NathanMckee: You're recommending the LT and SUV Scorpions for MINIs?

 

Anyone else have any experience with Scorpions?

 

Ahh!! I did not mean scorpions... I meant sottozeros!!

I had just looked at scorpions for another vehicle so it was on my mind....

They are the Pirelli Sottozero 3 winters in 205/45/17 size.

 

Is it worth it to pick up a set of winter tires for the South East and change the tires based upon the current forecast or just stay home?

I am in Raleigh and when it snows it an inch or too it turns into sheet of ice since the state uses Brine instead of salt; by the next day most of the roads are clear.

Two years ago i ended up ditching the Mini on the shoulder walking 2 miles home due to the roads being too icy for traction up the hills and/or blocked by abandoned cars and wrecks.

Snow Plows showed up after the sun melted the snow....

 

Id rather have them and not need them then need them and not have them

 

For what its worth, years ago I bought a set of Blizzak Revo for my R53. On dry pavement they wore out quite quickly. I later learned that they were never intended for the North American market but were diverted here when a factory fire delayed production of those tires intended to be sold here. At least that is what I was told when I tried to buy two replacement tires.

 

It sounds that the Blizzak is the most widely reviewed here, and overall quite well rated. Specifically, which Blizzak do you recommend?

 

Blizzak for NON studded. Get the WS 50's and up.
Nokian H's or Pirelli tires winter carvers for Studded.

 

The Blizzaks are super popular and great in the snow, but as others have mentioned, have their disappointments in the dry. I had a Hankook iCept (not sure of the exact model) in a 225/40/18 on a 2007 GTI with lots of mods and found the hankook was good when it snowed and also good the remaining winter days when it wasnt actually snowing. They were quiet, predictable and pretty affordable even in an 18 inch size.

I also run a Nokian WRG3 as my snow tires on my R55 currently. They got me through last year's terrible winter here in CT and are awesome all year round (I used them as my only tire before buying 17s for the R55) but they're pricey compared to a regular snow tire. Great if you're fed up with buying multiple sets of tires and changing them in the winter/spring....

 

Just remember that the multicell tire compound which makes Blizzaks great on ice are only found on the Q rated tires, the "high performance" blizzaks do not use this softer compound but a more "regular" winter tread compound. I used the original Blizzak WS15 for some years but found that I really didn't need that slightly better ice traction and the dry traction on other non multicell compound tires were adequate for my needs and much better in dry conditions.
Personally I think the Xices are better than the Blizzaks I've had but I've gone Nokian WRs last few years so I don't have to change tires.

 

For snowy conditions the WS 60 studless ice and snow on our Cooper are better than the LM 60 rft snow on my S.

 

The S, are they 16" or 17" tires & rims?

I'm looking to arrange a winter set for my wife's R57 convertible S. The current 17" run-flats provide pretty abysmal performance in the snow if there's anything more than 2" on the ground.

I'm leaning toward a set of WS80 16", rim style TBD.

 

I have been running Pirelli Sotozero RFT 205-17 on my car since November, and have had little issue. This morning with a couple inches of fresh snow, there was a bit of spinning from a stop, but travel, turning and stopping were all without concern.

 

We have constant ice and snow here in the Northern Michigan snow belt. I've been on Hakkapeliitta R2s ever since my car was new in '08. They are great for serious snow/ice grip, and they make very little noise.
If it weren't for all the salt, I'd really love winter driving. As it is, the Mini makes it pretty fun, but it takes a lot of salt stress, despite my frequent car wash spraying.

 

I run 16" RFTs. I've already had to deal with a nail at 10 deg and with snow up in northern VT ski country. Glad I had the RFTs.

I run 195-55x16's, which I think is stock size. I wanted as narrow as practical to get the best bite in the snow. I have to say that I am pretty happy with them and would not think twice about heading out in a snow storm to go skiing.

 

Pirelli 195/55 15 holding up well in the first blast we had here. Like a tank.

 

That's been my thinking as well. Narrower than the 205/45/17 RFT on there now. While still keeping with RFTs.

How has the ride been in non-snow conditions? We'd likely have less snow than you, of course. So while I'm willing to go the 'winter set' route but would prefer to avoid them being awful in non-snow conditions. As in, I don't want to hear my wife complain. She's from Buffalo, and is fine with the winter/summer changeover idea. But has learned to like the go-cart ride of the 205/45's when conditions allow.

 

I have the sports suspension option, so my car is stiff to begin with. That said, the LM 60 RFTs ride like the OEM 16" RFTs (I am talking "comfort" here). In general they are no worse than my 17" non-RFT extreme performance track tires. However, sharp ridges will be felt more than with non-RFTs. I run them a bit soft: ~33 psi to improve the ride quality. And they are reasonably quiet. Are they so bad that I wouldn't do it again? No, I will get them again.

As for handling and "go kart" ride, the LM 60 RFTs are quite good, but the limits are likely a little lower then those 17" summer tires (hey, that is going to be a factor with any snow tire). And the "cutup" tread design makes them a little softer on the initial turn-in but once the slip angle is set they hold it well. I haven't found the limits on them and, with the way my car is set up, I tend to be quicker the most people around corners So in the dry they do well. Overall, I would say your wife will not be disappointed with them.