So it's that time of year and after hubby went to the tire shop I have to decide on tires for the winter.

I have been offered two options. Let me know if there are more, but in Canada tire guy says there are two choices.

I am using run flast with the original rims, happy with them, no complaints.

SO options are

Michelin regular tires for $860. Higher profile. If I get a flat mini wouldn't tow me and I would have no spare.

Pirelli 50tozerorun flats for $1120. Rougher ride and rims could get dinged with winter driving, but I would be able to drive if I broke down.

Any thoughts. The money isn't a massive issue. Just looking for safe and any alternatives.

 

Well, the fact that your tire guy says there are only two choices is a little odd. There are countless choices. Personally I would recommend talking to Alex at TireRack.com, he's the tire guru and very helpful.

I live in Canada as well. For my summer tires, ordering from TireRack and paying shipping, duty and customs, then paying to have them mounted and balanced was STILL around $300 cheaper than buying them locally and having them mounted.

 

Thanks Danny that is very illuminating. I knew someone would know more!

I have a $900 credit with my tire guy, so I am likley to go with him. BUt as I see on your link there are quite few more choices I will be calling him to have a little chat. Wow on those prices.

 

What size are you getting? I'm going 16" rims with 205/60R16 tires. Lots of choice in this size. Get a small compressor that runs from the accessory outlet and a can of tire sealer and you should be good. Supposedly there is a spot under the passenger seat to store the compressor, but I couldn't see it on ours.

 

if the car has AWD and the tires are all season, why would you need to buy snow tires?

 

Go to:

http://www.tirerack.com

And choose the Countryman in the dropdown, then you can see a list of all the tires that will work... you can even tell it only run flats, or only non-runflats... it gives you a good idea of the range of options and there are usually a few reviews.

 

For the CM All4 there are very few options. I upped my tires to 215 size from 205.
I bought the michelin Primacy MX4.... GREAT tires and much nicer ride.

In the states we get free roadside assistance from Michiechlin for first 3 years.

As well you can buy Slime Kit to fix simple flats.

 

I will use the original rims and just switch out the tires. I leased the car so don't really want to buy a second set of rims.


There is a large space under the drivers seat, also a lot of grease!!!

 

Not sure where you live, but here in Quebec we really have winter. I drive huge amounts and in terrible weather through back country roads. Snow tires are softer rubber and stick better to ice, which we get a lot of. For safety and peace of mind winter tires are the only option.

Then there is the law, in Quebec from Dec 15th to April 15th you are legally obliged to have winter tires installed, even on rental cars.

I live at Mont Tremblant and let me tell you the number of accidents we see with SUV's in ditches that have driven from the USA to here is unbelievable. All wheel drive alone will not save you in snow, you need to know how to drive (not the same as summer driving at all) and your car needs to be equipped with the right tires.

 

I think I will go with the Michelins.

 

AWD provides no benefit if you are in a panic stop situation in the snow or ice. Snow tires can make a dramatic difference though. AWD actually makes the car stop worse than non AWD due to the added weight. The snow tires will also boost performance for cornering and accelerating versus all season in snow and ice conditions regardless of if you have AWD or not.

If you plan on keeping the car for long enough to go through a set of tires, the real added expense of using winter tires is much less since you would have had to buy tires anyways.

 

I have used Bridgestone Blizzaks now for better than 15 yrs and there is nothing that will touch them in any "all-season" construction. Hands down a decent FWD car with these will pass any AWD vehicle with mediocre 4-season rubber. I have had 8 sets on 7 cars and when the snow arrives, the MINI will be number 8.

 

Blizzaks are what I have used on all my cars until this one. THe blizzaks do not seem to be an option for me.

 

It's under the driver's seat, complete with velcro straps. I have not tried it yet, but I think the Slime kit with the small compressor will fit.

 

why not ??

 

They didn't come up on the tirerack and the Goodyear place I usually buy my tires doesn't have them for the size I want.

 

My Countryman All4 is on order, but I've done the research for winter tires in advance. Will be going with a 16" steel wheel + Continental Extreme Winter combo:

http://www.simplytire.com/winter/minipdf.pdf

 

WS-70 Blizzaks for the 17" wheels are not found in oem 205/55R17, but ARE found for 225/50R17 (listed on tirerack as an Alternate size for that Countryman wheel by the way even though wider) or 215/50R17 if you try to match fairly closely.

225/45R18's are listed for LM-60 Blizzaks and WS-70 Blizzaks for 18" wheels.

So, a few options if you stick with Blizzaks

 

Same here - $300 cheaper for a winter wheel/tire set at Tire Rack than my usual local tire guy who has great prices for a Canadian shop. I had them shipped to the border. Paid 1/2 shipping and no duties at the border (I had to pay HST of course).

The Blizzaks and similar tires are great for places that get heavy snow or ice IMO... but for a place like Toronto, I prefer a "performance" style winter tire as it is mostly cold and wet/dry over here.

 

Because all-seasons are not particularly good at doing much of anything, particular winter driving...

Also AWD just gets you going... doesn't help you stop better.

 

I was looking at picking up a winter wheel setup from tirerack, but I was wondering if the TPMS sensors are necessary for the wheels. Obviously they'd be nice to have but I wanted to get everyones take on the necessity of it.

 

For US cars you will get TPMS warnings without the sensors installed.

For Canadian cars you don't need the expensive wheel weights as we rely on the ABS sensors.

 

Another great winter tire comes from Finland, made by Nokian http://www.nokiantires.com/
World's fastest tire on ice!

Available from local dealers or the internet.

 

I also have the All4 version, on tirerack.com when the non-ALL4 vehicle is selected I can chose winter packages of 16" or 17" wheels...when I select the Countryman S ALL4, I can only choose a 17" package.

Anyone know of something preventing the 16" rim on an ALL4?

Thanks!

<winter is coming...spent time scraping all this week> ugh.

 

The 16" rim is probably too small for the S Countryman's brakes.. the heavier and faster the Mini, the bigger the brakes are