Hello everyone! Happy Holidays to all! I am a fairly new Mini Clubman owner--purchased in March, so this is my first winter in snow. We got slammed here yesterday with serious snow and my clubman had some trouble getting up my driveway, really anything with the slightest incline! Thinking I need snow tires--please advise what to get?? Thanks in advance for any help...

 

Visit tirerack.com and/or call Alex (x294) there and get a good set of winter tires and rims.
Think about whether you want runflats or not, and what size (probably 16",
I forget if some 15" fit the Clubman or not).
Up in Mass, you'll appreciate real snow tires during the winter months of the next many years.

 

Thank you!

 

I find that our 2010 Clubman S starts from a dead stop in snow much better with the asc turned off. We had a light snow last week and the front tires were spinning a lot at take-off until I turned the asc off. This is with 195/55-16 all season RFTs. Have had the same experience with the R53s.

 

A great snow tire is Nokian RSI's I live in Colorado and drive on them every day fantastic in ice or snow, good luck

 

thank you!

 

One question though--is it best to put snow tires on all four or can I just do front tires?

 

Just front is better than none, but not recommended.
You can get through, but a dangerous amount of oversteer in the white stuff.
All four is much better and safer.

 

You need to do all four I drive two mountain passes every day over 11,000 ft. I see cars that are front will drive and rear wheel slide out all the time because they did just two, Nokians there the best Blizzaks second and Michelins third.

 

Since you are on the cape, and don't usually get a ton of snow...more freezing rain, sleets, etc, you may find a second set of rims with agressive allseasons might be a better match.
Check with grayraven..a mod..he is out you way, and might have some thoughts!!
Snowtires are great in the whitestuff, and are grippy in the cold, but some are only ok on wet roads or can feel downright dangerous on a warm day...so before going with a super agressive snowtire, take a hard look at how you drive, and the road condition for 90% of what you drive...
The factory tires...even the ultra-high performance all seasons if you opted for them rather that the Summer tires, are barely usable in New England.

 

And snow tires on all 4....
Having then only on the front is very dangerous on a frontwheel drive car...it makes it super easy to spin out...you have traction from the front to get moving, and traction to steer...as you begin to turn a tiny bit, the rear than does not have traction to stick to the road, and volla, you spin!!

 

Ha! Northern Mass got only flurries.

 

I completely agree with this method. With DSC turned on, I have trouble backing into my driveway. With it turned off, I don't have any issues on the stock Continentals.

 

Oh I do hope the OP took action, as we're looking at 12-20" in the next 24 hours...


"Oh the weather outside is frightful,
and the fire is so delightful...
We've got no place to go,
let is snow, let it snow, let it snow!"