I just got permission (from the wifey) to go ahead and get some new wheels!! I have 17 inch wheels now and i'm going down to 16's for a softer ride... anyway i have a few of questions:

1. The tires i'm getting are 205/55-16 - anything i should know about these tires or what to look for? I'm looking at both runflats/non-runflats. Anyone have a recommendation on both of these two options?

2. TPMS - Can they remove the TPMS from my 17's and put them on the 16's when i get the rims/tires?
2.a) If i don't install the TPMS on my new 16's will my car always have the TPMS warning?
2.b)Also if i can't take it off the 17's anyone know where an how much the sensors are and where i can get them? Or are they available aftermarket for cheaper than the dealer-but still works with the onboard TMPS?

3. How much different do you think my ride will be with the new 16's vs the 17's (i live in an area with really crappy roads)

4. Anyone buy the extended warranty that they offer for the wheels/tires from Mini? If so how is that impacted if you put on new wheels? I imagine that my 17's will be covered for the life of the warranty, but not the 16's, right?

Thanks in advance for all the help!

 

Any reason why you don't just get some softer riding 17s? I know from removing the run flats that there are huge gains to be had. And for a bit less than wheels AND tires.

 

I bought after market 16" wheels for my 2007 MCS. I am running 205/50-16 performance summer non-runflat tires on them. I love them. If you are going from 17" runflats to 16" non-runflats, the ride will be substantially softer. I am not sure about the 205/55 size. A call to Tire Rack might answer that question. That is where I bought my wheels with tires and TPMS sensors installed. Great deal.

You can remove the sensors and swap them to the other tires. You can buy after market sensors. Again, Tire Rack has them. If you leave them off the warning will always be on. Black tape might be the only answer for that.

Can't answer the warranty question.

 

I agree with ToddTCE about the 17" non-runflats. They are a big improvement over the 17" runflats. I put 17" non runflat all-season tires on my 17" OEM Crownspokes before I bought the after market wheels. They made a huge improvement on the ride. I run them during our mild Arkansas winters and the summer 16" tires the rest of the time.

 

Hi. I also have a 07 MCS. This spring I went from 17" run-flats to 16" non-run-flats. Here in the Chicago area we have poor, pot hole filled roads. I love the new tires and wheels. I really disliked the 17" run flats.

I'm running 205-50-16 Michelin Pilot Exalto PS2 tires. The ride is much better with no more sharp jarring over road joints, etc. (not to mention pot holes). I have not noticed any fall-off in handling, either. I like the car much better now.

Note that I was warned by both my Mini dealer, and by Tirerack that 205-55-16 tires are tall and may rub. Both strongly advised me to go to the 50 series size, rather than 55's. I have had no rubbing problems -- including even when I once stupidly (and inadvertantly) climbed, at a crawl, one of those curb height concrete slabs marking the end of a parking space in a parking lot.

 

One more thing. Before you spend too much time worrying about TPMS, make sure you have it. My MCS came with rubber valve stems indicating it was not factory equipped with TPMS. Some 07's had it, others did not. My car was delivered in March. If you do not have TPMS, you have no sensors in your wheels. I understand that the ABS system for non-TPMS cars monitors wheel revolutions to detect loss of tire pressure without using in-wheel sensors.

Hope this helps.

 

Some of your questions appear to be answered, here is my view.

I have 17" Webbies and RF sitting in the garage I will use maybe next Spring, perhaps not. I hate run-flats.

Before last winter I bought 16x7 ET40 aftermarket wheels and a nice set of Falken 912s for winter usage.

I like them so much I probably will not run the run-flats. I plan on getting some summer performance tires for the 17s.

Get your new wheels with the TPMS sensors, you will be happier. You will love the ride quality of the 16s with non-runflats.

On my 16s, I run 205/50/16, just remember to rotate and keep properly inflated. Get a flat kit or use your AAA card.

I did get the wheel warranty from MINI as well as the tire warranty from Discount Tire on my runflats. Good insurance on tires in my part of the country. I suspect I will never use the tire warranty since I will get new UHP tires before I subject myself to runflat goodness again.

 

Runflats ride hard and create a much bigger hassle when you have a flat. I suspect the drop in harshness from runflats to normal tires is greater than the drop from 17 to 16 inch wheels. Taking both steps make sense for a softer ride. If you are wanting runflats maybe you can find some stock 16 inch wheels and tires from someone who wants to go "upgrade" to aftermarket 17 inch wheels and tires.

 

Thanks all for the much needed help! It's great being a part of this board! Anyone who added the TPMS sensor do you know how much additional you had to pay? Or let me be clearer if you removed your existing TPMS and installed on your new rims/tires - how much was it? if you bought new/aftermarket versions how much did it add to the price of your wheels? (i'm assuming the aftermarkets worked okay and didn't cause the warning light to stay lit?)

BMBULBE - Interesting i didn't realize that some cars used the ABS to tell rather than a sensor in the wheel. Do you know how i can tell if i have that vs. a TPMS sensor?

Thanks a bunch!

 

ABS based = rubber valve stems

Direct TPMS = metal valve stems

Alex

 

One other thing to be aware of is that not all after-market wheels will accept direct TPMS sensors. These are the sensors that are on the metal valve stems not the ABS type.

 

I'm also running the Michelin Pilot Exalto in 16" but in 205.55.16 with no rubbing issues whatsoever. A little more sidewall than the 50's for bump absorption. I also have a set of 185.65.15's I run in the winter and have concluded that while you can make improvements by taking off the run flats and increasing sidewall aspect, there is no such thing as a really smooth ride in a MINI due to its light weight and tight suspension. The 205.55.16 Michelins were installed by Costco who are very fussy about size, speed rating and fit.

 

Hello all, I am a new 07 MCS owner, looking for winter traction North of the 49th - in friendly Manitoba. The car has 16" summer runflats (195/55/R16), no TPMS.
Should I buy rims and tires, or can I buy winter (Blizzak or X-Ice seem to be the favourites up here) of the same size and just mount them for the winter? I was told that mounting/re-mounting runflats damaged them.

Cheers!

 

ditch the runflats
not sure i saw this in previous posts but 16's equal less rubber on the ground,
yes softer ride but less handling.....
new lighter non OEM rims and a tire switch could be a plus,
just suggesting to weigh all options
boxcars

 

Great site here! First time I have posted or repsonded.

Some additional info on TPMS (in general) here: http://www.aa1car.com/library/tire_monitors.htm