MINI's in WNY winter ???

xfiveo · Member

MINI's in WNY winter ???

SPDinNY · Motorer

Minis are great in the winter. They are FWD and have DSC (traction control) Just get a set of winter rims and tires and enjoy the white stuff.

Pamlico · Motorer

If you get a model with performance tires the car is a hazard in the snow, plus once the temps drop into the 40's/30's their overall traction is less. If your car has all season tires, regardless of claims, they are an overall compromise at best but would probably be OK for lesser amounts of snow.

Having said that, if you get a set of good dedicated winter tires, the car is great in the snow - it just keeps chugging along. The only limitation is depth as the car is low and if the snow is too deep you become a little snowplow.

Mitch · Motorer

I only had mine for a little bit of the snow this year, but I will still say what I think. Over all they are as good if not better than anything. The bigger car 4WD hype is really just that when it comes to normal driving. I guess what I am saying is if you have a huge vehicle which is heavier and more prone to loosing control, then you do need the extra 4wd and what not.

That being said I have previously driven a full size pickup and a Honda Accord in the winter, the Accord wins hands down out of the three. But I would not, not get a MINI because of winter driving. When I say the Accord wins that is like saying a Cheetah is faster than a cougar. While both satisfy the fast requirement the cheetah will be faster.

But for summer/not snow driving (which in reality is most of the time here, it may be cold but the roads are clear most of the time) the MINI cannot be beat. The biggest think I noticed driving in the winter is that, since it is so low, when you drive over a patch of snow you hear it spraying the bottom, just makes a weird noise. Not really a problem, just confused me at first.

Pamlico · Motorer

Mitch - did you have winter tires or stay with the ones that came with the car?

- dl

SPDinNY · Motorer

my car would eat a honda accord in the snow. My Mini is heavier and has traction control. Almost all accords,save the newest ones.., do not come with traction control.

xfiveo · Member

WOW!!! Thanks everyone. That really kinda sums it up. Mitch, you seemed to have eloquently nailed down what I was hoping or at least presuming.

I'm coming off a nice 4x4 Tundra pick up, (awesome vehicle) and realize I will be missing it a dozen times a year, but I believe the "Fun Factor" in my MINI will more than compensate for it. And when I pass the gas station, that will only be the icing on the cake.

So I guess it looks like my girlfriend (Toyota RAv4) is gonna have to spec out her MINI next!

yellowmininy · Obsessed (Taking the long-cut)

I think Minis are fun to drive in the snow, particularly with snow tires. The only time I've had trouble is with the snow that gets plowed back into the driveway from the street, because it's 'chunky'. I keep a shovel in the car, and shovel the base of the driveway if they've plowed when I was out. I have to go to work regardless of weather, and nothing has kep the Mini home yet!

Mitch · Motorer

I hate traction control to me it is taking control away from me, but anyway. All season tires came with my car. (I prefer to call them no season tiers, since they are not optimal for summer or winter) So when they are worn out I will have snow tiers and it most likely will be at least as good as my Accord was if not better. I didn't think about the different tiers when I posted.

On another note MINI's are heavier than Accords? I don't doubt you, but I find that hard to believe, although I have no information to back that up.

TrixieinNY · Motorer

I think that SPD was referring to his cabrio which is heavier than a hard-top - but he can clarify since I'm sure he knows the weight of the different cars of the top of his head.

SPDinNY · Motorer

my Cabrio weighs ~2900lbs without driver. I think the Regular minis weigh ~2600-2700 which is on par with an accord.

Mitch · Motorer

Huh that's interesting, I assumed a MINI would be lighter. Must be just built more solid.

ofergus · Member

I have run my MCS for the past several winters with no trouble at all. A good set set of Bridgstone Blizzaks on dedicated steel wheels and you'll be all set to take on old man winter next year. You can buy the whole kit from Tire Rack, mounted and balanced, have them shipped to your local tire installer who will remove the summer tires mount the snows for under $30. Couldn't be easier.

xfiveo · Member

Cool ofergus...nice to hear that. I'm guessing a couple hundrd for each set?

Pamlico · Motorer

If you have the winter tire / wheel set shipped to a local installer or if you do the switchover yourself, be sure to apply a thin coat of anti-seize compound to the rear of the wheels before mounting. Also use the anti-seize when remounting the regular rims in the Spring. If that isn't applied there is a significant chance that the wheels can bond themselves to the car and
you'll have a difficult time removing each wheel (don't ask how I know this).

- dl

xfiveo · Member

thanks pamlico...i was not aware of that. good stuff to know. and i won't ask why you know that, but it sounds like the black cloud that has been known to hover over me might have found you that day.

Pamlico · Motorer

The black cloud found me and then settled in that day.

Nothing - pounding with a rubber mallet, kicking, etc - would work. The wheels were frozen to the disks. Eventually I put the wheel bolts back on, but left the ones on one wheel a little loose. Then slowly advanced the car at about 5 mph or so and jammed on the brakes. BANG and the bond was finally broken. Tighten the loose bolts and repeat the process three more times and eventually I was able to switch the tires.

ofergus · Member

When I switched to my snow tire last fall, I experienced the "seizure" and nothing I tried could break the bond. So to avoid a hernia, I took the mounted snows to a local tire shop and they easily removed the summer tires and mounted all 4 snow tires for a total of $20. At that price its not worth my bother to even think of mounting tires myself.
As for the tire set, I got a great deal from Tire Rack on discontinued Blizzak Revo 1 tires at $58 a tire, the wheels came in at $44 a piece, the shipping was $70 and the whole shabang was in my garage 3 days later.

SPDinNY · Motorer

the "Donkey kick" helped me remove my rims for the first time.

eysmahn · Newbie (Taking the short-cut)

Mitch while I agree with your dislike for traction control in summer driving... in winter driving it can be a good think. Unless you have a limited slip, your car will have an open differential. Which means if you get stuck in the snow, the tire with the less grip will get all the power and you are going no where. Watch "My Cousin Vinnie" for a visual. However thanks to traction control, the power is moderated and you can get out. Saw many people get stuck in the snow at work, while I just pulled out and motored home.

Mitch · Motorer

I hear ya, but I think if I had it I would only use it when I was stuck or in deeper snow. My fiancée had traction control on one of her cars and I just didn't like the feel of it when the roads just have patches of snow.

Mitch · Motorer

So looking back at posts, I am about to order some blizzaks. I have heard they wear out fast if you put them on too soon. Is it still too soon? I am going to order them from tire rack and since I don't have extra rims they will go on my stock holies. This summer I hope to size up to the 17" and get some nice summer driving tires. Anyone have any suggestions before I make the buy?

Venno · Motorer

I would REALLY recommend getting at least some Steal rims for your Blizarks...It means you save in the long run since you don't have to mount and dismount and it helps save your alloys from winter potholes salt and all the other fun stuff winter driving does to a car

ofergus · Member

I don't think Venno is suggesting that you "steal" a set of wheels, but I agree, a set of snows on steel wheels is definitely the way to go. The ease of tire change-over is well worth the slight extra cost. I would also suggest purchasing a set of tire totes for storing your second set of tires in and for ease (and cleaniness) of transporting them in the back of your Mini.
I think you may be a bit confused about tread life of tires. Generally speaking winter tires are made with a harder rubber compound for improved traction, while summer performance tires are made of a softer rubber compound for improved grip and handling. The softer compound (coupled with higher corner speeds in warmer months) will tend to wear out much quicker than a harder compound tire. Ask anyone who runs performance tires and I'm sure they'll tell you that you'll be lucky to get 20-25k out of a set. Remember, the winter tires will probably only be on your car for 4-5 months of the year so the wear should be less than 50% of a all-season tire. In other words, you'll probably only own a single set of winter tires for the entire time you own your Mini. Unless you plan to drive it for a really long time.

Mitch · Motorer

I totally agree, but I am going to get some 17" for the summer so the holies will be my winter wheels. They came with my 2005 which was used, so they have already done the winter thing, have some curb rash and are not the painted ones. So the salt doesn't hurt the paint, I love the look of them so I want to use them at least half the year, and whatever I find for the summer then.

I just ordered the bizzaks, very excited to see how they work.

The other reason to not get the steal rims is that the money is tight as a graduate student...

So on that note if anyone has steal rims they don't want let me know.

SPDinNY · Motorer

I just sold my winter tires and rims for my Mini for $225 =(

I didn't post them on here because I was still rebelling

Mitch · Motorer

:(

Pamlico · Motorer

I'm not certain about the firmness of tread in regular winter tires, but the Blizzak's tread (at least the first half or so) is soft. The reason is that it is constructed with hydrophilic (water loving) tendencies and microcell tread structures. The advantage is that the tire has significantly and noticeably greater gripping power on ice. The down side is that this compound wears fairly quickly once the weather warms up in the Spring.

Once the hydrophilic portion wears away, the remaining tread on the Blizzak consists of regular (and firmer) non-hydrophilic all season compound. It's still a good winter tire, but is less effective on ice.

As mentioned, it's well worth getting a set of steel wheels for the winter tires, especially if you're planning on keeping the car for a few years. The $$ saved in tire switching will pay for the steelies pretty quickly.

Mitch · Motorer

What temperature should it be before I put them on? The no seasons are almost to the level of tread that would get me a ticket. As I said before the holies will become my winter rims, so I won't have to switch all the time.

Thanks everyone for your input.

Pamlico · Motorer

The time to remove the Blizzaks is when the weather is constantly in the 60's / 70's. A few days of warm temps like we're now having isn't going to hurt things very much. If you're concerned you could wait until the temps are in the 40's & 50's.