I need to know if my Cooper S with performance road tires can travel safely in (light) snowing conditions, where chains are required, but WITHOUT chains.

Yay or nay? Shall I do it or not?

Advice needed.

 

Last year proved no problem driving in *very unexpected* snow conditions here in Charlotte, NC. 17" Performance run-flats performed great. DSC light flashed often, but just meant it was doing its job.

Can't speak to 'chains required' though... an hope I never have to!!

MINI Steve

 

Several years ago, I had to drive without chains in conditions where chains were required on main roads. It wasn't a good experience. I had trouble getting moving and trouble controlling the car once I did get moving. I just had to crawl along. I hear that the performance tires are not good on snow. So, even with DSC, its not something I'd want to do for more than a very short distance, and only in an area where there is little or no other traffic.

I should add that part of the problem was that I was in the mountians. Stopping on a down-hill grade was real iffy.

 

thx for the advice guys, but i need more.

fyi... at the moment, looks like "Yay" is winning.

 

Performance tires bad, all seasons not so bad. Still no substitute for dedicated "snow" tires.

 

Personally, if they are indeed the "summer" performance tyres and not the all-seasons I wouldn't risk it. I was in such a predicament with my Audi (AWD) before my winter wheels/snow tyres arrived from Tire Rack and it was a scary experience......absolutely no "bite" or stopping power; the car would simply skid forward with the ABS pulsating violently. Summer/performance tyres start to lose their grip once temps drop below around 40F, irrespective of whether there's snow on the ground

 

I think its a fools errand. If you need to be traveling through an area that requires chains (and in those conditions its questionable how badly you need to drive at all), I'd rent a 4x4 and chains and do what you gotta.
I love these cars, but I wouldn't take it where an M-1 Abrams should only tread and expect good things to happen. Sounds to me like your asking for far more trouble than its worth.

 

I started this winter with MCS05 with 17" factory tires. With only 1/2" of snow I was skidding and sliding all over the place. Put 16" factory snows on MINI and can travel through 6" dump of snow.

 

I wouldn't do it. Even with the all-season run flats, my MCS sucks in the snow. I wouldn't drive in snow with less than all-season tires unless the car was all wheel drive.

 

I guess i'll just take the Audi.

 

Right now im on Pirelli Euphori@s and as you may know, It is winter in chicago. We got a storm where we got almost 8 inches and it took me 45 seconds to advance one car length at a stoplight. I dont like it and next year i hope to have winter tires.

 

Take the Audi.Snow tires turn these cars into snow mushers

 

If you have an Audi available, especially one with Quattro and decent (aka non-summer) tires, you'd be nuts not to take it.

Even all season tires sorta suck in the snow, but summer tires in the snow are the worst. I was caught in a snowstorm on big wide summer tires (back when I used autocross my Acura Integra in STS - so these were very aggressive summer tires), and it was awful. It took like 4 hours for me to drive 50 miles through flat-as-a-board SE Michigan, and I never had control of the car the whole time.

I can't imagine any place that requires CHAINS is nearly as flat as MI, and in fact, if they require chains I imagine you're talking about mountains, right? I can't imagine doing like a 10 mile mountain descent on summer tires in the snow. "Won't SOMEBODY think of the underwear?!?!?!?!?"

 

NAY NAY NAY. No way! However you MIGHT be able to get away with all-seasons. That's what I have. They are very good in dry, excellent in wet and not bad in snow. performance tires are great in dry, bad in wet and almost undriveable in snow. Go for all-seasons and you can enjoy your MINI almost every day of the year.

 

Just a quick update.

I was a very bad boy and didnt listen to anyone. Good thing that my MINI is BADASS and loves me, and has never let me down, and hopefully never will. (But dont try my antics at home kids.)

Used my brights to sneak past the chain check, tonnes and tonnes of SUV's on the side getting chains on, little Camel continued on. It may have been luck though, but made it there. Gave my car a nice big hug when I did too!



Damn I love my MINI.

 

I have Goodrich Traction T/A high performance all season 16" NON runflats,and there is really nowhere I can't go.We had 30 inches in No. Mass recently and I had NO trouble going anywhere.BUT..........anywhere there is a sign that says chains are mandatory,I would put them on .After all, the biggest problem are the other guys.........Nuff said.

 

Yes you are probably right. Californians dont really know how to drive safely in snow, I saw that this weekend, also, having an SUV or chains give people a very false sense of security and they think it's ok to drive 50-60mph on snow and ice.

 

I wouldn't even trust pure performance tires on rain, let alone snow! Jimbo