Well I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and all families are well. I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my family.

I'm sure that many were surprised when they woke up on this Black Friday morning to see snow on the ground. Maybe we'll have a white Christmas too.

I just want to wish everyone a Happy Holidays and please drive safely. I absolutely love the snow and snowboarding. I also enjoy driving in the snow as well. One thing that I always remember is that even though my Mini is small, it is still stronger than me.

So please everyone be safe this winter and I expect to see or hear from everyone these Holidays and this winter. I will try my hardest to show up for the monthly breakfasts. Hope to see many others there as well.

Again, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!
See you all soon!
-Thu and Mike

 

We had a wonderful family dinner. Burp!

Sure was a surprise to see snow this morning. Well the Hakka's are on the cars so bring on the snow.

Hope to see you guys Wednesday at Bella Largo.

 

We had a great dinner and enough leftovers to do it a few more times!
Our 2 puppies were a little confused about the white stuff on the ground. Guess we have to start warning the kids about the yellow snow when we go out to play this year!

 

I'll be putting my snows on this weekend.

 

Snows are on.

 

Ok so, with the weather getting frightful, I checked my tread depth and they aren't looking very good. 4/32nd on the front and 3/32nds on the read. I know that at 4/32nds is when u start to loose traction on a wet surface. Therefore we REALLY need some good snow tires.

CHUCK, I remember you saying something about how the Blizzacks may only last one winter, so I was hoping that you could tell me what is the name brand of the ones you have and where did you get them?

I'm hoping to stay near about $100/tire, the Blizzacks are about $72/tire now.

Thank you so very much.

 

I say put some worn out tires on and have a blast.

 

Check out the online retailers I got a set of Perelli's last year for around $30 per tire, they sent them mounted on steelies my grand total was around $300.

 

Per Chuck's recommendation, I got winter tires in October at Discount Tire on Hornbeam Ln. in Lewis Center. Michelin Primacy Alpin RunFlats 195/55R-16 at $126 a piece. New rims were $78 each. After all fees, including TPMS, it was $1,189. Granted that sounds like a lot, and you could probably get them on line for less money, but it was the convenience factor for me (local) as well as having the sport tires removed and the winter tires installed. They were very professional, had the tires swapped out in less than an hour, and all 4 tires fit in the back of my MINI, for winter storage in my garage.

 

Mike, you will most likely get 2-3 seasons out of a set of Blizzaks depending on how much you drive. They are a very good winter tire, right up to the point you wear through the special winter tread compound. After that, hang on because they are then a carp snow tire. If you can live with the tire wearing out sooner the Blizzak is a good snow tire.

I'm using Nokia Hakkapilita tires. This is their fourth & final winter. They cost more than Blizzaks so maybe the trade off of longer wear vs more cost is a wash. FWIW I think if I was buying today I'd get the WS60 Blizzak in 175-65-15.

 

THIS THREAD NEEDS PICTURES

btw- I just put some sweeeeet winter wheels and tires on winston. I'll post pics from MY snowy outing this weekend when I get back on sunday or monday

Thanks hugely to a board member for the 16's.. and I went with a pirelli copy!

 

Alright Sounds good. We'll be getting the Blizzaks but on soon. 2-3 seasons doesn't sound bad but honestly, we do drive quite a bit. But I think we'll manage. Thanks again Chuck, and everyone else for the input. As soon as I get them on I'll post some pix.

 

Mike I also would suggest that you get those snows on a set of wheels. Taking tires on & off rims every season does the tires no good at all, plus it makes the swap over very easy. I'm sure Alex at the Tire Rack can set you up with a set.

 

+1 on Chuck's suggestion steel wheels rule no curb worries .

 

So we have discussed the benefits of snow tires alot, but we have not talked about winter driving tactics. One I have always wondered about is should you stay in the lowest or highest gear possible?

 

For me it is get in a high gear soon. Short shift & go through the gears. If it is real slick I start in second gear. Power & torque are not your friends on a slippery road. All your inputs should be SMOOTH SMOOTH SMOOTH.

 

I put my S heavies (can't say they are light) back on with some Toyo observe2 snows ...(weigh twice as much as the 18's I run

 

I have input into the garage and am driving the cold Outback...

 

So the Outback is now outback????

 

It's outback until the it needs to de-ice as it did the other morning. Then the MINI goes outback and the Outback gets input. As long as there's a possibility of salt thereon, the Outback is out and the Mini ini.

Now, when my sister-in-law's Genesis coupe was sitting here the other day and she was in NYC... well then the Gennie AND the Outback had to go ini to de-ice. But, only after I took the Gennie out for a "warm up" drive.

 

Nothing like gracefully pulling away from a stoplight while the dude driving his Escalade sits and spins on his 22's with no tread.

 

Days like yesterday & today make me want to give my snow tires a hug.

Have you noticed when you pass the real man in his big **** 4X4 he gets a little upset? Guess his ego can't take a cute (yes cute) little clown car driving right by in complete control while he guns his V8 in a desperate attempt to show off his manly hood.

 

I had a manly Lincoln Navigator spin out in front of me ... Luckily the mini had great grip and I swapped lanes quick traction control light aflashin ... went right around him ...

 

ok





I was slicing up the chunks from other people's wheel wells last night.... I HATE these carpet wheel wells too... dont even see how mine can turn lol

 

Frozen MINI...