2013 S Clubman. Will need winter tires. The options are:

-- snow tires on separate rims

-- snow tires mounted on existing rims

-- new more snow-oriented all-season tires mounted on existing rims, avoiding the twice/year switching.

I live in Wisconsin. Winters are variable, but there can easily be a couple of months of significant snow and/or ice on the roads.

Any recommendations? Also, I see that if you get a new tire/rim combo, you also need a TPM sensor kit. Do you still need that if you get a different set of tires and mount them on the existing rims?

Thanks.

 

You might want to talk to Alex@tirerack.com about your listed options.

If you don't have space to store winter wheels/tires then getting good All Season tires to fit your stock rims makes sense. Sell the runflats if you can.

If you like your stock wheels and tires then keep them for warm weather use and get a fresh set of winter wheels and tires, you can skip the TPMS for the winter set if you don't mind the TPMS light on the dash.

Snow tires on your stock rims means you need another set of wheels and or tires for warm weather in the spring. In that case All Season tires would make more sense.

 

Thanks for the response. I talked to a service guy at the dealership and what he told me was consistent -- snow tires without getting separate rims are not a viable option. And I just don't think I'd be happy switching out the tires to a different all-season for year round use. I will probably splurge for a set of snow tires on separate rims. Will have to decide which tires and whether to go with the TPMS.

 

Talk to a tire shop, chances are snow tires are available that will fit the wheels you have. (That said, it is quite possible that the tires in that size will be more expensive, and don't forget the cost of switching the tires twice a year. It may be cheaper in the long run to buy wheels and tires.)

Regarding TPMS, according to the NHTSA, a service provider can't make a working TPMS system inoperable, and this includes replacing a wheel with sensors with a wheel without. This rule is widely ignored, and I know my tire shop will install wheels without sensors. But technically it is illegal. http://tires.about.com/od/Tire_Safet...ng-Sensors.htm

 

In your area I'd likely go for a separate tire and rim set if you have the storage available. Check out nearby Craigslist for wheels. I just picked up a used set of MINI wheels and tires for $300. The rims have a little curb rash and the tires are all season. But there's still life in them. Don't know - but maybe even have TPMS sensors in them.

 

I spoke with Alex from Tire Rack and ordered a set of winter tires and rims for my 2013 Clubman S. He is very knowledgeable about what to order.
I went with a non run-flat winter tire package and am waiting for my spare tire kit from Detroit tuned. I figure once the run flats that came with my Mini wear out, I'm replacing with a good set of non run flat performance tires.

I placed an order with Alex on Friday afternoon and recieved them today (Monday) at noon. Can't get much better service than that!

 

what did you end up going with? my all seasons have been awful this winter.

 

I got the Michelin X-Ice Xi3 and I am very happy with them.

 

I got Bridgestone Blizzak lm-60 non run-flats on separate rims. They have been great! I've put 7,000 miles on my car in 3 months and am a healthcare worker, so I have to drive to work whether the roads are plowed or not.

 

What type of performance do you want when you are in between snows? I put Dunlop Wintersport 4D tires on my 2004 BMW 330i and its amazing how soft they are compared to performance low profile tires. The Dunlop tires are a sport winter tire so they will have a little better handling but at first it was like driving on balloons. I can't imagine how soft non sport snow tires are. I am more than satisfied with the winter and snow performance. On the RWD BMW with 240lbs of sand bags in the back I do not have an trouble.

 

At the start of this season I got a set of Dunlop “Winter Maxx” non-runflats in -1 sizing (195/60R15) for my Cooper hardtop and mounted on a set of used OEM wheels I found on CL.

We've had ~38" of snow in Cincinnati this year (much more than normal). I've been very happy with my ability to get up a steep hill getting out of our neighborhood which doesn't get snowplow help until days after a snow. Last week we had a storm with some pretty heavy ice mixed on top of a couple of inches of snow and the MINI went to the top with only a little slipping. I'd recommend these as winter tires - a little squishy in the dry but not a problem for me.

 

So, does it make more sense to have one good set of all seasons, or two sets one for winter, and one for warm? I live with a hard core penny-pinching step-mom so need to convince her which way to go once I get my Mini. Kind of surprised shes even letting me get the Mini considering my Insight gets twice the mpgs. LOL!

 

All depends on what your winters are like. Where do you live and how much driving do you do in the snow?

In past years have you used winter tires or all seasons, how did it go?

If you winters are mild then you can use All Season tires but if you see many accidents and lots of icy roads in your area you would be better off with winter tires.

 

If you get a good amount of snow, it makes sense to get separate rims for winter. Even cheap steelies will do and cost much less than having to mount/remount winter/summer tires twice a year. Plus, it's a good excuse to get some nicer rims for the warmer months.

I'm on Blizzaks now and they're good, but I've also got cheap Hankook's on my other car, which has performed equally well in snow.