Performance tires (run flats or not) are not at all for winter driving - they provide little traction in snow and you'll be all over the road even when there is very little snow. As suggested, get a set of winter wheels and snow tires and you'll be very pleased as with the right tires the MINI is very capable in the snow, as long as it's not too deep as the car is pretty low and becomes a snow plow in moderate snow depths. Check tirerack.com for winter wheel / tire packages. I've used Blizzaks on 15" steel wheels on my both my '02 and now '05 MCSs and have had no problems here in the Rochester, NY area.