My business is in the snow. My S worked o.k. in the snow but can anyone recommend some low profile chains for when it is really icy or just dumping? Also need to know if they will work with lowered suspension on 17".

Can you also recommend the best performance tire that I can use in the snow aswell?

 

if i was you, i would get 15's with 185/60 tires and put chains on just in case since
you are lowered.

if you are at normal height, i would use 195/55/16's with chains.
but since can't use chains in here in chi-twn, i use 205/50/16's and ride
normal height. if it wasn't for the snow, id lower my ride in an instant...

 

I've heard a lot of good things about the Blizzaks. (in fact some people say you don't need chains with them) I just bought a pair and with the little snow we've had up here it seems better than the 17 pirelli's. I have seen these chains that I think were called z-chains. They are designed to be put on easily and they aren't too bulky. I don't remember where I saw them but I was thinking about getting a pair for my truck.

For the snow I just invested in another set of wheels so that way I can just swap them between my snow tires and my nice weather tires. This is my second winter with my MINI, last winter I got my mini towards the end of the winter and I didn't buy snow tires yet and found the pirelli's to really suck in the snow. Now this year I've since moved up to Vermont and decided that the stock wheels just weren't going to cut it. I don't have a lowered MINI but the 15" blizzaks should fit. There is a tire/wheel combo that is a little sticky at the top of the wheels and tires forum which is what I used. Good luck!

 

>>My business is in the snow. My S worked o.k. in the snow but can anyone recommend some low profile chains for when it is really icy or just dumping? Also need to know if they will work with lowered suspension on 17".
>>

The Owners manual says:
"The use of narrow-link snow chains is permitted in pairs only and only on the front wheels with the following tires:
175/65R15
175/60R16"

I have seen pictures on the Forums of chains mounted on 185/15" but nothing in 17" and I can't remember reading of anyone using chains if lowered.
There was a long thread on MINI2 from Australia about 16 & 17" tires and they finally gave up on the chain idea.

 

Not to plug this site as I have never ordered from them, they were just the first link that came up on my search I found the z-chains I was talking about:

http://www.autosportcatalog.com/inde...46&sc=1292

They look promising... anyone ever use them?