[DocN]

Hello,

I'm finally picking up my new Mini on January 31st, and I can't wait!!!

I need help/suggestions on winter tires. Should I go with 15" or 16" and what's recommended for tires and rims?
I appreciate any help from anyone!

[mark-o]

What wheels have you got on the Soho? Are you considering different summer wheels?
I'd vote for 16" Nokian RSI's 'cause I love mine! They're non-runflats but with a repair kit and compressor, I'm happy.

-Mark

[RS3TURN]

Here is a link to the thread with the list of quotes I compiled when winter tire shopping. 20+ quotes. Found the best deal at CMS for FRD 15" 5 spoke wheels, and Kumho winter tires for around $800.

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

[Ferroequine]

Xtreme may be selling his winter set mounted on 15" OEM Holies as well.

[beken]

Two weeks ago, I got 15" 5 spoke alloys for $80each and Nexen snowtires for $70 each. Plus taxes, balanced, hubcentric hubs and bags for my summer tires, totalled to under $750CDN.

I think it stopped snowing for the rest of the winter here now.

Your question regarding 15 or 16" wheels. If you plan to upgrade your brakes to bigger brakes or JCW brakes, you need to go to 16". If not, the stock MINI brakes will fit in 15" wheels.

16" wheels and tires cost substantially more. I am told there is a greater selection of 15" tires and wheels than there are 16" combos. So if you only have your winters on for a few months a year, then probably 15" are the way to go.

I'm of the opinion that 15" wheel/tire combo is better in the snow than 16" as the bigger sidewall would make the contact patch of the tire more compliant with the varying surface. The trade off is your handling goes a bit soft on hard pavement. But you're probably not going to require razor sharp handling anyways.

I'm not sure how good a snowtire you'll need, but I hear great things about Nokian tires. But any snowtire is better than any all-season tire in snow and ice.

[DocN]

My mini comes with all season run-flat tires 195/55R16, I plan on keeping those for summer, as for winter I think I'll go with the 15".
I need good winter tires because it normally snows quiet a bit in Montreal and we get icy roads. This year winter's been weird like everywhere else.

Thank you so much guys, I appreciate your help! I'm extremely excited, I've been wanting the mini for sooooo long.

I'll post pics of my new baby as soon as I get it!!

[beken]

[quote=DocN;2864219]My mini comes with all season run-flat tires 195/55R16, I plan on keeping those for summer, as for winter I think I'll go with the 15".
I need good winter tires because it normally snows quiet a bit in Montreal and we get icy roads. This year winter's been weird like everywhere else.
QUOTE]


I so agree with you. I've been in Montreal in the winter and it seemed we switched weather for a winter. You do need snow tires in Montreal (normally). We normally get one day of snow per winter here in Vancouver and we met that quota back in November. Having just bought snowtires, it has warmed up here now...probably 10 deg. C today. Time to dismount the snows and put my summer runflats back on

If you're part of a MINI club in Montreal, many tire shops will give discounts. You should check with various club members. I know because a friend of mine here in Vancouver went through a Mazda RX-8 club and had snowtires and wheels shipped over from a tire shop in Montreal.

[DocN]

Awesome, that sounds very interesting!! I'll check out the Mini clubs in the area, I'm sure there are some.

Did you say 10 deg?? I'm so jealous !!!

Thinking about it though, if the weather remains the same, I might not even need them (this winter), and wait till it's on clearance sale and get the best ones for a reasonable price. There's no snow on the highway or the main roaods, it's bitter cold though.

My second dilemma is which alarm system to purchase. Someone recommended Compustart (2-way pager + starter) any recommendations?

[RS3TURN]

Quote: Originally Posted by DocN (original)

My second dilemma is which alarm system to purchase. Someone recommended Compustart (2-way pager + starter) any recommendations?

If you have an immobilizer, why bother with the alarm? I was planning to install a compustar back when I purchased my MINI, but at that time no shops were willing to do the install on a MINI since it was a "new" vehicle that they knew nothing about. I'm glad I never ended up installing one. IMO, no one pays attention to alarms anyways.

[xtremepsionic]

Not to mention MINIs hardly ever get stolen. Not big enough of a market to resell the car or its parts.

[beken]

Quote: Originally Posted by DocN (original)

Thinking about it though, if the weather remains the same, I might not even need them (this winter), and wait till it's on clearance sale and get the best ones for a reasonable price. There's no snow on the highway or the main roaods, it's bitter cold though.

My second dilemma is which alarm system to purchase. Someone recommended Compustart (2-way pager + starter) any recommendations?

If it gets below 7degC (I read this somewhere) you really should have at least all-season tires as the hardness of summer tire rubber make the tire ineffective at gaining safe traction.

As for the alarm, the dealer installed price of the MINI factory alarm ($557-$606) is pretty reasonable for what you get. If you really have to have an alarm, I would recommend it (I'm not a MINI dealer). The fact that it uses the engine ECU as well as the wheel sensors makes it integrated into the car in a very elegant manner. Having said that, like RS3TURN and Extreme said, you probably don't really need one. In Canada, all MINIs come standard with immobilizer. When I had my last windshield replaced the estimator at ICBC (the manditory insurance company here in BC) said they have yet to have a claim for a stolen current generation MINI. (okay, that's out now, I've gone and jinxed it)

[faster,Tobias!]

We had to remove a starter system from a Mini a few weeks ago that had been installed at Soundsaround - amongst other things, the taillights would come on with the car parked and turned off. It seems the audio shops still don't know the Mini (that, and it was probably some 16 year old that did the install)

[RS3TURN]

Quote: Originally Posted by faster,Tobias! (original)

We had to remove a starter system from a Mini a few weeks ago that had been installed at Soundsaround - amongst other things, the taillights would come on with the car parked and turned off. It seems the audio shops still don't know the Mini (that, and it was probably some 16 year old that did the install)

Soundsaround...yikes! When I had my stealth TT, all of my electrical problems started after a stereo install by soundsaround crowfoot. Climate control not working, no signal lights, no interior dome lights, airbag light on, etc. The hacked quite a few wires in the install process.
I would think twice about having an aftermarket alarm installed in the MINI.

[DocN]

My Mini dealership called yesterday to confirm the pick-up appointment, and I asked if I can install an after market alarm/remote starter... and the answer was NOOOO!!!! If I absolutely wanted one then it's about 700$ and that doesn't include a remote starter, which is a bit much for just an alarm in my opinion.

The date is getting much closer! I'm picking it up in 3 days only....I'm sure you all know how I feel...

[bok]

i'd say ride around for a week or two before you think about winter tires. with the DSC it's not so bad...i've never had true snow tires, but growing up driving on ice and snow, i don't know if i would find much of a difference. My allseasons on my Soho are doing fine on what little ice and snow we have had this year. /shrug

[beken]

Quote: Originally Posted by DocN (original)

My Mini dealership called yesterday to confirm the pick-up appointment, and I asked if I can install an after market alarm/remote starter... and the answer was NOOOO!!!! If I absolutely wanted one then it's about 700$ and that doesn't include a remote starter, which is a bit much for just an alarm in my opinion.

The date is getting much closer! I'm picking it up in 3 days only....I'm sure you all know how I feel...

I hear winter has finally arrived in Montreal...you might need those snowtires afterall.
If you really must get an alarm, I still think you should consider the MINI alarm.

[xtremepsionic]

Quote: Originally Posted by bok (original)

i'd say ride around for a week or two before you think about winter tires. with the DSC it's not so bad...i've never had true snow tires, but growing up driving on ice and snow, i don't know if i would find much of a difference. My allseasons on my Soho are doing fine on what little ice and snow we have had this year. /shrug

Yeah with Calgary's weather like this winter and the last one, snow tires really are optional.

[mark-o]

Try telling that to my wife... First snowfall of the season put our van in the shop for two weeks.

Consider what it will cost you if you slide into a curb and trash a wheel... or worse! Makes the snow tires seem cheap! But that's just my $0.02...

-M

[DocN]

I'm definitely getting snow tires, it's a matter of safety (besides that way my run flats would last longer), as for the alarm, I'm going to put that project on hold for now. I'd rather drop 750$ on the tires.

2 more days! Aaaaah

Now that I think about it, I have another car that I can drive in winter, it's in excellent shape (2004 Civic coupe)... But I'm still getting my new baby winter boots. She deserves them

[DocN]

I picked her up today Ohhh what a feeling!!! I'll post pics really soon as promised!!