Hi all, nice forums. I favorably leaning towards getting a Clubman S in the coming months. I live around Chicago though, and snow will be an issue.

I wonder how the Mini's perform in the snow. Not actual 'performance', but driving in general

I saw on the Mini website there is a free option to switch to All Season Tires. I will probably do this. Will this help? Make a difference? I like performance, but I don't want something un-driveable in the snow so I'd be willing to sacrifice a bit if it was as simple as switching to these tires. At the same time, from experience, does it drastically change the normal driving experience.

I'll be honest, I don't know much about cars, but am an open book and plan on learning as I go on. Thanks!

 

Your choices are get the car with all season tires or get the car with performace tires & buy another set of wheels & snow tires. You may be able to get by with all seasons, but those performace tires aren't going anywhere in the ice & snow.

 

Welcome Rocktest! And "hey" to Crashton too!

I did what Crashton suggests. I run performance tires on the OEM 17" S-Lites for summer, then change to ASA JS1 wheels and Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50's in 16" for the winter. Since I have to behave in ice and snow I went to 16" for a smoother ride. Occassionally I forget they are on and it gets a bit squeamish.

Sounds like you'd spend too much to have both sets, but they last twice as long since you only run them half of the year.

 

The reason I got the MINI was for the snow and cold climate up here.

You will not be disappointed, my MINI is my daily driver, too.

I went with 15" wheels and all season Conti's from the factory-year round.

Rides like a cat with sneakers.

Check this link out if you want to see MINI snow performance....

http://www.mini.ca/en/More_MINI/Wint...g/default.aspx

Aside for a bit of an issue with ground clearance with over half a foot of snow, the MINI takes to snow like no other sports car.

 

I went with a Jeep Wrangler for the snow

 

Just can't bring myself to compromise....

Never understood why anyone would drive anything else, snow or no snow!

 

If you are getting an MCS, I think the best option for snow is the LSD - limited slip differential. Think of it as locking the axle together if one wheel starts to slip - it really helps you get going when it is slippery. With that and all-season 16" tires I don't have any problems.

 

Wow! What part of MN do you live in? Because I ran into snow this past weekend and did a 90, a 180 and then a 360 when I hit some bad patch of either fresh snow or ice... (not sure) ...but i'm running all seasons and switched to Blizzaks tonight! You must be lucky!!!

 

I'm in Eagan, south of the cities.

Sounds like you had a close call there.

Must have been ice under snow that you hit-no fun!

I'm very easy on the pedal in the white stuff, keep my DSC on, and go.

Glad you and your MINI are OK.

 

I'm in Wyoming and use studded tires all around in the winter, and have no problems getting around unless the snow gets too deep. The main streets are no problem, the only time I got stuck was in my driveway because someone hadn't shoveled yet!

 

We may be getting some sort of snow event around December 5th here in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. It's too early to say for sure, but maybe.

If so, it'll be my first drive with the MINI in the snow.

I'll report back after that.

 

i'm planning to get winter tires for my Mini, but question is it easier to buy another set of rims with winter tires from tire rack? or is it just better to buy the snow tires and then have them changed at like NTB?

 

I have nothing good to say about NTB.

Me I'd recommend a wheel & tire package from Tirerack. Alex will set you up.

 

see the thing is i couldn't find a wheel and tire package, everytime i clicked it just takes me straight to wheels...

lol whose Alex?

 

i never bought any tires or rims yet, as this is my first car so i'm kind of a newb. -.-

 

but i'm looking at something like this at the moment.

16x7 MSW Type 11 Machined w/Black Accent

195/55HR16 Dunlop Winter Sport M3
Blackwall

about $830 with shipping.

 

I've been using Discount Tire for several years and they've generally been helpful. A wheel and tire setup can be had for under $800 out the door. They will match Tire Rack's price plus shipping. Buying from Tire Rack and having Discount or anyone else mount/balance runs the price up as they charge full price for the labor that's discounted when purchased at the store.

 

The main roads here are usually fine.

Excellent road crews in Minnesota.
(Taxes are high, but you get what you pay for.)

Sometimes the side streets take a bit to clear.

After getting home in all the traffic, I won't make it up the driveway until I fire up the snowblower! Trade-off for living in the great white north.

Eeyore, I love the Carmela in Aspen Alley shot in your gallery! Incredible.

 

I got the 15" conti all seasons on my 04 MC and they are pretty decent in the snow....but to be on the safe side, 3 seasons ago I ordered from Alex at Tire rack a set of 4 15" Pirelli Snow Controls mounted on steel wheels.

There was a problem with a leaky valve and they have set up where they referred me to a fairly local place that I took the tire to and they replaced it for free...no problems....I would definitely recommend Tire Rack....the Snow Controls are great...I am looking forward to the first snow.


To change all the tires takes maybe an hour and I do it in my one car garage...plenty of room and easy....but I did have a heck of a time taking the stock wheels off the first time as they apparantly do not use anti-seize compound, but as long as you use a little bit of that, the wheel change goes real easy

 

We got a decent amount of snow (for November) tonight and driving home from school really wasn't an issue even with the roads sort of covered. Braked fine and didn't even spin the tires on the launch. I have the all-seasons with 15" rims.

I am planning on winter and summer tires though once I decide on what rims I want to go with.

 

i'm considering converting my 16's now into snow tires, and then when summer hits, i'll get a new set of rims and performance tires. which is better for summer tires, 16 or 17? (For MCS)

 

Either way works. As for summer performance tires and size, that depends what your driving habits and activities will be. The comfort of the ride decreases with increased wheel size while the handling gets better. So many factors to consider.

 

Thanks jimmy_racoon.........I appreciate that! It was a lucky shot, and if you didn't notice, it made the 2008 calendar.........not that I'm excited about that, or anything!

 

From everything I've read in the forums, try to stay away from the /55 tires. You should have the narrowest tire for snow. I just got a set of wheels and Blizzak WS-60s in 185/65-15 for $689 mounted, balanced and delivered. Can't really beat the price. Got a bad hip, so I didn't dismount/mount them myself; my local shop charged me $48 to mount them.

 

whoa, did you get that at a online deal or a your local shop? i want a deal like that !