This is a little premature, what with it being scorching hot outside, but I got to thinking today...

I haven't been through a winter with Penny yet. How do cabrios handle in snow/ice/sleet? I am not concerned with how comfortable I'll be since I have heated seats, therefore toasty buns, but how does the cabrio recover from... say... a fishtail? Do they have any hang-ups when navigating with a couple inches of snow on the ground? (Mind you, we're talking about WV, VA, DC, and MD winters, so we don't get tons of snow at once.)

FWIW: Penny is an all stock non S-type. I haven't modified her tires, wheels, insides or outsides.

What do you think? Should I invest in a <$10k AWD beater for the winter seasons, or will I be okay with my girl?

 

Unfortunately for your answer, I'll be parking mine come winter. However, I can state that if you do plan on driving it, invest in a set of winter tires. They are worth their wieght in gold...and I'm sure would even make this car drive like a tank through the snow.

I know goodyear makes a set of UltraGrips in with RunFlat technology (would need to see if they have our size though). And while not a big goodyear fan, I got them for my MS6 and with the AWD, drove almost as good as my Jeep through the white stuff.

 

Search around - a number of posts by folks who have had very good winter handling with their coupes. Cabrio should be no different, really.

 

I took delivery of Sgt Pepper last Dec 22d and then drove through some snow. Not lots, mind you, but enough to get a feel for what it was like. Since you have an MC you don't have runflats, and don't need them, since you have a spare. I would say you probably won't need snow tires either, unless your driving includes hills and steep places. Here in Indiana we have pretty flat conditions, most of the time, and I have found radial tires adequate for normal driving. You have front wheel drive, too, so you won't have fishtails, unless you're going way too fast in a curve and the rear comes around on you. You can buy snow tires, if you want, but its easier to have a second set of rims, also, so they don't have to be remounted and balanced twice a year. Just my $.03! Have fun and enjoy the experience!

 

In your climate zone you should be fine if you have all season tires. If you have performance tires, you should invest in a set of 15" wheels with good snow tires for the bad weather period. Talk/email Alex @ tire rack about packages for next winter.

 

I live in the snow capital of PA and can assure you the MINI Cabrio (non-S) with 15" wheels is a tank with a good set of winter tires. Actually it is a lot of fun to drive in the snow. DO NOT attempt to make it through the winter with the stock tires if you have a lot of snow and ice, especially on an S. My neighbor tried it and couldn't even get out of her driveway with the runflats. I began the season with my stock Conti's and the first slippery hill was a real challenge. I ordered a set of Pirelli snow tires from the Tire Rack and it was a totally different animal. They also handled very well on dry pavement to my surprise.

I was also worried about how the canvas roof would handle the extremes of snow, ice, salt, mud and sand and it came out just fine. It is a very sturdy roof and was fairly easy to clean. The only complaints I have about the MINI in winter is the drop down window feature freezing when opening and closing the door (hard on the motors) and also the limited ground clearance (watch out for those chunks of ice that fall off of trucks and cars in the winter, like hitting a boulder). The rear window defroster worked reasonably well and heating the cabin was no problem. The MCC makes a good all-season car. Good luck.

 

I'm confused. Got a 2006 MC Cabrio that has the donut and run-flats... is that an exception ?

 

Yep, I believe so! Good for you! Most of don't even get what we ask for, let alone more than that! (huh?)

 

Sweet

 

My Cabrio gets drive all winter in Northeast Ohio's snow belt. I've got DSC and I did pirchase some snow tires and steel rims. With the snows and DSC, I can basically go through anything.
The 5 inches of slush we get between tire tracks is no problem (when switching lanes).
The front of my car has actually pushed about 4 inches of snow out of my driveway when I've been too lazy to shovel before work.


If you invest in some snows, you'll be quite pleased and maybe even excited by your abilities to navigate the bad weather.

 

Here's a pic of mine from this past winter -



As stated in previous posts in this thread, a good set of winter tires helps immensely. I try not to drive it in the really bad weather, but we only have two cars so sometimes it goes out. In the winter months my MINI wears a set of Pirelli snow sports, and coupled with the LSD makes this car very capable in snow. Handling is very predictable, and I felt just as confident driving the MINI in the snow as I did my AWD Volvo R.

In anythinig over 4" though, the front of the MINI will become a plow. I park in a garage, so I'm not too worried about top damage, but a few here park outside with no problems.

I'll often disable the DSC when taking off from a stop, as it can be a bit overtly protective in those instances - I turn it back on when underway. With good winter tires and LSD, forward traction is not a problem.

 

Poor MINI - it looks so cold sitting there. I think I saw it shiver. Makes me want to give it a big warm electric blanket.

 

I have an S with runflats, no LSD. It doesn't drive too well in the snow, and I avoid taking it to work when there is a storm. I guess the main thing is that I don't want to get into an accident!

 

My MCC is TERRIBLE in the snow. The two specifics i think make it bad are the tires (all season conti touring 15") and the manual transmission. It is very hard to get things going without slipping on the snow with the manual, what with not wanting to beat on the clutch. What's worse is when DSC kicks in while i'm getting off the clutch... brutal!

 

I got my MCSc in the late fall so my first experiences of it were in the snow. No problems. I did get snow tires, which are vital if your car comes with performance tires - but a big help even if you have all-seasons.

Don't forget that you sometimes need to turn DSC off. Especially when trying to get up hill. Check the manual.

 

If you are really struggling to get the tq you could try starting out in 2nd gear...

 

I have run-flats.
How do I know if I have performance tires?

 

Read the sidewall and post the brand/model of the tire here - we'll tell you - or you can look them up on tirerack.com

 

Thank you

 

The tires that came with MINI are 205 45R17 and they are Pirelli Euforia RFT.
Looks like they are Performance Summer tires.
No snow for these babies.

What do you think of Pirelli Winter 240 Snow Sport Non-RFT
Have you heard good things about these Performance Snows?
A bit expensive at $150 but I am thinking about these.
There does not appear to be any other tires available for the MINI Cooper S
in the 205 45R17 size, so I think I may be limited.

Your advice is appreciated.

 

I don't like driving my MINI in the snow at all. The few times that I've had to have been quite nerve-racking. I have runflats btw. If you could afford an awd beater I'd go for it just to be safe. Its not that bad in the snow but bad enough that it would be the last car I'd take out (not just because I care about it the most!)

 

I have actually driven over mountain passes in the winter where I was pushing snow (6" on the road - 4" of clearance = MINI snow plow). It handles well enough though I had to turn the DSC off so I could spin the tires. I do use Blizzak snow tires and my MINI is my daily driver so my only real problem during last winter was the clearance issue, besides all the Texans with 4x4s who feel as if they are absolved from all the bother over traction and ice and are free to drive 900 mph because they got a 4x4. Love to pass those jerks when they are waving from the ditch (I always wave back).

 

When shopping for my MINI, I steered away from the Cabrio over winter concerns for the canvas top more than tires/handling.

I recall an incident with my older brother's Triumph TR-4 convertible on one particular winter day, after having received a minor accumulation of snow. The first bit of snow must have melted and refroze on the canvas, making it stiff and brittle underneath the overlying 2 inches of accumulated snow. My brother was innocently brushing off the snow with a foxtail brush, accidently hit the end of the handle on the canvas, and ended up punching a perfectly round, quarter-sized hole in the top just aft of the driver's seatback.

Of course, the TR-4 was several years old at the time which probably contributed to the fragility of the top, but it sure left an impression on me. BTW, for subsequent winters my brother purchased a removable hardtop which served him well for many years.

 

I think I would have rather stayed away from a foxtail brush than denied myself the pleasure of a convertible.

 

I don't have any experience with snow tires (MiniMaybee definitely does) - but you can find more options in 215/45R17 - which will fit if your car hasn't been lowered. I'm running that size currently on my stock rims. Though I hear, in the snow, wider is not necessarily better... though the 215's buy you a tiny more ground clearance (about 1/4"), also...