I feel really fortunate after listening to these comments. I've got summer UHP runflats on my '09 MCS and I plan to keep her in the garage until all of the snow and salt are washed away.
My wife's CR-V and my Jetta get to taste the salt when its nasty outside. The MINI leads a sheltered (literally) life. Stay safe and remember that stopping is the real trick in snow, contrary to popular opinion.

 

I once drove a late 1960's Firebird 400 in the snow once. It had summer tires. A friend and I were driving it across Canada in the fall; trying to get it back to California where someone might actually want to buy it. We were caught by an unexpected (to us) overnight snow somewhere north of the great lakes. It was an "interesting" drive. Finally got to a place where we could get snow tires, but it wasn't easy.

 

I have a kinda stupid question but how do you know if your stock tires are all-seasons or not? thanks

 

I was driving throughout the last 2 days(work wouldn't let us out till we got there) and only got stuck twice. Once was an unplowed offramp and the other was when the snow was too high for the front to get over. I have runflats and think they're fine. My S did great, IMO.

 

Look on the sidewall for somethign like M+S (mud and snow)

 

After a snow I am always surprised at the number of people driving around with the barest amount of window cleaning.

As my late father taught me, not only do you completely clear all snow and ice off all your glass and mirrors, you should clean off your hood/bonnet and roof as well. As your engine heats up the snow and ice start to melt on your hood, and all of a sudden you can get a huge pancake of snow sluiced right up on your windshield causing a most dire situation. Likewise your roof, because a grab at the brakes will cause the roof pancake to slide down over your front vision; or air pressure or a steep hill will cause the roof pancake to slide aft over your rear vision. Not good, all.

 

I've got all weather tires, anytime my MCS has gotten 'stuck' I just throw DSC off and bam im out.

 

in Germany it is the law to completely clear the car of all snow and ice before you drive.

 

To the original poster of this thread, I cannot disagree with you more about the MINI's ability in the snow. I live in Syracuse, NY, where we frequently get awarded the "golden snowball" award for most snowfall in the USA.

The MINI, (when properly equipped with snow tires), is amazing in the winter. It claws through ice and snow like mad. If there is one downfall to the MINI, it is the lower ground clearance, but again, with the right tires, these cars really do great in the winter.

I'm suspecting, like everyone else that posted after you, that you're running all-season tires, or even worse, summer performance tires. And another factor is just how much tread you have left on those tires...

Something to consider, before bashing a car for its' poor snow performance.

 

And in addition:
Germany passed a ruling that requires drivers to properly equip their vehicles according to inclement weather conditions. During winter months, cars must be equipped with at least All Season tires (also called 'M+S tires'). It is the responsibility of the owner/driver to equip their vehicle appropriately for the prevailing conditions.

Wonder what happened to the OP.....think he got the message that it's his tires? Hope he got home safely.

 

I grew up on the west side of Michigan where we get lots of lake effect snow, and went to college at Michigan Tech - if you know where Houghton, MI is, they get about 300" of annual snowfall. I know how to drive in snow. We usually don't switch summer and winter tires where I come from, since they're good at clearing the roads (and people are used to driving in snow). But when you want cool summer tires, you get good winter tires for the other season.

With Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2's on S-winders the MINI is unstoppable. I really miss 'real' winter over here (closer to Detroit) but I love going back home and the few chances we get to play in the white stuff around here.

 

It's all about the tires! Snow tires are the only way to really go out there and drive with assurance when it snows. All seasons allow you to get by, but everyone has to be careful. OTOH summer tires it should be outlawed to drive them in snow, period!

My previous car had potenza s-03s on it and I once got stuck on a speed bump in the parking lot of a burger king!

 

I will agree with tires. at the end of the season when people sell their snow tires I'll be getting them for next winter. This is ridiculous. MINI can't get away from my house.
Well, without the tires the MINI will have a few days off.

 

Last year in Vancouver, we received 30 inches of snow over a week. My MINI with all seasons was useless on the side streets. My car was stuck over 6 times and my shovel was in the passenger seat regularly used to get out of my parking spot. Enough was enough!

This year, I ordered 4 175/65/15 Pirelli Snow Control 190's from Tire Rack for $300. The car now handles very well in the snow. Yesterday, I drove up to Whistler and was cruising along at 40 mph (75 kph) on snow packed roads with confidence. BTW my car does not have DSC, only ASC. The only time it kicked in was accelerating fast taking a right turn from a stop sign. Even up a fairly steep hill with slush and snow, I was able to maintain 25 mph (40 kph) without incident.
Snow tires just bite the snow so well, forward acceleration is amazing and you feel planted almost as if you are driving on clear roads.

I also ordered a set of Thule snow chains from Amazon for $70 for a 1700 mile road trip to Edmonton, Calgary and back to Vancouver.

The great thing about the MINI is that you feel the road beneath you. When you start to slide, you can correct it easily. Best thing to remember is to take it easy. Yes, the MINI can be driven with all seasons but you need to be extremely careful. The larger the wheels the less traction you will receive. Only time I have liked the 15" wheels is in this time of year.

Happy Winter motoring!

Edit: Just took a look in the manual and it says Snow chains can be used on 175/65/15 and 175/60/16 tires as well. They must also be rated M+S. But I'm sure it's fine with Winter Tires as well.

 

Actually the stuff we have here in Vancouver is worse than the stuff over in the east... ours tends to be mixed with rain, or it melts, resulting in slushy slippery stuff or worse, a bottom layer of ice. Really, when it snows here, the sipes winter tires have are even more essential... the only thing is that snow is relatively infrequent here.

Yeah, I've found the MINI equipped with winter tires to be just as good as any other modern FWD car out there.

 

My snow tires were able to get in and of my snow covered parking spot and over the snow banks from the plows. :-D

 

I'm so glad i dont have to worry about driving in all these conditions yall are talking about. I would be ocd about the salt on my Mini. I would have to spray my car off every time i came home! Is there anyone here guilty of this?

 

yes

 

I've had similar issues with my '08. We had just a few inches of snow & I couldn't even get into my driveway, which has a slight incline. I had to shovel it just to get the car into the garage. My salesman mentioned when he drives in the snow, he turns off the ASC. I'm going to try that next time & also invest in a set of snow tires. I keep reading how the Mini is so great in the snow but, well, I've had problems & I know how to drive in the snow. Hopefully the tires & switching off the ASC will help.

 

i was coming up my drive last night (pure ice), and was going along fine until the dogs jumped out in my path so i stopped and when i tried to move again i was spinning....tuned off ASC and then had no problems.

 

MCS+Snow+Winter Tires+Crappy Wheels=Pure winter driving bliss!

I figured this out after my first winter with the Mini and have loved it ever since. Even when the JCW front dam is acting like a snow plow!

 

So what kind of tires are on the OP's car right now?

 

+1 to that! Winter tires make all the difference. Sometimes you're better with DSC on, sometimes better with it off. You have to experiment.

 

Drove by a Hummer, a 4-runner, a Jeep Cherokee, and a 330xi - all slid off the side of the road - in our last snowstorm. It's funny that people forget that 4wd only helps when you're trying to GO, not when turning or stopping!

+1

 

Not that I like any of the cars you mentioned (cept the 330xi), but I'm pretty sure if you put snow tires on all of those cars, it would handle well in snow too... The MINI is great in snow with snow tires, but it's not top dog.