[Humourl3ss]

Paul's right... the 16" all-season runflats cope fine with this weather, but the 17" Pirelli summer tires are emphatically not meant for these contiditions.

I've been out once in the past 36 hours because of this. It'll be another 24 before I venture out again (I have my stock of DVDs, chocolate and the pending F1 race tomorrow morning).

-CW

[sniece]

I have the Goodyear Eagle NCT5 16" runflats on mine, they are sold as a 'Grand Touring' tire, I haven't actually closely looked at the sidewall to see what they say about them, but I know that they've been pretty good through the winter, with the exception of leaving from stops, the traction control goes crazy. They do still make me a little nervous, so next winter I'll be on something else.

Steve

[MiniMan7]

I think next winter I'm going to have to buy some winter tires as I'll be forced to drive during the winter as I must travel between university and home. My only worry is if the snow gets higher than the space between the Mini and the ground... I don't want to be snow plowing the streets as I drive.

[scollins]

Quote:

Originally posted by GordonD
I have always preferred to have the two sets of rims just because I can change tires my self also mounting and unmounting tires is probably bad for them.

if i was a betting man I'd say only winter rally driving will be done at Shannonville on Monday.

That would put me at a total of 5 full sets of wheels and tires.

My stockpile so far:
4 - 17" MINI S spokes with Pirelli Euforia
4 - 16" MINI 5 spokes with Toyo RA-1
4 - 17" BMW M Contours with Yokohama AVS Sport
4 - 15" BMW 10-spokes with Toyo RA-1
4 - 16" Continental Snows
1 - 15" BF Goodrich R1

That's 21 for those not adding. Yes, 8 are on vehicles, but still. I don't want more wheels! Plus, my wife is pretty tolerant, but that could be the last straw

Shawn

PS: Shannonville was cancelled. I just hope Friday is good. Friday is the best day at Mosport--more track time in 1 day than Saturday and Sunday combined.

[sniece]

Quote:

Originally posted by MiniMan7
I think next winter I'm going to have to buy some winter tires as I'll be forced to drive during the winter as I must travel between university and home. My only worry is if the snow gets higher than the space between the Mini and the ground... I don't want to be snow plowing the streets as I drive.

I was talking with my manager yesterday when I was thinking I wouldn't be able to make it into work...he used to have an old mini...where he would try to dig it out, only to find that the car was now suspended off the ground!

That's the only time I ever got stuck in one of my Subaru's, when I got high-centered. Yesterday I was thinking, why oh why did I trade in my Impreza! But, I know when this new snow/ice/water is gone, I'll remember why I decided to get the mini!

[paulmon]

Quote:

Originally posted by Humourl3ss
Paul's right... the 16" all-season runflats cope fine with this weather, but the 17" Pirelli summer tires are emphatically not meant for these contiditions.

I've been out once in the past 36 hours because of this. It'll be another 24 before I venture out again (I have my stock of DVDs, chocolate and the pending F1 race tomorrow morning).
-CW

Woohoo another F1 fanatic! I see a trip to the US Grand Prix in our future!

Paul

[Humourl3ss]

Paul, is it just me, or have the first two races of 2003 been better than the entire 2002 season combined?

I was left so seriously underwhelmed by 2002. But to see Kimi winning, Renault with podium finishes, and Michael well back in the points chase only leaves me happy.

Prediction for Interlagos: podium finishes for Reubens, Juan Pablo and Kimi.

-CW

[aircanuck]

Snow tires are for girls.

Real men like me were up until 5:30am this morning digging their mini out of their girlfriend's driveway .

[paulmon]

Humourless, couldn't agree more. I also like the fact that all the cars are much closer in performance this year. In Mylasia there was only like 1.x seconds seperating poll and 10th on the grid. Just about every team has made great strides. It also goes to show how much of an advantage the poll position is. Look at Renault they start from poll and get a podium however with last years qualifying they would never have even had that chance.

I must admitt that I am NOT in ANY WAY a M. Schummacher fan and to see him strugle pleases me to no end.

However I'm disapointed to see that driver aids will be kept until the end of the year. I think racers like JV, Frentzen, M Schummacher and the other veterans of the pre-driver-aid era would really show their skill more.

Can't wait until tomorrow's race.

Paul

[paulmon]

Aircanuck, hrm, don't see your argument on this one.
Can I point out that had a "real man" had snow tires that "real man" could have stayed in bed with his girlfriend longer.

Paul

[swamos]

Paulmon, Humorless,

Mark Webber and the Jag are on third for the race. What do you make of that?? (I make go-aussie-go, but you never know in motor racing)

[paulmon]

Light fuel load. The entire Jag team are under-performers and I think they wanted to get some headlines so put in fumes to get him on the poll. If he lands on the podium however I'll eat my hat and send you the picture! Just my 2cents.

Paul

[swamos]

Quote:

Originally posted by paulmon
Light fuel load. The entire Jag team are under-performers and I think they wanted to get some headlines so put in fumes to get him on the poll. If he lands on the podium however I'll eat my hat and send you the picture! Just my 2cents.

Paul

So how do you really feel about it ??

What sort of hat do you have?? Can I choose the hat? Are there any prizes for a points finish??

[paulmon]

Dont' get my wrong, I think Mark Webber has a bright future and he's consistantly out performing his team mate. I just think Jag needed to show the boses at Ford that they're making progress and get the name at the front of the pack so they gave him a light fuel load.

As for hat selection, no I choose. Most likely an old baseball cap.

As for prizes for point scoring, nope. With points now going up to 8th place that's too easy.

Paul

[HarryHBMCC]

You guys who leave your MINIs in the garage because the summers are on them make me sick I wanted to drive my MINI in the snow on Friday but it was stuck in the dealer's repair bay waiting for the parts truck to arrive. As it is I still have a big red Ford Taurus for the weekend You guys bench your MINIs willinging and ironically I want to be out playing in the snow and ice... Way things are going I may have snow tires on until May

I too am loving the new rules in F1 for the most part. I think all the journalists who say the fans don't understand the new rules should be send back down to cover kart racing (not that kart racing isn't fun, mind you). I think we all understand the rules and they are great! The one rain tire rule needs changing though.

Used to be you didn't watch anything but the last 5 minutes of qualifying when the top three or four guys would put their best efforts in. Now, everyone puts their best effort in for their one lap so the entire hour is exciting. Yesterday Button was on the road as TSN was joining the coverage while last year we'd listen to them babble for 30-45 minutes while we watched poor Alex Yoong try to get his Minardi within 107%.

Same thing for the race! Used to be you watch the start to see who's car won't get off the line and the smashup in the first corner because the guys who qualified on fumes now had 30 laps worth of fuel on the front row but behind them guys were two stopping! The journalists and drivers complain that you don't see the fastest car in qualifying but I disagree: now the start of the race is the order of how they qualified, not a completely different fuel load, setup and often even a new engine last year so really the old 'qualifying' was seeing who can build the best car to run 12 laps on light fuel loads. Now, it is the best car for the race. Old races were so predictable, you knew how much fuel they were running so you could watch the start, expected pit stop time and then the finish to see whose car lasted. Now the entire race is interesting.

With a Ford in my driveway right now I'll say, go Webber! Go Fisichella! Go Verstappen! Boo, hiss to JPM and RS

Harry

[Humourl3ss]

I'd agree with Paul's take on Webber too. Jaguar has consistently had aero problems, so a light fuel load explains the high grid position.

And I daresay Webber is a future bright light. It's good to see that this season has turned into something of a "changing of the guard". The under-29 set is starting to make some real progress, at the expense of long-termers like Michael, Ralf, Frentzen, Verstappen and Villeneuve.

Kimi certainly has the natural ability it takes to be a future champion, while Webber and Alonso seem like the sorts who could win the ultimate prize by dint of sheer hard work and a bit of good luck.

-CW

[tip]

My eagle NCT were okay in the snow as long as I stayed on the main drags. Going on residential streets was a different story.

[HarryHBMCC]

Forget the Fords in F1, with a Taurus in my driveway I can now have NASCAR Pride! Yee-haw... Admittedly I did see the 21-car smash-up in the Busch series race yesterday, and say Dale Earnhardt Jr. win on fumes -- oh no, it's contagious...

Harry

[paulmon]

My predictions for JV's future in F1. Ralf is going to be dropped from Williams next year and Williams will pick up JV for next to nothing...

Man, did this thread get off track.

Paul

[GordonD]

Quote:

Originally posted by paulmon
My predictions for JV's future in F1. Ralf is going to be dropped from Williams next year and Williams will pick up JV for next to nothing...

Man, did this thread get off track.

Paul

OK by me - takes the guilt away about the snow etc - whatever happens this afternoon IS NOT MY FAULT> Now all I got to worry abut is Mosport on the weekend.

On the F1 front i don't care about who is on the pole and think that the new qualifying has produced some decent racing for the first time in the last 5 years - down with all driver aids

Giles Villeneuve (the real driver in that family) said it best - slicks/750 bhp/no electronics

Sunday's race was exiting but if the new 1 rain tire rule was to save money then i think they kind of blew the budget on car repairs