Minis in the snow
Discussion
Just got to the point where I need 4 new tyres.
I have 17" rims on a cooper.
Now, currently it is sat on ( was when I bought it ) 205 40 17s.
Should I buy the same, buy 205 45 17s, put winter tyres on the front, normal on the back, or sell the 17s, buy 16" and go from there?
What is the opinion of winters only on the front?
I have 17" rims on a cooper.
Now, currently it is sat on ( was when I bought it ) 205 40 17s.
Should I buy the same, buy 205 45 17s, put winter tyres on the front, normal on the back, or sell the 17s, buy 16" and go from there?
What is the opinion of winters only on the front?
I would also like to know what size tyres are proven as winter tyres. Tyre socks are all very well around town but not really for the motorway. Driving on summer tyres in the winter is not getting the most from your car albeit cheap (save accidents).
Does anyone know what tyre sizes to use for a Mini GP (2006) which is on 18" but I have 17" as spares so this would be ideal. The handbook recommends 16" or 15" but that is in a generic Mini handbook.
Anyone running proper tyres for winter???
Pip
Does anyone know what tyre sizes to use for a Mini GP (2006) which is on 18" but I have 17" as spares so this would be ideal. The handbook recommends 16" or 15" but that is in a generic Mini handbook.
Anyone running proper tyres for winter???
Pip
Back in'77. Dad had a mini clubman estate 1.1. Spent many an evening pulling much bigger cars out of ditches!
Weight over the driving and steering wheels was the place to be, donkey wagon Ford Escrot and Cortinas had no chance of getting home. VNV315S. Long rotted to dust, had the factory fit rust from new. Fitted with Kenlow fan kit and electronic ignition.
Weight over the driving and steering wheels was the place to be, donkey wagon Ford Escrot and Cortinas had no chance of getting home. VNV315S. Long rotted to dust, had the factory fit rust from new. Fitted with Kenlow fan kit and electronic ignition.
It has to be all 4 what ever you go for. If you just get the fronts you will spin if we get snow (The front will grip and the back will give as you go round a corner). Winters are good up to about 7deg above that summers are better. The best way is to have 2 sets. They do help a lot. I have driven cars in snow with winters and they just get grip where a summer would not, a lot more.
Hi, I've a set of Conti winters on 15" steelies. They work quite well (this year I ran them until May!) not just on snow but also the cold, slimy surface that's left after they've tipped salt all over the place. Two sets mean I can change them over myself, and keeps the salt off my summer wheels too.
However, I'm pretty sure that the JCW and GP brakes require at least 17" rims to fit around them so you'll need to source something suitable ASAP as, if last year is anything to go by, they'll be short of stock once the first flurries arrive.
ETA: Agree with Dan - you must do all or nothing.
However, I'm pretty sure that the JCW and GP brakes require at least 17" rims to fit around them so you'll need to source something suitable ASAP as, if last year is anything to go by, they'll be short of stock once the first flurries arrive.
ETA: Agree with Dan - you must do all or nothing.
Edited by sad61t on Tuesday 12th November 12:36
My previous R53 cooper s went everywhere in the deep snow we got last time. I went down all of the lanes in our area just to explore and it was unstoppable, only thing I did have to do was take the traction control off to get moving again when I was forced to stop going up a steep hill. My car ran Toyo snowprox on 17" OZ ultraleggera wheels with 205 40 17's. Having driven on the 17's in the snow I wouldn't say a smaller wheel / tyre is needed. I personally couldn't fit smaller wheels due to my brake setup. By the time you factor in buying more wheels it easily cancels out the tyres being slightly more expensive. As I say my car went everywhere I was amazed.
I bought a set of 4 winters for the 16's, will be interesting to see how these ones work.
I have 1st hand experience of only using 2 winter tyres, not thinking I would need the rears and it was a big mistake. 0 grip on the rear when the fronts are so grippy.
Had 4 winters last year and snowy lanes etc were a doddle.... quite odd seeing all the other cars slipping around everywhere and I was just able to breeze up them.
I have 1st hand experience of only using 2 winter tyres, not thinking I would need the rears and it was a big mistake. 0 grip on the rear when the fronts are so grippy.
Had 4 winters last year and snowy lanes etc were a doddle.... quite odd seeing all the other cars slipping around everywhere and I was just able to breeze up them.
rev-erend said:
I've just had Vredstein Wintrac Extreme tyres fitted - 205 45 vr17 to my R56 Cooper S
Really hoping for some snow and ice now...
Really hoping for some snow and ice now...
I have finally ordered some of the 'same' Vredestein (although not the Chinese copies
"Vredstein") in the same size, 205/45 R17 after my other choices were out of stock. So fingers crossed.Anyone else used mytyres? I am hoping they are not some cowboy unit that take your money and then fail to come up with the goods. - ????
Pip
Sam.F said:
My JCW was absolutely fine in the snow on new tyres so I never saw the need to get winter tyres
Our new MCS is useless even in the current conditions on Conti Runflats. I overtook a truck yesterday on a road that was barely damp and still had wheelspin in third. Winters will be bought soon.Sam.F said:
My JCW was absolutely fine in the snow on new tyres so I never saw the need to get winter tyres
My Wife had a JCW in 2008 when we had that really bad winter.Worst car we have ever had in the snow, although I have to admit it was extreme conditions.
When she got it on the road, the tyre tracks in the snow were so deep it wouldn't move.
Luckily we had an old Mk3 Golf GTI I picked up for £600 which dealt with it surprisingly well.
The Mini ended up parked for most of it. Waste of time. Not looking forward to it if it happens again with this one.
I bought direct from BMW/MINI winter wheels/tyres for my car to replace the lovely black twin spoke 16" summer tyres/wheels. They wnated the exact details of the car to make sure the wheels they supply fit the hubs exactly.
The wheels are a skinny steel type with Pirelli's on them (175/65/15) The ride is softer owing to the higher profile, and as it has not got that cold yet hard to tell if any better than summer ones, other than when doing an emergency stop in them they do take about another 1/2 to 3/4 car length to stop. This is well and good to avoid hitting the car in front/child stepping out in front of you.......but if the twit behind you is too close he will not be able to stop and still hit you!
I am a great fan of winter tyres and used tham for the last 4 years ( the tread on my 4 on our V70 is still around 5-6mm so they do last. They also give you the chance to give the alloys a decent clean and keep them out of the road salt and grime which looks like soot at the moment around where I live
I have driven in deep snow and ice in southern Germany with temps down to minus 15 deg C with the winter tyres on, and they really work well. I don't know about the different brands, and how they behave, but take it that the people who design the tyres and wheels know better than most on a forum, and would take their advise over folk who know loads after a couple of shandies in a pub. The first place you should check is the manual that comes with the car, as when you look in there the winter wheels themselves are often smaller than the over sized wheels/tyres we have on summer tyres
I phones around and the cheapest I could get 4 was about £465 that I know fit the car properly, and were designed for it, therefore keeping the insurance company happy. If you have a bad accident, and they find out you did not have proper fit wheels on, then you know they will not pay out. If they can wriggle out of paying up, they will do! Mini wanted another £100 approx for 4 hub caps....so I use 4 that I had from my last car that only cost me £20 from e-bay. Cars do not look cool in winter tyres on a steel wheel, so I can wait until the spring for my car to look good again!
The wheels are a skinny steel type with Pirelli's on them (175/65/15) The ride is softer owing to the higher profile, and as it has not got that cold yet hard to tell if any better than summer ones, other than when doing an emergency stop in them they do take about another 1/2 to 3/4 car length to stop. This is well and good to avoid hitting the car in front/child stepping out in front of you.......but if the twit behind you is too close he will not be able to stop and still hit you!
I am a great fan of winter tyres and used tham for the last 4 years ( the tread on my 4 on our V70 is still around 5-6mm so they do last. They also give you the chance to give the alloys a decent clean and keep them out of the road salt and grime which looks like soot at the moment around where I live
I have driven in deep snow and ice in southern Germany with temps down to minus 15 deg C with the winter tyres on, and they really work well. I don't know about the different brands, and how they behave, but take it that the people who design the tyres and wheels know better than most on a forum, and would take their advise over folk who know loads after a couple of shandies in a pub. The first place you should check is the manual that comes with the car, as when you look in there the winter wheels themselves are often smaller than the over sized wheels/tyres we have on summer tyres
I phones around and the cheapest I could get 4 was about £465 that I know fit the car properly, and were designed for it, therefore keeping the insurance company happy. If you have a bad accident, and they find out you did not have proper fit wheels on, then you know they will not pay out. If they can wriggle out of paying up, they will do! Mini wanted another £100 approx for 4 hub caps....so I use 4 that I had from my last car that only cost me £20 from e-bay. Cars do not look cool in winter tyres on a steel wheel, so I can wait until the spring for my car to look good again!
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