I just can't get the hang of it!

Put a little snow on the road and my car has a mind of it's own!!! Have some of the best rated all season tires, but I guess the wheel base is so short that the slightest break and it wants to start spinning. Seems that if you disengage the traction control it does better. Go figure.......

 

You may want to change to dedicated snow tires, it makes a very big difference in the way the car handles the snow

 

I, also, have snows and no problem!

 

I have had Potenza and now Yokahama all seasons, and I get along pretty good. On my daughters Mini I put Kumho all seasons and they were like running slicks in the snow, had her buy some winter tires (General Arctics) and they are great.

 

Been running 215/40/18 Pirelli Pzero Nero All seasons in the snow and I have no issues. When starting from a stop I need to feather the clutch and gas some but you get the hang of it. And for me, the traction control works better in the snow providing grip to the wheel which has more traction. I did a test in a snow covered parking lot which had been driven thru some / no sand, and with traction control off the tires just spun and I sat there.....

 

its all about the tires. Find real snow tires tires that have the snow flake on the side wall. I like the Pirellis Winter Carvers, I think they did better than the Blizzaks I have now.

 

Last night drove over Berthoud Pass in Colorado, 11,000 ft. plus in a major snow storm making tracks, it was incredible. Blowing and drifting snow it was dumping. I have Nokian RSI and never missed a beat was driving on unplowed roads 4 to 6 inches in depth. Its all about the tires, now if they could make something so I can see in whiteouts.

 

Get a set of Nokian WR's on some 15's (hollies perhaps). Makes our R53 unstoppable in the snow. That said... DSC makes a difference too.

 

I feel your pain!

I have an '03 JCW that I just put some new Neo Gens on because I thought the big open sipes would let them grip better in the snow. It does OK, but it's a handful, traction control on or off!

OTOH, my '09 Clubman S has the stock 16" runflat all seasons on it and it does terrific! It actually surprised me how much better it was - who'd thunk 3" of wheelbase could make that much difference?

If I were gonna drive my '03 all winter, I'd definitely have to put snow tires on it....assuming that we were gonna get this much snow every year.

 

Making a car "unstoppable in the snow" is a bad thing, isn't it?

 

I have dedicated 15" snow tires on steel wheels- car a blast in the snow/slush just not in deep snow.

 

LtRex lives here in St.Louis, where real winter lasts 2 weeks at best, so snows would be a waste of money, and the time it takes to swap them out. He is just like all the locals here and freaks at a few inches of snow

Mark

 

I beg your pardon Who drove home last night from downtown in Gimli & had no problems except for all the accidents I came across. Gimli was like a tank. Better than either of my 2 previous MINIs. Maybe the Clubmans do better

And I didn't whine when I got home

Lois

 

Sorry, guess I should have said most of the locals, not all of them

Mark

 

It is my sorrowful duty to report that to drive safely in snow, it's advisable to NOT press the Sport button. Sigh...

Spridget

 

I would imagine the Clubman would do far better due to the extended wheel base. I have the Potenza Grid all season tires that are one of the best rated on tirerack. The part that gets real sketchy for me is the short wheel base. It seems the slightest thing breaks the car loose.

I spend 10+ hours on these snow covered road when it snows, in a rear wheel drive car! Once again, these cars have a longer wheel base. Maybe I will master it eventually..........

 

Not directed at you, Rex, but at my Canuckian side kick And the Clubman is better. Been driving MINIs since 03 and there is a noticeable difference! Sorry to have offended you. I better stay out of Frontenac

 

Mark could not be more correct! Most of the people that live in this area are overly cautious or falsely confident (4 wheel drive folks).

 

Yeah my Nitto's are nearing end of life so it was interesting with the snowfall earlier this week.....but I made it to work!!