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Title pretty much says it all. I know 195 is the recommended width for winters on a MINI, and I know narrower is better in the snow, but selection for 16" winter tires in 195 width is really, really poor. Has anybody had good experience with 205 width tires in the snow?
There's a trade-off between narrow tires for deep snow, and wider tires for the dry roads. Snow tires also grip the road better in cold weather; a wider tire will give you a bigger contact patch which means better control on the dry or hard-packed surfaces. (Including ice.)
The narrow tire will bite into snow better, but has a smaller contact patch when you're not in snow.
You have to decide what kind of conditions you are going to experience most often...
And then you have to figure out exactly how wide you can go on the rims you have, and given the wheel-well clearances you have.
I personally think the width issue is a moot point, .4 inches between a 195 and a 205. If the snow is so deep that this tiny amount makes a difference, probably shouldn't be out anyway. I run 215s and have no issues or problems in snow.
__________________ 2010 MCSa CR/CR,Cloth Interior,Xenons, Anthracite Interior,Alarm,Heated Mirrors, Rear Fogs. Tinted,Sport Tips, a lot of JCW stuff,NM heatshield, DOS stuff, wrapped HL and TL rings. Kuhmo 215/50s on 16x7 Konigs.
205 55 16 for the Winter, have had no issues at all
__________________ Burn-em upus asphaltus,04 MCS Indi Blue, Auto Climate Control,Cruise,Heated Seats, Nav,JCW Carbon Fiber shift knob, Blue LED Speedo and Tach, Front and Rear Fog lights, Sports Package with DSC, M7 Air Diverter, 15% Helix Pulley, Helix CAI, Aero Grill, 17 inch Rota RBs in Hyperblack
I personally think the width issue is a moot point, .4 inches between a 195 and a 205. If the snow is so deep that this tiny amount makes a difference, probably shouldn't be out anyway. I run 215s and have no issues or problems in snow.
This.^^^. Just dont do what I did and run 225 A/S's. Still thinking about the Nokians?
__________________ '05 HB/B MCS.
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__________________ 2010 MCSa CR/CR,Cloth Interior,Xenons, Anthracite Interior,Alarm,Heated Mirrors, Rear Fogs. Tinted,Sport Tips, a lot of JCW stuff,NM heatshield, DOS stuff, wrapped HL and TL rings. Kuhmo 215/50s on 16x7 Konigs.
I do like the Nokians (which are avaliable in 195/55/16, too), but I'm having a hard time justifying their price at ~$165/per when I can get a very good set of performance winters at Tirerack for under $100/per. As far as I can tell, the Nokians are more-or-less just another performance winter tire.
Burn-em upus asphaltus ,04 MCS Indi Blue, Auto Climate Control,Cruise,Heated Seats, Nav,JCW Carbon Fiber shift knob, Blue LED Speedo and Tach, Front and Rear Fog lights, Sports Package with DSC, M7 Air Diverter, 15% Helix Pulley, Helix CAI, Aero Grill, 17 inch Rota RBs in Hyperblack
'05 HB/B MCS. 
