A 2014 Mini Cooper Hardtop is our new baby. We live in the Sierra's. Our snow is known as Sierra Cement, it's heavy, wet, and our warm California days partially melt it by day and freeze it into ice sheets by night. No matter the stellar handling, or the inclusion of mud/snow tires, we will need chains, cables, or spike spiders. http://www.spikes-spiders.com/ We even have to chain up our AWD Subaru's at times.

We bought the 15" rims, so there would be more clearance between the tires and wheel wells. For those of you in snow/ice country, what do you use?

Separate tires really aren't an option, as we are at the edge of the snow line, and most driving will be done on the highway away from the snow. We want high mileage tires...w/o studs.

So please, share with me, what form of slide control do you use? Chains, cables, or spikes spiders.

Yes, we could have bought the Clubman w/AWD, but...it doesn't get 42MPG!! Just idea's on chain control.

By the way, the Spikes Spiders are magical. Several neighbors have these, and they've lasted many many seasons of repeated use with no damage or breakage. I just don't know about the clearance. And...you pay big bucks for the convenience.

 

When we picked up the car, the dealer had us sign a form acknowledging that using chains is a no no.

The reason, the inside wheel well does not have enough clearance when turning.

We can use cables, however, because they are a lower profile.

Then we showed him the spike-spiders online, and he said those would work too, because they are on the outside surface of the tire.

Just wanted to update you on what we learned.

Anyone that wants to share what they have used, in the past, would be welcomed.

 

We have some Spikes Spiders, but have never needed to use them.

 

Not too much thread of snow in Mt. View, is there? But, when you come up here to Tahoe, and a storm races through, you'll be grateful!

I just wish the price would come down. The "D" link chains at Les Schwab are great, and easy to put on and take off, but can't be used on this car.

The spike-spiders are just easy. You'll love them.

 

Just get a set or winter tyres and wheels, winter tyres work better in colder temperatures even without snow than summer tyres. Anything below 7C and you should be using winter tyres.

 

I'd also like to point out your dealer is full of poopoos, MINI in Europe offer snow chains as an accessory item.

 

If you're going to buy chains then I don't think you'll find anything easier to use than the Thule K Summit, these are so simple even a 90 year old blind woman could fit them, heck even my wife can.

http://www.thule.com/en-us/us/produc...k11-_-04505711

 

KiwiRob, you're going to be in SO MUCH trouble with your wife. Those are cool chains, and exactly what the dealer said to use...something that doesn't attach to the inside of the wheel. Nice to see another options. The Spikes-spiders are the same thing VERY easy...but I think your choice would be easier to store in the car. A very important point of distinction.

Now...the difference in Europe is that they don't have the "Sierra Cement" like we do here in No. California. There's a tremendous amount of build up, inside the wheel well, of wet snow that collects into an ice damn. That's probably why we had to sign the acknowledgement of no chains. It's probably a local thing, depending on the environment.

I got my hand slapped by an English Mini forum moderator, that they "ONLY get a few inches of snow...if at all...a year." That perhaps talking about chains in an area that doesn't need them is not appropriate and to take my discussion to the American forums would be better. Oh, okay. So, I started this thread. haha IN AMERICA.

ANYWAY, my guess is the local conditions are the determining factor of chains. My girlfriend that grew up in Utah, says the snow is completely different there, than it is here. So...that would make sense.

Most of our commute is not in the snow and ice, so the expense and noise of stud tires is not an option, nor are mud and snow tires in the ice. EASY cabling is the route to go. Thanks for sharing the additional choice.

 

We get a fare amount of snow here in Norway, where I live it's mostly slushy snow so I don't have spiked winter tyres, you should be able to get something like Continental winter vikings or Nokia hakapilita. The main problem with summer tyres in the cold is the rubber gets very hard and you end up with no grip and poor braking, winter tyres are softer compound, don't get hard and give you much better grip and braking in temps below 10 degrees C.

 

I know you said you don't want separate tires but I'd just like to share what I use (vehicle is '09 VW GLI tuned to 360hp/crank) and for winter set up I use separate wheels with Coopertire Weathermaster S/T 2's and let me tell you, those tires grip like crazy in the snow and slush. My car is front wheel drive and during last few winter seasons here in NYC I wen't through some deep snow and snow covered highways as well as streets and never ever had a situation that I couldn't overcome with these - absolutely love them. Plus, they should be made in USA (at least they used to be before) so there's another plus - support US economy while at it - win win.