Mini Cooper Tires

Introduced in 1959, the Mini was more than an icon of British car culture – it was a revolutionary vehicle. It was one of the most influential cars of the 20th century, with its transverse engine and FWD layout that left 80% of the car’s floor for passengers and luggage. The Mini Cooper was revived as a BMW sub-brand in the early 00s; cute (with retro styling that called to mind the original Mini), fun to drive, and economical, it immediately became a hit with drivers. By 2010, the Mini Cooper had a few iterations, such as the subcompact luxury crossover SUV variant in the form of the Paceman, the high-performance John Cooper Works model, a roadster version, the 5-door Countryman, and other variants. Select models of the Mini Cooper are available with BMW’s All4 AWD system, which features an electro-hydraulic differential that can proportion power between front and back wheels as needed. Mini Coopers are also available with EV or mild hybrid drivetrains.

Here at SimpleTire, our team has reviewed the catalog and rounded up some of the best tire options for your Mini Cooper, including premium all-season, all-weather, and winter tires. We then used our SimpleScore system and calculated numerical scores for handling, longevity, and traction for each tire. Ready? Let’s go in for a closer look:

1. Bridgestone Weatherpeak - Best All-Weather Tire

Let’s start this list with a tremendous all-weather choice for your Mini Cooper, the Bridgestone Weatherpeak. Suppose you live in a part of the country with the kinds of winters that mean several inches of snow, with subfreezing temperatures keeping an accumulation of snow and slush on the roads for days or weeks. In that case, you may have already discovered that most all-season tires can be much less than ideal in those conditions. All-weather tires may still be a little unfamiliar to many drivers. Still, they’re designed with much in common with their all-season counterparts. The main distinction is that tire makers design them for a leg up in performance in snow and slush. With those parameters in mind, Bridgestone engineers were committed to ensuring the Weatherpeak’s tread can deliver consistent grip in winter weather. The all-weather tread pattern is thick with a dense network of sipes, the hair-thin slits that add hundreds of extra biting edges, multiplying traction to give drivers the advantage they need. The sipe design of the Weatherpeak is a unique 3D mold that continues to boost grip and control in snow and slush even as the miles pile up and tread depth gets shallower. It’s incredibly innovative since, in most cases, worn tires just mean compromised traction. The Weatherpeak also features Bridgdstone’s “snow vices”, grooves that enhance grip by trapping and retaining snow to build snow-to-snow friction.

As you’d probably expect, the Bridgestone Weatherpeak is certified with the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake rating for severe winter service. Testing shows gains in braking performance, with the Weatherpeak being capable of braking distances as much as 30 feet shorter than the competition’s tires. Our team looked at all these data points and totaled a SimpleScore of 9.7 for traction for the Bridgestone Weatherpeak. SimpleScore for handling registers at a very solid 9,5, thanks to its tread design and rubber formulation. Steering response and cornering are also superb, with direct performance without being jumpy or overly sensitive. Road manners, steering response, driver feedback, and cornering ability are strong points with this tire, regardless of weather and road conditions. Our SimpleScore for longevity is a best-in-class 9.8; Bridgestone covers the Weatherpeak with a 70,000 mile limited manufacturer’s tread life.

2. Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season - Best All-Season Tire

Next up is a tire that’s been an odds-on favorite for some time, the Cinturato P7 All Season from Pirelli. The Cinturato P7 All Season gets excellent marks in our SimpleScore ratings for handling (SimpleScore of 9.6) thanks to robust construction and compact central blocks that mitigate tread squirm and tire distortion during hard cornering. Wet and dry grip benefit from a next-generation tread compound and a combination of sipes, lateral grooves and circumferential grooves. These tread elements are designed to work together to channel water from the tire’s contact patch, fight hydroplaning, and boost winter grip. SimpleScore for traction: 9.8. The Cinturato P7 All Season scores less on longevity, with no treadwear mileage warranty and a SimpleScore of 8.5. In light of that, the Cinturato P7 All Season is available with run-flat technology. This reinforced sidewall design can enable a driver to go as far as another 50 miles at 50 mph, even if the tire loses all inflation pressure. With refined road manners, low rolling resistance, a quiet, forgiving ride, and excellent handling, the Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season is a great pick.

3. Nokian Nordman 7 SUV Studded - Best Winter Tire

All-season tires are an excellent jack-of-all-trades choice most of the time…unless there are several inches of snow, and then most are just not up to the job. Nokian is a Finland-based manufacturer (the same parent company as Nokia phones) with a history of designing tires that meet the demands of a harsh Scandinavian winter. The Nordman 7 SUV Studded is a next-generation premium winter tire for dependable traction, control, and durability. The Nordman 7 SUV Studded is Three Peak Mountain Snowflake rated for severe winter service. Nokian designed the Nordman 7 with a specialized winter tread formulation that stays pliable for traction in snow and ice and a directional tread with slush edges to channel slush from the tire’s contact patch, deep angled grooves, and a dense network of sipes. The Nordman 7 SUV Studded gets a best-in-class 9.9 SimpleScore for traction. Cornering, maneuverability, and steering response are similar to what you’d expect from a performance tire, for a SimpleScore of 9.5 for handling. The Nordman 7 SUV Studded comes in at 8.5 for longevity; it’s a winter tire and should not be used for warmer temperatures. For icy roads, the Nordman 7 SUV Studded is pre-drilled to make it easy to install studs – but check your state laws for legal restrictions on studded tires and when (or if) they can be used.

That’s a good start on tires for a Mini Cooper, but we’re not done yet. Here are a couple more premium tires for you to think about:

4. GT Radial Maxtour LX - Good All-Season Tire

We’re wrapping our list up with the Maxtour LX from GT Radial, an all-season tire that is designed for year-round traction along premium-tire ride quality and UHP-tire performance, all at an affordable price point Steering response, cornering, and braking are all very good, with a solid center tread rib, stiff shoulder blocks, and an independent tread groove toward the shoulder. Our team gives this tire a SimpleScore of a solid 9.1 for handling. For excellent grip on wet or dry pavement, GT Radial incorporated a combination of sipes and circumferential and lateral/angled grooves for a SimpleScore of 9.1 for traction. Wear properties of the GT Radial Maxtour LX also exceed expectations; GT Radial covers it with a 70,000 mile warranty, which is enough for us to give it a SimpleScore of 9.4 for longevity. The GT Radial Maxtour LX is a tire that offers quick, predictable handling and a quiet, forgiving ride for excellent value and performance.

Order Mini Cooper Tires Online

Buying tires online can be stressful, but it doesn't need to be. SimpleTire offers a simple approach to finding the best tires for you and your Mini Cooper. Select your Mini Cooper below, and then tell us more about the year and trim level to determine your tire size. From there, we'll show you tires that fit your vehicle and are the best match based on performance characteristics, but you can also look for the best value tires, tires that are on sale or part of a promo, have the most extended tread life, and much more