In December I put a set of Blizzaks on my 07 Justa.
(used 06 wheels that I had bought used which are 15s not
the 16s my car came with).

Since that time we have had two major snow events.
The first about 5 inches of snow. The second about 5
inches of snow but with a freezing rain crust on the top.

Each time the night before the snow came I would change the
tires out and then after everything melted I would put the street
tires back on. I used 30 lbs of pressure in the tires, filled in
a garage that was not freezing but not warm (warmer than outside
for sure).

My report: Blizzaks on hard packed "normal" snow drive almost
as well as street tires on pavement. It is actually impossible to
write here how well these things really did. Steering no problem.
Braking no problem. Going up hills no problem. There was many
an Explorer that was abandoned on my way home. Also, normally
I would have to go in the ruts that other cars make. But when it
snows it gets down to 2 lanes when it should be 4. I could easily
drive and steer on the lane with no pre carved ruts.

The only small downside is ground clearance. As time went on
I would be in the ruts for two lane travel (one each way) and the
bottom of my car would drag where the snow stays in the middle lane.

Not too expensive. I gave $200 and a bicycle for the wheels, which
came with new contis on them (used them up long ago). Just
over $300 shipped mounted and balanced (if you include the
$50 rebate card) from TireRack.

I was not reckless at all. But I had no trouble going 40 mph
when the speed of the cars I was passing was maybe 10ish.
The other big big thing. I did not have to wait at the top of
one hill to rush down into the valley to go up the next one.
So I just went around the line of stopped people (in the non rut
lane) and went merrily on my way.

 

In wintry conditions, it is more important to be able to stop than go.

Take a look at this Denver pile-up. The problem was people not being able to stop.

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_25...ys-unravel-say

 

Yup...
Snowtires on a MINI = Good time in the snow....
Once you have used modern snow tires you wonder WHY you ever put up with white knuckle drives with your old all seasons tires!!
Frankly, good to hear it worked out for you!! Heck....this past winter was a great year to have them!! When you posted a few months ago...I was kinda skeptical based on your location...but heck, with the polar vortex cold and snow so far south...even Atlanta having 2 storms....great year to have a set!!
Great post!! Love success stories!!
And the great thing about modern snow tires....THEY GRIP ICE/SNOW...AND HELP YOU STOP ALMOST AS GOOD AS ON PAVEMENT!!!

 

Thanks to everyone helping me work it out!

I should have mentioned about braking. I had no trouble with normal braking.
I did test emergency stopping on hard packed snow as well as snow with a
layer of ice. The car shudders terribly and the warning triangles appear but
you do stop.

I did not require emergency stopping on the roadway as 1. I usually had the
lane to myself or 2. I would leave 20 car lengths distance.

 

I'm on my third winter using Michilen pilot alpins. They'll be done this year. Probably 15k miles over 3 winters. I put them on Nov1 ish, and off in April. That ain't bad.

Great tire.

 

I'm not entirely certain why you change them out. Even without snow on the ground snow tyres will give you a lot better braking on cold pavement then normal all season tyres. For this reason even in Seattle I use them from late November until usually April

 

this is true. snow tires are manufactured with different rubber compounds specifically for cold weather.

summer tires are not meant to perform well in freezing temps.

glad to hear they worked well for you though. another less expensive option i happen to like is the Mastercraft Glacier Grip.

 

I change them because we only have snow for 2-3 days at a time and then the temps can easily go back to warm. It's 75F tomorrow and something like 45F on Friday.
These things drive terrible above even 50F.

Plus right now I drive 100+ miles a day and I want them to last.