Searched the forum to no avail. The car has 205/45/17 run-flats. Do you use the same size for a winter tire or different. Also, which winter tires are you using. All info appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

William

 

Bridgestone Blizzakz on 15" rims

 

I bought the same package deal from Tirerack... 15" steel rims with 195/60R-15 Bridgestone Blizzak Revo-1's. I just put them on this weekend. My usual rims are stock 17" minilites with stock 205/45R-17 runflats. I took it out for a test drive afterwards and was shocked by the change in ride/handling. I knew it would be different but just not by this much. First the ride is somewhat softer. Moreso than I expected...not Cadillac or anything but definitely can tell the difference.

The biggest change was in handling though. The poor Mini handles like my old Subaru now. The back end wallows like a pig and turn in takes a lot longer. I actually checked my tire pressures again when I got back from the test drive to make sure I didn't have a tire going down! It does track fine in rutted pavement though... better than stock. I guess I have concluded that I'll put these tires on only when snow/ice is expected (which isn't often in Seattle) and put my stockers back on for the majority of the time. Sorry, I don't have a photo... just picture plain black wheels with no hubcaps and you pretty much have it.

 

In general, you want to use thinner tires like a 195 because it cuts through the snow better. It really doesn't matter what size wheel you use, unless you have a BBK. I have the R105s, so I decided to use my S-Lites as my snow wheels and have 205/40/17 Perelli Snow Sport I think, I know they are Perelli and are RFs.

 

William, here's a link to a snow tire discussion.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=60191

For me it's 185/65/15 Hakka 2's.

 

HAL9000,

Every Upstate NY MINI owner who I talked to and who drives their "pride and joy" thru the winter says they are great in the snow (not too deep, of course). I did quite a bit of research on snow tires and rims, including MINI rims and my MINI dealer's "winter wheel package".

The Tardis has John Cooper Works brakes, so it can not use MINI's 15" or most of their 16" rims. I wanted to get rims "one size down" from my 17" summer wheel size (i.e., 16" ones) to get a little more "sidewall pothole protection". And, of course, I wanted good looking allow rims.

As far as the tires go, I also wanted to go "one size down" on the tire's width (i.e., 205s down to 195s). This a standard practice for better foul weather traction. The Tardis has Pirelli run-flat summer performance tires and Pirelli's non-run-flats have very good customer ratings and testing results.

I worked up a winter wheel package on the Tire Rack consisting of Pirelli Winter 210 Sottozero Run-Flats (195/55HR-16) on O.Z. Michelangelo 8s (16x7 in Bright Silver) for ~$1100. They look great on my CR/S MINI (maybe better than my Silver R99s). Fitment and ride is exceptional (although I have only encountered heavy rain and some slush so far).

A family member has Bridgestone Blizzaks with lots of winter weather driving on them, so I heartily recommend them, too. But, I thought the Pirelli's were less than comperable Blizzak run-flats. From the tread patterns, it looks like her Blizzaks (do not recall the model) may be better in deeper / "packier" snow.

 

That is what I like to hear....

I got myself a pair of 15" holies on ebay...400 inc shiping with conti all seasons....ran the all seasons till they were gone and then put on my blizzakz on....they are perfect!!!

O sorry, ok JCW kit....17" blizzakz on some s lites or some cheep aftermarket wheel...something you dont mind gettting beat up....