I noticed on a few MINI pix that some people have purchesed steel wheels and snow tires for their MINIs. This is a very popular thing to do in europe durring the winter months..you know, pot holes and such. Does anyone know a good, inexpensive place to buy these items. Tire dealers may not cary these specialty items...bolt patterns and stuff. I'm getting my MINI in just befor winter really kicks in (Germany). Thanks a bunch.

Cheers

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Frank L Shaskan

 

Yes, I'm wondering about this too. I've done a search of past threads, and there's been relatively little discussion on this topic (figures, since the MINI didn't come here until last spring...no winters yet!)

I've done this on previous cars (steel wheels and blizzaks..sp?), and want to do it again for my MCS. I actually like the ride from the 17" runflats, but really don't want to run on those tires in real snow (which I get up here some years in MA). I just don't need to go skiing on 4 $300 tires, if you know what I mean. My concerns about winter tires...

1) I want something that won't mess up the pressure sensing system.
2) Should I go with 16" winter tires? ("tall and skinny" is often good advice for snow tires)

Any advice -- particularly from our friends in Europe or Canada, where they seem to take winter tires more seriously -- would be appreciated!

ps -- I was planning on calling and asking the folks at TireRack, but figured it would be good to tap into existing mini experience too.

 

I live in Kaiserslautern, Germany and these people are very serios about winter driving. I'll ask a few tire stores about this and then post some info. Bridgestone offers a few Blizzaks in 16"s and down "Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 with UNI-T" you The profile is too big though I think. I think this size would work though(with new wheels of course) 195/60R15. It's still wide for a winter tire but should work.

Cheers

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Frank L Shaskan

 

I have an MC with 16" runflats. For winter use, I bought a set of "take off" 15" alloy wheels with M&S tires from my MINI dealer for $500. I'm looking forward to trying them out in a month or two.

 

>>I have an MC with 16" runflats. For winter use, I bought a set of "take off" 15" alloy wheels with M&S tires from my MINI dealer for $500. I'm looking forward to trying them out in a month or two.

Wow, that seems like a good deal...$500 for the wheels AND the tires? Who's your dealer, and I wonder if they have other take-offs.

 

I did the same thing, but on e-bay. I got a set of 15" "take-off's" and only paid ~$330 plus $100 shipping charge. Just do a search for "MINI Cooper Tires" on the auto part of e-bay. I think the name of the seller was going*going*gone! and I would recommend them - they seem to always have some for sale.

 

I just got back from the Tire center...They quoted me 365$ for 15" steels and Pirelli W190 175/65 15s. It seems like a good deal. I don't think I'll go with aluminums because when you slide around on the ice you always get little dings in your wheels. The winters are for just such a surcumstance.

Cheers