Just wondering because of the ice and snow we get here in the Chicago area. Also, do you use all seasons during most of the year and snow tires for the winter? What tires do you like best? Thanks!

 

no i dont drive my MCS in the winter. not that it's not capable, i just
dont like to get my toy dirtied up.

i highly recommend you get snow tires and a separate set of wheels for
them from www.tirerack.com. all season tires work if the snow isn't
too deep... 1-2" max.

 

I drive year round, this is my third winter (and I've hit just about all the storms passing through), I've done it on bald all seasons, well treaded summer tires and well treaded all seasons (my current running) the MINI has been the best snow car I've driven, this week in the two unplowed inches I passed many SUVs out braked just about everything, rarely needing ABS and even went and found the empty late night unplowed areas and practiced that rally style of snow driving after ascending hills from a dead stop.

If you're used to Chicago winters and snow driving I'd say the MINI is definatly a worry free car, as long as you avoid the overconfidence it breeds.
Do I need to finish and post my make Jeeps cry video? (My MINIs way off road stream crossing mountain climing 40mph in 2 inof snow and I need to get a good storm of 3-5in to video it going through deeper)

 

As our MINI is our only car, we have no choice but to drive it in the snow. I would agree that it is the best snow car that I have driven. I feel very confident in the snow, even with my '05 stock continentals.

However, be very careful of large chuncks of ice. Especially the ones that can accumulate between the tire ruts in alleys. They have the capability of bottoming out your radiator carrige, a plastic clip at the bottom of the front end. I very expensive repair. I usually try to run on top of the ice, carefully of course, but it lessens the chance of this happening.

 

Yes, both our MINIs are driven daily year round.

 

I only have it for a few months, but I plan on driving it year round.

 

Yep, drive mine year 'round, 110 miles per day commuting to work. I run All Seasons in the winter because our snow fall in Central Ohio is rarely more than 3" and the roads are cleared quickly. Even at 3" of snow, I'm sometimes a snow plow because I'm lowered on coilovers and don't feel like raising the spring perches in the fall and lowering them again in the spring.

 

Mines a daily year around MINI, currently running ultra high performance all seasons on mine. The Conti's are average at best once you have some milage on the car.

 

Yup. REAL performance tires in Summer (not A/S) and dedicated snows in Winter.

 

Year round Daily Driven!
Cleaned weekly!

 

Nope .... Hendrix is not driven in bad weather. That's the Chevy 4x4 Blazer's job.

 

Year round driving of my MINI wouldn't be soo bad.... Unfortunately, the winter months are also the months when I need to allow time for all the speeding tickets to be removed from my license from the previous months!!!!!!! -- Freakin cops!!!

 

yup!

i've got high performance summers on right now- i don't know how people drive in snow in those...i got stuck in my driveway.

i rolled through snow on bald A/S's last winter, but I had just learned stick...it was a little squirrelly but I never got stuck!

i'm in the process of finding dedicated winter tires for this season. i can't wait to barrel through all kinds of crap and declare "WHEEEEEE!"

 

Year round on UHP's.

If it gets too bad i'll drive my truck since my commute is 98 miles round trip.

I would drive it even then if it weren't for all the other "drivers" out there and the bad forecasting our weather people do. I'd hate to get stuck down south of Denver if I didn't have to.


Around town I'm in Wally without any issues. Just have to watch out for the snow bumps the plows create when trying to turn in to the driveway or on to a street. I have to remember i'm low to the ground instead of in my truck.

 

Our MINI is used year round... with snow tires it'll go through just about anything. The way to go is dedicated wheels (not steelies... too ugly) with your snows and do the swap 2x a year.

 

My mini is still brand new and already has been out in the fun this winter...

A/S from the factory help...

The heated seats are a MUST for Chicago too!

 

my MINI sits around a lot in the winter unless there is snow on the ground due to it being the only car i have with proper tires for the conditions. i have always found it a joy to drive in the snow with a set of blizzaks on the stock s-lite wheels. i would have to say that it is one of the best vehicles i have driven in the snow that has not been 4-wheel drive. the snow tires make a world of difference and most the time i dont have much wheel spin at all with light to medium throttle and that with the traction off and 240+whp

 

80 degree weather year round in Honolulu... What do you think?

 

It's my only car, so yes I drive it year round. This year though I had the snow tires on and it was very comical to see the looks I got running through the snow next to all the yeawhoos in their big old 4X4s. I was even asked a few times how to you do that in that little car

 

Yes, I run Ultra high performance all seasons and they do fine all year.........

 

I bought a set of winters from Crashton right before Xmas, and man what a difference!

I can barrel through all kinds of slop now, its wonderful...and fun! Washing off the salt isn't, but its part of the game.

 

Summer tires ALL year long!!! MIAMI!!!!

 

Nope, as soon as the first salt truck goes by my GP gets put up on jack stands untill spring. I have a Toyota that gets trashed for the winter.
Steve

 

year round. the mini likes the snow better than the 5.0L mercury cougar so yeah. i don't do the change of tires i still run UHP summer tires. you just have to know how to drive in the snow. just remember your momentum and be smooth.

 

I drove my MINI yesterday after the convention. When I tried to take it off the trailer the battery was DEAD so I called my tech and he delivered a new battery to the show. I wanted to go nuts in the convention center after it was mostly cleared out but I figured it was a bad idea.