After mounting snow tires today and driving around for a bit...it felt like the steering wheel is a lot more loose and the turning isn't as sharp? It's not as go-kart like. Is this normal? Probably because their snow tires?

 

Yeah, pretty normal, though the difference you see depends on which tires you have.

 

I went from Dunlop SP Sport 5000's to Blizzak WS-50's

 

There are difference types of snow tires. The performance snows should give you better handling than the regular snows. But neither snow tire types will handle as well as your regular tires. Unfortunately the loss of turn in sharpness is quite normal.

 

It is winter tire's propensity for squishiness that made me choose Nokain WRg2 for my winter tires. These things rival my summer tires in terms of grip and responce, plus they are phenomenal in the snow.

 

Did you change sizes too? The added sidewall and thinner size often leads to a soft feeling.

 

Just had the Nokian WRG2's put on my wife's Lexus SUV today. Had the Nokian WR's and used them all year round. Also used them on my Audi TT and when I order my Mini I'll probably go with them also.

Great tire with an updated tread pattern in the G2's.

 

Blizzak WS 50's are a pretty soft tire & what you are feeling is normal for them. When you have to drive in the snow & ice you will be amazed at those tires capabilities. It's a trade off, you lose your go-kart handling, but you gain great snow & ice performance.

 

Yes, normal. When I first got my Michelin Pilot Alpine PA2s and took off my Michelin PZero Neros (non-runflat) I noticed the difference immediately. The ride was smoother and quieter although turn-in was less crisp as the tread was taller and less stiff, thus more squirmy. You'll probably notice this even more with the Blizzaks as was mentioned they are very soft (good grip in freezing conditions). Also WS-50s are "snow" tires rather than "performance snows" and thus the outside edge of the tread is designed to cut/grip in snow rather than providing crisp turn-in in the dry. Its a trade-off: with your WS-50s you'll have better traction and turn-in when in snow, but when in dry the turn in on a performance snow like my Pilot Alpine PA2 will be better. Additionally the change from runflat to non-runflat is another factor as the non-runflats sidewalls aren't as stiff.

I'm having my 18" Dunlop SP Sport 01 runflats replaced with my 16" Michelin winter tires tomorrow at Bavarian Performance Group and will report back. Where did you end up having yours put on?

 

I got a friend who got hook ups at a gas station in Framingham. Mounting and balancing $50 clean.

 

Cool. FYI for tires and other MINI needs in the future, German Performance Service was going to charge $28 per wheel as the owner said he didn't have a "shop-boy" to help and had to do them himself. Bavarian Performance Group is supposedly only $15 per wheel for 16s (17s would be $20 and 18s $25).

 

I used tireracks website and pulled up NTB that also does 15$ per tire for 16 inch.

Right now I'm just worried about my new wheels that I'll order later. I was watching they way they installed the rims. It seemed quite harsh, alot of poking and pulling. That's ok for now since these are going to permanently become my snow set. Is German Performance Service or any other garages reliable in mounting/balancing tires with care?

 

I use Discount tire (mainly because there really is no other place) and they tend to rush and be a little harsh in thier work. My remedy and it works is I watch them. Yup that's right I just stand there and watch them do thier work, this is VERY effective. Nowadays I don't need to watch any more because they know me well.