Winter Tires?

docjll · Member

Winter Tires?

TOWNEMINI · Towne MINI - Official

Jim,

Since the tires are like new going into winter they should be ok for the average winter in the Rochester/victor area. But being a cooper S those tires are on the performance side of all season tires and come next year I would suggest snows tires for sure. Unfortunately the new S will not work with 15" snow tires, and our 16" comes with runflat snow tires which brings the price up around $1,750.00 Maybe some other people can chime in on cheaper package. Also take a look at your valve stems, if you took delivery later than august youre going to have aluminum valve stems, if you do not get the sensors and wheels your flat tire monitor lamp will remain on until spring. If you have the rubber valve stems then just reset the monitor with the new wheels.

Mark.

-- Edited by TOWNEMINI at 07:39, 2007-11-20

Venno · Motorer

Yeah I had snows all winter last winter in Syracuse, Then in april i eagirly threw them off and put on my stock runflat S performance Tires....i kinda forgot about the fact that it still snows in april...and sure enough it did....yeah being stuck at the bottom between two hills that were not a problem with snow tires....not fun........but on the other hand driving the MINI with snows on in white out conditions at 6 AM on country back roads before the plows have come...FUN

Cogman · Member

A Mini with snow tires is near unstoppable, and handles like a dream in the loose stuff. I got mine from the Tire Rack. Incredibly quick service! They were there and mounted on steel wheels the next day! You will never regret the money spent on a good pair of Blizzaks or Dunlops. I am now entering my fourth winter with this same set, and they still work great! Simply call the number on the Tire Rack website, and you will connect with very knowledgeable folks who can steer you to the right selection for your driving style. Bill

Venno · Motorer

Yeah if you need to mount them, go to walmart, they only charged 34 bucks (or so) for moutninga ll 4 tires while other places wanted to charge that just for ONE tire....true i'm usually against walmart, but i highly doubt that it costs 34 bucks to mount a tire...

yellowmininy · Obsessed (Taking the long-cut)

I bought a 2nd set of Mini rims in 2004 from another Mini owner who put larger wheels on their car. When my original tires were worn, I got a set of snow tires from Tire Rack & had them shipped to a local foreign car specialist (Craig Autometrics in Rochester), and they mounted them on the wheels and swap them out for me winter & summer.

The all-season Continentals were pretty good that first season, but snow tires are even better.

docjll · Member

This is great info. Thanks everyone. Cogman, do you recall how much the Blizzaks cost? Also, I'm now a little confused about the role of the flat tire sensor. If you get aftermarket tires (such as the Blizzaks) do you have to get new valve stems so the dashboard light stays off? Will that do the trick?

TOWNEMINI · Towne MINI - Official

As for the TPM's it all depends on production date, for 2007 hard tops if you took delivery before august chances are you will not require new sensors, take a look, if you have standard rubber valve stems then just reset the monitor when the new tires are mounted via the head lamp stalk. If you have taken delivery after august you more than likely have aluminum valve stems which require new sensors if your not going to use the stock wheels, when purchasing new wheels make sure that the area the valve stem is installed that is it flat on the inside of the wheel for the TPM will mount correctly. I will see if i can find pictures of the inside of the wheels that are flat and post later.

Mark

Number 7 in the attached photo needs a flat spot to mount to on the inside of the wheel direclty in line with the valve stem, sorry could not find a picture showing the flat spot in the wheel.

-- Edited by TOWNEMINI at 09:09, 2007-11-09

Cogman · Member

Jim,
Go to www.tirerack.com and check, or you can call them by phone with the number listed on the site. I checked and Tire Rack can supply snow tires for your car no matter if you have rubber or metal valve stems. It is one of the first questions they ask when you are selecting the vehicle to be fitted on the website. I noted that there were several selections for your car, with quite a price variance from one to the next. I think there were no less than four or five choices, one of which should fit your budget. I chose to buy wheels with my tires and have the Rack mount them in a package deal, which was $500 for four, but remember that was a few years ago. The wheels they supply aren't pretty or cosmetic at all, but simply functional steel wheels in black only. I chose to then buy a cheap set of plastic hubcaps to cover them up. I can't overemphasize how intelligent and knowledgeable their staff is. The guy I dealt with leapt ahead with answers for questions he was anticipating I would ask! Bill aka "Cogman" biggrin

P.S. Make sure to ask if there are any "specials" going for your vehicle, as this is the case quite often!

Cogman · Member

Jim,
Sorry, I forgot to mention that there are "CLOSEOUTS" going on right now for 15" and 16" Cooper "S" models! The 15" Blizzaks are going for $58 apiece! That's quite a good price! Bill smile

SPDinNY · Motorer

there are deals to be had on craigslist. The bolt pattern on a mini is 4X100. I have a set of snows for both of our minis and Bruto has his snow shoes on already. I am not sure where your located but here is one from our Rochester craigslist. He wants 425 for them and the lug pattern is universal. If I find more I will pos them up.

http://rochester.craigslist.org/pts/448670886.html

-- Edited by SPDinNY at 09:48, 2007-11-10

docjll · Member

Bill, Mark and Everyone: Thanks a bunch. This is really good information. I was going to wait to next winter, but it looks like I've got some great options here. I really don't mind black rims btw, since my MSC is red with black roof and stripes, I don't think they would look that bad, actually. Sounds like if I talk to the tire rack people and let them know that I have an '07 with metel valve stems, they would be able to get me the right tire, that would work with the sensors. Or, if I have it right, the sensor issue is really related to the "wheels" that are used and not the tire - right? In any case, thanks again - this is a really great site/resource with a lot of really friendly and helpful folks! Thanks again.

Jim

TOWNEMINI · Towne MINI - Official

Anytime, thats what we are all here for. Remember no smaller than 16" and buy a new set of TPM's for the inside of the wheels. Have a great winter and holiday.
Mark

ofergus · Member

I just bought a set of Blizzak Revo 1 ($58/tire) mounted & balanced on steel wheels ($44/wheel) from Tire Rack, shipped to my house in 2 days and then had Wilcox Tires in Ithaca mount all 4 snows & bag each of the summer wheels all for $20. What a deal! And the ride is smoother and noise is far less than the Goodyear runflats.

docjll · Member

Thanks so much. I'm in Boston right now but was planning on taking care of this when I return. BTW, this was the first "trip" with the new vehicle. Not a bad ride at all!!

About the tires, what do you now do about needing a spare????? I don't have one and feel a little insecure about running around without one (but the luggage space doesn't really allow for a real spare, now does it?

Jim

yellowmininy · Obsessed (Taking the long-cut)

I can fit my 15" spare in the boot (with the boot cover off) but not a lot fits in there with it!

I think most people with non-runflats carry an air compressor and a can of something like fix-a-flat.

Pamlico · Motorer

One tip if you perform the steel wheel switch yourself is to put a thin coat of anti-seize on the rear of the steel wheels before mounting them to the car (and also the the stock wheels when remounted in the Spring). This will reduce the tendency of the wheels to 'freeze' to the car and become quite difficult to remove.

- dl

Venno · Motorer

To deal with the lack of spare tire i have the following things:
1 A set of flares
2 A Tire Awl plug thing (it looks like this....If you get a hole, you pull out the nail, and plug it up with a piece of what could be described as Tar Covered Yarn. It works Great and its Really easy and quick to use)
3. A Tire Inflation pump that plugs into the cigarett lighter and some Green Tire Slime to seal it up.
4. A flashlight and some Pliers

PepperWhiteR56 · Member

First time Mini owners (2007 MCS) looking for snow tires for the first time. After reading some of the posts here, I looked up Tire Rack and found some 16" wheels: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compare1.jsp?cameFrom=WinterSection&startIndex=0&vehicleSearch=true&width=195/&ratio=55&diameter=16&sortcode=44605&performance=W&minLoad=S&search=true

Would any one like to recommend any of the tires listed here?

And I have no idea how snow tires drive when there is no snow - so should I wait till we start getting regular snow here in WNY or should I get them right away?

Thanks

-- Edited by PepperWhiteR56 at 21:30, 2007-11-27

-- Edited by PepperWhiteR56 at 21:31, 2007-11-27

-- Edited by PepperWhiteR56 at 21:31, 2007-11-27

TOWNEMINI · Towne MINI - Official

We have found very good results plus MINI does recommend all the listed tires except the Michelins, they may be a great tire, but have not personally seen the benefits. Im not sure about the Rochester area, but just south of buffalo my house is to expect 12"+ by Friday and possibly more Sunday, I dont agree with people putting snow tires on at the end of October but I would not wait much longer then the following few days. Like Bill said MINI's are near unstoppable in the snow with a good set of snow tires, but like Veno said if you dont have them try not to find your self at the bottom of a valley.

yellowmininy · Obsessed (Taking the long-cut)

I'll be putting mine on in the next week or so. Snow tires are a bit noisier on dry roads, but I hate surprises. Like 12" of snow.

SPDinNY · Motorer

www.discounttiredirect.com is having a sale right now. $50 off any 4 tires shipped and $50 off any 4 rims shipped with free shipping and mounting and balancing if bought togather. I priced out 4 snows and 4 rims with center spacers and it was under 525 shipped. Lemme try to paste it.

Current Items Change Cart

Quantity Item Price Extended

(4) Semperit
Sport Grip
2007 MINI COOPER S CPE/CONV 16-INCH

205/55R-16 89T B
$83.00 $332.00

(4) Enkei
GF1
2007 MINI COOPER S CPE/CONV 16-INCH

16X7 4-100/114.42SM
$70.04 $280.16

(1) Free Hub Centric Rings
for Enkei GF1
$0.00 $0.00

(4) Valve Stems
$3.00 $12.00

$50 Online Order Savings -$100.00

FREE UPS Ground Shipping (Other Shipping Options) $0.00

Total "Out the Door" Price $524.16

I just pieced this together, there are many options. They were very quick to ship the snows I bought to me and the tires I bought are great.

SPDinNY · Motorer

PepperWhiteR56 · Member

Tire Rack said these 15" Blizzak's will fit on the 2007 MCS and they said they guarantee the fit with the alloy wheels that come with these.

These are $625 including shipping and include tires mounted on wheels.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Blizzak+REVO+1&partnum=96R5BZREVO1&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&place=2

What do folks think of these?

SPDinNY · Motorer

I wouldnt go with 15's.........

PepperWhiteR56 · Member

I was going to get Blizzaks from tirerack.com but this deal from discounttiredirect.com that SPDinNY pointed to seems to be a better deal as their 16" snow wheel/tire set is cheaper than 15" snow wheel/tire set from tirerack.com.

But they have a few different tire sizes listed and I'm not sure which ones would be ideal for a 2007 MCS.

Here is a link to the different sizes they have:

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/findWinterTireSection.do?yr=2007&vid=010596

I could use some advice on which size to get for these wheels: http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/findWheelDetail.do?yr=2007&wd=16&c=2&pc=54268&rw=7&bp=4-100&vid=010596

THANKS.

SPDinNY wrote:

www.discounttiredirect.com

(4) Semperit
Sport Grip
2007 MINI COOPER S CPE/CONV 16-INCH

205/55R-16 89T B
$83.00 $332.00

SPDinNY · Motorer

we have the 215/55's on our R%^ and it does look a little "Brutish" and the speedo is off by about 2mph. I think the 205/55 size would be perfect but hopefully someone will chime in from the other site and do the math.

PepperWhiteR56 · Member

Guy at discountdirect.com just told me that 205/55R-16 would be too tall and he said I would need 205/50-16 and he recommended Hankook W300. Does that make sense? I feel like such a novice - but then I am when it comes to cars :)

-- Edited by PepperWhiteR56 at 19:11, 2007-11-28

-- Edited by PepperWhiteR56 at 19:11, 2007-11-28

SPDinNY · Motorer

it might be a little tall, what he said makes sense. How much are the Hankooks? Thats what I have on my Jeep. I think they were like 55 each for mine.

SPDinNY · Motorer

I just looked, I dont see the Hankooks on their site in that size. If he can get them in that size it is a better fit. I can take a pic of my wife's mini with hers on it and show you what they look like oversized