Just before Christmas, I had a set of Bridgestone Blizzak snow tires fitted to the M1N1. Given the recent weather, I am glad that I did. Those things are awesome! They never let go. I had them fitted at a local tire dealer, and paid $362 (after Bridgestone promotional rebates) fitted, out the door. The Toledo news networks are saying that we have already had about 30 inches this month, and it's still only January! Still time for more. The only problem that I have, is how low the front of the Coop is. I am afraid of hitting those large, frozen chunks of ice that fall off of semi's with my lower front spoiler. Other than that, driving in snow is no big deal.
Blizzak's are great snow tires. I put a skid plate on my MINI as defense against the icebergs of winter. To tell the truth after driving my MINI since December of 2005 a skid plate is probably overkill. With a heads up driving style you should be able to steer clear & not recreate the Titanic adventure.
I'd worry if the front end was an aero one, but the normal MINI front end is pretty solid for snow and ice.
I thought of fitting a skid plate to protect the sump, etc, but never got around to it before the snow came.
My R53 has seen 6-8" snow and has gone thru areas that had blown over after having been plowed with large chunks of packed snow in the roadway. I have185-65-15 Blizzaks on oem 8-spokes for Winter use. While the car bogged a bit until it got its ABS footing, everything after that was smooth sailing. It was funny to watch the snow lifting up over the bumper, windshield and down the roof to the hatch, but I'm glad no one else was on the road.
But why did you install that snow plow on the front? :wink: Even mine pushes a good wave of snow in deep powder.
Mini/Blizzak tires. What a combo!!!!!!! I work second shift, and driving home on the last 2 nights has been an absolute witch (or something that rhymes with that). Blowing snow, drifts, whiteouts, etc. It's a 56 mile commute, and the Coop never missed a beat, or caused me any real scary moments. Awesome.
I took my wife to Dayton Friday and hit a stretch of US 40 in our way home that had drifted over. A car and a truck were already in the ditch and I couldn't turn around so I drove thru about 8" of the drifted snow and deep ruts. Again, my 15" Blizzaks pulled us thru, although my wife was terrified as the snow plowed up over the hood and the roof as we sought lesser snow. Blizzaks will always be my choice for winter grip.
Funny, perhaps, if Francie had not just gone thru cancer. :frown2: As a result, she is VERY susceptible to cold and that would certainly have killed her. So instead, she had to weather the fear factor of the snow slamming up over the hood and the windshield. She was about scared to death and told me that this is why she no longer wants to drive in winter weather [and probably now, not even ride in it]. The dog, however, seemed nonplussed and slept thru it all.
Jokes Jeff these are jokes. Don't open the sunroof until spring. Sounds like your dog has a good outlook.
It wasn't a rant, Chuck...just caught me off guard a bit and I overreacted. Sorry...chalk this one up to yet another weather-related incident.
I am thinking of buying a spare set of OEM rims, to have my winter tyres fitted to. Good idea, or waste of money? Thoughts, anyone?
Do it. I have a set of old R90 boat anchors I use for winter wheels. I keep the summer rims and rubber stored away in the winter.
Great idea. Tires are not meant to be repeatedly mounted & un-mounted from the rims. Have a second set of rims makes the change over so easy.
ALWAYS mount snows on different rims IMO... Mounting and unmounting tires 2x a year gets $$ and can cause issues getting a good seal....tires are made to be mounted/unmounted a couple of times at most....not the 5 or 6 times a mid mile drive might get out of their tires .... OEM rims can be had for a song....they tend to be strong...and decent coatings do they survive salt/sand.....