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MINI + Blizzaks == unstoppable winter daily driver in NE.

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Where do I find Blizzaks in NE?

 

www.tirerack.com

Pick a TR-associated installer, and have TR ship tires directly to the shop. Mine arrived in 2 days:
http://www.tirerack.com/installer/index.jsp

You can also order winters pre-mounted and balanced on your choice of new wheels, if you don't have a spare set of wheels sitting in the garage

Note: winter tires are usually cheaper then summer performance tires, so the miles you put on them in the winter save you the wear from the more expensive summer tires (never mind the grip!).

Winter tires grip WAY better than all-seasons once temps drop below freezing, and are THE ONLY safe way to drive on the snow or ice covered roads.

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Daily drive both our MINIs with all season tires on both the R50 and R60!
Have heated seats on the R60 and love them, start out at 3 lites and cut it down
As warmth spreads through my body, doesn't take long before I can turn it off
completely as the seats retain the heat nicely

 

I drive it on the days it snows. Snow tires are great.

 

I've found DiscountTireDirect.com to be better priced than tirerack on some tires. See if they have a snow tire you like at a good price because I'm seeing lots of Discount Tire's popping up in Nebraska now and they might match DTD's website pricing and their shops for a tire shop are quite nice.

 

I think my turbo actually likes the colder weather.
Perhaps some sort of magic to do with air density at +or- 0°C
The car idles slightly high for slightly longer on cold start.
But third gear pulls are smoother with even less turbo lag.
Gotta love Canadian winter magic

 

Thanks. I'll look into it.

 

Colder air is denser. You get more performance out of it. That's the big fuss about "cold air intakes" that get as cold of air as possible into your engine.



And Pno2nr: Don't get 100% stuck on Blizzaks if you don't want only one option. I've driven multiple cars on multiple snow tires and will say having snow/ice tires in general is going to be an ideal situation. One brand/model isn't the ONLY one to look at. I've had Hankook's(i-Pike) snow tire, Firestone's(Winterforce), and Bridgestone Blizzaks and can say all 3 performed amazingly and I couldn't recommend one over the other.

 

Wasn't my point. Thanks though. I just am looking for next winter to save up. Now and Service Engine soon light on. Probably something simple that will cost $1,000. Just spent $650 on the 4x4 so trying to get through the winter. Ahh. Sucks.

 

An auto parts store can scan the code for free. If you're ever in omaha, i have the ability to read codes as well. Find out what the code is and find someone to help determine the cause and fix. Don't spend a ton at a dealership.

 

Never and it rarely goes out in the rain. If it's raining you don't need to bring out a convertible. Ruby goes for a long winters nap at the end of November until spring.

 

My R56 is my daily driver, but when I head to the mountains I take the MDX. If it's too gnarly for the MDX (rare, but it happens) I stay at the cabin, light a fire, and open a bottle of wine. I have gone over Donner Pass in all kinds of weather, and one thing I do NOT want to be is one of the people struggling to put chains on by the side of I-80 in a blizzard. (You're putting snow chains on a Prius? Seriously? Go home.) I love my R56, but it just isn't the right car for a Sierra snowstorm.

Now a Countryman All4S with a set of Blizzaks, that has potential. Maybe with a lift kit for a a bit more ground clearance. I had a CM All4S as a loaner for a weekend while my car was in the shop and was very impressed.

 

I drove mine R56 the last two years in the snow(on performance tires), but it was okay. So this winter I will be driving the 330xi. I will drive my R56 on non-wet or non-snowy days this winter.

 

With Michelin iceX tires it handles better than the wife's SUV with Michelin M+S tires and 4wd on the hills. No fish tailing or any of that nonsense. However, for the thick stuff 6" + I would drive the wife's SUV.

 

I did this am

 

Our family cruiser is an Envoy XL (rear wheel -not 4wd - and open differential). I drive it in 14+ inch snows on Yokohama geolander m+s. I will be interested to see how the MINI does on the conti all seasons. I've never had snow tires but always all seasons. As long as you focus on momentum, drive intelligently, and avoid the idiots, most cars can get through at least 6 inch snows,sleet,and slush.

Ice is another story. We are right between Canada and the gulf of mexico. We get the air mixing from the 2 and like today, get freezing rain frequently. Sucks when your window can't drop to open the door.

 

I've owned a lot of different cars the past few years, and any of them without snow tires in the north east is not smart. I was on my way to get my winter mounted (car was at dealer for a week so I got delayed) when I got stuck in a decent snow storm. The mini was next to useless on the run flat all seasons. With the snows, totally different story!

I've had snows on every car I've owned since my first winter with no-seasons, and ill never look back. This weekend we are getting 12 inches sat-sun. I can't imagine the mini is gonna do well trying to plow a foot of snow.

 

I've preached it to many many many people in my lifetime thus far: If you can afford 2 sets of tires, do it. A dedicated winter tire will make more difference in your ability to drive in the winter than anything else you can do, period. It's an absolutely giant difference.

Tires are where your car touches the road. EVERYTHING to do with handling, braking, acceleration starts at the tires. To skimp on them is the worst thing you can do. Get a good summer tire that has enough contact to handle great and good rain channels, and a dedicated snow/ice tire for the winter and you'll ALWAYS love your car. All seasons almost never handle winter all that well. They might get you by a bit better than a summer tire, but they'll never stack up to a snow tire.

 

My 08 MCS is my dd, and I've driven it plenty of times on my 80+ mile commute through the snow and ice and sub zero temps, on the OE runflats. My job requires me to be at work in the wee morning hours when the winter weather turns nasty. I just shut off the traction control and throttle it. It's just fine, once you get used to the quirkiness of the run flats on ice. No different than any other small car I've driven in the winter. I have an old 4x4 pickup for when the roads really get nasty, but haven't needed it much yet this year.

 

I agree wholeheartedly. Snow tires are awesome.

 

+1 (4 Blizzaks on 16" rims) for me .

 

Not me. I run Pirelli P Zero Nero XLs, it is helpless in the snow. Out comes the Jeep Rubicon.

 

Been using hankook winter ipike studded on all four tires and so far it's handled the snow we've had in Colorado really well!!! I'm extremely impressed!! Gonna buy the gp belly pan for the chunks of ice I run through that fall off from people cars o.0

 

Does that snowflake warning only come on for the winter package? Mine was a Florida vehicle and now an SC vehicle, but I get this from time to time in the morning. Don't see a reason for the package but if I have it, then cool.