi there, 

I am going to put some 7x 13" JBW Minilight Black Hi-Lite wheels on my mini and i was wondering if any of you have had previous experience with any of the tyres that are available to be shipped with the wheel. The options are: ( all 175/50x13)

 

• Nankang AS-1 VR tyres
• Yokohama A048R medium tyres
• Yokohama A048R soft tyres
• Yokohama A5338 Tyres

I am sensing a theme in these tyres and from the thumbnails it appears that the soft and mediums are similar to their F1 counterparts (close to slicks), are these road legal? And if so will they not aquaplane to hell? Besides those two factors, which do you guys believe will be best to run my mini on? (1998 cooper)

Thanks!

 

[gazza82]

I would have thought 175 wide tyres on 7" rims is going to be a bit of a stretch .. and a really harsh ride as the sidewalls aren't going to be able to do their job.

 

 

 

A048R are described as "street legal track and competition" tyre so I wouldn't think today's roads would be too kind to them. Softer means better grip and cost of wearing quicker ..

A5338 doesn't even show up with google search in English .. and aren't on the Yokohama website .. check how OLD these are as there is a life to tyres of around 6 years after which they start to degrade.

 

Nankangs are a budget make .. mmm ... and according to their website those tyres are for 5.5" rims!

 

 

 

So what will the car be used for?

[M0U5EY]

Just for general driving really but its nice to have some fun every now and then :) I am looking on the JBW website as they can ship the tyres with the wheels.

[Cooperman]

7" wide wheels are a bit too wide for a 175 tyre. The best for a 175 is 5.5" to 6" wide.

[ian2000t]

I don't believe there is an alternative size for 7x13" rims anymore. Used to be able to get 195/45/13 Dunlops and Continentals, but they are long gone.

 

I used to be very happy with Yoko A539's in 175 on 7x13. But, the last set I bought were awful - perhaps they changed the compound? I tried Maxxis MAZ1 175, which I found better than the newer Yoko 539's.

 

But, really they were all a bit harsh, and skipped about too much in the wet when trying to put any power down (a massive 76bhp!). That's why I'm changing to 10" now...

[Tamworthbay]

I have used a048rs in soft and medium but not on 13s. Grip is absolutely amazing, even from cold but truly stunning when warm. Life is good for the tyre type but not as a daily tyre. Softs made 1800 miles on the front, mediums 2500. Rears made about 3000 and 3500. Not a lot when the price is considered but great fun. I would advise you to look at Coopermans comments though and decide if 7s are the best option.

[Cooperman]

Well I would never fit 13's because I don't like the way they rather spoil the traditional Mini feel.
The mini really needs the deep tyre sidewalls to help the short travel suspension to work as designed. It was designed to have 145/80 x 10 tyres.

[ian2000t]

I did have a mate with the Cooper 13x6" wheels on, and his gave a much better ride than mine - probably due to the 175 sitting properly, rather than being stretched to a 7" rim.