I was just wondering how good minis do in the snow? i understand that it depends on the tires and the driver but with a light weight car will i just stay on top of the snow?

 

they are good. plenty of weight on the front end.

195/55 Blizzaks make them very, very good.

205 summer tires, and all bets are off.

Cheers,

Charlie

 

They're good in the snow with a set of SNOW tires. Not so good with a set of all seasons or summers.

 

Been daily driving a MCS since the winter of 2002 with Nokian Hakkapeliitta 185/65R15 tires and have never been stopped by ice or snow. The MINI is surprisingly heavy for it's size and with the majority of the weight over the drive wheels there is no problem going where you need to go. As long as you use your head for something other than a hat rack.

Best suggestion, buy four inexpensive wheels of the smallest and narrowest size you can fit over your brakes and mount the best tires you can afford. Smaller and narrower rims with corresponding taller sidewall, narrower tread tires is the way to go for best winter traction. Winter driving will be just another day of fun in your MINI. Especially as you drive past stuck AWD SUVs with all season tires just spinning their wheels or spinning out of control.

Be sure to order you car with whatever version of a limited slip differential MINI is currently offering as it will make driving in the snow, rain or on ice much easier and safer. I can think of NO reason not to have an LSD. Between the LSD and the snow tires you will hardly even know there is snow on the road. I have also found that with the LSD and snow tires I very rarely have to turn off the traction control, even ascending steep hills in the worst conditions.

Motor On!

 

Do you know what's the cheapest set of wheels to use for a winter set that'll fit the JCW?
I don't care about ugly, but that it'll clear the brakes and be cheap.

 

Tirerack will usually have a sale on rims around late August/Sept where you can get a cheap tire/wheel package before the winter season hits.

 

i Figured it was just the tires. ill deff buy snow tires and hope i dont hit anymore telephone poles like i did with my honda. lol

 

Check out my gallery (click upper right in this post.) for a picture of my Cooper at the top of some windy, snow covered country roads. The city was shut down and I navigated through the backroads and on iced over highways and back with no problems, leaving stuck SUVs and sliding sedans in my rearview. As you can see from the snow packed into my grill, it was pretty deep, unplowed roads.

I had Falken Espia EPZ 195/55/16 on heavy-*** Mille Miglia wheels. This winter, if we get any snow, I'll be getting cheap steel wheels.

 

Cheap steel wheels are an excellent option. I'd also be checking the MINI web sites for used wheels and take-offs.

 

I drove my cooper s all winter and had no issues. You can find sweet deals on wheels sometimes. I found a set of 17" crown spokes with pirelli snow sport tires on them for $150 and used them the entire last season. I may replace the tires this season but I think $150 was worth it just for the wheels. Now that price is probably the exception not the rule, but keep a look out for people moving to warmer climates

Basically any MINI 17" should clear the JCW brakes.

I sprayed them black and owned the snow.