I'm taking possession of a 2019 Countryman JCW hopefully later this week and given that it's end of October and I'm in Canada I am looking around at my options for winters (car is coming with the performance 19" wheels). My dealer is telling me my only option from them is the 18" winter set they sell (Blizzak LM001 Run-Flats on the 18" JCW THRILL SPOKE 529) and they say that their various 17" options will NOT fit over the front brakes. I would prefer to have a smaller wheel for winter though and now I'm reading online that the front brakes are in fact the same as the 'S' front brakes just painted red ... or is that only true for R60? Does the F60 actually have larger brakes in the front that would require a 18" minimum wheel? Is my dealer just trying to up-sell me? Honestly I'm debating just throwing steelies on it for winter to same some cash but that all depends on whether they fit - all the online configurators (e.g. TireRack) don't even list wheel options for Countryman JCW so there seems to be a large lack of information out there.

 

To follow-up on this, I have learned that the F60 JCW Countryman does in fact have larger brakes than the S model and that the ONLY wheels that will fit this vehicle are the two options offered from MINI. It is not a diameter issue, it's an offset issue. The MINI wheels are 'dish' shaped (or convex) which leaves room for the brake calipers to protrude out more. My local third-party BMW/MINI service shop called around to all their wheel suppliers and they all said the same thing - they don't have a wheel that will fit this vehicle. It should be possible to make other wheels work with the use of wheel spacers to adjust the offset and add more room but this will introduce different handling characteristics and possibly have problems with rubbing on the fenders. Normally spacers are used to adjust the offset of one wheel to match another (so that the tire is physically in the same location on either) but in this case we're using it to push them out further to add space behind for the caliper. Lots of unknowns here so I'm not going to risk it and will just go with the MINI approved option.

 

There are a ton that fit 3rd gen JCWs. Should be the same as the F56 no? If not disregard the rest of this lol

Here is a thread...I only browsed it but seemed to be popping up with non-spacered wheels after not long. Be willing to bet they called nobody at all. If the last poster threw on 17x7.5 et45 wheels (one of the most common wheel specs ever), then it only comes down to the spoke design to clear the calipers.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-wheels-2.html

 

I think we're focused on the F60 JCW Countryman. I have a 2018 and am wrestling with the same issue before this winter.

The latest BMW X1 is on the same platform. TireRack shows options for the X1. Wondering if an 18"x7.5" wheel with a 45mm offset would work. There is one reasonably priced option on that site. Not sure how to check if a wheel is "dish" shaped online.

Using online wheel/tire calculators shows that the 45mm offset would push it out ~1/4" from stock. I'm concerned that a 17" option may be too tight.

 

 

 

Any chance you would know what size spacer worked?

Bringing this thread back to life since winter will be here before we know it!

 

I agree that it’s a good idea bringing this thread back to life! I just started this morning researching some winter tires for my wife’s f60 CS All4. I am looking at the Bridgestone Blizzak
LM001’s. From what I’ve read they seem to be a very good choice for “high performance” cars like ours. My ‘16 f56 JCW has waaay too much hp, and torque to drive in the winter. So after our first snow it will be delegated to the garage. Right now however my car is really digging the ~30 degree temps!

 

I'm ordering the 529 winter wheel set and they come with the Blizzak LM001s, I think Mini agrees that they're the appropriate winter tire if you're looking in the winter performance category.

 

Ok, after plenty of research and purchases and measuring and measuring again, I have snow tires mounted on aftermarket wheels bolted to our 2018 (F60) MINI Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works. Long story short: the secret is wheel spacers for the fronts only.

As mentioned earlier, the challenge with the JCW version of the F60 Countryman is the sheer size of the front brake calipers. They're significantly larger than what's on the base and S models of the F60 Countryman and the beautiful MINI 529 wheels are shaped specifically to handle these calipers. Otherwise, aftermarket wheels will damage the inside edge of the calipers closest to the center of the hub.

We went through TireRack and bought ALUTEC Monstr wheels, size 18x7.5 with a 5x112 bolt pattern and a 45mm offset (to push them out as far as possible from the hub and ultimately away from the caliper). Very happy with the quality of the wheels and the powder coating. These are stamped "Germany" so it's nice to keep it European just like the MINI. The wheels came with centering rings for the 66.6mm hub, but the wheel spacers scrubbed away that benefit (see the next paragraph).

In order to clear the calipers with the same clearance as the 529 wheels, a 7mm wheel spacer does the trick. A 5mm spacer might also work, but it's just a little bit closer to the caliper than I wanted. Unfortunately, a spacer will pretty much eliminate the 66.6mm hub mounting lip, so (and this is very important) wheels must be mounted *with care* in order to avoid damaging the calipers. I bought and use a 14x1.25 thread wheel hanger (AKA alignment tool) to help out. Just need to notify the dealer that the front wheels need some TLC when they're taken off and put back on.

New lug bolts with an extended shank are absolutely required in order safely bolt the wheels on. With 7mm wheel spacers, 14x1.25 lug bolts with a 40mm shank (12mm longer than stock) work fine and have enough meat to safely thread into the hub.

With this combo, you can run whatever tires you want. With 225/50R18 tires, the whole package fits under the fenders fine and does not rub on anything. Be sure to have 433.92 MHz tire pressure sensors installed and then everything plays nicely.

Hope this helps. In the end, the 529 winter package from MINI might be worth going for just for the sake of simplicity and a factory look. But using the wheel spacers will save $500 to $1000 depending on what tires you go for.

Cheers.

 

Maybe just me being naive about what to expect from a moderately powerful fwd hatch, but I've got to say, in damp cold conditions I'm struggling to find any meaningful front end grip. The tyres are in good shape, about 5mm with 10k on them, P-Zero 225/45 R17 non-runflats. Constantly having to nurse it off the line, nurse it through second and only in third can I relax a little and nail it properly. Even then he lights up from time to time over a bump or a bit of water. On the positive side, the rear will step out quite nicely when provoked on big roundabouts at a low enough speed to provide a real giggle, and any traction control doesnt seem at all noticeable and comes in pretty gently. Are a set of winter tyres in order, do they really make that much difference between -5 and +10 on damp roads (forget snow, it doesnt happen around here), or is it just how it is with a fat torquey engine unless you have a 4WD Golf R, S3 etc?

 

Temperature matters. May I suggest the Continental DWS06+ might be better? I find they have significantly more cold weather grip than any of my favorite TW200 tires (e.g. the Falkens I am now running).

Cheers,

Charlie

 

Your dealer is likely correct that 17" wheels won't clear the JCW's front brakes on the F60 Countryman. Unlike the R60, the F60 JCW does have larger front brakes than the Cooper S, requiring a minimum of 18" wheels. Some owners have found aftermarket 17" wheels that fit, but it's risky without confirming the exact offset and spoke clearance. If you want to save money, consider looking for a used set of 18" winter wheels or aftermarket options that meet JCW specs. Steelies are unlikely to fit due to the brake size and offset requirements. Checking with Mini-specific forums or a trusted wheel/tire shop might give you more verified fitment options.