Sorry for starting a new thread, but a search didn't provide me all the information I'd like. I'm quite ignorant about this.

I have a tire issue. It's a long story and I'm still working on the dealer to fix it, but essentially I ordered all season tires and got summer tires. I've been driving on these for 6 months and 7,000 miles. As winter approaches, I was doing some research on TireRack and learned about this problem. I should have noticed this at the time or at least sooner, but I'm nothing close to an expert on tires.

So now I have to get some tires for winter. I'm thinking about buying a set of winter tires and wheels, which I would like to do as cheaply as possible.

Are there any issues with running seasonal tires/wheels? Are there any problems with storage? Is it really as simple as putting the tires/wheels on the car when the season calls for it?

Should I pick up a set of OEM wheels on NAM that someone has taken off their car and buy tires from tirerack? Buy a cheap wheel and tire combo from tirerack? I assume the latter would come ready for me to install on the car by myself. Are there any other issues I should consider before going this route?

Thanks for your help.

 

I just spoke to Alex at TireRack and he was very helpful. Thanks, Alex! Still interested in whatever anyone else has to say about the issue.

 

I went with a complete set of wheels and tires in 205/50/16. The tires I wanted were not available at the TR, so I went with another popular vendor Edge Racing.

I went to 16s for the comfort and wheel style I wanted on my DS/W. I will put some pure summer tires on the 17s after I wear down the run flats at a few track driver schools next season.

I think changing wheels and tires for seasonal usage is ok, if you have storage for your other set and you don't mind the bother of switching wheels/tires as you need too.

Let us know what you do. I saw on your other thread you had an open issue with the original tires from the dealer. Resolved?

 

Good winter tires are the way to go in areas that get snow that stays on the ground.

One of my post about snow tires
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...25&postcount=6

Another thread.https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=36192

Mark

 

I run 16" performance tires/wheels in the Summer, which I bought from Alex. They are non-runflat, which in my opinion, is a VAST improvement in handling over the OEM runflats. My winter tires/wheels are OEM V-spoke R84's with Michelin all-season non-runflats. NO problem at all for storing the extra set. I just stack them in the corner of the garage until time to swap out. With the help of an inexpensive floor jack purchased from Costco, I can change out the set of tires/wheels in less than 30 minutes--substantially less time and effort compared to going to a tire outlet to have them put on.

Unless you get lots of snow (and it stays on the streets for extended periods of time), I would suggest getting all-season tires, as they are better for all-purpose cold weather driving, versus dedicated snow tires, which are great in the snow, but relatively poor on pavement. If I lived in CO, and were going skiing on a regular basis, I'd opt for snow tires, but here in Kansas City, where it gets cold, but only snows a few inches per storm, a few times per winter-- all-seasons make more sense to me.

You might be able to find OEM MINI S-lites at giveaway prices, if you prefer running 17" wheels. The local dealer here sold off their junk bin of S-lites for something like $25 per set.

Good luck!

 

The issue is still unresolved with the dealer. Hopefully I'll talk to them tomorrow, but I'm thinking that I might prefer to keep the tires they sold me and go this route anyway.

I'm tempted to go without runflats, but we live way out in the country and cell phone reception is sketchy. My wife and kids use the car so it's probably too big a risk to leave them to deal with a flat.

I don't want to run 17s (especially in the winter), but I'm going to see what sort of cheap wheels my dealer might have lying around.

Thanks!

 

Jyarrow,

I don't blame you for having reservations about risking rural driving w/out runflats... 90% of my mileage is urban/metro so I have no concern. The suspension on your '07 MINI is softer than mine, so runflats won't be quite as noticeable. You might check the NAM classifieds thread or if you have a regional or local MINI club/forum, I'd check those sources for an extra set of 16" wheels. You are likely to find a great deal.

ALSO--While you are doing wheel research, if you don't already know, you might ask around to verify if there are limitations on OEM wheel compatibility. I think the R56's use bigger front calipers than the 1st gen. MINIS...? If so, and similar to my JCW front brakes, not all MINI wheels will fit over the larger calipers. In my case, R84 V-spokes fit, but only by using non-OEM tire weights. The stick-on OEM tire weights are too thick, but there are thinner ones available, which allows the 16" R84 V-spoke fit over JCW brakes. Mine work just fine.

 

I've been trying to convince my wife to go without runflats in the winter, but it's not gonna fly. I appreciate all the advice, particularly about the wheel sizes. I've been watching the forums and thinking about buying some S-Winders that have been pulled off an R56.

 

hey, can you pm me the location and number of this place. I have been looking for that kind of rim. the price is certainly right, thanks.

 

I can't say enough good things about the Goodyear Eagle GW3 runflats. They handle phenomenally well, and they're comfy -- you can't even tell that they're runflats.

In the summer, I go with non runflats, but in the winter... I don't want to be on a highway in the middle of nowhere & have to deal with a flat when it's insanely cold, & risk dying from exposure!

 

I'm ordering Continental all-seasons with 15" steelies... mounted, balanced, put on car, out the door ~$425.

Auto Sport Plus in Canton (the place I'm going) even beat Tirerack prices... now that's pretty cool!

 

Not to steal someone else's thread... I'm also interested in buying a couple 17" white s-lites to replace my curb rashed ones... Could you pm the information as well?

My 2 cents relating to this thread: I bought a set of 15" cheapo aluminum wheels and Pirelli Winter Carving (studded) tires from Alex at The Tire Rack as well. I love the narrow tires for driving on ice and snow, more pressure per square inch of the tire's contact patch. I think I still have pics of the setup in my gallery for those of you curious...

 

Dimini, I have a rather newbie question for you regarding your usage of the floor jack on your wheel changes.

Do you use the floor jack on the side jack points and do two wheels at a time or do you use the floor jack from the front then the rear lifting both wheels off the ground?

Just trying to figure out which way I'm going to jack the MINI when my new wheels and tires get here in the middle of the week.

Others can chime in with comments on techniques and suggestions.

I know it is a lame question, but on the Alfa Vintage race cars I have done it both ways, but never on the MINI.

Thanks,

 

I use the side jack points and lift an entire side at a time. Makes for super quick changes.

FYI- If you need to put the car up on jack stands for any reason, I learned from a NAM thread the trick of placing a 3' (or so) piece of scrap 2x4 lumber between the front and rear jack points and place the jack in the middle (under the 2x4) in order to raise the car high enough for placing the jack stands under their appropriate jack points. Do that one side at a time and you quickly have your car up on 4 jackstands.

 

dimini, Thanks for the reply. That is how I do the Alfas, so it is good to go on the MINI.

I have two 3 ton floor jacks, so I should be able to get it done.

 

I finally made my decision about winter tires (and with some snow in tomorrow's forecast - not a moment too soon). My dealer wasn't particularly interested in helping to reconcile the problem that the car didn't come with all seasons, but I decided that winter tires would be helpful. So I ordered a winter tire/wheel set up from Tire Rack last night.

I will soon have a set of ASA 16 inch JH6 wheels with continental winter runflats. That's $1,000 I didn't really want to spend, but in the long term I think it will pay off in winter safety, summer fun, and convenience of changing my own wheels.

My wife's not thrilled, but I also couldn't convince her to go the cheap route with 15inch wheels and non-runflats. She doesn't want to get stuck on our country roads with a flat.

 

The first time you wife sees how well your MINI performs with real snows she will be delighted.

Nice choice in wheels by the way. I have a set also.

 

Hey guys; silly question, but since I don't have the car in my possession yet I can't look. I am going to put winters on my v-spoke 16" wheels, and am wondering what the width of the wheels is? 7.5"? I am looking at 195/50/16's. Think they'll fit? Thanks.

 

16x6.5's
195/55/16 or 205/50/16 are the best size options.

Alex

 

Alex is correct. Did you expect anything else?

I like a narrow tire for snow use. I'd recommend the 195/55/16. The taller sidewall gives the tire a bit more flex which also helps their snow performance.

 

It's great that Alex got in on this question in this thread because he's the one who helped me with my original question and winter tire/wheel decision. Thanks, Alex!

 

Whenever the topic of winter/snow tires arises, there are usually quite a few opinions which reference the benefit of winter tires being much better suited to driving in areas with snow that stays on the ground. While using winter tires to drive about in actual precipitation is definitely a stated advantage to having winter tires, one of the main benefits is cold weather traction and grip in the dry.

Good winter tires will have a much more pliant rubber compound than summer tires do in cold temperatures, and these temps don't really have to be all that cold (anything under 50f) to benefit from winter rubber. Braking distances (at temps under 50 of course) can be much shorter with winter tires as compared to summer, and cornering ability is almost similarly raised.

I just put on my set of Pirelli snow sport 240's (I saved my R91 bullets for the winter tires - I took off the summer dunlop 9000 runflat/R99 combo) and there is a huge difference in grip. I've had them on since last weekend, and there have been a few outings where the temps were in the 30's - even in the complete dry, the winter tires are much better suited for those temps than the summer tires - the summers were almost rock hard at 35f, and they didn't have anywhere near the grip of the Pirelli SS 240.

 

Great, thanks Alex!

 

My winter wheels/tires were delivered today (ASA JH6 wheels with continental winter runflats). Not a moment too soon as it started to snow about 30 minutes before the Fedex truck came up the driveway. Guess I'll get to have a great Saturday - swap the wheels in the morning and watch The Game at noon.

Thanks to all of you for your help in my wheel decision.