Okay... so if I go with the 16 x 7 wheels and the summer perf tires, do you think I should go with a different offset, or should I go with a 55 profile to keep it from looking lifted ?

 

I'm having new tires (another set of Kumho ASXes) put on my summer wheels tomorrow. I'm excited

 

Replacing your tires with the same ones, Mel ? You must like those Kumhos a lot.

 

Yah, I would do the stock size 195/55/16 if I was going to do summers and not lowered.

Summer tires are much wider than all-season tires due to the broad shoulders.

 

Well... in width 195/55/16, you're pretty much limited to all-season performance tires. I'm looking to switch to summer tires.

There's really not many tires available in 205/60.

Looks like my best options are available in size 205/55/16. I'm thinking that's enough of a profile to prevent too much space between the tire and the fender trim.

I'm leaning toward the Fuzion ZRi and those Team Dynamic wheels with a 45mm offset.

But right now, I'm too tired to think about it. I'll think about it tomorrow. Or the next day.

 

Yah, 205/55/16 will appear too meaty.

I honestly think you'll be much happier with your car if you lower it and get the +45mm 16x7 and run 205/50/16's.

In fact, if you do lower it, will look even better with a 16x7.5 wheel.

 

Oy... now you're going to have me go out and get some lowering springs.

Ka-Ching !!! $$$$$$$$

 

Well... damn... I thought I was running 195/55/16s on my MINI right now but I just checked and I switched to 205/50/16s when I dropped my run-flats 25,000 miles ago.

They look fine. MINI doesn't look like it's in dire need of lowering. Of course, those summer tires, as you said, won't have a rounded shoulder so the appearance will be slightly different.

 

Yah, how about doing BBS CV's like me? They are 17x7.5 +37mm and very cool. tires are Dunlop SportMax 205/45/17. Very wide for 205/45's that's for sure. and grips very well.

Btw, the teamdynamics wheels won't look as great as the photos cause the spokes are much shorter on the 16's. Something to think about.

 

1. Not sure I want to go to a 17" wheel on a JustaCooper.

2. One of the main reasons I'm buying a second set of wheels/tires is to go with a white wheel. Doesn't appear that BBS comes in white.

 

I have 205/50/16s. They look fine and ride well.

 

Jeeeeesh... I lay off the boards for a few hours and you girls go wild.

I know this has never happened before... but I'll have to disrespectfully disagree with ken on the Nitto Neo Gens - I don't know which tires ken tried and hated, but the Neo Gens rock - especially for the price. MANY folks on NAM agree with me. I'm still loving mine after several mountain runs, two track days and a ton of street miles. They're quiet, grippy, totally predictable, wear well (for a soft treadwear tire) and look kinda cool. They're designed specifically for cars with negative camber.

NOT the best tire you can buy. And NOT *GREAT* track tires (they like to roll over too much for my liking on the track - not on the street). But best value hands down IMHO.

So, ken's nuts.

 

Hey Paul, thanks for the input.

I don't track my MINI, so that's not a problem. I take it on some twisties and do drive it aggressively some of the time. So I'm thinking those would be a pretty good choice for a summer perf tire.

Still not sure on my wheel choice. By the time I racked up the shipping charges and those Team Dynamic wheels came out to about $750 for the four of them. For my use, maybe more wheel than I really need. Might look around a bit more but there doesn't seem to be too many options for white wheels.

Signed,

one of the girls.

 

ML- yah, your wheel width is narrower and conservative offset so it probably looks ok on your car. also could be that the tire shoulders are not as aggressive as others.

when you add width to the wheel suddenly your 205 tires become much wider. Then you further emphasize using wider shoulder tires, more offset, then your car appears like a 4x4 if you don't lower it.

Blimey- I've tried several Nitto tires in the past. One was the NT501's and there were couple others... I can't remember the numbers but they all shared the common flaw of breaking loose without much warning. That is why I don't feel like trying any more Nitto's. If you like your Neo's that's great, but such tire in my opinion belongs on a cheap tuner car like a FitS. get some real tires if you luv your car!

One tire id like to try in the future is the tire Autoxcooper has on his ride. They are Cooper tires. Can't remember the model name but he said works great for street and autox. . And they looked pretty good.

 

I see... I donno, I guess if I must have white wheels in 16's, I might just have the stockers painted.

I mean, ML's happy with the 205's on her stock ride height and she likes those Kumho's right? Tires are so different due to the shoulder design that unless your lowered it's a hit or miss.

So it's a sound choice? plus she said she's getting them at a bargain. bargain is good on a dd. I speak from experience.

 

Yup, I think TR has them for $63/each but I can get them locally with install for like $98...works out to be the same after shipping and install.

 

hey ML did you get your tires mounted?

hey im liking my Fusions. it's only got like 25miles still
but it was gripping pretty damn well this am in the
rain. considering they have "Uni-T" design, this
is a Bridgestone brand, not sumitomo as i originally
thought.... no wonder i like them so much.

RE050A PP's and S03's have been my favorite tires
for a while. their Uni-T design is pretty impressive
stuff in the rain.


http://www.thefuzionzone.com/

 

motored my G this am after touching up some spots on my white FitSport's hood.

QD'ed the G afterwards. was a nice drive. going to Slick the
wheels later on.

Then washed the white FitS, hydro'ed. was going to detail it today
but wife's taking the kids out to the touch-a-truck day in town...plus,
it's too dang hot. 80F, very high humidity. had to take a quick shower
after i was done washing it.

chillin' right now... need to order another gallon of SpeedShine.

 

Washed my CR Cooper in a light rain this morning and then mixed some Cut with Swirl to get out some nasty bird-**** stains. Worked well.

Then I helped a nice young lady from here on NAM install some bonnet stripes on her MCS. They look great... Black, separated pins, on Electric Blue. But the stripes had been in her car for a long time and had some nasty bubbles and creases in the vinyl. Worked around all but one particularly nasty crease. Still looks nice though.

Now I'm off to do some work on the S.O.'s condo. Have a good day, my OCDetailer friends !

 

Just washed and Hydro'd Blimey. Used the Griot's soap sprayer... I think it takes me about the same amount of time as the two-bucket wash, but saves me from lugging a second bucket around... I still use one to rinse. But the soap solution at the beginning of the wash is way more concentrated than at the end... Gotta drop my exhaust and header this afternoon and find leak(s) and fix...

 

You need a Bucket Caddy, Paul !

Chores done over at the condo. Now I have to go at my bonnet with some Amigo and then get coat of Epic on it.

Trying to get some relaxation time to watch the US Open before it gets rained out again today.

 

looks like you guys had a busy saturday too.

blimey- i think you'll get the hang of it real soon. wat i usually do is after using the 'center' mode to spray soap, i immediately turn the dial to 'water' and 'shower' mode before i set the nozzle down.

on my dd's i dont use a bucket and wash in 3 steps.

step1 soap up the roof windshield, driver side windows, rear window, front door, side, boot. turn dial to water/shower, grab mitt, work the soap, rinse the car, rinse the mitt. with the griot's wash i dont get much swirls even if i dont rinse the mitt while doing a large area.

step2: soap up the hood(bonnet), front driver side fender area, front bumper, passenger side fender area. turn dial to water/shower, grab mitt, work the soap, rinse.

step3: soap up the entire passenger side. turn dial to water/shower, grab mitt, work the soap, rinse.

wipe down the car, do the wheels with the remaining soap in 'shower' mode.

dont worry about the splashes of soap that gets on the other sections of the car while working in sections, just shower the soap down after you're done with steps. i wash like this even in the sun. no issue cause im pretty quick. maybe 5-6min to wash the body and dry. 3-4min to wash the wheels. so if im just washing the car, done in about 10-12min.

 

I wanna' see a Video of this!! That's mighty fast for washing a MINI, I thought I was quick, but you got me beat!! My Bridgespoke's are what take me the longest, even with Griot's Finger Mitt.

 

Not yet, they came in on Friday morning and I haven't gotten a chance to get over there to get them on. They're here though!

 

RJ- nono, that's on my dd's. When I wash my MCS, once or twice a year, I take my dandy time. I don't usually wash my garage queens.

ML- woooo! Sounds like you gotz a exciting week coming up.

Happy Fathers Day to all you fathers!

I got my dbx EQ for my music gear, nice card, and just got done with dinnner. Woooah, that was a lot of goood food. teppanyaki kenchan style.