Nice shot of my Cooper in some snow, really liking the new oz wave rims!

How does your Cooper handle the snow?

 

I really like the wheels. Very nice.

My Cooper has never caused me a problem in the snow. Obviously you need to drive with caution regarding deep snow because of clearance issues. Especially paying attention to areas where snow plows have created piles near driveways and into side roads. It is easy to get hung up or beached due to clearance. But I have always found the Mini to be very good in snow.

 

I have fallen all seasons on my r53 and it's amazing in snow. I drove in the crazy November storm we had here in buffalo without much issue.

 

Mine does great has for the past 9 winters. My MINI wears snow tires. Nice picture.

 

Agree, Mini is great in snow with winter sneakers. Also agree to pay attention to ice debris/etc as it will not play well.

 

ill have a nice pic of mine tomorrow, huge storm coming up into NE, 15-28 inches of snow for me!


my girl isn't afraid of the snow at all. even sometimes we help the plows out =)

 

Blizzaks on the Mini = a really fun and capable snow machine.

Search "winter" on my username, a couple threads should show up with details. Summary: We've tested them as the PittStop Mini Club, identical cars, identical closed-course conditions, and found decent winter rubber* to have a measurable ~40% more grip in wintry crap than even new all-seasons, with very few downsides. They cost less than an insurance deductible, keep you safer, and over the long haul are essentially "free" as they keep mileage off your "good" set. Highly recommended.

*Since people inevitably ask, I've driven Blizzaks, iPikes, General Altimax Arctics, Dunlop WinterSports (NLA), and X-ices on the Mini and our Kia Soul, and each is very good in winter conditions including cold dry, cold wet, slush, snow, and ice. Blizzak is best on ice and very comfy but wears a little faster, the iPike and Altimax Arctic are excellent budget-friendly choices, and the X-ice is a great all-rounder. I'd stay away from Firestone Winterforce as they're pretty much a "snow only" tire, rather mushy in the cold dry and wet.

(edited to remove the rather annoying advertising links)

 

A mini is a crazy fun snow car IF you get the right tires....
With the wrong tires, it can be a scary white knuckle ride...
So I suggest most folks get a 2nd set of rims...
And run either a true snow tire, or in less snow areas, a aggressive touring all season or regular all season... And NOT A "high performance" or "ultra hi performance" tire, both of which give up snow traction to get better dry handling, mostly through shallower tread and less capable (with contaminated roads) tread design....

 

My half a$$ falkens destroy snow!
Here in buffalo we had a terrible storm in November

 

It is my "go skiing car" - got rid of the Jeep. I think that about says it.
RFT Blizzaks all around.
The only thing the car doesn't do well with is that greasy stuff that forms when they salt and it is really too cold to melt the snow...
Just missed the "blizzard of the century" her in upstate NY

 

Bought an '05 JCW in October in Winnipeg and put Blizzak RFT'S on in December. This month has been sort of mild with some days above freezing and that seems to be the worst condition for those tires. Still very cautious about clearance. This winter has been easy...so far.

 

This was yesterday before I went skiing

 

Our first winter with less then 1,000 miles on the OEM Pirelli tires that came on the car taught us you need Winter tires. My wife complained that it was really bad much worse than her old Mazda and or Honda. I checked and she was right.
Bought some no nonsense steel wheels and Blizzaks what an improvement.
9 winters later we always put on winter tires (currently Michelin Ice-2).
Clearance is a slight problem but the car stops and accelerates fine in any winter condition such as here in West Michigan with the Lake effect snow we always have. (you heard about the 193 car pile-up on I-94 a week or so ago)
The Mini does great in the snow (stay out of 1st gear) except snow will enter thru the heat air intakes in front of the window (1st gen) and then melt and if it is cold enough refreezes and causing terrible sounds in your blower box.
Get good winter tires and wider is not better even though it looks good.

 

same here...

went first 3 winters with all seasons, but needed more grip.

got some Blizzak WS-60's and a matching set of rims for the last 6 winters

handles like a champ!


MINI Likes the Snow! by jimmy_racoon, on Flickr


time to play! by jimmy_racoon, on Flickr


MINI + Snow = FUN by jimmy_racoon, on Flickr

 

I have studded Hakka 7's on my R50 and its awesome!

 

sweet!

 

This afternoon after 150 miles in 18" of Mother Natures finest. Awesome. R50's rock!

 

 

 

So when you guys get a new/used set of rims for your mini, how are you getting around the TPMS, or do you just disregard the dashboard light for the winter. Very curious. Thanks Chris

 

I was really surprised and pleased when I found out the TPMS system on my 2002 R50 used the ABS sensors to monitor relative wheel speed--no sensors in the wheels! From what I understand this did change in later models but I'm not sure when. Can anybody help Chris out with this info?

 

1st gens actually don't need the sensors. they use the abs sensors in the wheel to calculate the wheel speed differences. the 2nd gens, actually use the data from the sensors. many people run without them during the winter months.

 

Right back at ya...
Was running around town in the same storm.
This is the first time that I had snow coming over the hood

 

Thanks for the answer Guys, I will start looking for some 16" rims on our local Craigs list. Thanks Chris

 

Wow. This is very deja-vous.