have a set of seven holes (15") and thinking of running either 185/60/15 or 185/65/15's in the ws-50
i'm not interested in runnning different wheels or a different tire. just curious if anyone has run these on their MINI and your thoughts on them
thanks in advance!

 

I ran 185/65/15 in last year's NJ winter. I decided it was too extreme of a winter tire for what we drive in, so I got rid of the package, picked up some holies, and got the continental performance winter tire for this year.

I commute 35 miles on the TP and pkway, which are cleared very quickly after snow, so I found myself wishing I had a better performing tire 90% of the time. The tire is GREAT in snow and slush, but even if we have a heavy winter, I'm really only looking at using them maybe 15-20 days out of the span of thanksgiving to april. I think the performance winters should suffice for that type of use.

Hope this helps,

mb

Edit - here are some pics:

 

thanks!
still gonna run them on the car for the severe stuff....live in long valley and there are some NASTY hills that never get plowed so the best tire is needed

 

My aunt/uncle and cousins live in long valley. I'll PM you next time I'll be there, we can motor on some of the wonderful roads!

mb

 

While I haven't run them on my MINI I've been through 2 sets. One on my Forester & one on my wifes Audrey A4. They are a very good snow & ice tire. On dry & wet roads they are a bit too squirmy for my tastes. I've switched to Hakka 2's. They are far superior IMO. Go with the 185/65/15 in whatever tire you choose for winter.

 

I'm with Cranston on this. Get the 185/65-15. More sidewall to adsorbe all those winter potholes.

 

which Continentals are you running? how are they in snow slush?

thanks,

disco

 

I got the contiwintercontact ts810 based on its price and the research I did that showed me it wasn't inferior to the more expensive dunlop m3s. That said, I haven't put them on the car yet, but I will report as soon as they're on and we get some snow/slush.

I'm taking a trip to St. College in two weeks, and I don't think I want to risk going there in the middle of Nov. on F1-gsd3s, so the contis will be on soon. Plus, below 50 degrees these goodyears are a little more than scary compared to what they do when really warm.

mb

 

I ran ws-50s on my civic for 3 winters. They work great on snow... the more snow the better. They are no performance tire in dry... but then again, this was at 110mph.

I would definitely recommend them as a winter tire.
'06 JCW MCS... have had it for 1 day and am already ordering parts.

 

I have the ws-50 Blizzaks on my wife's vw cabrio.
Was using the stock contis (175/65/15) on the MINI the first few winters,
but just changed to Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2's in 195/60/15 on the holies,
which are a lot less mushy than the Blizzaks for the vast majority of the
winter when there's no snow.

 

I'd requested the WS50's but Tirerack sent me the REVO 1's on 15" alloy ASA five spokes.... I compared the two and they're pretty similar. All I can say is that the dedicated SNOW tires really make a difference in getting around. I was passing the dopey SUVs on the Palisades Parkway on my commutes to work in Dutchess County, NY last winter. :-) I'll be putting them on again just before our first snow this winter.

Currently rinning on Pirelli Euforia 205/45/17 RFs.