Winter Tires
3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: New Market, MD
Wheel update
I did end up mounting them with the the original studs
I checked and with standard wheels it took around 9 threads to tighten
With the The new wheels it was 8 threads so assumed it was ok . I was actually surprised as I would have thought they would allow more thread into the hub
I am really digging the snow tires - took it to an event that had two car parks - one for regular cars / and another acess road for 4 wheel drive only. I had to talk them into letting me attempt it as it was a single track
It ran up what was basically an ice and deep snow hill with two hairpins no problem. Watched a 4 runner and f150 get stuck... Now I did have a bit of momentum built up so much so I actually had to lift of a bit coz I was getting airborne on some of the ruts...
I checked and with standard wheels it took around 9 threads to tighten
With the The new wheels it was 8 threads so assumed it was ok . I was actually surprised as I would have thought they would allow more thread into the hub
I am really digging the snow tires - took it to an event that had two car parks - one for regular cars / and another acess road for 4 wheel drive only. I had to talk them into letting me attempt it as it was a single track
It ran up what was basically an ice and deep snow hill with two hairpins no problem. Watched a 4 runner and f150 get stuck... Now I did have a bit of momentum built up so much so I actually had to lift of a bit coz I was getting airborne on some of the ruts...
Neutral
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Touren TR9 Rims Blizzak WS70 215/50/17 winter tires
He just got this setup yesterday. I believe the suggested tire size is 205/55/17 but these fit fine. Though it might be nice to have a bit more sidewall there is a lot less selection in that tire size.
So far the Blizzaks are great on the snow but get squirmy at high speeds on dry pavement. Apparently after 300 miles they get better and at 2000 they settle in nicely according to a review I read.
Offset on this rim is 40mm, 72.6 is the bore and bolt pattern is 5 120.
Lots of clearance with this rim for the breaks on the "S". Hope this helps everyone out if they need winters. Feel free to pre order this set up before picking a Countryman. Especially if you are getting the 18" sports tire package. Those are like driving on greased hockey pucks! Very dangerous.
So far the Blizzaks are great on the snow but get squirmy at high speeds on dry pavement. Apparently after 300 miles they get better and at 2000 they settle in nicely according to a review I read.
Offset on this rim is 40mm, 72.6 is the bore and bolt pattern is 5 120.
Lots of clearance with this rim for the breaks on the "S". Hope this helps everyone out if they need winters. Feel free to pre order this set up before picking a Countryman. Especially if you are getting the 18" sports tire package. Those are like driving on greased hockey pucks! Very dangerous.
Last edited by jgignac; Feb 5, 2011 at 09:54 AM.
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 376
Likes: 0
From: salt lake city, utah
Niiiiiiiiiiiice!
He just got this setup yesterday. I believe the suggested tire size is 205/55/17 but these fit fine. Though it might be nice to have a bit more sidewall there is a lot less selection in that tire size.
So far the Blizzaks are great on the snow but get squirmy at high speeds on dry pavement. Apparently after 300 miles they get better and at 2000 they settle in nicely according to a review I read.
Offset on this rim is 40mm, 72.6 is the bore and bolt pattern is 5 120.
Lots of clearance with this rim for the breaks on the "S". Hope this helps everyone out if they need winters. Feel free to pre order this set up before picking a Countryman. Especially if you are getting the 18" sports tire package. Those are like driving on greased hockey pucks! Very dangerous.
So far the Blizzaks are great on the snow but get squirmy at high speeds on dry pavement. Apparently after 300 miles they get better and at 2000 they settle in nicely according to a review I read.
Offset on this rim is 40mm, 72.6 is the bore and bolt pattern is 5 120.
Lots of clearance with this rim for the breaks on the "S". Hope this helps everyone out if they need winters. Feel free to pre order this set up before picking a Countryman. Especially if you are getting the 18" sports tire package. Those are like driving on greased hockey pucks! Very dangerous.
Wonderful to see something else out there. Thanks for posting and your experiences with the Blizzaks (I have Blizzaks on my subie currently with 20k miles on them or so...great!)You should post this pic in the Countryman pic thread in the general area
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 353
Likes: 1
I got my Countryman S ALL4 a week ago and live in New England. So I am expecting to have to deal with a fair amount of snow. So far, not a lot on the ground, so I'll have to wait for the next storm to see how the All4 with 18" runflats handles it (temporarily).
I plan to get winter wheels and snow tires, but haven't done enough research yet to choose. I ran 16" wheels with Blizzaks on my '02 S and that seemed to work fine. So I'll probably do something similar here, maybe 17s, once I've got it figured out.
I have some nice 18" DPE S10 with Hankooks lined up for the summer. Looks like the bummer will be these brand new turbofans with runflats will be the odd man out. Suppose I can keep them as back ups or find someone that wants them.
-------
update:
Went with Toyo Observe Garit KX Winter tires.
I plan to get winter wheels and snow tires, but haven't done enough research yet to choose. I ran 16" wheels with Blizzaks on my '02 S and that seemed to work fine. So I'll probably do something similar here, maybe 17s, once I've got it figured out.
I have some nice 18" DPE S10 with Hankooks lined up for the summer. Looks like the bummer will be these brand new turbofans with runflats will be the odd man out. Suppose I can keep them as back ups or find someone that wants them.
-------
update:
Went with Toyo Observe Garit KX Winter tires.
1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: NH/MA borderland
Serious? This has been an epic winter in terms of snow here in New England. That makes it hard for me to compare my driving experience to anything else, since we have never experienced so much crap weather.
For the most part all seems good and I have been able to navigate where I see others having difficulties. Slightly inclined icy roads from a standing start seem to be problem areas for many I have seen, and I have been good. I am a lot more concerned with someone else sliding into me than I am with the All4 getting wonky. That said, I did experience a bit of scary looseness on snow covered icy highways, during the worst driving conditions we have had so far. This was probably more of me driving too fast for the conditions. Cars were literally driving on the highway at 20 mph tops, and I decided to see what the limits really were. Apparently they were 20 mph.
For the most part all seems good and I have been able to navigate where I see others having difficulties. Slightly inclined icy roads from a standing start seem to be problem areas for many I have seen, and I have been good. I am a lot more concerned with someone else sliding into me than I am with the All4 getting wonky. That said, I did experience a bit of scary looseness on snow covered icy highways, during the worst driving conditions we have had so far. This was probably more of me driving too fast for the conditions. Cars were literally driving on the highway at 20 mph tops, and I decided to see what the limits really were. Apparently they were 20 mph.
3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: New Market, MD
I have been having good success on my Dunlop M3 wintersports. It transformed the car as on the performance summers shipped with the 18" it did not grip to well in the snow
I actually had to do so some semi off roading on a snow and ice dirt track to get to Klondike derby. It was a fairly steep hill with hairpin bends so quite a challenge for many ( an old 4 runner and f150 actually go stuck) especially on the way back
I tore up the slope no problem - my only concern was the deep ruts but I did not bottom out though I did lift a wheel
I actually had to do so some semi off roading on a snow and ice dirt track to get to Klondike derby. It was a fairly steep hill with hairpin bends so quite a challenge for many ( an old 4 runner and f150 actually go stuck) especially on the way back
I tore up the slope no problem - my only concern was the deep ruts but I did not bottom out though I did lift a wheel
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 53
Likes: 2
Though I don't have a MINI (yet) here are my thoughts on snow tires based upon my experiences having them on previous all wheel drive vehicles, (1998 Audi A4 and a 2005 BMW X3)in the snowier regions of Erie and Buffalo. . .
Personally, I would recommend that you try and find the appropriate wheel that will let you mount tires that have a smaller width than stock.
So if you're considering from stock 17" size 205/55/17, than if possible, look for wheels that are 16" and allow you to mount something along the lines of a 195/60/16. (note: that 16" tire size is a bit smaller than stock resulting in your speedo being off slightly such that when your speedo reads 60mph, you'd be truly doing 58.5mph; 205/60/16 is closer to speedo, but same width as stock)
Or stay the stock 17" size, but no wider.
The reason is this;
The wider your tire is in snow, the more prone you are to getting sideways drift. Think of how different it is when your feet step into the snow compared to when your feet have a pair of skis strapped to them. The wider your tire is, the more you distribute the weight of the vehicle across a bigger surface area.
The appropriate tires for driving in heavy snows use a completely different line of thinking than the appropriate ones for pavement. On pavement, I want wider tires to put more rubber on the road for grip. In deep snows that I've driven, I want skinnier tires to allow the tire to bite through the snow better that I might actually touch some pavement.
My Audi A4 came stock with 16" wheels that I downgraded to 15" steel rims with Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4 snow tires with 195 width. There were times I would come out of work and find the snow deep enough to sit level with my hood. The only way I could spin my car out was if I purposely yanked the E-Brake. When I later upgraded to the 2005 BMW X3, I found that the smallest wheel I could get to clear the brakes were 17". So using a new Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4 tire but now at a 235 width, I found that I could (and did) break the car out sideways in turns a bit easier. Newer technologies like BMW's Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) mitigated this somewhat when making turns, but it was a bit uncomfortable when first introduced to this the hard way. My A4 didn't have any of this, and I never ran into a situation in the snow where I would have needed it.
Also, when looking for snow tires, I would recommend staying completely away from the Blizzaks. (unless my information is out of date and they have changed their construction methods?)
The last I have researched, Blizzaks are constructed with only the top layer of their snow tires as an actual Snow tire. As the tire wears away, the tread becomes more akin to an All Season tire.
If I spend money on Snow Tires, I want only a Snow Tire. I (as I am sure many others) only put on Snow Tires when the season calls for it, so I can use All Season or Performance tires when the season is appropriate.
My experience is only with Nokian tires so I admit a little bias here, however, I have used my snows on each of my vehicles for 5 or more years.
The Hakka 4s on my A4 lasted a decent 4 years with a bearable 5th season and a rather uncomfortable 6th snow season.
The Hakka 4s on my BMW X3 never seemed as good as on the A4 (for reasons above) but delivered decent performance into their 5th season so far this year.
These were pretty expensive snow tires to get, however from my experience, I have never ever had regular tires serve me for this many years so I will be sure to buy them again if/when I get a MINI Countryman.
With regular tires, I blew through my stock A4 tires in 8000 miles (Dunlop 8000Es if I recall) and usually only got about 12000 miles on most of my replacements thereafter which generally only lasted me about a year or two.
my X3 has generally been better on tires, however at the moment, my current replacement Pirelli Scorpions are only getting me about 20000 miles (where others say they've gotten 45k or more) and they're getting pretty close to minimum depths now.
Personally, I would recommend that you try and find the appropriate wheel that will let you mount tires that have a smaller width than stock.
So if you're considering from stock 17" size 205/55/17, than if possible, look for wheels that are 16" and allow you to mount something along the lines of a 195/60/16. (note: that 16" tire size is a bit smaller than stock resulting in your speedo being off slightly such that when your speedo reads 60mph, you'd be truly doing 58.5mph; 205/60/16 is closer to speedo, but same width as stock)
Or stay the stock 17" size, but no wider.
The reason is this;
The wider your tire is in snow, the more prone you are to getting sideways drift. Think of how different it is when your feet step into the snow compared to when your feet have a pair of skis strapped to them. The wider your tire is, the more you distribute the weight of the vehicle across a bigger surface area.
The appropriate tires for driving in heavy snows use a completely different line of thinking than the appropriate ones for pavement. On pavement, I want wider tires to put more rubber on the road for grip. In deep snows that I've driven, I want skinnier tires to allow the tire to bite through the snow better that I might actually touch some pavement.
My Audi A4 came stock with 16" wheels that I downgraded to 15" steel rims with Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4 snow tires with 195 width. There were times I would come out of work and find the snow deep enough to sit level with my hood. The only way I could spin my car out was if I purposely yanked the E-Brake. When I later upgraded to the 2005 BMW X3, I found that the smallest wheel I could get to clear the brakes were 17". So using a new Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4 tire but now at a 235 width, I found that I could (and did) break the car out sideways in turns a bit easier. Newer technologies like BMW's Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) mitigated this somewhat when making turns, but it was a bit uncomfortable when first introduced to this the hard way. My A4 didn't have any of this, and I never ran into a situation in the snow where I would have needed it.
Also, when looking for snow tires, I would recommend staying completely away from the Blizzaks. (unless my information is out of date and they have changed their construction methods?)
The last I have researched, Blizzaks are constructed with only the top layer of their snow tires as an actual Snow tire. As the tire wears away, the tread becomes more akin to an All Season tire.
If I spend money on Snow Tires, I want only a Snow Tire. I (as I am sure many others) only put on Snow Tires when the season calls for it, so I can use All Season or Performance tires when the season is appropriate.
My experience is only with Nokian tires so I admit a little bias here, however, I have used my snows on each of my vehicles for 5 or more years.
The Hakka 4s on my A4 lasted a decent 4 years with a bearable 5th season and a rather uncomfortable 6th snow season.
The Hakka 4s on my BMW X3 never seemed as good as on the A4 (for reasons above) but delivered decent performance into their 5th season so far this year.
These were pretty expensive snow tires to get, however from my experience, I have never ever had regular tires serve me for this many years so I will be sure to buy them again if/when I get a MINI Countryman.
With regular tires, I blew through my stock A4 tires in 8000 miles (Dunlop 8000Es if I recall) and usually only got about 12000 miles on most of my replacements thereafter which generally only lasted me about a year or two.
my X3 has generally been better on tires, however at the moment, my current replacement Pirelli Scorpions are only getting me about 20000 miles (where others say they've gotten 45k or more) and they're getting pretty close to minimum depths now.
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, ON
There appear to be only (4) choices for winter tires in the 205/55R17 size?
Michelin Primacy Alpin PA3
Pirelli Winter 210 Sottozero
Pirelli Winter 240 Sottozero
Continental ContiWinterContact TS810
I am leaning towards the Michelin. Thoughts?
I thought that I might go to a 16" combination, but it is difficult to find winter tires in the 195/65R16 size - that seems to be almost exactly the same combination as the stock tire according to the tire calculator at miata.net.
Rim choices will be another post...
Michelin Primacy Alpin PA3
Pirelli Winter 210 Sottozero
Pirelli Winter 240 Sottozero
Continental ContiWinterContact TS810
I am leaning towards the Michelin. Thoughts?
I thought that I might go to a 16" combination, but it is difficult to find winter tires in the 195/65R16 size - that seems to be almost exactly the same combination as the stock tire according to the tire calculator at miata.net.
Rim choices will be another post...
However the optimal replacement size for the stock 17's are 225/50, being only a 0.1% difference from stock.
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
Which again I would opt for a Nokian tire, king of winter tires.
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 180
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver, BC
Local mini dealer is offering a winter tire and wheel package for CM. 17" steel rims with Goodyear UltraGrip 7 non-run flats. $1250 Cdn plus install. That's not too much over what local tire shops want for similar packs...but there are few wheel choices out there.
Does anyone have a steel rim suggestion for CM All4?
Does anyone have a steel rim suggestion for CM All4?
3rd Gear
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 257
Likes: 1
From: Oh Canada!
tornado, I got mine from a shop in North Van
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-bmw-rims.html
Let me know if you want to know the place.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-bmw-rims.html
Let me know if you want to know the place.
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 180
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver, BC
Thx Youthinasia,
I'll keep your shop offer in mind. I will be checking out a local place called Volco (http://www.volcotires.com/) that has some CM rim sizes and good tire choices.
If it doesn't pan out, I'll likely look into your shop.
I'll keep your shop offer in mind. I will be checking out a local place called Volco (http://www.volcotires.com/) that has some CM rim sizes and good tire choices.
If it doesn't pan out, I'll likely look into your shop.
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 180
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver, BC
Small world! I found out about them from an old, non-CM tire thread over on the MiniMania site forum. I checked their website and found they have a pretty good selection of rims/tires.
I'll be checking them out this w/e...maybe Friday if they are open (Remembrance Day).
Skiing on Grouse Mtn started yesterday ;-)
I'll be checking them out this w/e...maybe Friday if they are open (Remembrance Day).
Skiing on Grouse Mtn started yesterday ;-)
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 180
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver, BC
I'm waiting on a call back...they are researching rims that will fit...but they seem knowledgable and willing to work at it.
In the meantime, my mini dealer (Yaletown) confrimed that the 16" steel rims/5-spoke/Goodyear UG7+ 205r60-16 are for the All4. $1595 + $50 install + Tax.
That might be what I go with...
In the meantime, my mini dealer (Yaletown) confrimed that the 16" steel rims/5-spoke/Goodyear UG7+ 205r60-16 are for the All4. $1595 + $50 install + Tax.
That might be what I go with...
Different lug bolts!
Hi folks
I installed some BMW e90 wheels on my Countryman ALL4s
They fit just fine - same bolt pattern and center bore - I did not leave them on though as I think the stock MINI bolts were a bit short - The BMW wheels had a different offset so the hub was thicker - I will need to call the Rack to figure out what I might need. Also of note the hub lip/bore did not extend very far into the wheel , though I am guessing this will be ok as the load is taken by bolts
It seemed to clear everything ok but did not road test
Note the wheels I put on were 17" x 7.5
Wheels are marked as ET 32 which I think is the offset
BTW the turbo fans with Run Flats are very lardy - no surprise but they felt over 10lbs per wheel heavier than the ASA. I will weigh them when I reinstall the winter boots once i track down some longer bolts
My next job is to pull the bloody pads out - I forgot that these buggers shed so much - I am hoping to find EBC greens as they worked great on my MCS
I installed some BMW e90 wheels on my Countryman ALL4s
They fit just fine - same bolt pattern and center bore - I did not leave them on though as I think the stock MINI bolts were a bit short - The BMW wheels had a different offset so the hub was thicker - I will need to call the Rack to figure out what I might need. Also of note the hub lip/bore did not extend very far into the wheel , though I am guessing this will be ok as the load is taken by bolts
It seemed to clear everything ok but did not road test
Note the wheels I put on were 17" x 7.5
Wheels are marked as ET 32 which I think is the offset
BTW the turbo fans with Run Flats are very lardy - no surprise but they felt over 10lbs per wheel heavier than the ASA. I will weigh them when I reinstall the winter boots once i track down some longer bolts
My next job is to pull the bloody pads out - I forgot that these buggers shed so much - I am hoping to find EBC greens as they worked great on my MCS
I am getting some 2003 e46 7Jx16 ET47 wheels for my wife's Countryman S for a snow tire/wheel set. The center bore is the same as the Countryman (72.5mm) as is the lug bolt spacing (5 x 120mm) and the offset is close (47mm vice 50mm). The only difference is that all BMW wheels use M12x1.5 lug bolts and the Countryman (like all post 2006 Mini's) use the M14x1.25 lug bolt.
There are a couple of options here. One is to drill out the lug holes on the wheels to fit the bigger diameter Mini bolts. Really not that hard to do. Also the bolt shaft doesn't carry any shear load from the wheel as its job is to press the wheel to the hub. The important part of the bolt hole is the sloped bit at the begining.
The second option is to go to Way Motor Works and buy the conversion studs. These are M12x1.5 studs that screw into the M14 holes in your hub. Then you use some tuner lug nuts on the studs.
The refurbished BMW wheels are pretty nice and are just a bit more pricey than new Focal or Kosei wheels at Tirerack. I expect they are much better wheels than the made in China Sports Edition wheels they also sell.
I'll post some pictures when I finish.
Cheers,
Greg
Great! It may be that the replica manufacturer hedge his bet and made the holes 14mm vice 12 mm. Or the vendor you got the wheels from drilled them out for you if you had specified fitting them on the Countryman.
But if you check the realoem website you will find that all BMW wheels use the M12x1.5 lug bolts. I just want folks who are unaware of the differences to know what they are getting into.
Cheers,
Greg
But if you check the realoem website you will find that all BMW wheels use the M12x1.5 lug bolts. I just want folks who are unaware of the differences to know what they are getting into.
Cheers,
Greg
3rd Gear
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 257
Likes: 1
From: Oh Canada!
I don't think they drilled it. I saw them take the new rim out of the box, mount the tire quickly, air it and put it on the car for test fitting. Fit right in.
Probably the replica mfg did make the holes 14mm.
Thanks for the info NAProf.
Probably the replica mfg did make the holes 14mm.
Thanks for the info NAProf.