11 replies to this topic

[miniman.matt]

Just taken my car for its first drive on a public road since the rebuild and the combination of the power and weight of the v-tec engine and the 13x7 minilights made it interesting to say the least. The car is a dream in the dry but cation is definately needed in this weather. I think an 850 on 10s is the weapon of choice in these conditions (visions os paddy hopkirk lol). How are other people finding there mini's in this weather?

[Southy]

Snow?What snow?Theres no snow around here mate its beautiful up here, so much so that ive driven home from work this afternoon with my window fully open and my shades on

But yes i did have a lucky escape earlier on this week on some sheet ice.....

[david@skeggyminis]

its the 7x13s thats the problem i had some. and had some very near misses in the rain so would never drive it in the snow but now i have my 12s back on went playing in the snow with no problems

[shedonwheels]

My mini on its 4.5 by 12 wheels and banana tyres was the only one that actually made it up the little hill through the snow into the work car park early this morning! I got a cheer too! smugness.

[cap'n crunch]

When we did have snow (already melted here in sussex ) i was driven around fine on 12x4.5, good fun to be had on the snowy country lanes.

[miniman.matt]

seems a bit backwards that the smaller surface area would provide more traction but im sure there is some sort of science behind it, other than the the fact that the mini was never meant to have a jap engine or 13s fitted

[cap'n crunch]

seems a bit backwards that the smaller surface area would provide more traction but im sure there is some sort of science behind it, other than the the fact that the mini was never meant to have a jap engine or 13s fitted

Snow tyres used on rally cars are narrower to help cut through the snow/ice to firmer ground beneath.

[tomsbluemini]

My 1.3MPi running on 13x7.5s is seriously good fun...

Never before have I experienced oversteer in a front wheel drive car without getting some amount of understeer first...

UNTIL THIS WEEK!!!!!!

[Mart8V]

I keep my old 12" steels and 145 profile tyres for weather like this. So much better that the 5.5x12 on Yokos!!

Used to have a Mk2 Golf GTI which had some dodgy Russian winter tyres as a spare set. It was the only way of getting up my road to work!

[01smartc]

Smaller width wheels and same weight car means more pressure per sqaure inch on the tyre.

Small tyres are the way forward in snow!

My capri with 15*9's was like a drunk ice skater

[yeti21586]

my 1100 special is on 13x7 and it handels fine in the snow better than most other cars round my way

YetI

[Xiao_Bin]

seems a bit backwards that the smaller surface area would provide more traction but im sure there is some sort of science behind it, other than the the fact that the mini was never meant to have a jap engine or 13s fitted

larger surface area in contact means less grip, as less pressure on the ground.
You can counter that with softer sticky tyres & less air pressure on the asphalt, but on the snow its a different story, u need ugly narrow tyres

Edited by Xiao_Bin, 06 February 2009 - 11:01 PM.