So... it's snowing here in cincinnati and i'm still riding on my dunlop direzzas! EEK! lol, so I'm hunting down the best deal for 4 steel wheels mounted up to some decent snow tires. Talked to tire rack and he was hard selling me blizzaks with steelies, shipped for 800$. Surely there is a cheaper way to go for snow tires/wheels right?

Thanks guys!

 

Craiglist, MINI Marketplace, sometimes pop up. 15" are the best for winter as you will high the highest side wall and skinny tires. Great combo.

We can get you steelies here : MINI has some some options and styles.








https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...size-rims.html


But for tires, we dont carry them , get some Pirelli winter-carvers, Blizzak WS, or nokian's (if you can find them ) .

 

Nice! I have the Direzza's as well. Blizzaks are also my recommendation for winter snow tires (good comparison info here with other tire options). You can search maybe in the marketplace or craigs list for a used set. Or, you could buy the tires and use your current wheels. This is what I do as I have a 2nd set of wheels for something else and don't need a 3rd set in my garage.

 

15 inch steelies would be the best, and I like Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2's on my R53. I got a set of 16 inch aluminum oem wheels for free so that was an easy choice for wheels. If you can find a local MINI club or group you might be able to score a used set of wheels for $200 or less.

 

Actually, that looks like a good deal from TireRack for mounted/balanced/shipped:

$49 for 16" steel wheels
$116.20 for Blizzaks
$33 for shipping (or pick up in South Bend, IN)
no sales tax

You could go with Continental WinterContact SI for $100.10 if you can't fit 15" and/or buy used locally.

 

finding rims locally are easy, a really good usually cheaper winter tire are the general altimax. I haven't run them yet, but my buddies have and my GF, and they work great, most likely ill be getting them next when my winter graspics and nexens are toasted. hakkapaletas are nice, hard to get and usually very expensive. blizzaks are also very good, and I think you would want the ws70, not the 80. I think the 80 is designed more for ice conditions and you loose some dry conditions.


also its not necessary to run skinny winter tires. I run 215's right now with 17's, and I have no issues. tires are more expensive tho. and I plan on dropping to 16's or even 15's if I can find some wheels that I like.


so to save on wheels just swap out your 17's and save for new wheels over the winter, keep the OEMs for winter and aftermarkets for the summer

 

I bought a spare set of rims off of e-bay for $260 shipped, exactly the same as the ones that came on my MINI. Then had a set of Blizzaks fitted to them at my local Best One tire for about $360 (after rebates). Love the Blizzaks. Never let me down thru 2 of the worst winters in recent years, and I use the Coop every day.

 

205/55R-16 Pirelli Winter 210 Sottozero
Mounted : 16x6.5 5-114 et50 cb64 st new

Found this combo for 300$.... These fit okay on the mini ?

 

5-114???? gen 1 coopers are 4x100

 

Yea, 4x100 56.1 CB gen 1

 

Just checked TireRack myself. A set of 15" steelies and 195/60 Blizzak WS70's + free mounting and balancing comes to $693 shipped. Sounds like a good deal to me.

 

Craigslist will turn up something if you have some time to wait. Buying with shipping fees really adds up. I looked for about a week until the right deal came up.

 

My first check for winter tires was the local classifieds - Kijiji in my case.

I was glad I checked, because I got a deal I was happy with. I found a lightly used set of Continental Extreme Contact tires on alloy wheels for less than the cost of new off brand winter tires on steel wheels. They were only 10 minutes away, ready to bolt on. They were originally purchased off of Tire Rack.

 

195/55/15 Michelin x-ice? found a barely used set localy for 150$.
think these will work?

 

Those will lower your car 1/2 inch. It's already a snow plow in deeper snow.

 

they will work, I don't think that size is too much different in size of what your running. if you choose to go look at them, verify that the siping is still there, and theres usually 2 sets of wear bars, make sure its showing both of those.


the tire calculator on this site can give you the speedo differences. I plow with my car all the time, don't worry about it. our cars are awesome in the snow with snow tires

 

siping?

I also found a set of Miata runs that are 4x100 and 15"...
50$ for all 4 man!! might just grab these tires and get them mounted up ��

 

 

so that % difference is the difference in your speedo. be aware that the bore on a Miata isn't the same as a mini, it may make it tougher to mount the wheels. but you can get hub centric rings to replace them, shouldn't be a big deal

 

We currently run Blizzaks here in snowy West Michigan (lake effect snow) 14" in my drive way but the year B-4 we had Michelin X-Ice-2 and I liked them better. Tire-rack offers great deals on complete sets. (steel with tires)

 

I've been running the Arctic Generals for several years on my R53 and liked them so much I picked up another set this year for my R60. I'd happily recommend them and say you should save yourself a hundred bucks or more compared to a set of other tires.

 

Im also looking for new tires. This will be my first winter with my mcs r53 and i dont know what to expect. I have all season tires and live in Long island NY.
has anyone ever had all season tires in the winter?

 

I'm curious, what are the specific characteristics of the X-Ice that make you like them more than the Blizzaks?

 

all seasons are fine if you don't see all that much snow, being long island, I don't think you get quite as much as we do over here in NH, and im sure if you guys do you have a decent crew to clean up the roads. I need snow tires since some of the roads don't get plowed right away. and ive been out in blizzard nemo with all seasons, while they work (depending on the all season) winter tires wil definently work better, they are a no compromise tire for winter.


allseasons have to give up snow traction for comfort and mileage. same with overall grip in the summer

 

yea they do clean up the road fast. and so far we havent had any snow at all. last year when i still didnt have the mini i saw many minis driving in the snow with no problem.