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Sanderskog 
MINI Motorer 
Joined: October/08/04 Location: Sammamish Status: Offline Points: 1960 |
 Topic: Winter/All Season Tires?Posted: September/24/07 at 12:48am |
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I'm looking for a set of cheap winter tires to mount on my S-Lites and would like input. Anyone have a recommendation for a 17" all season? I thought about buying studless but they're a bit expensive. Right now I'm looking at the Kumho Ecsta AST. Tire Rack is selling them for $68/tire and the reviews look good (not great) overall. I don't need uber all season tires. I take things real mellow in the winter and the MINI will stay at home if there is a chance of snow. Todd |
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2012 VW Golf Pirate Edition... Aarrr! - JACK
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CINIMIN
MINI Motorer
Joined: August/27/05 Location: Everett WA Status: Offline Points: 4676 |
Posted: September/24/07 at 2:35am |
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Todd - Consider buying a set of all season runflats that someone wants to get rid of - usually pretty cheap. Several of us use our original AS runflats on S-lites as winter tires and it works well. Knowing you don't have to get out in rain or snow to deal with a flat is an extra benefit. |
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Jack -
<font color=RED>CINIMIN [/COLOR] 2006 CR/W MCS - 6spd - LSD -15% Pulley - Dinan CAI ASA JH6's Koni FSD's 22mm Bar Have you hugged a curve today? |
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kenru
MINI Motorer
Joined: December/21/04 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1283 |
Posted: September/24/07 at 6:08am |
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I'll soon be installing my Avon Tech M550 A/S Ultra High Performance All-Season tires for their 3rd season. I have been very pleased with their handling, wet, dry, mud and snow.
I just installed a set of Kumho Ecsta ASX's on the wife's "Leprecn". So far wet and dry performance are very good. We'll see about snow and life expectancy as time goes on... |
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One good turn deserves another...and another...
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Sanderskog
MINI Motorer
Joined: October/08/04 Location: Sammamish Status: Offline Points: 1960 |
Posted: September/24/07 at 10:55am |
I've been looking for a set of used tired and have had no luck find a set worth what people seem to think they are worth. I am a bit leary of this approach though, when I bought my car three of the four RF tires had bubbles in the sidewall. Todd |
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2012 VW Golf Pirate Edition... Aarrr! - JACK
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kulmini
MINI Motorer
Joined: January/27/07 Location: Lacey, WA Status: Offline Points: 1508 |
Posted: September/25/07 at 9:31am |
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So is everyone thinking we should change to winter tires before we do the Mt Baker run next month? I was going to wait until mid-Oct but with the cold and wet coming down from Canada, maybe I should rethink that idea. Comments/Suggestions! I am going to put on my S-Lights with the all season run flats, no sense in wasting them. Don |
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Sanderskog
MINI Motorer
Joined: October/08/04 Location: Sammamish Status: Offline Points: 1960 |
Posted: October/17/07 at 12:19pm |
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Follow-up to this post. I picked up a set of used Pirelli 240 SnowSports off of NAM for $300 used ( http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Pirelli& ; ; ; ;tireModel=Winter+240+SnowSport ). The tires are normally $150 each!!! Sure I could have bought an all season for the price but the reviews on these are fantastic and they're like new. Heck, they still have the numbs on them! Had them mounted on my S-lites today. Didn't test them out much as I had the back end loaded with my other set of tires. Initial impressions are they are MUCH quieter than the KDWs. I do miss my Kosei wheels though... Todd Edited by Sanderskog - October/17/07 at 12:20pm |
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2012 VW Golf Pirate Edition... Aarrr! - JACK
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Pigwidgin
MINI Motorer
PSMINI Nonmember Joined: July/22/07 Location: Mill Creek Status: Offline Points: 148 |
Posted: October/21/07 at 7:06am |
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Can someone explain to this Mini newbie what S-lites are? Pigwidgin is about 2 weeks out now (yippee!) and I'm starting to look into winter snow tires and rims. Kathy |
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Wildfamily
PSMINI Expert Advisor 
PSMINI Member Joined: March/11/06 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4559 |
Posted: October/21/07 at 7:44am |
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S-lites were the factory OEM 17-inch wheel that came on the R53 models. S-lite is kind of a misnomer since they way a ton, but you can ususally pick them up pretty cheap when people are unloading them for upgraded tires/wheels. I just threw on my Dunlop OEM runflats for the winter a few minutes ago. They have good all-season traction and should get you through the winter no problems.
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'15 F55 Cooper Volcanic Orange
'80 Mini English White |
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Pigwidgin
MINI Motorer
PSMINI Nonmember Joined: July/22/07 Location: Mill Creek Status: Offline Points: 148 |
Posted: October/21/07 at 7:51am |
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Hmm...wonder if they fit on the R56. I'll have to keep an eye out for some used wheels.... |
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Wildfamily
PSMINI Expert Advisor
PSMINI Member Joined: March/11/06 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4559 |
Posted: October/21/07 at 8:01am |
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They might. Need to check on the wheel lug though since the late 2006 and all 2007 models went to a different thread for the wheel lug nuts. Not sure if that impats wheel fitment or not...I suspect not.
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'15 F55 Cooper Volcanic Orange
'80 Mini English White |
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Pigwidgin
MINI Motorer
PSMINI Nonmember Joined: July/22/07 Location: Mill Creek Status: Offline Points: 148 |
Posted: October/21/07 at 8:08am |
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I'll definitely double check. I would think the Tire Rack people or even the Mini dealerships could tell me. |
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Le Mini
MINI Motorer
Joined: August/11/07 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1 |
Posted: October/23/07 at 2:20pm |
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I just had Pirelli Winter Sport 240 RFT's installed today. First impressions are they are much much quieter than Toyo Observes or Bridgestone Blizzaks I've had on other cars. Discount had to special order them, so not much of a deal, but they should be good for quite a few winter drives across the state.
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"He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any man I know."
—Abraham Lincoln |
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Rob Betts
PSMINI Skilled Member 
PSMINI Member Joined: September/13/04 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 225 |
Posted: October/23/07 at 2:39pm |
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Blizzaks on black steel rims for snow.
Goes everywhere in the snow.(If it is not TOO deep) I put them on in the garage and take them off after the snow leaves. I purchased the wheels and mounted tires from Tire Rack |
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2003 MCS, Electric Blue/Electric Blue,
Mini Mania 200HP kit. (Cold air intake, Borla exhaust, 15% pully, Jan tune) Drilled Rotors, EBC pads, painted calipers AND 2015 JCW Countryman - Black |
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Woen
PSMINI Skilled Member
PSMINI Member Joined: September/10/07 Location: Whidbey Island Status: Offline Points: 42 |
Posted: February/25/08 at 2:19pm |
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Okay. I'm new to MINI world. Bought our first in June and second this month. What are S lites?? Wheels sure, but.....
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Woen
06 MCS Chili Red w/white Prem/Cold/Sport DSC |
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Sanderskog
MINI Motorer
Joined: October/08/04 Location: Sammamish Status: Offline Points: 1960 |
Posted: February/25/08 at 3:46pm |
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These are S-lites
Not the best picture but you get the idea. They were the 17" option on the S package (also seen in the picture at the top of the page).
Todd
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2012 VW Golf Pirate Edition... Aarrr! - JACK
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Woen
PSMINI Skilled Member
PSMINI Member Joined: September/10/07 Location: Whidbey Island Status: Offline Points: 42 |
Posted: April/27/08 at 7:37am |
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A little late but thanks Todd. They are what I have. A little late for this too but, I am going to take my 06 MCS with 17" runflats (don't want to buy new tires yet) across the country in the middle of May. Crossing both Cascades and Rockies in US and Canada. Since this has been such an odd year weather wise, does anyone know of chains that might work on the 205/45 R17's? Cable chains? Anyone tried chains?
The only reason I am thinking of chains is that it is too late for studs and snow tires are not available right now. And besides who'd want to drive all across country with studded tires?
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Woen
06 MCS Chili Red w/white Prem/Cold/Sport DSC |
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johnf36
PSMINI Expert Advisor
PSMINI Member Joined: August/30/07 Location: Ephrata, Wa. Status: Offline Points: 8612 |
Posted: April/27/08 at 11:48am |
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Woen, There are cable chains out there that will fit, also look at spider tracks. Bottom line is from my experience unless you hit heavy snow the Mini handles great in bad weather with summer tires on. Personally unless you are looking for winter tires I don't see a need to put them on. I came over the pass Monday with snow fall and Albert did jut fine.
Todd does anyone know how these Kumho's work in the snow? John |
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If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.
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CINIMIN
MINI Motorer
Joined: August/27/05 Location: Everett WA Status: Offline Points: 4676 |
Posted: April/27/08 at 12:39pm |
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John -
Have to disagree on the summer tires in winter driving conditions. The issue is loss of traction in cold temperatures. Summer compounds do not have the same traction in cold temperatures as they do in warm conditions. Some summer tires are excelent performers in wet conditions but it is in cold weather breaking and starting from a stop in slipery conditions that the loss of grip in cold weather will show up in summer tires. My experience includes about 25 years as an avid skiier and 40 actual years driving the mountain passes in winter.
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Jack -
<font color=RED>CINIMIN [/COLOR] 2006 CR/W MCS - 6spd - LSD -15% Pulley - Dinan CAI ASA JH6's Koni FSD's 22mm Bar Have you hugged a curve today? |
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johnf36
PSMINI Expert Advisor
PSMINI Member Joined: August/30/07 Location: Ephrata, Wa. Status: Offline Points: 8612 |
Posted: April/27/08 at 1:30pm |
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Thanks Jack I don't disagree, I guess I didn't put it the right way. All I was getting at was the Mini's handle fine this time of the year if you are running the tire that came with the car as long as there is tread left or a good all season. No reason to throw winter tire on for this kind of weather because the ground surface temperatures are not the same as as winter.
Side note Jack, avid skier? Please explain I may have someone to ski with here  John |
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If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.
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Woen
PSMINI Skilled Member
PSMINI Member Joined: September/10/07 Location: Whidbey Island Status: Offline Points: 42 |
Posted: April/28/08 at 3:10pm |
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Lots of good information guys. Ask a question and the replies just fly right in.
According to the "manual" (yes I actually looked in the manual) you can use chains on tire sizes that none of us have or will probably ever put on.
I found some cable chains but I really hope I never need them. If I do I will drive so slow the highway patrols will think I am up to something nevarious.
I think I will buy a set of studded tires next year. Or some really good winter tires. Any suggestions (Ha!) on which winter tires? Running 205/45 R17's but I think winter tires should be a tad narrower.
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Woen
06 MCS Chili Red w/white Prem/Cold/Sport DSC |
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johnf36
PSMINI Expert Advisor
PSMINI Member Joined: August/30/07 Location: Ephrata, Wa. Status: Offline Points: 8612 |
Posted: April/28/08 at 3:21pm |
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I want a set of Blizzark
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If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.
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CINIMIN
MINI Motorer
Joined: August/27/05 Location: Everett WA Status: Offline Points: 4676 |
Posted: April/28/08 at 3:34pm |
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Tire Rack Tire Testing is your friend!
At the bottom of the page click on "Additional Winter Tech Articles"
For tire test results , see:
LOTS of good information if you don;t mind a little reading....
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Jack -
<font color=RED>CINIMIN [/COLOR] 2006 CR/W MCS - 6spd - LSD -15% Pulley - Dinan CAI ASA JH6's Koni FSD's 22mm Bar Have you hugged a curve today? |
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Woen
PSMINI Skilled Member
PSMINI Member Joined: September/10/07 Location: Whidbey Island Status: Offline Points: 42 |
Posted: April/29/08 at 1:48pm |
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Wow. Who'd thunk that studless would out perform studded?
I know what I am getting for my birthday
 Thanks guys!
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Woen
06 MCS Chili Red w/white Prem/Cold/Sport DSC |
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Winter/All Season Tires?
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CINIMIN wrote:
