Hi all,

Last week I ordered the snow tire and steel wheel package from Tirerack. They came yesterday and I had them installed over lunch for $15. The wheel covers they recommended look pretty good too. I just hope someone will come up with some MINI hub decals - then they'd be really cool.

The best thing about it is that my MINI feels transformed! Sure, there's a sacrifice in handling, but the ride is so much better! My drive home was much more relaxing - the blizzaks absorb so much more than the Goodyear runflats did. I really like it. You don't feel or hear the small cracks and bumps anymore. Reminds me of my friend's 323i. I motored at the same speeds on my regular route and the handling really isn't affected too much. I bet if I floored it like I usually do through the mousetrap (I25, I70 ramp systems - v. fun) I would get more screeching, but it still feels like a MINI.

Now to go climb some of the Rockies in a snowstorm and see just how invincible I feel!

BTW - while parked in front of a popular brunch joint here in Denver this past weekend, I convinced a full-sized SUV owner that the MINI can get you around, hold what you need and get great fuel economy at the same time. He's gonna go look at 'em now! One less truck to be stuck behind...

Lee

 

Cool, I have Blizzaks on my other car and they are great, I may have to get some for the MINI if I decide to take her out when there is snow on the ground.

X2

 

Blizzaks are great in snow and ice but I found they tend
to squish around in dry twisties. Feel them out.... :smile:

 

I got the tire rack steel wheel-and-blizzak package too. The stick like glue on ice! They are quite mushy (dare I say they suck?) on dry pavement, but that's not what they are made for, is it? Having the tires mounted on extra wheels is the way to go, it takes me about 15-20 minutes to swap them out for my dry tires.

 

>>I got the tire rack steel wheel-and-blizzak package too. The stick like glue on ice! They are quite mushy (dare I say they suck?) on dry pavement, but that's not what they are made for, is it? Having the tires mounted on extra wheels is the way to go, it takes me about 15-20 minutes to swap them out for my dry tires.
And I agree, haven't used 'em in years but they do suck on dry..

 

Must be a really big monkey...

 

>>The best thing about it is that my MINI feels transformed! Sure, there's a sacrifice in handling, but the ride is so much better!


I didn't get the same winter tire combo, but my much lighter 15" wheel package certainly did seem to "transform" Molly as well! She is quicker off the line (butt-o-meter) and seemingly even more nimble. I'm guessing it has to do with the significant weight loss, but it might also be related to the more natural (to me) feel of non-run-flat tires. I guess I can just gauge the limits a little better on these tires.

Ahhhh, but no more being jarred on pavement and cement ~cracks~ is indeed priceless! Too bad I have enough tread left on the GY's to go another summer....

 

Do Blizzaks come in 15"? I can't seem to find 'em on the TireRack web site. I'm running performance tires on my Coop, but they've become increasingly scary in some of the slippery stuff we get here in Detroit (slid right through a stop last week). I hear Blizzaks are the best, but if they're unavailable any recommends on a good alternative?????

 

I agree Blizzaks are the shizzit.

 

>>Do Blizzaks come in 15"? I can't seem to find 'em on the TireRack web site. I'm running performance tires on my Coop, but they've become increasingly scary in some of the slippery stuff we get here in Detroit (slid right through a stop last week). I hear Blizzaks are the best, but if they're unavailable any recommends on a good alternative?????

Yes they are made in the ever popular 195/60, and 205/55. Tirerack has however sold out of these for the season. Winter tires are produced in on e big run in the late spring, for the following winter. Thats why we're unable to get more blizzaks in the tail end of winter. Bridgestone is busy making our S-03's for this summer!!!

Dan

 

>>>>Do Blizzaks come in 15"? I can't seem to find 'em on the TireRack web site. I'm running performance tires on my Coop, but they've become increasingly scary in some of the slippery stuff we get here in Detroit (slid right through a stop last week). I hear Blizzaks are the best, but if they're unavailable any recommends on a good alternative?????
>>
>>Yes they are made in the ever popular 195/60, and 205/55. Tirerack has however sold out of these for the season. Winter tires are produced in on e big run in the late spring, for the following winter. Thats why we're unable to get more blizzaks in the tail end of winter. Bridgestone is busy making our S-03's for this summer!!!
>>
>>Dan
>>

Thanks a lot for the answer, Dan. Looks like I'm off to Belle Tire or I may just have to white-knuckle it 'til spring.

 

One final question regarding winter tires. Is there any reason I shouldn't have the tire shop (Discount Tire, Belle Tire, etc.) install my new winter tires on the Coop or should I have them put on at the dealership (40 minutes away).



Thoughts???

 

Odds are that the dealer is more expensive. Remember the $65, $75, $125 oil changes?

 

True. But are there any subtleties or nuances involved in re-tiring and re-balancing my precious MINI that will slip past the heartless brutes at your run of the mill tire joint?
Or is it a pretty simple, cut and dry operation?

 

Can anyone recommend an All-Season radial or Snow tire in the 17" size that has decent all-around performance?

 

>>True. But are there any subtleties or nuances involved in re-tiring and re-balancing my precious MINI that will slip past the heartless brutes at your run of the mill tire joint?
>>Or is it a pretty simple, cut and dry operation?
>>

IMHO, any monkey with an airwrench can change tires SO LONG AS they don't over torque the nuts or tighten them unevenly. But heck, that could happen at a MINI dealer as well as at Bob's Tire, Lube, and Burger Just tell them to check the specs when they set the wrench (the tightening specs are in the manual, I believe).

Also, balancing tires isn't complicated...particularly with steel wheels (vs. alloys). These are relatively low-performance tires where you won't be driving at particularly high speeds. So they can use the bubble balance and bang on weights just like the old days. Of course, I think everyone nowadays has the computer balance machine.

 

Just a random question about balancing wheels.

What does MINI use to balance wheels. All of my prior vehicles have used the old lead weights, but my MCS doesn't seem to have any. I think they use glue on weights on motorcycles...is it the same on MINI's?

 

I believe so. You may have to pull a wheel to
see the weights... They may be hidden depending
on wheel type.

 

>>Can anyone recommend an All-Season radial or Snow tire in the 17" size that has decent all-around performance?
I would use Yokohama Avid H 4, for a basic allseason A Bridgestone RE 950 is an exelent more sporty choice, gaining water traction and dry handeling, giving up snow traction to the Yokohama. Both are Non Runflats.

Dan

 

>>>>True. But are there any subtleties or nuances involved in re-tiring and re-balancing my precious MINI that will slip past the heartless brutes at your run of the mill tire joint?
>>>>Or is it a pretty simple, cut and dry operation?
>>>>
>>
>>IMHO, any monkey with an airwrench can change tires SO LONG AS they don't over torque the nuts or tighten them unevenly. But heck, that could happen at a MINI dealer as well as at Bob's Tire, Lube, and Burger Just tell them to check the specs when they set the wrench (the tightening specs are in the manual, I believe).
>>
>>Also, balancing tires isn't complicated...particularly with steel wheels (vs. alloys). These are relatively low-performance tires where you won't be driving at particularly high speeds. So they can use the bubble balance and bang on weights just like the old days. Of course, I think everyone nowadays has the computer balance machine.

I hope that the formensioned monkey only uses his air wrench to remove you lugs. Only enemys will reinstall with a pneumatic tool. You run the risk of cross threading, and have less then precise contoll of touque. Nothing beets a torque wrench and a lil tlc for reinstallation.

I am extremely leery of airtools on alloys, if the gun is shifted and the socket your using grazes the paint inside the lug access, you can begin a flakeing off of the finnish.

All this being said I do personally use a gun for my removals, but its all about being very careful. But I am also the guy whom wont let the dealer, or any service center adjust my tire psressure, or rotate my tires.

Dan

 

>>True. But are there any subtleties or nuances involved in re-tiring and re-balancing my precious MINI that will slip past the heartless brutes at your run of the mill tire joint?
>>Or is it a pretty simple, cut and dry operation?

There is a great machien out there Its called the Hunter GSP 9700 balancer. Its the state of the art computerized balancer. Its allows matching highest force variation to lowest round point on the wheel, yeilding the best possible balace between wheels and tires. While its not necsisarry I find doing it right the 1st time, saves much hassle. This machien is brilliant. It tell s you exactlty where to weight a combination, or how far to rotate whe wheel and tires proportionally for perfect balance. Here 's the Hunter's dealer locator for this machein GSP9700

 

>>>>Can anyone recommend an All-Season radial or Snow tire in the 17" size that has decent all-around performance?
>>I would use Yokohama Avid H 4, for a basic allseason A Bridgestone RE 950 is an exelent more sporty choice, gaining water traction and dry handeling, giving up snow traction to the Yokohama. Both are Non Runflats.
>>
>>Dan

I can attest to the good performance of the Yoko AVIDs. I had them on an AWD Subie - and they were great overall! If I were to go for all-seasons and not get separate performance and snows - then I would try for the AVIDs again!