Just kidding its all good....

It's started to snow here in Connecticut about 2" on the ground so far.....I took a drive down the street to go run errands and YUP I'm placing an order at Tirerack for some snowshoes.

The stock 17" tires suck. Blizzak WS-60 and rims are on thieir way......Then I can have sum serious fun in the Snow.

 

Do you still have the little blue stickers on the center caps?

Envious of your snow, not envious of your need to buy new wheels/tires for the occassion.

 

I'm going to give the all-season 17" run-flats a try for my first attempt at winter MINI driving. We'll see how that works out.

Great photos!

~Neal

 

Yeah They should work better than my 17" NON all season runflats.

No i dont still have the little blue sticker on the center caps.

 

I just switched from the 16" Conti run-flats to 15" Blizzak Revo 1s, m'self.

 

I'm surprised you got the performance 17" runflats as opposed to the all season. My MA strongly advised against the summer performance tires for the North east.

 

I'm in the NE, and we too ordered our MCS with summer performance tires. It is, of course, not an issue if you plan to purchase winter tire combo for the white stuff.

I do the same for my Saab (the MCS is for my wife, although, we haven't taken delivery - hopefully tomorrow - and she says it's hers, but my toy). And for the times we need it, the performance (both summer and winter) easily outweighs the cost. Unfortunately, the MCS, I need to add the TPM sensors, but oh well.

So yes, no if you plan to only run those tires, but yes, if you don't mind or expect to buy snows. I hate reading reviews for summer performance tires that ding a rating for a tire because it doesn't do well in the snow - it'S NOT supposed to!

 

yeah but in the summer they are great.

 

So do you have to get new wheels too for the winter tires? Or can you get the same size in run flat winters?

 

i opted for 15" because cheaper and the smaller the tire the easier to plow through snow...take a look on tirerack.com alot of good info

yes they sell 17" snows but I dont believe in runflats.

I paid 704 with shipping for four 15" Blizzaks WS-60, (I think the best snow tire out there) and 15" rims mounted and balanced all i have to do is put em on my car.

 

I went with Dunlop Winter Sport M3's 'cause I've gotten a lot of mileage with them, and they still handle great on dry roads. I got 16" Borbet rims because there is a curve on the edge and it will help throw off snow that can freeze up and create a balance problem. I would have gone for 15" but I don't think the Dunlops come in that size.

 

I have the 15" Blizzaks on my MCS and I had no problem with the deepest of snows.

 

Don't you have to get the TPMS sensors if you buy new wheels? Does TireRack sell those or are those extra?

 

Depends on the build date of your MINI. I think they changed to wheel based sensors around August. TireRack asks what valve stems you have. I would assume there is an extra charge for the sensors, but don't know how much it is (I've heard a dealer will charge $60 each if you ruin one with Fix-a-Flat or Slime).

edit: I just checked. $184 for a set of 4 valves and sensors. Or you have to move the valves from your stock wheels to the new ones.

 

Ah what a hassle! I'll stick with my all seasons I guess as all '08s are going to have the new sensors, in fact my MA said that the TPMS in '08 is going to be even different than the late '07 builds.

 

I'm getting a set of cables for mine. They're on order now. No, my car's not lowered so they'll work fine. No snow problems for me this winter.

 

sunny and 72 here in DC

 

Hmm. Do 15 inch rims even fit on a 2007 MINI Cooper S? I didn't think they cleared the front brake calipers... I like having two sets of wheels and tires, makes life much easier and you don't have to give up winter performance.

 

What's Snow??????????????

 

Snow is that pretty white stuff that causes utter panic here in Houston--flurries and the schools are closed.

 

Wait, wait, wait. I'm pretty sure that most 15" rims don't fit in the MCS R56 because we have what used to be the JCW brake kit kitted as standard and there were clearance issues with that kit when fitted to R50/53's.

Hope the new winter setup that Kevin ordered will fit.

 

Tire Rack told me they have a 15inch wheel that will work with those brakes. I believe it's a Sport Edition F2. I didn't get them for my winter set up, but it was very tempting.

 

I'm sure they have something but the cost could end up being prohibitive and do they accept the TPMS sensors (for those that need them).

 

Tire Rack quoted me under $700 for the 15inch wheels with Blizzaks. I don't know about TPMS because my car doesn't have it.

 

Well my R56 is at the dealership getting the bumper repainted, but in the mean time I have an R53 Convertible Cooper for a loner. The only problem is that it has the Dunlop SP Sports on it, which are clearly summer only tires, and it snowed here last night. Trying to drive to the store this morning wasn't exactly fun.