I think I'm alone here... but I happen to really like the STD 15" 5-Star Spooler wheels so much that I ordered my new Mini with them. Please keep in mind, I am not a fast driver and a bit of a minimalist in nature...

I can totally understand why people like bigger wheels - they make the car look meaner or faster or perform more like a race car. But I was wondering if anybody out there feel the same way as me? I never see any photos of Minis on this site with the stock 5" 5-Star Spooler. So I am going to start a club and here it is! 15" 5-Star Spooler fans rejoice!!

 

Good for you Anthony!!

I run 15's on my daily driver, nice and light and quick!!

Carry on!

 

Save your spine, flex the sidewalls!

 

I'm a fan. Light and simple. Kinda of a pain to clean the crevices, though.

 

EXACTLY! Light and simple! That's what I think when I see them. Glad to hear that I'm not alone here... haha I'll post a photo as soon as I get my mini sometime next month..

 

Yes, I think the 15" 5-Star Spooler wheels are the best looking ones, and really complement the retro styling of the MINI. As an added bonus, they come with non-run-flats, and probably provide the most comfortable ride. It'd be interesting to know what percentage of new owners opt for the standard wheels.

 

After some test driving, they definitely are most comfortable and with the all-seasons, fun to make them squeal.

I suspect a lot of new owners get the standard tires, but if we started a poll here on NAM, that's another story.

 

good for you - 15 inchers rule . . . My '06 Cooper came with the 15" "holeys." When I wanted to go with somewhat wider tires, I got 15" BBS RGFs - 10.6 lbs. I drove Coopers with the big, heavy rims before I bought, and when you're dealing with 115Hp or so, light makes a difference. The ride is great too, and I agree, the classic 5 spokes on the Mk2 cars look good

 

...another vote for the stock wheels / tires. They give a good ride for a small car, handle very well, are fairly quiet, and I don't have to worry about a bent rim every time I hit a pothole. When it's time to replace the tires, they'll be a bargain, as well!
As for cleaning, they're a lot easier to clean than those multi-spoked aftermarket wheels everyone seems to love! I just use regular car wash (Mother's), and an old lambswool mitt, and they clean right up.

 

I got the standards. REALLY wanted the S-Winder but was peeved to find out could only get that on an S. Was then planning on the 15" Rotator Spoke, but was (again) peeved that it could only be had with non-all-season tires!

Didn't like the pics on the configurator of the standard wheel at all. Once I got to the showroom and saw them in person, I actually liked it a lot!

 

they're great, but... they need wider rubber than OE. Not much wider, but wider.

Also, a long bristle brush can get those crevices no problem!

 

There are no crevices on the Star Spooler wheels, unless you're talking about the inside of the rims, and I gave up on cleaning there long ago, since you can't clean the inside properly without removing the wheel. That's way too much work for me.

 

You know the point where the spoke part touches the outer rim? I think they mean the two outer edges of that area are a little bit of a pain to clean. but a flat wheel cleaning brush works pretty good.

 

Exactly. I marked the areas in red in the pic below. I agree it must be easy to clean if you happen to have the right brush, but I never seem to have one handy after a car wash (automatic I confess ) and my fat fingers are useless. Any recommendations where to get an appropriate brush? I got some at a local store that didn't work well because one tip was to flimsy to scrub and the other didn't fit.

 

Consider something like this, small, easy to store (stick it in the hatch, keep in car), available at WalMart/Target... just get one with soft bristles. On most of these you can even bend it to make the job easier.



Note for detailing fanatics: nylon bristles can microscopically scratch paint so cleaning a car finish with a brush is not recommended IF you want mirror-finish paint all the time. For wheels on daily drivers, though, these work fine. A little car wax when you're done (don't get it on the brakes) will even help the wheels STAY cleaner. Once your warranty's out, switch to lower-dust brake pads (until the warranty's up, the brake pads are covered as wear items in the maintenance portion - changing brakes means they won't replace the pads if the wear out before the maintenance period is up).

 

I get into those areas with a loosly fitted lambswool mitt and plenty of sudsy car wash soap. If that doesn't work, try small foam-tipped applicators. You can get them cheap in the makeup aisle at the supermarket or drug store. I paid about $2 for six double tipped applicators, which are clear plastic with a rounded foam tip. I don't use them for the outside of the rims, but they work great around the lug bolts. They would probably work in those areas you highlighted as well if a mitt doesn't fit.

 

I've been using Griot's Garage short-handle boar's hair brush on my rims for years. Get's into crevices, will not scratch any wheel finish, and the product itself is very, very well made - hasn't lost a single bristle as near as I can tell.

 

I've got the 15" 5-Star Spoolers. Not sure how I feel about them. They are definitely better in person than in the photos in the configurator. When I first got my MC, I planned on replacing them, but now I'm not so sure. I think they're beginning to grow on me.

 

These seem like the 'hollies' for the 2nd gen car. Lightness rules, so don't ever get rid of them. They will someday be in high demand like the hollies are now.

 

That's funny. I HATED holeys at first, but now I really like them. The simplicity is nice. Hopefully, it's the same with the Spoolers.

 

You think Spoolers are hard to clean.



The little slat in each spoke is tiny. I have to get a small rag and feed a corner through and..... Its not fun. However, I just ordered new Konig Feathers in black! My R93 Rockets will be demoted to being winter wheels.

 

I can't claim to be a secret admirer of the the 5-spoke 15's, but I always loved the "holey" 15's. I was actually looking for a car with them and found a nice blue one, but then found my MCS with 30k less miles on it for the same price, so I would have been crazy to buy the base model. Now I'm porkin around with MCS 17's that way 50lbs per corner lol...

 

i really like'em too. was going to swap them out for something else, but now I am just thinking to put a bit wider tires on them.

anyone have photos with wider tires on them?

 

For cleaning these, a simple tooth brush works great! I'm looking at bigger wheels but light is better. I think spoolers with 205/55/15's would look great.
They will fit on a 5.5 inch rim. Cornering would be incredible!

 

These are coming on my new Cooper. I'm going to paint them white and they will be winter wheels. I'm keeping the 5-stars off my R50, painting those white, and they will be summer wheels!