Hi everybody,

My 2004 Mini Cooper and I recently moved to Iowa City from another part of the country. I am due for a new set of tires anyway, so I was wondering if it is necessary to get winter tires here in Iowa. I don't have a readily available storage space for a set of tires.

Are there any specific make of tires you'd recommend for local conditions?
Should I also get rims?

As you can see, I don't know much about winter can maintenance and would appreciate any advice. Thanks.

Cheers,
Sophia

Sophia, since you don't have the space to store an extra set of tires you'll probably be able to get along okay around here with a good set of all-season tires.

The Continental ContiPro DWS seems to be quite popular around here, although I don't have any personal experience with them. Maybe someone who has will chime in.

In my case, I have a separate set of dedicated winter tires (Bridgestone Blizzaks) mounted on separate wheels so I can swap them out quickly and easily. With these tires, I can drive on just about any winter road with zero problems while I watch everyone around me slipping and sliding all over the place.

Welcome to the area, and good luck with your tire shopping!