Northern Vermont was hit pretty hard yesterday. We got about seven inches of snow, the first four inches very wet and heavy while the stuff last night was fluffy from the cold. I drove the Mini up to Morrisville to visit my wife in the hospital and noticed along the way how sure footed it was with those Nokian RSi snows at all four corners. So after the visit I swung through a few parking lots trying to find the break point. Nothing doing! The combination of the wide stance and those awesome tires never lost grip. I did manage to get the anti-lock brakes to kick in once by slamming on the brakes at 30mph (boy are they LOUD!), but that was it.

So much for Click and Clack!

 

nice! snow tires vs all seasons in the snow are night/day difference. :smile:

 

Yup, as different as summer and winter!

Must admit that I don't miss my old Colorado snow tires one but down here in the deep south.....

 

How do those tires feel at speed on a highway...say at 80mph?

 

meb- we don't know. We never drive in illegal speeds.

 

Well, they aren't rated for speed, but in short bursts for passing they felt fine. Winter isn't exactly a time for driving fast around here. Every year several Immortals driving SUVs discover that as they emerge from their overturned vehicles.

Pete

 

As long as you're only going straight, life's okay. I had to make a trip to Keeler today to get my doors thawed out, and have all the moving parts around the lock and latch re-lubed - I got to use the Dukes of Hazard method for getting into and out of my car this morning. Anyway, on the way home I had an 18-wheeler not notice I was beside him as he changed lanes. I decided forwards would be faster and safer than backwards - wound up on the shoulder, third gear, wide open. by the time I got in front of the truck, the speedo was reading 90mph. No problems from the tires. But, perhaps the brakes would have been a better idea than the throttle.

And this is on a Nokian Hakka 2's which are a more aggressive snow tire than the RSi's , I think.

 

I've got brandy new Blizzak REVO 1s mounted on 15" wheels. You know the ride actually does seem smoother. 80 - 85 mph is very doable and stable.
In the rain they are superb. Looking forward to a little snow to try them out.

Oh yeah, cornering, especially after being used to 17" runflats, is a very different animal. More swimmy feeling. 'Twas a little scary 'til I got used to it.

Happy Thanksgiving all!

 

Reminds me of when i got my first set of Blizzaks on my Audi A4 - I remember describing the feeling of driving with them as "like driving on a layer of jello"

 

I put the winter tires on my wifes A4 last Sunday. Monday she told me the car felt very squirmy. Yep its got WS50 Blizzak's on it. Yesterday she had to drive home in the ice & snow. She's not complaining about them anymore. I've got Hakka Q's on my Forester & they don't squirm at all.

Chuck

 

My Pirelli snow controls are awesome. Lots of grip in deep snow, good control on ice. And fine on dry cold pavement.

Got a little sideways on some ice coming onto an off ramp the other day, at 50mph, and it was interesting how smooth the car, tires, and I recovered.

No ice anywhere except for that patch, and as soon as the hatch decided to lead the way, I had the car under control, and the snows held it from letting the hatch take the lead.

Thats only one of many incidents I have been in, that make me a firm believer that if you live where it snows, get snow tires.

 

This is exactly the condition I'm trying to avoid; too many wandering miles on the Q rated stuff. WR rated snow tires probably compromise snow traction more, but at least retain stability at elevated speeds.

 

I believe the reason Blizzak's squirm so darned much is their compounding, not their speed rating. Blizzak's use what they call a multicell tread compoung. While it does work great on ice & snow it's a real compromise when it comes to dry road handling. It's been my experience that the Hakka's aren't like that on dry roads. I have Hakka Q's on my Forester & Hakka 2's on my sons. Both are great tires with none of the jello like handling of the Blizzak's. One other drawback to the Blizzak's....the sweet multicell rubber that makes them good on ice is gone when they're worn halfway through the tread depth. Hakka makes a tire called the WR that may be just what you're looking for.

Chuck

 

Having just driven my new MCS for the first time in snow and ice, I have to say I am VERY impressed. Sure, the last two cars I've owned have been big power RWD beasts, but I was STUNNED with how well the MINI, with a combination of DSC and some new Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25s, managed the sloppy stuff. The only thing I can see slowing this little car down will be depth. Anything more than 6 inches of snow and I think I'll stick with the wife's SUV, but less than that and this thing just chews it up.

And heated seats are nice, too!

Hartz

 

The Q speed rating is based upon the tire's compound, basically. From what I've been told, this rubber would all but self destruct at higher sustained speeds. Q rated sidewalls are also very soft - or at least the specimens I've used; I can easily squish the tread and bead together.

I've never used Hakkas. before...perhaps it's time to trade up...

 

Thats exactly how i was trying to tell me co-workers how the car felt with the snows on.. J E L L O ..I went into manhattan yesterday and just put my other rims and snows on Weds nite and i was skating back n forth on the highway....i thought someone was gonna see this and call the cops saying i was **** drunk and all over the road.