Winter tyres...best size

[Breckie]

It's already getting cold in the frozen north of Scotland so I'm looking to fit a set of winter tyres. I'm thinking of 205x45x17 (Mini Cooper S) but does anyone have any actual experience of that size versus say a 195x55x16? The former is easier to get but the latter might be better in snow and ice.........BUT.......more difficult to track down.

Note that I'm leaning towards the Continental TS830.

[Caveman]

What size wheels do you have on your MINI?

Are planning on buying a different size wheel for winter use?

[Breckie]

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What size wheels do you have on your MINI?.....17 x 7

Are planning on buying a different size wheel for winter use?.....Nope......BUT..... that really depends if the 195x16 is the better tyre for winter use.

[PDC]

I have 205/45/17 summer tyres on my MINI Cooper (Not S) but have a set of 195/55/16 winter tyres. This latter size were 'standard' on the Cooper so obviously there are no issues running these. I honestly don't think there will be any issues with these slightly taller/narrower tyres on the 'S' unless you are looking to match lap times on a track day!

One advantage of having 16" winter tyres is its very easy to get hold of a cheap set of 16" wheels on e-bay. Everyone seems to want 17" wheels so there are always a few sets of 16" wheels going cheap.

I have Yokohama W-Drive winter tyres which were perfectly OK last year, although we hardly had any snow to speak of.

[Angib]

I've used 175/65x15 and 195/55x16 winters so far but am going to 205/45x17s for this winter. I too am fancying Contis - they just don't make bad tyres.

I think it really depends on what you want the tyre optimised for. My feeling is that we spend so much of the winter on dry, wet or possibly icy roads that it's best to optimise for those conditions when I think the wider tyre will do better. I think the 15 winters were the best in snow but all winter tyres are so (relatively) good in snow that I don't think it matters which one you use. If we had the length of snow of a Nordic or North American winter, it might be different.

But I haven't yet driven on 17 winters, so what do I know?

[Defender]

Any winter/cold weather tyres will be better than summer tyres when the temperature drops below 7degrees C!
I too have used winter tyres in both 175/65R15 and 195/55R16 sizes over the last two winters, but not the same brand of tyres on them, Pirelli's on the 15's and Goodyear's on the 16's, got good grip from both of them when needed.
The wisdom is that narrow and tall is the way to go, but I think for me perhaps the Goodyears had the edge, but only just .

[bmwr606]

the best winter tire will be the tallest you can fit in the wheel well, going narrower will allow even taller

going taller gives more ground clearance

my cms all4 stock tires are 225/45-18, 25.9" OD

my winter tires are dunlop grandtrek sj6 205/70-16, 27.3" OD on mini oem R123 Alloy 5 Hole Circular Spoke Wheel 16" (5x120) Silver

the tires do not rub, even at full lock

others have fit 225/70-16 and 225/75-16 and they both rub at full lock

scott

[Angib]

Quote: Originally Posted by bmwr606 (original)

the best winter tire will be the tallest you can fit in the wheel well, going narrower will allow even taller

That's an American reply about what is 'best' for particular American driving conditions, where there may be several months of the year with snow lying on the ground.

But it's not the 'best' choice for British winter conditions, unless you particularly want the ultimate performance in snow and you don't mind giving up some performance for the other 90% of the winter when there isn't any snow.

[bmwr606]

there is one more reason to go tall, and i mean to go taller by increasing the aspect ratio to have more sidewall, ... potholes

i would rather destroy a tire than a tire and a wheel

scott

[Alan1]

Well I think wide tires are good then the flat and slim files so you should move with them.
but this size which you mention is fine. I think you should try these tires. Good Luck

[The Nun]

Quote: Originally Posted by Angib (original)

That's an American reply about what is 'best' for particular American driving conditions, where there may be several months of the year with snow lying on the ground the winter when there isn't any snow.

This Winter they are predictng its going to be a bad one, 16ft of snow, just think of the last 3 days, if it was January and snow temperature no tyres would work as you wouldnt even be able to open the front door to try to go out.

[beken]

I'm using a 15" wheel and 185 width. Had these tires for 6 winters now and have yet to be stuck in the snow. I did a lot of winter mountain highway driving last winter. 15" barely clears the brakes on my car, so if you have an R56 MINI, you might need to use 16" wheels.

[Wembley66]

I've got 215/40/17 on mine...

[silverblack]

195 55 16 on mine plus slightly cheaper too.

[The Nun]

Future of tyre design, wonder how these would perform in Winter then?

Hankook Tire: The Future of Tyre Design - YouTube