so obviously mini is small, and i go snowboarding every weekend pretty much (well, did last year, i hope this yeah will be like that as well as long as health keeps up). already got a redtop as my original battery was acting up, so hopefully little guy starts up every time

so i got a thule roof rack from a member here and will mount that up.
it does not have a fairing attachment, or wind visor, whatever name they wanna give it, im wondering what size will i need? Also, i will need a snowboard attachment, so is only a thule one an option, or can a yakima one or something else be used?

also, as of now i have summer tires on the car. they are 205/45/17.
i found a gentleman selling 215/50/17 winter tires, will that be pushing it? i wouldnt mind a bit more clearance as my car is lowered, but should i be worried about rubbing?
with this tire setup now, tires DO rub a little if i hit a bump on the highway every now and then, like those dips on the road...

and also, without swapping out springs completely, is there something that can be mounted on the car to raise it a little? i only have springs, no coilovers, but are there any spacers of some sort to be put on to raise it a little for winter use?

any help is appreciated.
thanks a lot in advance.
here are 2 pics of my car to help with the tire clearance Q:

 

Being lowered is a big no no for winter use. My car is on stock springs and it still plows snow and nearly gets high centered.

Narrower is better for snow tires. You might want to get a set of cheap 15"x5.5 or 15"x6 steels with 185/65/15 or 195/60/15 tires. I'd imagine that those Superturismos were on the pricey side. Best not to mess them up with winter gunk. Taller tires might help offset the lowered suspension, but then rubbing could be an issue. I know nothing first hand of how a lowered MINI handles different sized tires.

 

yeah...lowered and snow is not the best combo, but ive done it for years on different cars. last 3 years i drove a lowered porsche trough winter on SSRs with 275s, so 215 or 205 would def. be an upgrade lol, and it didnt even have traction control and was pretty stripped, so im not THAT worried, but would definitely be better if it was higher, but i dont wanna mess with swapping springs again, that's why i was asking if there was a way to jack it up somehow (any bit helps) without swapping springs....

 

Sounds like solid advice to me. There's no doubt lowering your car (although it looks really cool) compromises winter drivability when it comes to snow, and it will likely rub if you carry passengers. My advice is to buy an old beater for your winter escapades.

 

yeah its a good advice, im just trying to find the least expensive way to get around this.
i really don't want another car, nor do i have a space for it, and really wouldn't want to drive a beater, and don't feel like wasting $ on another somewhat nice car, tried that before and wasn't a fan haha.
mini is my daily/winter car anyways, during the summer im on the bike 90% of the time...

 

I question why the MINI is lowered then.


I suspect that snow removal in Chicago is good enough that you don't need a 4x4 to get around. Being lowered might not matter if the snow only stays on the road about a day. Maybe you can just get a skid plate with some winter tires and call it good.

 

simple: I hate wheel gap hahaha

 

i got snowboarding daily in the winter, it fits in the boot when the rears are folded down with the snowboard turned sideways coming out the the side of the front doors

snow shoes + plate = good to go

 

got the roof rack sorted, just need a fairing now...


also, got new wheels with winter tires, 15s with 195/60. i bet that profile will make it quite more comfier than low pros and GF can stop complaing

 

Sounds like you have it sorted out!

You can get spring spacers but they tend to screw things up rather than make 'em better.

GET A SKID PLATE!

Good luck! I drive mine in winter all the time, no issues

 

thanks,
yeah most of it is sorted out. just skidplate left.
im looking for a pdf of one if anyone has to make.

i fitted a fairing today, looks cool i guess (killed some bugs all over Wisconsin this weekend too, check out the front bumper hehehe)

 

Have you ever tried white wheels on that car and do you have pictures? i've never seen a jet black with white roof, the contrast looks awesome

 

well car came with white S lites, checkered roof, white mirrors and white stripes...so it looked like any other mini out there

 

stripes and mirros and checkers are too much, slites are silver!