Before you buy all-seasons, check out this article on tirerack.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=116

What they found is all-seasons were not particularly good at anything. Get yourself a dedicated set of summer and winter tires and you'll be better prepared for any weather.

 

+1 Put those on my Audi. I like them alot!

 

What TireRack doesn't tell you is what you lose with Winter Tires. Cold dry road Stopping power. Winter tires are great in snow/ice, but if it is 27 degrees out and dry roads, you are much better off with All-seasons!

Car/Driver did a test with ALL Season/Winter and produced some surprising numbers that you just don't find with the people selling you tires!!!

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...mparison_tests

Michelin pilot hxm4 All season

Snow: acceleration 0-30mph........10.2 secs
braking: 30-0mph ........105ft
skidpad 330 ft dia........... .28g

Wet 23 degrees:
Braking 60-0 140ft
skid: .84g

Dry 23degrees:
Braking, 60-0 130ft
skidpad, .89g


Michellin x-ice2 snow and ice

Snow: acceleration 0-30mph........7.1 secs
braking: 30-0mph ........83ft
skidpad 330 ft dia........... .33g

Wet 23 degrees:
Braking 60-0 174ft
skid: .75g

Dry 23degrees:
Braking, 60-0 158ft
skidpad, .80g

So, how many days are you actually driving on ICE/SNOW in this Country? Because if its Wet or Dry on that winter day, you better know what you are giving up!

 

Well I guess it depends on what the OP is looking for... since they are ordering a new countryman and asked if 2k for a winter set was a good deal, i'm going to assume that the price difference to all seasons isn't the concern. I run Conti ExtremeContact DWS as a great all season tire (non runflat) which is available in that size, because I needed new tires in august and got a flat on my OEM runflats. I couldn't afford to buy a summer set in august and then a winter set in november, and it was way too early to run snows. But yeah I still feel that the best way to go is have a good summer tire for summer and a good winter tire for winter, on separate rims.

 

I think the MAs just need to make sure that tire/wheels selections are explained prior to order being placed. Many people would not want all-season tires yet would still want All4 for added traction and torque steer mitigation.

However, it would be prudent if MINI USA made the all-season tire the default selection on 17' wheels rather than the optional selection.

 

I have the all-seasons on 17 on our Countryman. It is fine on snow and ice.

If you want the 18" rims, you will get performance tires, do not run these in cold climates.

You can buy 18 inch non-runflat in 18s in the correct size and type, I would suggest all-season rated.

All seasons are not really good in deep snow, so buy winter tires if you are doing deep snow. Actually deep snow is not fun in the MINI, I am talking anything over 10 inches.

Not sure we will see that this year with the CM unless we head up to Steamboat.

 

Wish my MA had told me this but then again at least I know now. I'm debating just having the dealership put all-seasons on immediately. Hoping I can talk them into doing it for free before I pick up "Stormtrooper". Changing tires/rims for each season isn't really something that is an option. I just want one set of tires I don't have to change with the varying Ohio weather conditions.

So will I love a LOT of traction on the runflats if weather dips below freezing even if no snow?

 

I'm not sure why I would go to the expense and hassle of having 2 complete sets of tires and have to change them up twice a year. Plus, where I live in NE, the weather can be pretty unpredictable at times - wouldn't want to get caught with my summer performance tires on with freak snow on the way. Plus, I'm not that tuned into my car that I would appreciate what these "high performance" summer tires do for you. I'm leaning toward the Continental Extreme Contacts or the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus to be swapped for the HP specials at the dealership before I take possession. Unfortunately, Mini is telling me that I will have to sell the tires on my own - that kind sucks big time. But, I'd rather be safe.
Should I also be downsizing to the 17" rim? Of course, I will have to sell the rims too. What will I gain with the bigger 18" tires?

 

miniobx, lindseybp, all your questions about 18s and all-season are the reason I went with 17s and all-seasons.

Direct from MINI on our CM, they are doing just fine and pretty quiet compared to other run-flats.

I may get a set of aftermarket 18s for a set of summer tires, I may not. Just get another set of 17 to change up.

Wife's CM, so we may just stay with these tires until we wear them out.

I do like the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus, really good.

 

<miniobx, lindseybp, all your questions about 18s and all-season are the reason I went with 17s and all-seasons.>I'm glad we could help with your decision. Too bad we couldn't convince ourselves. Anybody want a set of performance runflats?

 

I just wanted to add, that you don't necessarily need runflats. Currently Audi/Porsche have no spares and are running normal tires. They basically are putting GOO kits for you to mess with to get to the next repair place. It has also been said that not all places can repair Runflats. So you could certainly buy Non runflats and go by a Auto SLIME kit/compressor. Just a thought.

But I have heard some horror stories about messing with those handy little kits. Bet it would be fun at Midnight;-)

That being said. I believe cars in this country need SPARES. Compact ones will do fine!

 

I have a 2002 911 which does have a compact spare, not sure about newer models.... I know some of the AWD drive models had an inflatable spare since the differential for the front took space from the normal location.

I am hoping one of the compact spares from a BMW 3 or 1 series will fit on our car. I travel a lot and 50 miles does not help me when I am in the middle of a 1200 mile week at midnight in a rural area.

 

2007 Cayman S here. No spare. No place to put spare. Just roadside assistance. (knocking on wood)

 

I think I've worked this out with my dealer. They agreed that Mini left them and me in a crappy situation by mandating summer HP run flats on the sport package in Mini CM's being delivered to snow country. I told them I would not drive it off the lot if it was unsafe and considered summer HP run flats as unsafe in NE this time of year. Initially, they told me I could "opt" for the Mini winter tire package of 4 premounted winter tires on 17" rims to the tune of $2100. What a deal, right? I refused.
They then told me I could buy 4 new 18" all seasons and they would mount for $160. Plus, I would have to sell the removed tires on my own. What a deal, right? I argued that this really sucked and as a first time Mini owner, I was reconsidering my decision.
They agreed to mount, balance and install the new tires and split the cost of the new tires - I get the proceeds from selling the 18" HP summers on my own. I think this is fair considering the circumstances. The dealer finally stepped up to the plate and I may get out of this cost neutral.
Thoughts?

 

Do you own the Michelin's? Looking to get some real world opinions on them. I'm considering those or the Conti's.

 

My wife's mini (ALL 4 Cooper S) arrives in mid-feb-Valentines day perhaps...she also loved the turbofan 18" wheel. So i guess we're all in the same boat, wanting to ditch the summer run-flat before we end up in one. I have Michilin Pilot Sport AS Plus on my audi S4. Not a bad "winter" tire. In addition to the tires, we'll also need the 12 volt Air Compressor and plug kit. I can see my wife now (Mimi in her new Mini) in her heels on the side of the road, plugging the hole and filling her tire... Hope that doesn't happen - i'll somehow get the blame.

 

Sounds like we are in almost exactly the same boat....even down to the heels!

 

So has anyone put 18" all seasons on their CM yet?

Ours is scheduled to finish production on Jan 24 so I'm assuming we will take delivery in February. Will probably purchase the all seasons within the next two weeks.

 

I ordered Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus (i.e. non-run flat tires) for our CM yesterday. Hopefully our CM should arrive by the end of this month. Once I have the Michelins on I will post my impressions.

 

+1 Not sure they are available in the correct size for you, though.

 

linseybp,

Have you posted your impressions on the non-run flats? If so, could you send me the link. Would like to know what your impressions are.

I have the Bridgestone Duellers OE 18" on mine and took these set to a rainy day and night run from Alexandria to Norfolk, VA and back and I was very impressed the way they handled the wet surface. So, I know I will not have any issues on wet surfaces, what I'm concern is when the temp reaches below freezing point. So, I'll see this winter season...

Motor On,
CP

 

Follow up question request! I'm trying to decide between getting the sport package and 18" or just go with 17". A search for 205/55R17 came up with not a lot of options. Seems like the 18" have two of my favorite tires, the Bridgestone Potenza RE960 PP's and the Conti's DWS. My questions are:

How is the ride with 18" and non-rf?
What options in replacement tires for the 17" size in non-RF?
What is this "tire inflation" I read on this thread? Is it just a can of fix-a-flat? that's what us "old school" MINI drivers used when ditching the RF's.

Thanks in advance!

 

There are a lot of options for size 225/50-17, which has the same diameter as the stock size and they fit fine.

"Tire Inflation" kits consist of an air pump and a sealer. MINI sells one (expensive) and there are kits in most auto stores. Also the Tire Rack sells a Continental Tire kit (which I have and always carry when on non-runflats):
http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/detail.jsp?ID=38

 

Just wanted to update...We will have had the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus for a year in March. They have been great. Comfortable ride, great in rain , great in snow and overall very happy. Conti DWS are excellent tires also. Actually I was originally going to get those but they were out of stock and on backorder for weeks at the time so I went with the Michelins. Can't go wrong with either the Michelins or Conti's in my opinion.

 

DR61:

Thank you for the reply! I was thinking about using the old miata tire size calculator to see if I could find a tire with same diameter so this saved me that step.

Also, I see PP 970's and the DWS in that size so I'll be considering ordering a set once I take delivery of the Countryman