MINI Cooper SE track review

Domenick

Domenick

Well-Known Member
Out of Spec has, on its reviews channel, put out a video featuring the MINI Cooper SE on a track. Now, the electric MINI isn't engineered for the track, but check out the video and see how it deals with the heat that running hard creates.

 
What eco-tires are on this test car? My Hankook Ventus S1 EVO3 tires aren't eco-tires. The Goodyear tires on the New Jersey cars lent to other journalists and video bloggers haven't been eco-tires, either.
 
I was wondering about the tires too. I have yet to see any reviews or comments about them using eco tires unless someone installed a set for range test reasons.
 
polyphonic said:
Is the EVO3 a runflat on the 16” wheels?
Click to expand...
Unlike other MINI Coopers, I don't believe the factory fits runflat tires to any MINI Cooper SE cars. The EVO3 tires came on the 17" Power Spoke rims on my Iconic SE. I purchased some used 16" Loop Spoke rims from Germany (from a vendor who sells lots of MINI rims on ebay) and they had some used Hankook EVO2 tires (not runflats) on them before I put on the Michelin X-Ice winter tires.
 
My experience with runflats are that they are quite noisy, which would be very noticeable in the silent SE. As much as I like them, I went with standard Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 for my snow tires (still waiting for wheels to mount them on).
 
I swapped out my runflats on my current Mini. The ride is louder and rougher than not. They also suck on potholes. I lost 1 within the first year. When I lost a second one a year later and had to limp my car to get the tire changed, I got rid of them. I'll never go back. They seem good in idea, but not a fan.
 
I can't remember what tire was specced for this press car exactly but I can say there was very little grip with them. Pretty good rolling resistance too as we took it on a road trip and it's the same car we did our 70mph highway range test on
 
KyleConner said:
I can't remember what tire was specced for this press car exactly but I can say there was very little grip with them. Pretty good rolling resistance too as we took it on a road trip and it's the same car we did our 70mph highway range test on
Click to expand...
AFAIK, the MINI Cooper SE with license plate U22 LXN was fitted with Goodyear Eagle F1s Asymmetric 3 rubber, a max-performance summer tire. Perhaps the other journalists wore them out.
 
I finally got a chance to watch this actual video. I will probably never hit the track with my SE. although occasionally my alma mater has a track day at Watkins Glen for alumni, and that would be very tempting. But auto cross is far more likely. And backroad driving is a given.

On that note, he made a comment about backroad driving. Namely that the car does overheat on a hard track run but he didn’t think it would with spirited backroad driving. Anyone here have any direct experience?


Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top