I have 185/65/15's for snow tires and they are fine, they are a bit squishier then 175's would have been but they are snow tires so you really can't expect much in the way of stiff sidewalls anyway. Your speedo will also be slightly off but only marginally. I think it will read 2% slower then with 175/65/15's per the miata.net tire size calculator thing.

 

Purchased a set with Hankook iPike 409 195/60-15 and Momo Winter wheels (no TPMS) from Discount Tires. Free shipping and $50 online discount made it attractive. The wheels look stoudt and quite nice for my taste. Excited!

 

got the same set, except in 205/50/16's myself. First set of snows I've ever had, I'm hopeful.


Where is the $50 discount??? I didn't see anything floating around out there about it. Any chance you think I could apply post-order?

 

I had the "Michelin Arctic Alpin PA3 ZP RunFlats" in 16" OEM size mounted a few weeks ago. So far they are very nice on the cold pavement. They track very true at 80MPH on the highway. Only a slight hint of that squishy snow tire feeling. They are no more loud than the worn out OEM tires they replaced.

I did not go out in the recent snow fall, but am looking forward to giving them a test. All in all they are very similar to the Dunlop WinterSport 3D/M3 tires I have had in the past.

 

The discount popped up. The details are: Save $100 Instantly on Select Wheels!

Purchase any set of four Enkei wheels or any set of four MB Precise or MB Smooth wheels and receive a $100 instant rebate.Save $50 Instantly on Wheels!

Purchase any set of four wheels (excluding Unique, Enkei, MB Precise and MB Smooth) and receive a $50 instant rebate.Products will be clearly marked with this offer and will be reflected automatically in your shopping cart.The above offers can be combined with any current promotions and both will expire Thursday, December 31st, 2009.
It might be an online ordering fluke that you didn't get the discount. You should call them, nothing to lose!

 

I am looking to buy some winter tires for my 2002 Cooper S. I only bought it a few months ago, so I am still learning the ropes.

I am trying to decide whether to get a 15" wheel/tire package with normal tires (either WS60s or Primacy PA3s) or just get Run Flat versions of the tires put on my stock 16" wheels.

Could anybody suggest which might be better? I live in NYC and travel up to Vermont to snowboard at weekends, so I have harsh bumpy city roads, highways, and snow to contend with.

Thanks

 

my first winter with the mini and just switched from OEM runflats to Hankook W409. Softer rubber, more tread, softer side-walls all made my mini handle like a boat (comparatively). LOL.
I was afraid to corner hard in dry because I thought the tire will roll off the rim. hahaha.

 

I just bought a 2002 Silver Cooper S today. I live in Michigan and want to drive it in the snow. The current tires are pretty well gone. The factory size on it now is 205/45/17.

My question is, can I put on 215/45/17? Seems to be a lot more options for snows and better prices running the 215 size.

Any feedback?

 

205's would be better IMO. 215 is a lot of surface area and you'll kinda float on the surface more than dig in. My .02. There are numerous posts on the subject.

 

Another option to consider, is picking up some used 15" wheels from a Cooper, and mounting snows on those. That's what I do with my 2004 MCS. Snow tires are way cheaper in 15" sizes (My 185/65/15 were about $60 each). With your current plan, you'll also be spending $60-$80 twice a year ($120-$160 annually) just to change out your snow/summer tires on your existing rims. In just two years, you'll have outspent what you would've paid for another set of used 15" rims...

 

And don't forget to check on some steel wheels as well. Tire Rack has some nice package prices for 15" wheels and tires for probably less than the cost of 17" snow tires.

 

Hello,
I am wondering if anyone has run this size (215/55/16) tire on their R56.
I can get a rediculously good deal on 90% tread Dunlop Graspic winter tires installed.

- The car is not lowered.
- I have S-winder stock wheels

I know the speedo will be off, but am more concerned about rubbing.
I am buying new rims and tires come summer.

Thanks for your help.

 

seems wide for a snow-- Id be looking at more of a 195 max, and a little taller than 55. and if was deep i'd snap off that plastic lip attached the the bottom of the bumper cover

I req the mod move this to tires and wheels forum where you will be inundated with suggestions.

 

Too late, here come the know it alls....

Yep that is a hella wide tire for snow use. Narrower is better.

 

The general old school rule is that narrower is better for snow. However with modern tire technology that really only holds true for deep unplowed snow of 6+ inches. For packed snow and ice, the more tread you have in contact with the ground, the better with modern compound snow tires. If there is enough snow that you need a really narrow tire to cut through it, your going to be plowing snow with your front end and be in a bad situation regardless of tread width. The other idea about narrower tires having more weight pushing down per square inch to aide in traction is somewhat valid, however a snow tire generally has a more open tread pattern to begin with, so this is less of an issue with minor increases in width. I'm running 215/45/17 Dunlop Wintersport M3s on my JCW and have no worries about how they'll be in any cold/snow/ice/rain conditions.

 

Check out this WRC Subaru, driving on packed snow and ice:



And this one:



Those are some skinny tires!!

Tall and skinny tires were and are better in all kinds of low-traction conditions. WRC cars wouldn't use them on snowy race stages if they weren't.

The problem is that not ALL winter driving takes place in these conditions. Wider is better on dry roads, even in winter. It's up to you to decide which conditions make up the majority of your winter driving climate, and therefore which type of tire (tall & skinny or wide & low) suits your particular conditions best. Wintry roads in my neck of the woods are usually snow covered, slushy, and icy, with some dry conditions (through the use of TONS of road salt) between snow "events". So, taller and skinnier are best for me.

All about compromise, as with everything automotive - and otherwise. What's right for me might not be right for you. and all that.

BTW, if you want to go wide...







__________________________________________________ ___

 

Wide tires want to float on top, be it water or snow. Narrow ones want to knife through.

Like has been said, run what ever you are comfortable with. For me it is as narrow as I can buy for winter rubber.

 

nevermind. comp problems

 

Well, I could get these tires with 90% tread mounted and balanced for $250. I realize they are a bit wide, but cannot spend $500 plus with Christmas and all. I am more concerned with whether or not they will fit as I have 42,ooo miles on my original tires.

 

Go for it. They'll fit. Lots of people run summer or all-season tires that size, and if those fit without rubbing so will your winter tires. I'm all for saving some $$$, too.

While the size isn't ideal, ANY winter tire is better than any "all-season" in snowy/icy/cold weather driving. My MINI is awesome on slippery and snowy roads with winter tires. Those tires will work fine and you will love driving in the snow (well, as much as you can love driving in snow...).

My question is... how did you manage to get 42000 miles on your original tires? My Continental runflats (original on my '08 Cooper) have less than 20000 on them and they're looking pretty thin already. They certainly will NOT last another 22000 miles!!

But I guess that's a different post!


____________________________________

 

Ah, switched on the Momo winter wheel and Hankook iPike 195/60 15 snows set today. Haven't taken them into the snow yet. Nice to get to work (sort of anyway) on a car again. The tires removed were 195/55 16 ContiPro all seasons - from full stop, they couldn't get up the hill in our big snow storm. I expected more from them but perhaps, was just foolish. We have an 09' non-S Clubman.

So, owners manual specifies 32 psi for the 16" ContiPro. It says 35 psi for 15" rims with all different sizes of tires (175/65, 175/60, 205/45 and 205/40). The iPike's size is different from these. I'm thinking to still go with 35 psi. What would you do? The iPike's can take as much as 44 psi but that's way too much.

 

I recently added a winter tire setup to my Mini. I installed Blizzak LM-60's on Ultraleggera wheels. I've taken it out a few times in a pretty good amount of snow the past few weeks and I get great traction. We received over 2 feet of snow last weekend and I never really worried about getting stuck. Granted the ride can be a little rough.

I used to drive a Jeep and I can honestly say the Mini gets better traction for general driving on the roads. The wide jeep tires with rear wheel drive didn't stick as much (obviously in less the snow was really deep and you could lock in the part time 4wd system which was rare on the roads).

I highly recommend the Blizzaks for winter driving. Not sure I'm in love with the black wheels though I only plan on running them a few months out of the year.

 

Probably should also mention that the Blizzaks snow tires seem to have a better ride than the stock Dunlops. I was also amazed by how much lighter the steering wheel feels with the lighter wheels. I think it's about an 8 lb difference per wheel.

 

I've got the Blizzak Revo7s on my MINI and they have taken me places SUVs could not go. Great tires.

 

Help Please, I am looking forward (ok it got here quick) to my first winter with a Mini, and yes I know how to drive in the snow. It has been many years since a I ran a set of snow tires.
But tires are not the question, the question is what rims would be the best to have? I could see an advanatage of both something that is very open and something that is almost solid.