Hi Everyone.....

Am finally being forced to recognize that winter is, well, here!

I'd like to get a set of 16" wheels with some good solid snow tires for my baby. I'm leaning away from run flats, but don't know what that entails in terms of the TPMS. (The clubman does have plenty of space for a compact spare). I could also be convinced to stay with the runflats on the smaller wheel.

I don't want to spend a great deal of money on all of this, and would like to deal with a local shop for the work. Is it possible to keep this under $1000-$1200?

SO:

1) can anyone recommend a reasonably priced setup that works for them?
2) Can you recommend a good tire shop in the Boulder area?

Thanks a bunch,

MaryBeth

 

Could I simply put 17" non-run-flat snows on? Keep the TPMS? And not spend the extra change on the wheels?

I've heard that the 16" will handle better in the snow, but is the difference that noticeable?

mb

 

What year is your car? Different TPMS sensors for different years....'08-'09 are the same as are '10-'11 models...

Where are you located? What will work best largely depends on how much snow you have to deal with, but generally 16" with a stock size tire (195/55 for example) will work better than a wide flat tire....my OEM all season run flats really work pretty well in the snow, but then we don't get it here like say North Dakota or Maine!

A local club member in KC has a set of 16" wheels as new with TPMS that you could buy for $300 and then mount snow tires at your local tire shop. Check your local area MINI club or online here or one of the other forums, someone always has a set of stock take off wheels they'd like to sell reasonably.

 

Thanks, Dave.

She's a 2010, and I am in Boulder, CO. We get more sun than snow here, but when we DO get storms, they can be doozies. Plus, I like to ski and when my husband's 1/2 acre of Sequoia is otherwise occupied, my car will have to get us up the hill to the slopes!

I'll check out the KC wheels.

Thanks again!

mb

 

You can use Tire Source on 30th in Boulder, good people, treat wheels well.

Use your 17s with some good snows if you planning on hitting the slopes 3 or 4 times per year.

Go a bit narrow on the tires, like Dave says.

In the Spring get some summer rims and new non-runflats tires or put your run-flats on the new 17 inch rims.

You will need 4 new tpms sensors for the 2010 model year if you get new rims.

Don

 

Thanks! Now an even more naive question: Can I use my run-flat rims and put non-runflat tires on them? I know that wasn't an option when I had runflats on my old minivan.

And will tire source have the TPMS sensors I need,or should I order those elsewhere?

Thanks everyone!

mb

 

Rims will be fine with non-runflat tires.

TPMS can be ordered via Tiresource or direct from MINO of Loveland or Schomp MINI.

You might pay a bit more from the the MINI dealer, but make sure you ask for the MINI5280 discount. They should honor that, if you buy the sensors from the dealer.

Shop/compare.

I have put on many sets of tires from Tire Source, they supplied my Nitto NeoGens for my 07 MINI, price was good.

Be prepared to leave your car and go hit the book store or Whole Foods down the street.