Here's the deal: I have a buddy who wants to sell me 4 WS 50 Blizzak snow tires (195/60/R15) with steel wheels and hubs for $350. He used to have them on his '99 Saab SE, but is moving to Miami (lucky bastard!).

A guy at the corner service station has 4 WS 50 Blizzaks (195/65/R15) without the wheels or hubs for $225.

My questions: Are these sizes compatible with my Cooper? And, if so, which is the better deal?

Any advice would be forever appreciated,
-Slippin' & Slidin' in Detroit

 

The 195/60/R15 tires would fit, but it's unclear (to me) if the steel wheels from the Saab have the correct bolt pattern and offset. Obviously you need to check that. Can someone else help??

The 195/65/15 tires may fit...but they're not what's recommended as far as I know.

In BOTH cases, you want to find out how many miles are on the tires! As you hopefully know, Blizzaks have a special ice traction compound that wears off when the tire is only 25% - 50% worn. After that, they still have 75% - 50% life as a regular all-season tire, but DO NOT have the characteristics that you want for a true winter tire. When new, on ice, I think they're great...but just make sure that they're new enough.

I can tell you that I got 4 of the 195/60/15 Blizzaks mounted and balanced on steel wheels from TireRack for around $450 (included shipping). So, unless these used tires and wheels are pretty new, you may be simply better off buying them new.

 

Thanks jsun!
I did NOT know about that special ice traction compound on the Blizzaks. I also did not consider the possible bolt pattern difference between a Saab and my Coop.
As usual, you folk here on MCO rock!

 

There are tie bars called stow platforms on blizzaks. these show you inbetween the treads when the multi cell compound is exausted. When the snow platforms are level, your dealing with a more traditional hydrophylic winter tire compound. Saab also may have a 4 lug configuarion, but its on a wider spread than your MC.

Dan

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MCO tire and wheel forum Moderator

 

Well then, since Dan also posted on another thread that TireRack doesn't have any more Blizzaks this season, you MAY want to check out those used 160s (Dan, did you mistype when you said that 160s were "a bit tall"...didn't you mean the 165s were tall??) to see if the snow bars are showing. If the tires are still good, then buy 'em and just pick up 4 steel MINI wheels from someplace (maybe TireRack still has the wheels). Alternatively, there are other snow tires out there...check out some of the other winter tire threads.

It sounds pretty dangerous to be sliding around Detroit on your performance runflats And I have a feeling that winter may last until April this year...