MINIs in the Snow?

[MarkW19]

Now that there's just been a heavy snow warning for most of the UK over the next day or two, it's started me thinking how well my Cooper will fair in the snow, with no ASC/DSC. The tyres I've got are 17" Toyo T1S Proxes.

I had a bit of a slide on some ice after returning from the Return of the King showing on the 17th at 1:30am, but luckily didn't hit anything. So what about snow?

:/

Mark

[Shaun]

I hope it does snow that car park at work is in for some slide time if it does.

[Goonery]

Just take it steady, I think it will be fun, I hope it will be fun, Good luck everyone , this is probably the first time
that many UK owners will get to see if the Monte Carlo handling is really there.
I'm on holiday tomorrow, but I;m going to work if theres snow just for the hell of it

[ELECMININERD]

i've got some agressive low profile tires on my MINI S; don't do too well in the snow. What do you guys recommend I get?

-Jan
Fairfax, VA

[Goonery]

Quote: Originally Posted by ELECMININERD

i've got some agressive low profile tires on my MINI S; don't do too well in the snow. What do you guys recommend I get?

-Jan
Fairfax, VA

In the USA everyone seems to use Blizzaks, we can't get them here, our winters are not hard enough

[nonsequitur]

Isn't there some kind of mail order chicannery for USA>UK buys like there are for UK>USA deals? I've even wondered if Tire Rack or Discount would send them (they probably can't), but surely eBay could be a source of very good snow tires?

[Theo]

Quote: Originally Posted by ELECMININERD

i've got some agressive low profile tires on my MINI S; don't do too well in the snow. What do you guys recommend I get?

-Jan
Fairfax, VA

I've had excellent results with Dunlop Winter Sport M2 tires on my 328i. They also make a run flat Winter Sport M3 for the MCS. I must say, however, that the all-season Dunlop 5000 tires worked out quite well during the last two snow storms in Western Massachusetts (12" and 10").

The real problem with the MINI in snow is the chassis clearance to the road. It seemed as though more than about 3 or 4 inches of snow caused audible contact with the undercarriage. If the snow is soft and is within this depth, it is not an issue. However, I would anticipate some careful concern as the snow get deeper or becomes more frozen.

Watch or for chunks of ice in the middle of the road!!! You know, the snow/ice buildup that has fallen from the wheel wells of cars/trucks ahead of you.

[MarkW19]

Thanks for the help, althought it hasn't snowed yet as forcast! There's time yet though...perhaps a White Christmas?!?

[Shaun]

It was snowing, not heavy but snowing over this side of the pennines last night.
Shaun
Oldham

[GordonD]

Experience in Canada says Summer run flats are outright dangerous.

Any decent snow tire I use Prelli w240s (never all seasons) will work although as noted earlier it's not a snow plow so deep stuff is problematic.

[Tracker]

Clearance has been the problem here. While it handles well on icy roads, when there's hard snowpack in the middle of the road (with two wheel ruts on either side) I hear some scraping and cringe. We've had 36+ inches of snow this December (most melted by now, TG) and Paddy has done just fine.