Okay, I've been posting on various threads in the wheels + tires section of these forums for the past week or so asking a ton of questions. Yet I still feel like I have a few un-answered questions. Plus, I figure this new thread may be helpful for anyone else who is ordering custom wheels + tires online for their Mini.

Here it goes,

I have a 2008 Mini S
-I ordered a wheel and tire package online from discount tires (in southern CA).
-I ordered a TPMS sensor package as well

My question:
-Can I expect the TPMS sensors to work w/ my Mini? -I thought I read that I also need special valve stems as well as the sensor? Is this true?
-I want to get black lugs to match the wheels... where can I get black lugs and what size do I need?
-Hub Centric rings?? What are they and do I need a set?
-Centering rings?? are these the same as Hub centric rings? Do I need these as well???

...and I thought ordering wheels + tires was going to be easy!

 

The TPMS may work with your MINI. I bought mine from MINI to ensure this would be the case, YMMV. Stems are typically part of the kit, but are required.

I don't know where you can get black lugs, but you need 14x1.25mm Thread Pitch 27mm shank 17mm head lugs.

Hub centric rings are used to center a wheel onto the rotational axis of an axle. Wheels are either hub-centric or lug-centric. You'll have to consult your wheel documentation to determine which yours are. Centering rings are the same as hub-centric rings. If you require a set, your hub bore is 56mm. You'll need the size of the center section of the wheel to know what size to order, as they will convert 56mm to the size of the wheel center section...i.e. 56mm-60mm.

 

thank you this helps clarify things.

So, Iam having the wheel dealer order me a set of the TPMS sensors, ..he's getting them from the Mini dealer. I'll assume that they come w/ everything needed then.

I guess I'll know when I get my wheels if they need hub centric rings or not.

And thanks for the lug sizes.

There have been many aspects to ordering a set of wheels and tires that it's kind of complex to a newbie such as myself.

 

Here is a webpage explaining hubcentric vs lug centric ...

http://www.miata.net/garage/hubcentric.html

 

couldn't be clearer than that, thanks!

 

You're welcome. (I needed to learn about this as well. )