I have decided to put studded tires on my 2011 MCS stock 16" wheels and buy a set of 17" or 18" wheels for summer tires. Before anyone tries to talk me out of studs on my MCS, I will let you know I am ready to defend this decision.
I live in a rural part of Eastern Washington. I drive a minimum of 70 miles a day along the Columbia river and sometimes a lot further on really rustic farm roads. I encounter a LOT of ice, black ice, packed snow and ice, wet ice, icy ice. I NEED studs. My 2 Jeeps run all terrain tires and work well in snow. One is a Commander, and it's AWD and heavy, it does okay on ice, but the Mini is so light and FWD, I am running studs.

So I have 2 sets picked out. Both Nokian, I am leaning towards the Hakkapeliitta 8's, but the Nordman 5 are quite a bit cheaper.

Here are links to some I found on Ebay. Not sure if it is where I'll buy, but so far it's the best deal I have found. I can mount and balance them myself.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/222146021718?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
http://www.ebay.com/itm/331876253444?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
They both have the same load and speed index. I know the 5's are and older design, I am looking for some feedback from someone who has used both.

D

 

If you're good w/ studs, there is no beating the Haakas, period.

 

I bought the Hakka 8's with studs. I am unstoppable in the snow and on the ice. Hands down best snow tire I have ever driven on.
I learned to drive in Anchorage, then spent 4 years driving on ice for 7 months of the year. I have also lived in the Cascade mountains for the past 20 years. I drive well on slippery stuff, I have had "good" snow tires plenty of times, but never any as good as these.

$630 shipped from Tiresbyweb.com $20 each for mount and balance.

 

x2 - Hakka 8's are unstoppable unless you float the car in deep snow & they can't touch the ground.

 

I hear that. I am also worried about the snow "boulders" that fall off the semi trucks, and hidden objects in un-plowed parking lots and driveways. I ordered a Rennsport skid plate weeks ago directly from Rennsport and it has been on back order for ever. I hope I get it soon. I also got a VIP 4 light rallye light mount, 2 Hella 750FF driving lights, 2 Hella 500 fog lights, Optilux yellow foul weather bulbs in 85 Watts for the fogs, and Rallye Armor mud flaps.
Now it just needs to thaw out and warm up enough to clean the car up and install this stuff.