hahah okay, I just checked my tires on my car.

my tires are 195/55 rh 16 and i have two different tires Dunlop and something called Kumho? i cant remember.. i have a memory like a door **** =/

Correction to my last post: I do have 16" wheels

im debating on getting another set of run flats or just getting regular all season tires, if so... which ones and where should i get them? im not looking forward to the snow. I cant wait to hear what you guys think of your tires.

 

Welcome to the forums! Hope to see you at a Jersey mini meet.

As far as the tires go. Run flats give it a stiff ride. I replaced mine in the first week. I love the ride of my new BFGs. I did a photo shoot of my 2006 mini in center city philly last night (we had a blizzard) and the tires were great! I didn't get stuck and was able to go up and down hills where others got stuck.

 

Ok, my Pirelli runflat snows have been tested in our NJ blizzard this morning. They are awesome. Unstoppable. Ride quality is better than the Dunlop runflats that were on the car just before. No complaints, total praize!

 

my MINI was lost in my driveway. there are snow drifts over my head! thankgod for the 4x4 pilot. i still have my spring tires on and im horrified to drive with them in this weather.
for comparison the first floor windows are about 6 feet

 

Too much snow

 

Welcome! I'm new here too!

 

we got nothing. no snow at all. I am ready though, Pirelli winter tires on.

 

Hi and Congrats on the car. I'm over in Hoboken (but have lived all over NJ). I've only had the car for about 5 months so this weekend was the first snow and the car did pretty well. I should get snows, but I have no where to store them.

 

I'm also looking into a set of winter tires / wheels.

I'm not sure if I'm going to stay 17" or go "minus 1" down to 16". A taller, narrower tire is better in the snow (as well as a little more pothole protection), but I'm still undecided. All-seasons just won't cut it for me. They compromise too much, I think, in order to be useable all year long.

Plus a stack of 4 MINI wheels don't take up that much room. Many suppliers have cool looking off-season wheel storage covers that neaten up the pile of wheels. I'll look into one of those as well.

I've had great luck with Bridgestone Blizzaks and Michelin Alpins. They're both in sizes that fit the MINI. I'll make a decision today or tomorrow and order a set with wheels (for convenience). I'll swap them right in the driveway. :-)

 

I'm curious, I'm not very mechanical savvy when it comes to cars, but what do you think the all-seasons compromise? I've only had my mini for a little less than 2 months, so i don't have any experience driving it with anything but the all-seasons. But today, after we got hit with the blizzard here in NJ, the roads were still covered in snow/ice and I rolled fine with just the standard all seasons. It was able to grip the road adequately and I never slid. Of course, that's with keeping the speed moderate and appropriate for the conditions.

 

To keep a balance of summer heat, spring and fall rain and winter snow and cold, an all season tire is designed with compromises. Summer only tires are nice and sticky in the dry and many (if they're designed for rain traction too), will provide stunning performance in the rain as well. But when the temp. drops below 45F - 50F, they're tread compounds become hard. Winter tires stay "sticky" even in the ice, snow and cold. They give you exceptional traction in the snow, and give you that extra edge of safety. Yes, they do outperform all seasons, because they're purpose designed for the cold weather, ice, etc. When the temps are above 50F, they will wear very quickly because the tire compounds are designed to be soft when it's cold. Plus, they give up all-out and warm weather performance.

I've driven rear wheel and front wheel drive cars equipped with winter tires (on all fours) that out performed all-wheel drive cars that had summer only or performance all season tires. It's amazing....

Again, it's just my personal preference. You may want to read about it yourself from one of the many tire manufacturers, retailers or enthusiast publications..