My JCW (few weeks old) has 17" Challenge-spoke wheels and the Continental performance runflats. I'm in NH, and our winters get pretty rough, so I'll be needing some snow tires. I saw somewhere that it's not recommended to change tires that use TPMS off and on the wheel frequently (or was that about runflat tires? anyways, doesn't matter) so I was assuming I'd buy a second set of wheels and tires and swap them in the winter.

However, as I'm doing some looking, I'm getting discouraged at the price it looks like I'm going to pay. I'd really be happy with getting the smallest, ugliest, cheapest wheels with some decent snows, but since I have a JCW, my choices are limited. Then, I just realized I'll need a second set of TPMS for the winter tires, which tacks on even more. I'm looking at about $1400 for a set of 17" wheels, runflat snows, and TPMS! I bought a set of 18" wheels and performance (non-runflat, but high end) tires last year for another car and the total cost was $1200.

So I guess since my choice of wheels is limited I may want to consider looking at different tires. That is, non-runflat snow tires. That'd save me from having to buy expensive runflats AND from buying more TPMS sensors. Of course, buying non-runflats is a bit of a gamble, but I'll only have them on from Jan-March or so.

I'd really appreciate any thoughts people can provide on this. If anyone has any suggested wheels (that fit on an 09 JCW) that are cheap, or some decent tires to use, I'd appreciate that as well.

 

Bueller...bueller...

 

Even though you have a new MINI you should be able to get-

Standard sized wheels (including some 15" and 16") from $100 each on up
Standard non runflat snow or winter tires from about $100 each on up
TPMS added to each.

Check with Alex@tirerack.com for the details since you are asking about the 2009 MCS JCW which I cannot specifically check for at tirerack.com

 

Non run-flats are a bit of a gamble, but think of how often you actually get a flat. I think I've had one in 12 years of car ownership, and that was more of a slow leak.

How much snow do you get in your part of NH? I see Concord got 116" last winter, so I wouldn't screw around with "performance" winter tires with that kind of snow.

The Bridgestone Blizzak WS-60 (brand new in Fall 2007), Michelin X-Ice Xi2 (brand new in Fall 2008), and Nokian Hakkapeliitta R (brand in Fall 2008) are probably the best three choices for hardcore studless tires out there.

 

Depending on your winters-

There are various levels of winter tires one can get.

In your case the best winter tires would be worth the effort.

For others with only light snow then even a good set of All Season tires could work if you don't plan to drive that much in the snow- just to get around slowly. No need to change tires but you won't get the winter performance of dedicated snow tires.

Plan accordingly.

 

Minihume - no thoughts on my wintry post?:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=154527

Also I just picked up some great R-84s ($175) for winter tires - do you think I need a small spacer (5 mm) to help with cooling of brakes on my OE 2007 "S" - or should the wintry, cold air do the job?

Thanks

 

As of a few weeks ago TireRack hadn't gotten a 09 JCW on their hands to measure. The JCW does have larger brakes and as such not all wheels will fit. I don't think anything smaller than 17" will fit.

 

We get about the same amount of snow as Concord did. Last winter was pretty rough, but yeah, I don't want to chance anything.

Thanks for the recommendations. I'll look into them.

 

I guess I could just get a set of runflats and not do the TPMS for the winter wheels/tires to save some money. Would the car bark at me for that, though? I'm fine with checking my oil pressure regularly as long as I won't have check engine lights in my face all the time or something.

I wonder if the 17" wheels (crown spoke, web spoke, flame spoke) will fit on the JCW....

 

To the best of my knowledge I have the TPMS and it uses rotation to monitor not internal pressure monitors (so you can use any wheels) having said that I use Mich X-ice with as narrow a tread as you can fit (the narrower the better...cuts through the snow and gets to the asphalt better). These tires turn my Mini into a snowmobile excelent hill starts, braking and lateral grip. I also switched my all seasons to BFG g-force super sport A/S. So far the grip is good in dry traction and excelent in rain, we shall see soon enough about light to moderate snow. FWIW if you have any kind of snow season and your Mini is your daily driver, do yourself a huge favor and buy some cheap wheels and put some good snow tires on them. All seasons in snow can make even the best drivers timid.

 

That's the plan. The tough part is finding out which wheels work on the JCW.

 

Can anyone comment of whether the car will yell at me if I run a set of tires without TPMS or if I can disable it?

 

It will yell at you, but be drive-able. If you can go 16" then go that route, better pothole protection etc., and the Dunlop M3 is a great performance winter tire, decent in real snow too, perhaps not as good on ice as a Blizzak but the M3 does NOT wander like the bliz does. If you have to go 17, you may be able to find a good set of take-offs with TPMS a bit less expensively, but look QUICKLY - as soon as the first frost hits any spare wheels get snatched up, and whatever's remaining commands exorbitant prices.

Good luck!

 

Yeah, I'd like as small a wheel as possible, both for the pothole protection and because they're cheaper.

I'm trying to figure this out now so I can get them bought ASAP and not have to worry later.

I think the easiest would be if someones' used MINI wheels would fit. I emailed my MA to see if he has any help.

 

I know Mini of Pittsburgh has a JCW on the floor, if your dealer has one in stock maybe you can convince them to help out with wheel fitment? I wonder if Mini knows what Mini wheels fit the JCW brakes (they SHOULD!).

 

Possibly. I've got an email I'm waiting to hear back from. However I did just find this (I forgot I'd read it before):

So I might be good. Would like a confirmation from my dealer first though.

 

As a follow up on the tires, I'd like runflat tires so I think I'm looking at the Blizzaks. What is the difference between the MZ-03 and the LM-25?

 

Well, the only one TireRack has for your car is the 17" LM25. Generally, the "performance" snows trade off a little snow performance for greater stability at speed - but will will run rings around an all-season in winter conditions. I think the MZ-03 is an earlier design, has the studless ice compound on the top 55% of tread only, and is squishier both in tread compound and design.

Call Alex over at TireRack - great guy, used to own a Mini, and can help.

 

Okay, the parts guy just emailed me this:

Not sure what R110 is, but the rest matches up with the above.

So I guess I'll try and snag a used set of 17" wheels first. I wonder how much it'd cost to have a local place install the tires onto the wheels...

 

The charge shouldn't be more than $20 a tire for mounting and balence (that's the high side of cost). Less road hazzard and disposal fees of course.

 

Re. the cost, why must you have the Tire Pressure Sensors installed? Many of us have driven for decades without any need to have the tire pressure monitored by a gadget.

Is there some legal requirement ?

 

Since the OP I realized I don't need them. I thought I did.

 

There's a legal requirement for auto manufacturers to supply them on all new US cars.

The JCW will not only require 17" or larger wheels, but the wheels will need enough offset to clear the large JCW calipers. On the stock Challenge wheels the calipers clear by only about a 1/4" or less. It is tight.

In in a similar situation. I have the Dunlop summer performance tires and need something for winter, but all seasons should do OK. I may go with the Kumho ASX All Seasons for less than $71 each at TireRack.

 

OldRick: The R53/50 (2002-2006 MC and MCS, and Cabrios through 2008) use the ABS hardware to sense variations in tire rotation and determine if one tire or more is low, and don't need separate Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS). Most if not all R56's have TPMS, which is more sensitive and precise. The reason has nothing to do with legislation, it's the runflat tires. With those stiff sidewalls, in theory, you can lose a significant amount of pressure and not notice it, so the system tells you. In fact, if you're reasonably perceptive, you'll notice a slight pull toward the side with the low pressure - but the systems are more sensitive than the butt-ometer, so they exist.

There are a number of threads on runflats vs. nonrunflats, general consensus being runflats give up something in the areas of comfort and dynamics, but non-runflats require some mechanical aptitude - and a tire repair kit and some luck - to run without a spare. Or bringing a spare, of course.