5 replies to this topic

[northernboy]

I have the Original Rover 4.5 x 12" Minilites and need to get 5 new tyres - there is not a great choice in this size so was wondering what people tend to fit or recommend.

 

 

The car will be used for standard road use and I want to keep the 145 x 70 x 12 profile for originality.

 

I have found ( all fitted price)

 

• Nankang Econex NA-1 (£52 each)  ( blackcircles)
•  
• Powertrac CityTour 70EC  (£31 each)   (merit tyres)
•  
• ​I also read about Falcon but can't find these fitted 

 

thoughts ?

 

 

 

[mab01uk]

Minispares now do the original Pirelli 12" Mini tyres used by Rover:-

 

145/70/12 PIRELLI CINTURATO TYRE

Genuine Pirelli 145/70/12 Cinturato tyre as fitted as standard to 12" wheel Minis in the 80's after testing was done by British Leyland and found these to be superior for allround road holding in wet and dry conditions, they also had a very good wear rate:-

http://www.minispare...px|Back to shop

Edited by mab01uk, 01 May 2021 - 08:20 AM.

[northernboy]

Many thanks - I will have a look at these - have always liked Pirelli 

[brivinci]

I have run Falcons years ago. Story was that they actually have good grip in the dry but their wet performance was lacking. Currently running Yokohama A539's. I do not have any complaints. They are 165/60/12. Fit the stock wheel just fine. 

[michelmk2]

I 'm vey happy with my Nankang for daily usage 

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We get all 4 seasons in NYC, USA, and I cannot afford two sets of tires, so I have always run "summer snows". Not a full-on winter compound that simply disintegrates in summer heat, but rather an "all weather / all season" tire with the three peak & snowflake logo - essential if you get real snow like we do.

My first 5 years were on a set of four 145/70R12 69Q Hankook Winter Icept W605 (on the 4.5x12 Rover Minilites that it sounds like you have).

I could pass Jeeps in the snow with those, and they worked reasonably well in the dry and wet, I even ran a few laps around Watkins Glen when they were nearly worn down to slicks near the end of their life).

But they aren't available anymore, so I moved onto a set of four Nankang SV-2. I've had them for about 4 years and am still pretty happy with them. I even think they'll start cracking from age and being parked outside before the tread is all gone.

My next set of tires will likely be the Nankang SV-3 from Minispares http://www.minispare.../12/TYRE27.aspx because they've copied their new tread design from Michelin's Cross Climate 2. Watch this video about this new directional tread design trend https://youtu.be/PT2odY3C6Og

But see https://www.nankangt...ts/winter/sv-3/ for the new tread design - Note that the picture on the Minispares site is still the SV-2), so hopefully they will be even better than the SV-2 have been for me. And, honestly, simply because I can afford them.

Another, twice as expensive tire to consider is the Pirelli mentioned above - but only if it is their SF2 all season tire here: https://www.pirelli....all-season-sf-2 and here: https://youtu.be/A3WssIxusLU

Unfortunately I can't tell if it is the SF2 on the Minispares site: http://www.minispare...12/TYRE35.aspx, but it is more likely the CN54 as seen here: https://www.longston...urato-cn54.html

Which is fine if you want that "vintage vibe", but don't expect terrific all weather road holding with a tread design that dates back to 1972.

Yes, the rubber is more modern, but read more here:
https://press.pirell...rato-500eng.pdf and here:
https://www.cinturato.net/125-12.html

Hope this is helpful!