hello fellow MINI lunatics. I am looking for info on snow tires. The owners manual appears to list a different size than the OEM high performance run flats. 175/60 r 16. I assume I need 4 since the size is different? Anyone out there in the frigid temp zones, starting to look for Snow's yet. Blizacks seem to be the only option. Any comments opinions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all
Bob

 

I plan on keeping "DB" parked in the garage and taking the 4x4 when the snow flies. I don't want to take ANY chances on messing him up!

 

thanks for replying kim. I also will use a 4x4 tracker but allas the mini will have to pull some snow duty.

 

I live in North Dakota, which definitely qualifies as "the frozen north". I'm not very knowledgable about tires and wheels in general, but after a bunch of dinking around I've decided to get Nokian (a Finnish tire company) Hakka Q tires. More expensive the Blizzaks, but better durablility and much better traction in corners (more important in accident avoidance and MINI fun). It's hard to find the right size, but your local tire guy can help. My, very ****, snow tire expert friend swears by the Haaka Q's.

 

I'll second that, Hakkapelittas have no equal. They have a very limited
number of sizes (nothing bigger than 16&quot, so finding rims and tires may
be a challenge.

Do us all a favor, if anyone finds a good mail-order dealer, post their
phone number or website.

Good luck!
-Pete

 

I suppose I'm the only one looking for snow tires in a 17" size...if this seems crazy, I am a recent transplant from Texas (now living in the Boston area)--that might explain things.

Anyhow, I have the 17" S-Lites and don't want to get a new set of wheels+tires, just tires only. I checked TireRack and they do have one dedicated snow tire (Pirelli WinterSport?) in the stock size (205/45/17). But, if everyone on the board thinks 17" snow tires are a stupid thing, I will consider a set of new 16" steel wheels or something with dedicated snows. BTW, I do have to get something, b/c my stock tires are summer tires, not all-season.

 

Try http://www.tirerack.com. They sell packaged sets sized for the Cooper that include steel wheels so you won't mess up your nice wheels. 500.00 Mounted, balanced and I believe shipped to your door. :evil:

I get my S December 1st!

"Drive it like you stole it."
"If your passenger isn't scared or smiling you're not doing it right"

 

Hi,
Ive been in touch with the Tire Rack too. They tell me they have some Dunlop run-flat snows that should be in around now. Sorry I think they may be only in 16". I didn't know about the steel rim packages. I'll have to check that out!
jim

 

Boo, go with the steel wheels and a smaller tire. The conventional wisdom is that relatively skinny, high profile, tires are better in the snow. You want something that carves through the snow rather than squishing down more snow to roll over. Somehow, that translates into the 16" tires.

As for the wheels, welcome to New England! (I'm in MA too). Assuming we get a real winter in the Boston area this year...last year was a total bust for "real" winter...you'll find that 6 months of freezing and thawing of road surfaces creates potholes (or my local favorite "Frost Heaves&quot ranging from a few inches deep to monsters that can literally swallow your MINI (I kid you not). Hit even a small one at speed and you can wreck a wheel. Better to do that to a steel wheel than one of your nice alloys. And no, it's not possible to avoid all potholes -- think the S.E. Expressway at rush hour when there's a break in the traffic...no where to go sometimes but into the hole.

All in all, your ride may look a bit strange for 4 - 6 months of the year, but you'll be safer and you can preserve your nice wheels for the nice weather.

BTW, check out the thread on the MCS that fell off the floor jack when its jackpoint broke off . When thinking about changing over winter tires, that's pretty scary Great...a trip to the garage for a "professional" tire change, another MINI expense!

 

Yep! Jsun is absolutely correct.

You want skinny and tall to "cut" through the snow.

Here is the URL for the Mini Cooper / S 15" wheel and tire combo page from http://www.tirerack.com

As a lifelong Wisconsinite I've been more than happy with my Bridgestone Blizzaks. (I'm not affiliated with Tirerack.com or Bridgestone in any way other than a happy customer)

http://www.tirerack.com/snow/SnowWhe...ow=threeWheels

 

This may be a stupid question but I'm goin' to ask any ways. If your going over to winter tires do you have to keep the same size on the front drive set as on the rears? The outsize measurements aren't changing only the distance between the rim and the road. So couldn't you mound different, thicker, tires on the front at the cost of handle and ride, but increase inclimate traction. Ya know 16s runflats on front for 3 months. (So OK I'm a Cheap-skate, but I saved like hell just to get the car I wanted )

 

Got my 'S' Dk Silver, loaded, this past Saturday. What a load of fun this thing is.

On the subject of Snow tires, I'm also in MA. Will the 15 inch wheels throw off the speedo?

 

Yellowsub, opinions may vary on this, but nowadays most people suggest running on 4 identical snows instead of only mounting them on the drive wheels (as used to be the case with big-old-American rear wheel drive cars). Handling will be better with identical tires. Remember, unless you live in the WAY FAR north, most of the winter you'll be driving on (cold, black-icy, pothold-ridden) dry roads and NOT carving your way through snow. Properly mounted winter tires will save you in the long run in terms of saving your alloy wheels and keeping your car on the road (what's your insurance deductable? spend that once, and you've probably spent more than the cost of 2 more winter tire/wheel combinations).

docjchan, I don't think that 15" wheels will throw the speedo. Afterall, 15" wheels ARE an option, right? So long as you get the right tire dimensions (height as well as interior circumference), the speedo will be mostly accurate. But gee, this calls for a knowledge of 6th grade geometry...so I'd get out while I can!

 

Here's a link to Nokian Tyres (the makers of Hakkapelittas). From here, you can locate the half-dozen or so dealers in the US that carry these tires. I hear that these are absolutely awesome winter tires.Nokian Tyres North American Website

 

jsun

Thanks for the input. I went to the Tire Rack site to scope out the tires and run flats are rare. You're right about most of the winter driving on potted dry roads here in southern Michigan. The route I take to work each day is, mostly, quite desolate farmland. Just worrying 'bout walking it. Might just see how my dunlap HPs handle it. Hypothermeia can't be all that b-b-bad

 

I know a lot of people swear by snow tires, but remeber, snows are great on snow, but not as good as all-season on ice... I posted a link some time ago to a straight dope article (i think it was) about the very topic... so if you have more snow then ice, get snows, if you have more ice then snow (like where I live), keep your all seasons...

Rocketboy_X

 

Thanks for the advice! You guys (and gals) are the best! :smile: