Buying Blizzak's
 

I need to purchase two sets of Blizzak's for my new Mini-S and MiniClubman S.

First, I was informed I should buy wheels for these since, according to the dealer, the sidewalls on the runflat summer tires do not tolerate well to being taken off and on twice a year. Is that true? (am on the nitrogen fill program)

Second, would appreciate any recommendation on place to purchase and/or timing of the purchase since I have to buy two sets?

Thanks in advance.

TireRack. Talk to Alex.

I bought my Blizzaks with a cheap set of rims for the winter. That way they are easier to change myself. I also bought mine from Tirerack. If you buy the tires and rims at the same time they come already mounted and balanced.

I purchased mine used in the market place- wheels and tires for $400. I think having a set of designated wheels and tires for summer and winter not only makes it easier, but you don't have to worry about your nice summer wheels getting corroded from the salt.

Plus, it makes each set last that much longer! :thumbsup:

Thank you. Will follow up accordingly.

Two new MINI's, way to go! I still very rarely see another Clubman in the wild.

As the others have stated buying winter tires with wheels allows you to swap them yourself and saves wear and tear on the wheels. I third the Tire Rack reccomendation. They usually have great winter tire/wheel combo deals.

I bought a set of summer wheels and tires so will use my stock wheels and all season tires on the Clubman this winter.

Happy Motoring!

Jim

Thanks again to all.

Indeed Clubman's are not commonplace at this time, but I have clearly noticed a surge in Mini's and Mini-S' in DuPage County.

I don't know if you've already made your purchase, but I would recommend against getting Blizzaks, simply because the winter compound doesn't extend through the full tread - I think it only goes halfway through or something. After that, it becomes an all-season radial.

Instead, you might want to consider Nokian WR G2. They are a snow rated all season tire which seems ideal for Chicago Winters. I bought a set of used holies and mounted them last winter. They worked exceptionally well.

My winter tires are Blizzacks and I love them. They really go through the snow. I also bought dedicated MINI wheels and highly recommend doing that.
There are many good buys on used MINI wheels which are much better than steelies. My Blizzacks came on steelies and after my third set of plastic hubcaps I decided to go with MINI wheels. This also makes the swap a snap.

Nokians are fine but the model you're quoting is an all season tire with winter thread pattern. If he's going to shell out money on new tires for winter why not go with full winter tire such as Hakka 4 or RSi?

Also, to all of the people: when you recommend winter tires telling everyone how great they are in the snow, please list other winter tires that you've owned and then comment on which are better.
I find that a lot of people will pitch in by telling that the X tire is the best for winter while this is teh only or first winter tire that they've ever owned. In this case it's pretty obvious that they're going to be praising this particular tire as they have nothing but all season's to compare them to.
Don't push people into buying tires that you have, give them a reason why they should buy this particular one and not some other.

The world doesn't end on Blizzaks, in fact there are many other tires that are far better than any Bridgestone winter model.

Well, the point I was making is that for Chicago's weather, a winter rated all-season tire like the Nokian WR-G2 performs admirably, given my experience last winter (which had the most snow in 30 years here). Thus, there's no need to go full-bore snow tire here for a MINI. According to Nokian, the WR series of tires is the only all-season series that has qualifies for the Severe Service Emblem, which is given to tires which possess significantly improved traction in snow over standard tires, even those that are M+S rated. So The WR-G2 is a significant cut above the all-season pack.

The WR-G2 has some of the advantages of an all-season tire, especially in the full-density tread compound which should give good performance for more winter seasons than a partial thickness compound like the Blizzaks. The tread life should be better than a pure snow tire too, i expect.

The Wr-G2 are supposed to be the ultimate answer to winter slush, which tends to linger here in the Chicago area. The actual days of driving through fresh snow are probably fewer than ten per winter season, while the days of slush driving are easily double or triple that, in my opinion.

Aren't the Hakkapeliitta 4 studded tires, which are banned in Illinois? The RSi might have been a good choice, you're right (though i'm not sure it is offered in a size which would fit my holies).

I think you can have Hakka 4 witout studs.
Also, you can have RSi in 185/60/15 which is within 1% of OEM size.
I personally opted for the cheapest option available and picked up General Altimax Arctic at Tire Rack for $57/tire.
I've had it on for a day so can't really comment on it but yesterday's "test rides" were promissing.
I'm also coming from AWD cars so this is my first "Wrong Wheel Drive" on winter tires :) Previous winter tires on my subarus included Nokian RSi, Blizzak Revo1 and Dunlop M2.

Streets were not plowed for pretty much the entire day out in McHenry Co... I love the look from men in trucks as I blast past them in the MINI.
Such shock, disbelief, and if I am not mistaken, a twinge of jealousy!

EAT MY SLUSH!