So what do people think is a good , economical every day tyre that gives decent wear and doesn't handle too badly ? I still prefer Falkens as they are durable , forgiving and for what you get pretty cheap (remembering that I drive to the conditions as well and slow down in the wet , my daily is a V6 4WD ute that's easy to loop in the wet when empty) . Of course if I had a conversion or really hot A series I'd look at top performing tyres and put up with the high wear rate but I'm talking everyday tyres here , what do people like and how long do they last ?

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I've had good results from Bridgestone SF226, we drove Barney round Tassie in wet and dry, they are a good honest tyre. Wearing slowly. Cheap too.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

I like a008's - if rotated regularly and not continually thrashed I think they last quite well.

A big thing is driving to the conditions - everyone's opionion on that is different - some people still do silly speeds even in the pouring rain.

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"In two years time your car will be like a lady's clothes, out of date, my car will still be in fashion when I am dead" - Sir Alec speaking to Pininfarina

Agreed. especially so here in Canberra, where Public Service Grand Prix participants drive faster in the wet to get home quicker to avoid accidents........................

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1967 Cooper S - new front bearings to do.
1965 Cooper S shell - Slow progress. No time or money!
1966 Deluxe- next rustoration!
Mk 2 & XJ6 Jags. Less said the better.

There really is nothing wrong with the tyre, Ian i think it's probably a good tire for you.

But these blokes driving around sliding on them obviously require something better if they want to continue to drive at that speed.

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Starlet Conversion:
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15484

just wanted to add one of my thoughts. regardless of what tyre you're running, if your mini drops a little bit of oil here and there, as most are prone to do, this will affect the handling of any set of tyres, especially in the wet. maybe make doubly sure you're not driving/parking in any particularly oily spots before you go heading out in wet weather.

if there's not a drop of ouil to be seen, then carry on and pretend i wasn't here!

I agree - I have them on my cooper s - "a good honset tyre" is exactly the way I'd describe them. I'm a spirited driver and they've never scared or surprised me, in the wet or dry. I think I paid $85 each

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

i'll put another vote for the bridgestones...

excellent tyre.. good value,good grip all round... which is exactly what you want in a street tyre..

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When I'm driving in the wet I pray for my life and the life of others on the road as I have falkens on the back and A539's on the front and the rear slides even when I'm doing 20 under the speed limit and I will not gon above 80 even in a 110 zone. I keep the revs down as much as possible and yet no matter how slowly and cautious I am the rear lips and slides. In the wet when I had falkens all round I used to have to take off in 2nd or the wouldn't go anywhere and I'd loose all my tread. I'm saving up to buy anything but them. Definately the worse tyre I've ever driven on in any car. If only connitenial did a 12x5 hehe

Excellent thread - I've been thinking for a while that I'd need to ask people's opinions for what's a good all-round tyre.

I've got some cruddy taiwanese or chinese tyres on mine at the moment and as soon as the road gets a little wet the front wheels are just awful at getting any grip on corners or pulling away from junctions and traffic lights.

Sounds like the Bridgestones are the way to go.

I've currently got the Bridgestones - plenty of tread, but old and have gone hard as - lethal in the wet, noisy and squealy in the dry!
So have got some 008's on order.
Peter

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1969 Mini Cooper S MKII (1330)
1972 Honda 750/4 (his),1976 Honda 400/4 (hers)
1982 Honda CB1100RC (ours)

For good traction off the line in the wet I find the A008 takes some beating, among `road' tyres.
Sure A032R and Dunlop Formula R may be better for this, but neither lasts in road use.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

a539's are a good all rounder, not cheap but not expensive either. i dont like falkens in the wet, in the dry they are fine.
maybe get some falkens, and then get some new grooves cut into them. just 3 spaced out vertical lines, help disperce the water

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real men race downhill - keiichi tsuchiya

i'll tell you how these yoko's go later, when i get them on

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real men race downhill - keiichi tsuchiya

I've been out and about in the Melbourne rush hour commute Grand Prix on my motorbike of late. What i have noticed is that all this rain we have been lucky enough to have has made the Yamaha's power a little to hard to get to the gound.
The bitumen is as slippery as ice, it must be the all the dirt and oils that have built up in the dry has washed out of the cracks and back onto the road. It's been really treacherous.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.