[I Am Canadian]

Based on my previous Cowtown experiences (3.5 years there), you will get your snow (slush) and people will call "winter". Then after the snow tires are on, you'll get three weeks of cool, sunny weather. And then the chinooks start rolling in just before Santa arrives and people go to the driving range on Boxing Day. At least that was the cycle when I was there.

Every year I go through the winter tire debate. The only consistent thing is that every year I am wrong. Strap on the snows and live with it. Those with jacks and the energy are better off. I have the jack and lack the energy.

[British SD]

Quote: Originally Posted by I Am Canadian (original)

Based on my previous Cowtown experiences (3.5 years there), you will get your snow (slush) and people will call "winter". Then after the snow tires are on, you'll get three weeks of cool, sunny weather. And then the chinooks start rolling in just before Santa arrives and people go to the driving range on Boxing Day. At least that was the cycle when I was there.

Every year I go through the winter tire debate. The only consistent thing is that every year I am wrong. Strap on the snows and live with it. Those with jacks and the energy are better off. I have the jack and lack the energy.

Or like a women's seasonal wardrobe, buy one MINI to drive in summer and a second MINI spec for winter.

Seriously, my solution was to get a second used set of OEM rims off ebay. I found shipping from U.S. is usually about $120US for set of rims and $160-180US for tires and rims. Then you add about $30-40 customs brokerage plus GST. Plus, I can probably sell them later to Faster T. since he seems to kurb up a set or two a year.

[caah]

Got further info from dealer regarding the winter tires, how you guys think the price?

15'' with MINI Steel rims & hub caps & Pirelli winter 190 snow control winter tires @ 220$ per wheel.
16'' with MINI Steel rallye rims & Dunlop Winter Sport Runflat tires @ 355.50$ per wheel
16'' with MINI styleR87 Double spoke Alloy Wheels & Dunlop Winter Sport Runflat tires @ 500.50$ per wheel

I am considering the 15" option, is it a good price? Any opinion would be greatly appreciated, thanks

[I Am Canadian]

Quote: Originally Posted by caah (original)

Got further info from dealer regarding the winter tires, how you guys think the price?

15'' with MINI Steel rims & hub caps & Pirelli winter 190 snow control winter tires @ 220$ per wheel.
16'' with MINI Steel rallye rims & Dunlop Winter Sport Runflat tires @ 355.50$ per wheel
16'' with MINI styleR87 Double spoke Alloy Wheels & Dunlop Winter Sport Runflat tires @ 500.50$ per wheel

I am considering the 15" option, is it a good price? Any opinion would be greatly appreciated, thanks

I would think that a thousand bucks would get you more than15" steels and winter rubber. Tire Rack can get you 16" rubber for your stock bridge spoke wheels for less the $100 US per corner. Add in the brokerage, duty and tax and you will save close to half what your dealer is asking. The only downside is you would have to swap rubber seasonally, which can be bad for the tire over time. I'll post on my experiences once my Tire Rack purchase is finalized.

[Ferroequine]

Quote: Originally Posted by I Am Canadian (original)

The only downside is you would have to swap rubber seasonally, which can be bad for the tire over time.

And as Faster already pointed out, even worse for runflat tires (which is what comes on the SOHO). I strongly suggest a separate wheels/tires combo, since it is so much easier to manage.

The biggest question is whether or not you want to be 'stylin' during the winter.

or

I'm quite happy with the set of winters that I've got. Personally, I hate the look of winter rims so I'm glad I got some OEM R83 5 star alloys.

[caah]

To MiniVee, is the picture on the right side 15" steel rim? That's really "unstyle"

[caah]

Quote: Originally Posted by I Am Canadian (original)

I would think that a thousand bucks would get you more than15" steels and winter rubber. Tire Rack can get you 16" rubber for your stock bridge spoke wheels for less the $100 US per corner. Add in the brokerage, duty and tax and you will save close to half what your dealer is asking. The only downside is you would have to swap rubber seasonally, which can be bad for the tire over time. I'll post on my experiences once my Tire Rack purchase is finalized.

Thanks for your advice and looking forward to your experience about Tire Tack purchase.

[Ferroequine]

Quote: Originally Posted by caah (original)

To MiniVee, is the picture on the right side 15" steel rim? That's really "unstyle"

Actually, that is the hubcap that goes on top of it. Not very sexy, I agree. A bit like something you would find on a Toyota.

[mark-o]

For $350CAD per corner you should have no problems getting into a stylish aluminum wheel and a good quality winter tire - even without going the mailorder route. Just look around and see what specials you can get in your area.

Now I just need to find a good tire sealant and small compressor that I can stow in the boot 'cause I didn't get winter runflats.

-M

[Humourl3ss]

Quote: Originally Posted by caah (original)

Got further info from dealer regarding the winter tires, how you guys think the price?

15'' with MINI Steel rims & hub caps & Pirelli winter 190 snow control winter tires @ 220$ per wheel.
16'' with MINI Steel rallye rims & Dunlop Winter Sport Runflat tires @ 355.50$ per wheel
16'' with MINI styleR87 Double spoke Alloy Wheels & Dunlop Winter Sport Runflat tires @ 500.50$ per wheel

I am considering the 15" option, is it a good price? Any opinion would be greatly appreciated, thanks

I would never go to a dealer for winter tires and rims, unless an OEM look is the most important consideration to you. They have much higher prices than the aftermarket.

I didn't even shop around much when I bought my winters (i.e. I went to one location only!), but I ended up with fairly lightweight (16.5 lb) alloy rims with 195/60-15 Michelin rubber for under $300 per corner. The price would've been well under $200 if I'd opted for steel rims, and cheaper still if I'd gone with a non-premium tire brand.

[xtremepsionic]

Save your money, go to TireTrends they're based in Vancouver, so you don't pay brokerage fees on top of shipping (you'll have to pay a lot of brokerage fees if you buy from the states and ship with UPS or Fedex ground)

[I Am Canadian]

Quote: Originally Posted by xtremepsionic (original)

Save your money, go to TireTrends they're based in Vancouver, so you don't pay brokerage fees on top of shipping (you'll have to pay a lot of brokerage fees if you buy from the states and ship with UPS or Fedex ground)

Tire Trends prices are crazy high for the rubber I have been shopping. Brokerage and shipping will still mean a better deal.

[British SD]

Quote: Originally Posted by I Am Canadian (original)

Tire Trends prices are crazy high for the rubber I have been shopping. Brokerage and shipping will still mean a better deal.

Your right. A set of 195/60/R15 Pirelli Winter carving are $523 Cdn at tiretrends and $325US ($365 cdn for tires&shipping) plus about $70 cdn brokerage & GST at Tirerack.

Buying new Rims in Canada from the dealer are a total rip too. New MINI OEM rims are significantly cheaper in the U.S. from U.S. MINI Dealers as are most parts actually!

15" R81's $262.50 cdn each + GST in Canada. In Portland OR, $146US no state sales tax.

17" R90's $570.00 cdn each + GST in Canada. In Portland OR, $190US no state sales tax

I think our next Calgary MINI Run should be to Portland, OR. We could all save a fortune but would obviously have to tear up the tires on the twisties and get the knobbies off the tires before hitting canada customs !

[mark-o]

That would definitely have to be a multi-day run, it's a bit tight getting tires fitted and back in a Sunday afternoon!

-M

[British SD]

Quote: Originally Posted by mark-o (original)

That would definitely have to be a multi-day run, it's a bit tight getting tires fitted and back in a Sunday afternoon!

-M

Good Point. Now that I think about it,

If MINI VEE organizes it, we have to factor in a couple of road closures from the 1985 road map he uses.
If Xtreme organizes it we have to factor in the 8 hour drive with 15 photo stops just to get to the Alberta/Montana border.
If Faster T. organizes it, we have to factor in the Speeding Warrants he left back in England that will come up on the homeland security puter when we try to cross the border!
If MRC2K6 organizes it, we will have to drive 100 km through calgary answering 30 questions before we can even hit the highway.

[mark-o]

PMSL

...and one more...

If Mr. Abulia organized it, we'd have to drive by every WiFi hotspot in southern Alberta so he could check for new posts on mini2.

[Ferroequine]

Quote: Originally Posted by British SD (original)

17" R90's $570.00 cdn each + GST in Canada. In Portland OR, $190US no state sales tax

!!

There's "slight price difference", and then there's "pure rip-off"! Are Canadians really that gullible, that MINI Canada figures that they can get away with that?

[mr.abulia]

Quote: Originally Posted by mark-o (original)

PMSL

...and one more...

If Mr. Abulia organized it, we'd have to drive by every WiFi hotspot in southern Alberta so he could check for new posts on mini2.

Don't be silly Mark-o! Rogers Wireless has come out with a car-mountable wi-fi access point!

[xtremepsionic]

Quote: Originally Posted by MiniVee (original)

!!

There's "slight price difference", and then there's "pure rip-off"! Are Canadians really that gullible, that MINI Canada figures that they can get away with that?

Oh we are gullible..

2006 MCS base $20900 USD
2006 MSC Rallye pack $34100 CDN

[British SD]

Quote: Originally Posted by MiniVee (original)

!!

There's "slight price difference", and then there's "pure rip-off"! Are Canadians really that gullible, that MINI Canada figures that they can get away with that?

I'm not gullible. I just know they are crooks. Sign in to any US dealers website accessory page confirms that.