[Codrut]

I just got my new Mini Cooper last week from the dealer. I am sooo happy. But now I have questions. The car was shipped with Hankook Ventus Prime 2 195/55 R16 tyres, rated 87W (up to 270 kmh) and I have the Victory Spoke 16'' black alloy wheels. The country I live in, Romania, has very tough winters and having winter tyres is mandatory. I've understood that changing just the tyres might damage the TPMS sensors and I would like to avoid this. Knowing this I have the following questions:

1. Is changing just the tyres be really dangerous to the alloy wheels and possibly damaging the pressure sensors?

2. If no, then I would like to buy the Continental WinterContact TS 860 (rated 87H) tyres. These seem to have won several tests for winter.

3. I would also consider buying the Michelin CrossClimate (rated 95V up to 240 kmh) which have the advantage that I would be able to use them in the summer as well and changing the tyres will happen only once. I don't know how good they really are in winter. Here winters are mostly about negative temperatures and ice and mud then snow. Snow will usually be cleaned in a few days after falling.

4. If changing the tyres is to be avoided I am also considering buying an original set of wheels/tyres from Mini. The cheapest options is with steel wheels 15'' and Michelin Alpin A4 175/65 R15 84H winter tyres.

Which route should I chose? I am really confused!....

Thank You,
Codrut

 

[sootyvrs]

You should have no problems changing tyres on your exsiting wheels with TPMS sensors as long as your tyre fitter shows some care when removing the and reinstalling the valve stem.

The TPMS sensor should not usually get touched when removing and installing tyres.

I have replaced 2 sets of tyres on the same rims without problems.

You may have to reset the sensors after thetyres ahve been fitted.

 

[Codrut]

That's good news. This means I will chose the Continental TS 860 tires. I don't think The Michelin Cross Climate are better in the summer than the stock Hankooks and likely the Continentals outperform them as well in the winter. Thank you very much for easing my mind!

 

[sootyvrs]

Just make sure the tyre fitter is aware that you want to retain the current valves (TPMS) as some my just replace them with non TPMS valves although they should know the difference!

 

[Cdeser]

I choose variants only, tangled.