[micaela]

Hey guys,

Hopefully someone here has some experience with winter tires for Mini. Mine are about 2 years old, and a little scary on the road in the winter, so I'm looking to buy winter tires and possibly rims. Any suggestions as to where to go for tires that will fit on a 2005 Mini Cooper (tire size: 175/65R15)? I'm hoping not to have to spend ridiculous amounts of money...

Thanks for any help you guys can offer!
Micaela

[MINNOW]

Any good tire shop should be able to bring in the Pirelli SnowControl 190, Yokohama Ice Guard IG10, or Michelin X-Ice in the stock 175/65R15 size.
When I bought my winters however I left it a little late in the season and there was no stock to be had, I was too impatient to have them brought in, so ended up going with the Toyo Observe G02 Plus in 185/60R15 and they have been great.
Were they stocked when I was buying I likely would have picked the Pirellis in the 175 width.
Whichever one you select, you can't beat a winter tire for winter!

[RS3TURN]

Take a look at my post from last winter.
I called around and got ~20 quotes for winter tires in Calgary

http://www.mini2.com/forum/canada/10...t=winter+tires

I ended up going with Kumhos with a set of 15" rims from Contemporary Motorsports. (CMS) Total with tires/rims/mount/balance/all hardware was ~$800.

PM me. I know where you can find a set of 17" S-lites for sale.

[I Am Canadian]

I'm about to drop some cash in Cowtown on a CP. I always procure rims with my winter rubber and am crazily contemplating 17" winter rubber.

[mark-o]

I was considering 17" winter tires myself. That way I could interchange wheels between summer and winter depending on which ones I like better at the time. However, from what I've read here on M2 it sounds like 16's would be better suited to winter driving.

[xtremepsionic]

I just bought some very lightly used 185/65/15 to be mounted on the spare set of holies I got, also used. $200 for tires and $250 for rims.

[Ferroequine]

I've got 17"'s for summer, and 16's for winter. Unless you've got the JCW Brakes (only 17" or up will properly clear the front calipers), I think you're best off with 16's or 15's. Narrower tread means more weight on the foot print on the tire, which makes cutting through snow etc a little easier. The taller profile of the 16's & 15's also is a little softer for those drives across snowy, bumpy residential streets compared to a 17.

[British SD]

For my cooper, I have 16" 84's extra-lites for summer and 15" 7 holes for winter. I would not get 17" for winter. I prefer better tire profile and ride for the ruts in winter and 15" give you the best wheel well clearance for all the icy snow that accumulates. As mentioned, make sure what you get clears the brake calipers

[mark-o]

These are all good points. I'll see what I can come up with in a smaller diameter.

Thanks for the pic MiniVee - Brrr!

-M

[MINNOW]

Quote: Originally Posted by British SD (original)

For my cooper, I have 16" 84's extra-lites for summer and 15" 7 holes for winter.

Hey... that's my wheel set-up!
And here I thought mine was the only Alberta Cooper with R84 X-lites... so much for exclusivity.

[RS3TURN]

My winter set up are 15" FRD 6 wheels with KUMHO KW-17 195/60/15

For Summer I have 3 sets of 17" wheels to choose from. S-lite's, Tenzo-R's and Allesios.

Here's a pic of the winters.

[British SD]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINNOW (original)

Hey... that's my wheel set-up!
And here I thought mine was the only Alberta Cooper with R84 X-lites... so much for exclusivity.

Correction, it used to be your set up! Who's car do you think I nicked them from?

[I Am Canadian]

Quote: Originally Posted by MiniVee (original)

I've got 17"'s for summer, and 16's for winter. Unless you've got the JCW Brakes (only 17" or up will properly clear the front calipers), I think you're best off with 16's or 15's. ]

Actually, two 16 inch rims (R87s and R94s) will fit over the JCW break calipers. But, you're right that anything narrower and taller will prove to be a better snow carver.