Are MINIs bad in snow and ice ?

[javelina1]

Originally Posted by Xtro

Well, there hasn't been any snow in the NorthEast either! Last Sunday I was driving my Cabrio with the top down, and I was in a tshirt, and it's January !

This week the cold weather rolled in. I STILL drive the Mini with the top down, I just wear a winter coat !

you're an animal!!

here in Phoenix, we've had cloudy weather and rain for the last couple of days. I knew it would rain only because my MINI got a bubble bath a few days before.

Wow, no snow there yet. wild. My Sister lives in Maine. Haven't chatted with her in a while. She keeps telling me to fly out and have some lobster. Maybe someday.

[JPMM]

Quote "Of course I have traction control and most importantly a good set of snow tires in my MINI, which helps enormously."

Ditto for me,our Mini is about the best snow vechicle we ever had.We have real snow tires and DSC ,both are a must. One trouble is, I seem to go too fast

[erickvonzipper]

Originally Posted by Xtro

Well, I was being sarcastic but..... You get about 20% or so less miles on a runflat. Dealer says expect 25k to 30k tops. Not bad, but you can do better.

I also love the ride in my car, but again, it can be improved by changing tires.
Same with the handling. I've "driven the car the way it's meant to be driven" ;-) On hilly twists it's like owning your own roller coaster ! Still,
switching tires will still improve things.

Thanks for the input !

Ah, I guess I didn't catch the sarcasm.

My next set of tires will not be runflats, but will be all-purpose (all season?) because, quite frankly, I don't want to be bothered changing wheels, and in all the years I have been driving front wheel drive cars, I've never gotten stuck in the snow on regular tires.

Zip

[lotsie]

Originally Posted by Phantom

I do belive if you look in the owners manual it says to turn off DSC in snow and icey conditions.

Not true.

It says to turn it off if you need to climb a slippery
road surface from a dead stop. Once rolling turn it back on.
I have been going 40-50mph and hit ice or snow, and the ACS-T has kicked in, you may slow some, but the tires don't break loose. When the traction control is on, and it kicks in, more throttle is not called for, less is better, or your just fighting the computer.

Remember, on snow and ice, drive like you have an egg between your foot and the throttle. Any sudden steering or throttle changes just leads to trouble.

Mark

[minibeel]

Really, anything CAN be accomplished with the MINI. The first couple years we had the MCS, we had the 17" summer run-flats on (the DSST's). Even on snow and ice with all the tread those tires didn't have, the car drove fine. You sound like someone who has his head in the game, you'll likely be fine.

dan

[Bilbo-Baggins]

Originally Posted by Xtro

Driving skill counts. ( no problem there... I even driven my J30 in snow, and they fishtail on dry roads !)

Any other owners have snow experience with runflats ?

When I got my first MCS in '02 I realized after the first 6" snow storm that the stock 16" RF tires were not where it is at in the snow and then proceeded to find some take-off 15" 7-holies with the Conti's on them and that was much better. Narrower rules in the snow & ice.

I have since worn those tires out and replaced them with some 185/65-15 (I could not get them any narrower) Nokian Hakka 2s. What a world of difference. Dedicated snow tires are unbelievable, especially when you add the studs. We have allot of ice here. It sees as though every snow storm ends up as ice on the roads.

I do not mind the RF tires for the other three seasons but I love my Nokians in the winter.

As far as chains or cables go. Most states will only allow them when the road surfaces are completely covered with snow or ice. MINI recommends them only on the 175/65-15 or 175/60-16 wheel/tire combinations. They even offer a special 16" wheel just for snow tires and cables. It is the R87 Double spoke 16"x5.5" wheel.

An All-Season tire is really a No-Season tire. Not as good in the summer as a summer only tire and not as good in the winter as a snow tire. So why drive all year round with a lousy tires when you can have optimum tires by just changing twice a year. Performance tires in the spring summer and fall and snow tires in the winter.

As far as RF tires go, there are some very good RF snow tires available according to a Tire Rack test. So for you're wife you could get some 16"x6.5" wheels and mount some winter RF tires. The best of both worlds. Better traction with no worries. The newer generations of RF tires are getting better and better all the time.

One other thing that I find helps tremendously is the addition of the LSD (limited slip differential) to my '06 MCS. The combination of the LSD and DSC is great. The settings for the traction portion of the DSC are increased so that there is much less interference and it allows more wheel spin. I still have to turn it off when trying to ascend a steep snow or ice covered hill. But, for 90% of my driving the DSC remains on at all times. For anyone that lives in the snow belt I would highly recommend the LSD & DSC combination.

[B&D]

Originally Posted by Xtro

I'm taking a ski trip to Vermont, and I'd like to drive my Mini. It's an 05 standard 5 speed with 15 in wheels and runflats.

I've never driven it in bad weather conditions, and I wonder if such a light car can be any good in snow or on ice. I'm guessing not.

It's just one short trip, so I don't want to buy snow tires. Can I put chains on it if need be ? Do I need a certain type ? Should I just give up and take the van ?

Thanks for your input.

The first winter (2004-2005) I had my MINI, I still had the Goodyear run-flats (all season) on the car, and with DSC on, I had no problems.

The second year, when the Goodyears were quite a bit more run-down, I got snow rims/tires (Falken Ziex's) and the car ran circles around SUV's.

I would suggest that a set of snow chains (for 'just in case') would be a prudent move. There are "easy to apply" non-metal snow chains out there that I have seen work wonders.

All that being said, you STILL have to look out for snow drifts and the "piled up" snow at intersections, the front of our MINIs are way low to the ground.

-B

[machineguncharley]

I leave my two MINIs in the garage when snow and ice appear. That's a job for my '03 Ford E-150 cargo van (likewise on stormy days...the E-150 has the uncanny ability to resist hail storms!).

At any rate, I'm in Oklahoma City and have seen quite a bit of bad weather lately...I've also seen more than a few MINIs out braving the conditions...they appear to do VERY well.

Chuck

[DaveTinNY]

Buy a set of dedicated snow and/or ice tires on their own 15" wheels. I've got the Blizzak REVO1's and was passing the super wonderful SUVs uphill in the snow last year here in NY state. They call them studless snow tires. I have to agree. The MINI is a lot of fun to drive in the snow. I'm looking forward to our next winter WX event. :-)

[ronmichael]

I drove with 17" Blizzak runflats for 3 years on my Z4. I drove with Blizzak non-runflat 17" on my 330i for 2 years. I believe they were both 205/45. They handled the same and I never had a problem in ice or snow.

I have non-runflat 17" Blizzaks on the MINI. But we haven't had any real winter weather here in Philadelphia yet so I can't comment much on the combo.

The only thing you may have a problem with is that it might be hard to find runflat winter tires this late in the season. Even non-runflat winter tires will be tough. Back in November I got my Blizzak runflats for the MINI and most places (like Tirerack and even Bridgestone dealers) were sold out. I had to pay extra to get them through the MINI dealer.

Also, tire size/width isn't as much an issue these days with modern winter tires. I read this in Roundel I believe a few years ago, and my (limited) experience has led me to believe it is true.

[erickvonzipper]

Here's a potentially stupid question: are snow tires necessary on the rear? Wil the back whip around without them, even though they are not driven?

Zip

[lotsie]

Originally Posted by erickvonzipper

Here's a potentially stupid question: are snow tires necessary on the rear? Wil the back whip around without them, even though they are not driven?

Zip

Without snows on the rear, the back end will come around faster than greased lighting.

Mark

[dwdyer]

Originally Posted by Bilbo-Baggins

An All-Season tire is really a No-Season tire. Not as good in the summer as a summer only tire and not as good in the winter as a snow tire. So why drive all year round with a lousy tires when you can have optimum tires by just changing twice a year. Performance tires in the spring summer and fall and snow tires in the winter.

I tend to think of all-seasons as 75% the performance of a summer tire, and 25% the performance of a winter tire.

In Central Texas, I'm sticking with the summer tires and living with the maybe 2-3 days every 1-2 years. Soon we'll be a two-MINI, MINI-only household, so I'm thinking of maybe getting a set of winter tires mounted on wheels to have around just in case there was a freak long-ice patch, but so far I can't justify it. Even the argument that below 40 degrees F summer tires are utter crap on the road isn't quite enough (yet) to make me keep a set of winter tires around.

[kenchan]

Originally Posted by dwdyer

Even the argument that below 40 degrees F summer tires are utter crap on the road isn't quite enough (yet) to make me keep a set of winter tires around.

it's not, really. just doesn't grip as well as it does in the summer temps.
i run summer tires all year long on dry days on my MCS. no issues with
grip as long as i take it easy on the turns. i dont run my MCS in the rain
or snow... although rain is no issue with my GS-D3's.

[ronmichael]

In regards to having winter tires on all four wheels, or driving with summer tires in 50 or lower degree temps... don't forget that one important thing that tires do is stop the car! That's why a RWD sports car with winter tires can outhandle (and out-stop) an AWD SUV with all seasons in bad weather. Having four winter tires gives you more stopping power and more control. (I've also heard that not having four identical tires will royally screw up DSC when pushed) And the rubber in summer performance tires turns rock hard in temps below 50. Sure, you can adjust your driving to account for the fact that the tires won't have as much grip if pushed, but in an emergency situation you might not have that luxury.

I used to have a 323i and drove it for two winters with performance all-season tires in the snow. It sucked! The slighest incline and a little snow gave it trouble. After that I always put winter tires on my cars. And it was a lot of fun driving (or watching) a little Z4 with the top down easily pass SUVs stuck in the snow or ice.

[Mini2Go]

It appears that there may need to be some clarification here.

Your MINI can come with one of two kinds of RF tires - performance or "all-season."

The consolidated facts are that tread design, rubber compound and tire size are what make the primary difference in traction. The difference in traction between otherwise similarly designed RF and non-RF tires would be negligible.

So the real question is NOT whether RF tires are any good in the snow/winter. The question is what kind of RF tire do you have?

If you have the "all-season" variety then you can probably get by with cautious, sensible driving - as long as you aren't confronted with deep snow. They are not nearly as good as dedicated snows, but not nearly as bad as the performance tire.

[rc'S]

Originally Posted by erickvonzipper

Here's a potentially stupid question: are snow tires necessary on the rear? Wil the back whip around without them, even though they are not driven?

Zip

The tires you run front and back need to be the same because it is a traction issue. If the front and rear don't grip, stop, corner, or accelerate with the same forward or lateral traction, you set up a potential for a spin or slide, on dry, wet, ice or snow covered roads. It is just flat not safe.

[RedSkunk]

Just echoing what everyone else has already said: my MINI is safe and an absolute blast in the snow, with snow tires. I would have run my OE all-season 16" runflats if they weren't bald. For an occasional trip up to VT, I wouldn't stress it too much. Just drive sensibly.

[OmToast]

I had no problem driving my MCS (16" all season RF) in the snow - as has been said, up to about 6-8 inches. Any more than that and YOU will be the snow plow.

Have 17" Perf. RFs on now - probably wouldn't willingly attempt snow unless I switched the tires.

[DaveTinNY]

You can really feel the rubber's "softness" on the dedicated snow tire vs the Runflat. The Runflats are much harder... now ride on them when it's 10 degrees outside and your road grip isn't nearly as good as a soft winter tire that's "hardened" in the cold to the grip of a normal performance tire in the summer...
I stayed at a Holdiay Inn Express last night so I can say this with confidence.

[silver99]

Dont worry about snow tires. There is no snow to really speak of up here and none really forecasted. Im in Keene NH. Close to Killington/Okemo/Mt Snow.

Ted

[ronmichael]

Originally Posted by DaveTinNY

You can really feel the rubber's "softness" on the dedicated snow tire vs the Runflat. The Runflats are much harder... now ride on them when it's 10 degrees outside and your road grip isn't nearly as good as a soft winter tire that's "hardened" in the cold to the grip of a normal performance tire in the summer...
I stayed at a Holdiay Inn Express last night so I can say this with confidence.

Are you sure you aren't confusing the inherent hard ride of runflats (courtesy of the stiffer sidewall) with a lack of softness in the part of the tire that actually touches the road? The rubber that actually touches the ground is the same in a runflat vs a non-runflat winter tire. The difference is the sidewalls. I've driven a lot with Blizzak winter tires, runflat and non-runflat, and while the runflats tended to feel hard, they both seem to provide the same amount of grip in both wet and dry circumstances.

[ronmichael]

Originally Posted by silver99

Dont worry about snow tires. There is no snow to really speak of up here and none really forecasted. Im in Keene NH. Close to Killington/Okemo/Mt Snow.

Ted

Remember they are technically called winter tires, not snow tires. They do a lot more than just help you in the snow. Whenever the temps are below 50 degrees, the rubber in summer performance tires gets pretty hard and doesn't grip as well as it does in warm temperatures. It really does make a difference.

[Xtro]

On the icy roads it slid around, but could be corrected easily. Same with the soft mushy snow in the parking lot..... The Run flats didn't like it, but it could be handled.

On the last day, it was 16 below zero ! The Mini almost didn't start, but thankfuly, it did. Both doors were frozen shut, it took two adults to pull them open. But my mini really shined on the cold hard snow. It gripped it and ran with no problems.

Another advantage of the mini was how quickly you could adjust and come out of a skid. In my van, the high center of gravity makes for too much momentum, and when you lose traction, you've got your work cut out to compensate. In the Mini, a very slight adjustment was all that was needed.

So the good news is, with performance run flats and no traction control,I had very few problems. I think that a second set of wheels with snow tires
should make for good performance on ski trips.

I had fun driving the mini for the seven hours it took to get to Vermont, and I used less than a tank of gas each way ! So my trip was a rousing success.

Thanks to you all for all of your help !

[erickvonzipper]

Originally Posted by Xtro

Both doors were frozen shut, it took two adults to pull them open.

Rather than trying to rip them open, buy some (say it with me now) WD40, and spray it where the windows meet the rubber and into the crease where the latch is and wait a short while. The door should open relatively easily, especially when compared to not using the WD40.

WD40 displaces water and will remove the small amounts of ice that might be causing the problem. Lock de-icers do the same thing. They are just much more expensive, being a 'specialty' product. You know, small package, 'special' job, big price.

Zip