If all goes accordingly, I'll be buying an '09 hardtop later on this afternoon. However, our WNY lake effect snows can make driving stressful. Is this car as solid solid in these conditions, as it's touted to be?

 

i had mine for its first winter right after i got it and, well it was nice as i came from a 1990 Mustang GT (yeah that sucked in snow).

Only gripe i had was the stock runflats were terrible in it... felt way to hard and the rear liked to float around. I also had the car lowered on H&Rs by then too, so im sure that didnt help matters.

This year i am looking forward to getting some snow tires on some smaller rims and I think itll all be good

 

The only problem I've had with snow is not having enough clearance on unplowed roads. I have a separate set of snow tires and summer tires that I use, which I would highly suggest for you to do since you get a lot more snow than we do in SE PA. With the snow tires, the MINI is pretty solid. (A lot more so than my parents 4wd Jeep Cherokee they forced me to drive one storm...ugh scary )

 

VERY winter worthy on the right WINTER tires and with the right driver knowledge. Even the best Range Rover or Acura SuperHICAS or Subaru (or Jeep or whatever) AWD system is completely worthless without traction to play with, and winter tires are key.

For more MINI-specific winter information, see here. Also, check out PittStopMINI's winter driving school, very affordable (under $50 the last few years), lots of fun, and not super far away in Wampum, PA, about 45 minutes north of Pittsburgh. There, we've run closed course testing of winter vs. all-season vs. summer tires, on Minis. The differences are astounding. We've even noticed differences between different brands and ages of winter tires, and seen some of the tradeoffs, for example, between performance snows like the Dunlop Wintersport M3 (more stable in wet/dry, better wear, slightly less snow traction than new Blizzaks but still night and day above all-seasons) and Blizzak ice/snow tires (faster wear, slightly mushier in wet/dry, but even better in icy/hard snow conditions).

www.tirerack.com has some good information as well.

 

I've had a Mini in upstate NY for 6 years, and it is great in snow. Having a second set of wheels with snow tires makes it much better to shift between winter & summer tires.

The only trouble I've had is with the snow that gets plowed back into the driveway by the plows- the heavy, salted snow gets stuck under the undercarriage easily, so I make sure to shovel before making the driveway attempt, but in fresh snow it's fun to drive!

WNY Mini club website is here:
http://miniclubofwny.activeboard.com/

 

And the carpet lined wheel wells suck. Snow just sticks to them :(

 

Thanks for the input.

 

I was quite pleased with snow performance in our 08 MC with the stock 15" ContiProContacts. I blew by a large pickup that couldn't make it up a hill in Dixon once.

 

Yes.

 

you get it?

 

If I hadn't been such an IDIOT and insisted on the Grand Touring Summer Tire, winter would have been no problem at all. BUT I WAS!!

Molly did great on the roads, slight inclines, no problem, until we hit our Driveway...steep incline!! Hubby and I had to shovel and sand until Molly would get back into the garage. Yeah, I know she was letting us know she wanted to play in the snow some more, but Mommy and Daddy were pooped!!

So October 19th (1.5yr Delivery Anniversary) Molly will be getting a new set of shoes!! Now we'll see how much FUN Winter can really be!!

 

'04 MC with the stock 15" continental all-seasons....very good in snow....but then bought from TireRack 4 Pirelli SnowControls mounted....now is GREAT in snow...as long as there is not more than 5 inches of unpacked snow...have had them for 4 winters generally from mid-dec to mid-march and still plenty of tread left

 

Yellow, I just went to your listed WNY link. Cool.

Thanks

 

I fared well in this last (and my MINI's first) Colorado winter with the stock Continental all-seasons. The snow-plowing issue is certainly present due to the design of the front end and such, but it's manageable if you don't hit unplowed roads or drifts.

 

I use dedicated snows and my house is 1100 feet above sea level, I also go to work at very off hours and the roads are not plowed most of the time when i leave.
Besides the 1 Very large Crater I hit in the road, I have had zero issues getting around in the snow. Turning the DSC off helps going up steep hills

 

That is KEY for any acceleration in any slippy stuff, even wet, especially in the R50/53 where the DSC/ASC is very intrusive. A controlled amount of wheelspin is far preferable to a near-total loss of power.

 

My patent response to this query is always to check

http://www.arcticmini.com

 

Please tell me how in my 08 S!

I just picked up spare set of 17" wheels for winter with decent summer run flat rubber. I wanted to put those tires on my good wheels and run next summer but my tire guy said run flts dont like swapping rims, said likely to tear. Is this true? will they get ruined during swap?

I have a SUV for real snow but hate driving it. predicting snow in new england is a joke, weather men claim 10" every day to keep you tuned to the tube.. I did get 30k with the Dunlop run flats which is pretty good.

 

I have never seen a set of run flats tear, but that does not mean it does not happen. What i will say is runflats are a B--ch to swap out. The stiff sidewall makes mounting them on wheels very difficult, and if you dont have a good up to date machine you can destroy a tire let alone a wheel. Your Tire guy may not have a update machine or may not want the hassel of swapping them out.

 

THAT is why you buy a set of winter tires on their own wheels!!! Then you just jack 'er up, bolt 'em on, and away you go.

I will NEVER forget sitting behind an Acura SUV with their Super HICAS all-wheel-drive, literally watching the Acura drivetrain computer try to get traction on one wheel, then another, then a combination of front and rear, all the while the tires slipping like tuxedo shoes on wet grass. I popped off the DSC and drove around him like he was standing still - well, he actually WAS standing still.

On the R56 chassis (and Clubbies), there's that little button in front of the shift lever on the right side. Push down to turn off ASC (anti-slip control). This will let you spin the tires a bit to get going. If you want more freedom from the electronic traction nannies, hold that button down and DSC (stability control) is disabled. You may not want that kind of freedom, especially in a tail-heavier Clubbie - they do get a lil' loose in the caboose in some types of severe (autocross-type) turns with it completely off, but are benign as a spring rain with it on.

 

Thanks, tire guy did say his tire machine was a gen too old for my tires,could do it but would be tough. he called yesterday and told me he could only get run flats for winter tires, I know not true per tirerack.com.

my goal was to have wheels and tires for summer and winter but just didnt want to trash tires that had some life left in them.

turn off ASC - you know I do not think my car has that button?? I'm away for the week end but will check when home.