MINI2

cpark · Nov 10th, 2006, 04:09 PM

Hello all-
I am trying to track down a set of snow chains/cables for my new mcs with the 17 inch s-lites and the 205/45 R17 performance runflats. Here in California the highway patrol is crazy for snow chains and makes us put them any time a snowflake falls. I don't want to get caught without them on a trip to Lake Tahoe this weekend and have had some trouble tracking any down that fit. Anyone have any luck? I suppose I could take my jeep but i had really hoped to enjoy my drive rather than just make the drive.

Alexios · Nov 10th, 2006, 04:24 PM

Autosock ...brings you home!

They work wonders, a breeze to put on, and not a lot of noise.

Cheers

PS: we know a little about snow here in norway....

cpark · Nov 10th, 2006, 05:40 PM

Thanks for the tip, found a place to rent cables for this weekend and I'm going to try and buy these for the long term. The BMW parts department here in Sacramento tried to sell me something like these Flex-Trax GoClaws - Campbell Snow Cables Alternative but I think i will defer to the esteemed colleague from Norway on what might work better.

taffyc · Dec 30th, 2007, 02:16 AM

Hi,
I'd like to pick this thread up again. I checked both the products listed above and found the following problems:

Flex-Trax GoClaws : On the website they say that 7/8 inch clearance is required for the version 2 product (the only version for this tire size). My mini has less than 10 mm clearance between the tire and the strut feels like about 6mm). Also, they say that this product (version 2) is not suitable for front-wheel drive.

Autosock : This looks great - the gotcha is on the FAQ page where they state that the product may not be recognized as sufficient in a compulsory chain-up area. That makes it useless for me in CA because there are many potential compulsory chain-up areas during the winter.

is there any more recent info on suitable tire-chain-devices for the 16 and 17" MC wheels? I have the 16" (195/55/16) but as I said earlier the inside clearance is almost nothing. Seems like BMW still says that only the 15s can be used with chains.

Any help appreciated!

robc · Dec 31st, 2007, 01:54 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by taffyc (original)

Hi,

is there any more recent info on suitable tire-chain-devices for the 16 and 17" MC wheels? I have the 16" (195/55/16) but as I said earlier the inside clearance is almost nothing. Seems like BMW still says that only the 15s can be used with chains.

Any help appreciated!

Check out my little write up on winter tires and cable chains on 16" tires on my S (chains are mandatory here in Washington as well). The cables I link to are a legal substitution for chains in Washington. I noticed the other night that there was some minor scraping on the strut, but the cables were in great shape after use and were extremely functional. The strut rubbing was cosmetic only, as far as i can tell. I plan on pulling the tire next week and taking a look, but i'm not at all worried.

MINI COOPER :: North American Motoring - Recent winter tire/chains experience - '05 Cooper S

taffyc · Jan 3rd, 2008, 12:41 AM

Rob,
Thanks - thats great news - let me know how everything looks when you take the wheels off, It looks to me that I have slightly less than 10mm clearance between the tire and the strut - so the 6.3mm referred to on the product website looks good. Nice price too! I was getting a little concerned that I might have to spend $400-500 for a set of rud chains and its just not worth it for the occasional trips I take.

Thanks again.

Daniel.

triptothetip · Jul 2nd, 2008, 11:28 PM

I have just purchased a 08 Cooper S Clubman with 205/45/17 webspoke alloys. Anyone had any luck finding cables/chains/anything at all that is suitable. Saw a product called Spike Spiders but I am still not sure if they suit a MCS. Please Help.

cristo · Jul 3rd, 2008, 12:05 PM

here's the website - they say their products fit MINI-Coopers.
Spikes-Spider: Easier, Better than Tire Chains
Spikes Spiders For 205/45/17 Tires: Spikes-Spider
Application Guide: Spikes-Spider

Nov 10th, 2006, 04:09 PM	#1
cpark MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2006 Local Time: 07:23 AM Posts: 30 Offline	Snow Chains for my S-Lites Hello all- I am trying to track down a set of snow chains/cables for my new mcs with the 17 inch s-lites and the 205/45 R17 performance runflats. Here in California the highway patrol is crazy for snow chains and makes us put them any time a snowflake falls. I don't want to get caught without them on a trip to Lake Tahoe this weekend and have had some trouble tracking any down that fit. Anyone have any luck? I suppose I could take my jeep but i had really hoped to enjoy my drive rather than just make the drive.

Dec 31st, 2007, 01:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
robc MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Mar 2004 Local Time: 07:23 AM Posts: 25 Offline	cable chains Quote: Originally Posted by taffyc (original) Hi, is there any more recent info on suitable tire-chain-devices for the 16 and 17" MC wheels? I have the 16" (195/55/16) but as I said earlier the inside clearance is almost nothing. Seems like BMW still says that only the 15s can be used with chains. Any help appreciated! Check out my little write up on winter tires and cable chains on 16" tires on my S (chains are mandatory here in Washington as well). The cables I link to are a legal substitution for chains in Washington. I noticed the other night that there was some minor scraping on the strut, but the cables were in great shape after use and were extremely functional. The strut rubbing was cosmetic only, as far as i can tell. I plan on pulling the tire next week and taking a look, but i'm not at all worried. MINI COOPER :: North American Motoring - Recent winter tire/chains experience - '05 Cooper S

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Nov 10th, 2006, 04:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
Alexios MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Nov 2006 Local Time: 04:23 PM Posts: 42 Offline	Autosock ...brings you home! They work wonders, a breeze to put on, and not a lot of noise. Cheers PS: we know a little about snow here in norway....

Nov 10th, 2006, 05:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
cpark MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2006 Local Time: 07:23 AM Posts: 30 Offline	Thanks for the tip, found a place to rent cables for this weekend and I'm going to try and buy these for the long term. The BMW parts department here in Sacramento tried to sell me something like these Flex-Trax GoClaws - Campbell Snow Cables Alternative but I think i will defer to the esteemed colleague from Norway on what might work better.

Dec 30th, 2007, 02:16 AM	#4 (permalink)
taffyc MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Dec 2007 Local Time: 06:23 AM Posts: 2 Offline	Hi, I'd like to pick this thread up again. I checked both the products listed above and found the following problems: Flex-Trax GoClaws : On the website they say that 7/8 inch clearance is required for the version 2 product (the only version for this tire size). My mini has less than 10 mm clearance between the tire and the strut feels like about 6mm). Also, they say that this product (version 2) is not suitable for front-wheel drive. Autosock : This looks great - the gotcha is on the FAQ page where they state that the product may not be recognized as sufficient in a compulsory chain-up area. That makes it useless for me in CA because there are many potential compulsory chain-up areas during the winter. is there any more recent info on suitable tire-chain-devices for the 16 and 17" MC wheels? I have the 16" (195/55/16) but as I said earlier the inside clearance is almost nothing. Seems like BMW still says that only the 15s can be used with chains. Any help appreciated!

Jan 3rd, 2008, 12:41 AM	#6 (permalink)
taffyc MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Dec 2007 Local Time: 06:23 AM Posts: 2 Offline	Rob, Thanks - thats great news - let me know how everything looks when you take the wheels off, It looks to me that I have slightly less than 10mm clearance between the tire and the strut - so the 6.3mm referred to on the product website looks good. Nice price too! I was getting a little concerned that I might have to spend $400-500 for a set of rud chains and its just not worth it for the occasional trips I take. Thanks again. Daniel.

Jul 2nd, 2008, 11:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
triptothetip MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Jul 2008 Local Time: 12:23 AM Posts: 2 Offline	I have just purchased a 08 Cooper S Clubman with 205/45/17 webspoke alloys. Anyone had any luck finding cables/chains/anything at all that is suitable. Saw a product called Spike Spiders but I am still not sure if they suit a MCS. Please Help.

Jul 3rd, 2008, 12:05 PM	#8 (permalink)
cristo BLIKSEM (my brg/brg mc) Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: york, pennsylvania Local Time: 10:23 AM Posts: 2,198 Offline	here's the website - they say their products fit MINI-Coopers. Spikes-Spider: Easier, Better than Tire Chains Spikes Spiders For 205/45/17 Tires: Spikes-Spider Application Guide: Spikes-Spider

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