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I'm shopping for winter tires for my stock wheels. I was originally going to go with another set of Blizzak LM-60s but after checking Tire Rack, the Pirelli tire is $31 cheaper and 4 lbs lighter. Both have speed ratings of 130mph or higher. Anyone have any experience with the Sottozero?

Pirelli Winter 240 Sottozero Serie II

Blizzak LM-60

It looks like they still have the Bridgestone Blizzak WS60 available for your vehicle at $179 each which is only $10 more than the Pirelli.
I'm not certain how agressive you drive in snow, but that would be my choice for snow tires $99.9% of the time.
They won't win any autocross days, but there is almost nothing more sure-footed on snow and ice.

^^^ Agreed. I love my WS60's. Compared to the 50's, they are much better in the wet.

drwrx wrote:It looks like they still have the Bridgestone Blizzak WS60... They won't win any autocross days

No but the LM22's can...



I have run both WS series and LM series tires on the miata (older versions). For bad weather the WS are much better but during dry parts of the winter the LM's squeal much less going around turns.

The WS is only rated for 106mph. The LM is rated for 130, the Sottozero for 149. In the states I wouldn't care, but here...

After doing some more research I decided to give the Pirellis a try. They should be here the middle of October.

Keep us informed of your experience.
You never know when you'll be in the market for a set of snows.

Just got an email from Tire Rack, the Pirellis have been delayed and won't be in the warehouse till 11/04, that puts me till the end of November for delivery. That won't do so I'm going to have the order changed to the Blizzaks. I guess I'll go with the WS for the improved wet performance and I'll just have to keep it under 105 on the autobahn.

A "friend" told me he had his WS60's over a 100 a couple of times and was fine...

over 106?

Mr Kleen wrote:over 106?

He says "WAAAAY over 106... Something like 120ish..."

I have the LM-60's on my Infiniti G37-S. They worked out really well last season. I had great traction even on snow.

Just ordered my WS70's... woooooootttttt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have an appointment to have the tires installed on Friday. I tried to get Monday but they're slammed with everyone swapping to winters here.

On post or a domestic shop?

On the economy. The AAFES shop doesn't have a machine that can deal with run-flats, so instead of $60 it's going to cost €90.

Damn, that sucks!

Tire Rack let me down: They said 225/40R18 was the correct size but the tire installer wouldn't install them, said they would not fit. The stock sizes are 245/35R18 and 215/40R18.
Why didn't I double check the size?!?

FML

Preston at Tire Rack wrote:They are correct that the front and rear wheels are different widths, they would be 18x7.5" on the front and 18x8.5" in the back or your 135I. The tires we sold you have a width range of 7.5-9" though, so they should fit on both sizes without an issue.

Ze Germans refuse to install the tires and AAFEs can't install the tires. Yeah, that sounds about like my luck...

WTF man Is Tirerack going to allow you to return them and get the "proper" sizes?

According to Tire Rack they ARE the correct size. I've been a customer for well over 10 years and they've never steered me wrong.

They are probably within the 'good range'.

IIRC in Germany they are super particular about exactly matched sizes to OEM.

You'll have to mount them yourself, or find 'a guy'.

note : You're not the first person I've read having this issue (or for that matter, similar issues. I.E. using different offsets, or rotors, etc.)

-scheherazade

The guy who repaired my mirror might be able to mount them, but I won't know for sure till his shop opens on Monday.

Good old German customer service...

So my luck has learned to swim the Atlantic:

I took my car to the mechanic today to have the winter tires mounted. Not only was he unable to get the run-flat off of the rim but the tire pressure monitor sensor managed to come off and is rolling around inside the wheel. He put in a call to a friend that works at a different shop (BMW? Tire shop? who knows...) and is waiting for this person to send him a fax on what tire sized will fit my stock wheels (again with the reluctance to install anything other than the EXACT size that was removed). If, according to this fax, these tires fit he's going to try to get me in to his friend's shop to do the install and he offered to pay for the sensor if it's damaged in the drive over. At least he's been really nice about it.

I'm beginning to think I should abandon cars all together.

Here is hoping for good information in the fax.

Cool though that he isn't acting all German on you.

Just remind your luck that undocumented entry into a foreign country to commit subterfuge is a severe offense.