So the temperatures have already started to drop in the Northeast here and I'm looking at picking up a set of winter wheels for the hopefully snowy winter this season to hit the slopes. Anyone have any recommendations for wheels / tires?

 

I just ordered a set of:
Wheels: 16x7 Focal F16
Tires: 205/60R-16 Bridgestone Blizzak WS70

I did a quick fit test and everything looks good but I have not had all 4 on for a test drive yet. Probably in the next few weeks. Total cost was $1300 mounted, balanced, presure sensor installed, and shipped from Tire Rack. Only took about a week for them to arrive.

 

The WS 70 isn't much of a performance tire when travelling on dry roads and is actually rated for mini vans. Did you buy these through Alex ?

I would opt for the LM-60's in 195/55/16. Going on my second set. This tire compound actually becomes "stickier" on the pavement the colder it gets too. I am going on my second set. You also dont have to deal with the speedometer error of the odd size tire either.

And wider is not necessarily better when it comes to snow tires either just snow shoes. You have more weight per square inch of tire foot print on the 195's so better traction.

 

I just went through the website, who is Alex? I dont remember the LM-60s being an option, but that good to know.

 

Alex is a member here and a TireRack sales rep, here's his profile. He's very responsive and helpful in recommending tires for your style of driving. His blog also

 

Hi all

I am looking to order winter tires&rims for my Countryman S All4. I see that Tire Rack is now offering a 16" rim and tire package, and wonder if anyone has tried these on the S All4 with its bigger rotors/calipers. I tried my 16" BMW winter setup from my E46 on the Mini and they fit but the clearance over the calipers was very minimal. Anybody know from experience how much clearance the tire rack setup has?

I'm looking at 205/16/R16 Dunlop WinterSport SP 3D's and the Sport Edition CD rims (16"x7.5") from Tire Rack. Any advice is appreciated.
[edit] Oops, meant to say 205/60/r16 tire size above
Mark

 

After talking to Tire Rack and getting confirmation that they will be fine on this vehicle, I ordered the 16" setup. Order shipped 3 hrs after I submitted it online. If anyone cares, I will report back when they arrive.
Mark

 

Yes Mark we care! I have a set of 225/50R17 Michelin Xi2's on their way. Will post up pics when they're mounted this weekend.

 

big Nokian fans here, no snow..absolutely none, lasts as long with sustained winter performance as this brand.

Anyway, Hakka R 205/50/17's-3.1% smaller diameter, other size available in this tire was a 215/55. Just didn't want any additional width for winter.

Picked up a set of oem silver twin spoke 17" wheels from a great guy across the country, for less than an aftermarket set.

Just ordered up the extra TPMS from Tirerack yesterday, probably have them mounted and balanced this week.

 

Here are pics of the 16" Dunlop Wintersport 3D's on the Sport Edition CD rims from Tire Rack.

Mark

 

Pic of 225/50R17 Michelin X-Ice Xi2's on 17x8" Motegi MR118's also from the rack

More pics here

 

looks good...

 

"And wider is not necessarily better when it comes to snow tires either just snow shoes. You have more weight per square inch of tire foot print on the 195's so better traction."

The tire patches are the same size, just different shapes. Narrower is better in snow because the narrower patch plows less.

 

How much was the set?

 

Sport Edition CD rims were on clearance for $85 each and tires were $133 each. Total for tires mounted on rims and balanced (free when buying rim/tire package) was $872 before taxes and shipping. Because I am in Canada, I had to pay a lot for shipping, duty, Canadian taxes, and brokerage fee. The final cost at my door was $1344US. This was still $300-400 cheaper than I could find for an equivalent package locally.

Not having runflats on the vehicle made a huge difference in how it feels on the road (quieter, less harsh). I am thinking about trying to sell the summer 18" runflats next spring because it is that dramatic of a difference in my opinion.

Mark

 

Whereabouts in Ontario are you? Same thing about the run flats. Took them off for the winter tires, and it is a night and day difference; rides better and feels more "sprightly". Little apprehensive about not having a spare, but oh well.

 

I also went to a non-RFT winter tire and have noticed a difference. Now to qualify, I was never a RFT hater. My '08 Cooper S Clubman had RFT summers and winters, and my current '11 Cooper S Countryman was delivered with 18" RFT summers and I later got 19" wheels with RFT summers.

I used my 18" wheels as my winter wheels and got my winter tires in the OEM size and let me tell you, it feels like:

1) A large person just lost 50 lbs, and/or
2) A very eager puppy pulling at the leash

The car is "transformed". Seems like it just wants to go!!

 

Hi Brad

I am in Kingston, Ontario. We got our Countryman at the end of April 2011 for my wife, and she has put almost 28,000 km (around 17,000 miles) on it already traveling for work! Nice to find another Ontario owner because we have only seen one other Countryman "in the wild" so far.

By the way, I read the posts about other owners getting a "goody bag" of swag from MINI shortly after their purchase, and I wonder if that is only for US owners? We didn't get anything fun from MINI unless you count the nice chrome-tape "streamers" from the front and rear window trim pieces on our MINI (still not completely fixed, sigh). Did you, or any other Canadian owners out there, get a package in the mail from MINI?

Re: not having a spare, I went to Princess Auto and got a great Slime Roadside Emergency kit for $29.99. It has a can of puncture sealant, a nice little compressor, emergency triangles, booster cables, a first aid kit and a bunch of other handy stuff in it. It fits nicely under the floor in the trunk too with the jack etc. Here is a link: http://www.princessauto.com/surplus/...-emergency-kit

Mark