With winter-weather only a few months away (at least for us in VT), I have what I hope is a simple question.

In regards to winter tires, is it simply a matter of ordering a winter tire in the correct size or are there other considerations? Like do the rims need to be different?

For ex. my MINI tires are 175/65 R15

I found these over at TireRack.com

175/65 R15 Michelin X-Ice Xi2

Any reason why these couldn't be easily swapped with my summer tires like I do with my Honda?

I reckon they should be fine. A friend has a Cooper and she just gets her winter tyres swapped over onto the alloy rims each winter. I don't however know if her standard tyres are runflats or not. You may need to keep like for like as I'm not sure how they mount on the rims.

Last year I used a set of 175/55 r16's on my Cooper S. I bought a set on steels to swap over for my 17" alloys as it was less expensive that way.

175/65 R15 Michelin X-Ice Xi2

Any reason why these couldn't be easily swapped with my summer tires like I do with my Honda?
These will be fine on OEM 15" wheels.

Thanks much to both of you! Glad to hear it's just as simple as other cars.

So i know it's a little early for most people to be thinking winter, but i live in Michigan so i always need to be ready 2 months in advance (like the creator of this post). Plus, there's a website that i'm considering buying tires from that has a good deal on them right now so i guess i'll just be really prepared this year.

Anyway, the tires i'm trying to choose between are the Nokian WR-G2,
and the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R tires. Both available at Tiresbyweb.com

They both seem like really good tires but i'm at a loss as to which one i should get. If anyone has had any experience driving these tires on a 2009 Cooper S please let me know, your help would be greatly appreciated.

So i know it's a little early for most people to be thinking winter, but i live in Michigan so i always need to be ready 2 months in advance (like the creator of this post). Plus, there's a website that i'm considering buying tires from that has a good deal on them right now so i guess i'll just be really prepared this year.

Anyway, the tires i'm trying to choose between are the Nokian WR-G2,
and the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R tires. Both available at Tiresbyweb.com

They both seem like really good tires but i'm at a loss as to which one i should get. If anyone has had any experience driving these tires on a 2009 Cooper S please let me know, your help would be greatly appreciated.

I had studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta's and loved them on my Civic hatchback if that helps at all.

I sometimes hear people 'dissing Hakkapeliittas because they're expensive, but i was very very impressed with those. Best winter tire I've ever had.

Anyway, the tires i'm trying to choose between are the Nokian WR-G2,
and the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R tires.
My understanding, based on our Helsinki correspondent's advice, is that the WR-G2 are cold weather tyres intended for central European winters, so for wet/slushy (or indeed dry) roads as much as for snow, whereas Hakkapeliittas are full-on snow-and-ice tyres intended for Nordic winters.

I'm guessing a Michigan winter counts as Nordic, but I don't know. However I am just about to collect a set of WR-G2 for use in a British winter, so I think they may be a bit too 'baby' for a proper Merkan winter.

Have you considered buying some steel wheels for winter use? That way you don't have to keep swapping over tyres. If you are on summer runflats, constant removal CAN damage the side walls and MAY compromise the effectiveness of the runflat option (I was told this by a tyre fitter but don't know how bad the problem could be).
I have summer Conti Contact 3 RF and winter Bridgestone Blizzaks but on different rims.