I know it's not even summer yet, but I'm already obsessing about putting snow tires on my MINI. I live in upstate NY and our winters can be nasty. Also, prior to buying my MINI, I had vehicles with 4WD for the past 20 years! It will be hard getting used to not having it, so I want to put on the best snows I can find. Any suggestions on which ones work best? Also, is it best to buy them on wheels, or just have them put on the same wheels your regular tires are on? I have a standard MC with 15" wheels. I know there are lots of threads about tires, but I'm looking for some fresh info. Thanks! :smile:

 

People with Nokians seem to be fanatical about them.

I've run a couple different snow tires on my Hondas of yore, and have been happy with all of them (some cheapo firestone snows, and a set of blizzaks).

I'd buy a new set of wheels with them if at all possible, it makes it a heck of a lot more convenient to switch them over.

Upstate NY can get some major snowfall, I think a set of snow tires would be a good investment. We drive our Civic in the Minnesota winter with all seasons, but we only get about 50" of snow annually and there are no mountains, so it's not a big deal.

 

I run Pirelli Snowsport 210 winter tires. For the type of winters we have, lots of slush, cold days both dry and wet, they do fine. I've handled snowfalls up to 6" with no problem. However, if you are in "lake effect" country, best to check with someone from Cleveland or Buffalo for the proper winter tire.

 

I run 15" radials too. I bought another set of MINI OEM 15" rims with new Continentals on ebay. Lots of dealers replace the standard wheels when the cars first come in, for customers that have decided to upgrade. Watch ebay.

So I had the Continentals taken off the new rims and had a set of Michelin Arctic Alpins put on. Very convenient to be able to swap the snows on and off whenever I want to AND I got a set of new Continentals ready to go for whenver my original Continentals wear out.

For example, a quick search on ebay shows this set of rims with tires, and this set without.

 

I have a set of Bridgestone Blizzaks mounted on steel wheels with cheap wheel covers, currently bagged up and stacked in the garage, ready for the next snowfall (which, here in Wisconsin, ought to be any day now...lol).

 

Got a set of blizzaks from Tire Rack on the cheapest set of allow wheels I could find (I just couldn't put steel rims and hubcaps on my baby!)

Anyway, here in central PA we had one helluva winter last year, and my MCS hardly missed a beat.

In fact, I found myself turning off the traction control just so I could have some fun in the snow!

 

Me....I take the wheels and tires OFF of PKT RKT and keep it up on blocks the minute the snow falls......mah baby ain't seeing no salt no how.....Blizzaks are good though....I got some Pirelly jobs for the A-4 and they are also the bees knees.....

 

Motored my 03 through one of the heaviest,snow winters in years
I see no reason to use anything other than all seasons
If I get stuck ,, Put it in gear ,get out and push

 

15" blizzacks, steel wheels. great deal with alex @ tire rack. great tires, perform really well in the snow and perform better than the stock runflats overall.

 

TireRack steel wheels Arctic Alpin 15" two Minnesota winters. :smile: :smile: :smile:

 

>>TireRack steel wheels Arctic Alpin 15" two Minnesota winters. :smile: :smile: :smile:
>>
>> yeah,,, I know snow tires,,,,but the all seasons seem to work
I spend so much time on the highway ,,I feel snows will rattle me to death

 

>>Motored my 03 through one of the heaviest,snow winters in years
>>I see no reason to use anything other than all seasons
>>If I get stuck ,, Put it in gear ,get out and push


LOL. I don't know where you live, but the original poster is from upstate NY, where things can be pretty nasty. As a midwesterner, I don't worry too much about snow tires, either, but if I had to drive down a snowy/icy mountain road every day on my way to work, I'd be thinking about getting some nice snow tires, too

 

:smile:... No probelms here on Long Island,NY

Peace,
D


_________________
PM d-mini-ero

 

I'm curious, why does everyone drop down to 15"? I know you want to get a narrower tire to "cut" thru the snow, but why not 16"? Is it the snow buildup on the tire clogging up the wheel well?

 

Aside from being narrower, the 15s allow you to run thicker sidewalls. I'll be going with 16s, b/c I think 55 profile is plenty thick to protect the rims and I think 15s look a little weak on the MCS.

 

>>>>Motored my 03 through one of the heaviest,snow winters in years
>>>>I see no reason to use anything other than all seasons
>>>>If I get stuck ,, Put it in gear ,get out and push
>>
>>
>>LOL. I don't know where you live, but the original poster is from upstate NY, where things can be pretty nasty. As a midwesterner, I don't worry too much about snow tires, either, but if I had to drive down a snowy/icy mountain road every day on my way to work, I'd be thinking about getting some nice snow tires, too

 

>>Aside from being narrower, the 15s allow you to run thicker sidewalls. I'll be going with 16s, b/c I think 55 profile is plenty thick to protect the rims and I think 15s look a little weak on the MCS.

Glad to hear it! I'll check 'em out as well, come September....

 

 

I've been using Nokian Hakka 1's through 2 winters. Great tires. If you can find them in your area, get them. They are "no compromises" snow tires, so they suck at pretty much everything else. But, they'll help keep you alive in the winter. I drive my MINI around northern Vermont, including trips to go snowboarding on those mornings of the big storms. I need good snow tires. I didn't go for studded, though.

As for the question of "why 15 inch snow tires"... for me, because 15" wheels and tires are cheaper than 16" wheels and tires. Brake cooling is a non-issue in the winter, so I don't need to run a larger, more open wheel.

If you do go for Hakkas, be aware that they lose a lot of their magic after a couple of years. Plenty of tread left, but the grip goes on them.

 

>>I've been using Nokian Hakka 1's through 2 winters. Great tires. If you can find them in your area, get them. They are "no compromises" snow tires, so they suck at pretty much everything else. But, they'll help keep you alive in the winter. I drive my MINI around northern Vermont, including trips to go snowboarding on those mornings of the big storms. I need good snow tires. I didn't go for studded, though.
>>
>>As for the question of "why 15 inch snow tires"... for me, because 15" wheels and tires are cheaper than 16" wheels and tires. Brake cooling is a non-issue in the winter, so I don't need to run a larger, more open wheel.
>>
>>If you do go for Hakkas, be aware that they lose a lot of their magic after a couple of years. Plenty of tread left, but the grip goes on them.

They're my next tire, I've been thru Blizzaks, Yokohama, and Pirellis. Have heard good things about 'em too. The Blizzaks exhibit the same thing, they have a very soft rubber compound which helps their grip on ice, but I didn't get too much out of them, and only mounted them from Nov 1 to Apr 1.

Trippy's photos say it all....re: 15", looks like you definately want some clearance under them there wheelwells...