So my 08 MCC came with TWO extra snow tires (the current tires are also brand new all seasons), so not a full set. I went to look around to buy the other two to make them a full set, but I couldn't find them anywhere (not even tirerack.com) so I'm stuck with the two for now until next season before when I can afford a whole new set.

I've heard both suggestions from different places about either installign them on the rear of the car AND the front of the car.. Which one would be more ideal?

I live in Pitt and it was interesting driving my car Monday/Tuesday in the snow after driving an SUV for the past four years, lol.

 

Typically you install snow tires on the driven wheels.
In your case, being the Cooper-variant platform is FWD, they would be mounted to the front wheels.

Why not buy just two extra tires?
Or find some lightly used snow tires on Craiglist?

- Erik

 

BAD IDEA! I did this last year and will never do it again! Granted they weren't snow tires but they were all seasons with useable tread left. The tires on the front were one brand and matched. The tires on back were another brand also matched. The car constantly wanted to do two different things. It made for a very interesting time driving in the snow.

I was going down a flat straight road with about an inch of snow. Doing about 20mph when the back end decided it wanted to change places with the front it did that all winter. and driving on the highway- forget it couldn't do more than 25mph with anything more than a dusting.

For driving in the snow you really want a matched set of tires. After my experience last year if you were to use the two snows I would have to say put them on the back. Normally you would want them on the front to give you traction to get going. Honestly though traction while driving is more important. As long as you have a decent set on front you should be able to get moving. Any slippage in front you will feel right away in the steering wheel and be able to compensate. The back end you won't feel until it's too late and you're sideways.

 

Never run snow tires on the front only...
this is VERY DANGEROUS!!
Think....you have traction in the front....but less in the rear...
Spin out...end up with a wrecked car in a ditch....
Only use snow tires as a set of 4.

 

Exactly right. Don't take any chances it's not worth it. The tire dealers around here won't even install them unless snows on all 4.

 

Ok, since everyone has the general recommendation here to have a set of 4, I have another question.

My two snow tires are Hankook Winter I*Pike tires.. Would it be ok if I bought two more Hankook I*Cept tires? They'll have slightly different tread but the same brand/size/type.

 

You will probably be ok using the same manufacturer. There probably isn't enough difference to make it a problem.

OR, I could be totally wrong. What I wouldn't do is use snow in the front, and a/s's in the rear.

 

+1 on not running snow tires only on the front.

I did such on my CX-7, and got away with it. But oh yes...it would definitely get your attention on snow-packed curves where the front would "stick" and the rear didn't want to.

 

I must be one of the few that doesn't have snow-induced oversteer issues...

- Erik

 

Maybe ask Alex at tire rack for recommendation for matching the two you have?

 

In the old days, when the typical average car was rear wheel drive, it was common to put snow tires on the rear of the vehicle and leave the "regular" tire on the front. But back then, we didn't have anti-lock brakes, traction control, stability control, all-season tires and, more importantly, the car was rear wheel drive - not front wheel drive. Driving in snowy conditions was slow and people knew how to handle it. Now, we have all these electronic wonders and the driven wheels are also the wheels that steer the car, and we expect to be able to drive just as fast in the snow as we do in the middle of the summer. We have become Snow-Challenged. So, if you put snows only on the front (the driven wheels), you will be driving the car based upon the feedback you are getting through the steering wheel. You think you have more traction than you really do. Your rear wheels will not have the same traction. Therefore, you are asking for trouble. You really won't have a problem on dry roads. Or maybe even on wet roads. But on snowy/icy roads, your car is going to want to change directions on you.

 

I second asking Alex at tire rack, and if you can't find a match, sell the two on craigslist and buy a new set of four.

 

Okay guys.. I have an update about this whole situation, which is still confusing me and I hope you can help me clear it up better.

I emailed Alex from Tirerack and he helped me find a tire that will match the specs of the current tires I own (Hankook Winter I*Pike 195/55R16T). The tires he recommended are some Michelin X-Ice Xi2 (195/55R16T).

Ok, so with this new information from Alex, I went and called a local Conrads Tire and Service place to see if they could get these tires and when he looked them up he said the speed rating isn't the right one for the Cooper and said I need to get a different speed rating (can't remember the letter off hand right now) and that I would be hard pressed to find a place that is going to install a T-Rated tire onto my car and it's not the correct speed rating.

Can ANYONE shed some light on this for me? When I look up Snow Tires on Tirerack.com the Michelin's show up as a tire I could use.. But the Conrad guy is telling me different. Any advise?

 

The T rating will work for your application. The T rating is the speed rating. You are buying snow tires right? Well rating T states that these tires are rated for a maximum speed of 118 MPH and this is for "Family sedans and vans." So I think the tire would work with no problem.

Check this tire rack link.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=35