Got Konig Feathers in 16" with my winter tires. Problem: they don't fit the lugs. I should have read some of the threads here before ordering.

Is it possible to bore out the bolt holes without damaging the wheels? I'd get a machinist to do it to make sure it's done right, but it's still concerning. Should I return them and get something else?

 

OK, looks like drilling them out isn't going to be a problem, but I'll make my shop do it to ensure it's done right.

However, another question: they forgot the hub centric rings. What size do I need?

 

According to the Konig website (god that place sucks) Feathers have a 73.1 hubbore. That means you need a 73.1mm (O.D.) to 56.15 mm (I.D.) ring.

 

You can drill them out to get larger lugs. That should not be too much of a problem for winter wheels. Just do not use them under extreme conditions such as track.

 

Would it not be easier to just change the lugs? why drill out on good wheels? Alsomake sure you get the hub ring or you will have a vibration

 

No, that wouldn't work because the lugs bolt *into* the wheels and would require a major change on the wheel head itself as well as the bolt lugs. Mini's use bolts not nuts like most other cars.

 

Go to a good Speed shop, they will have the correct Bolts, I have 3 sets of wheels, all 3 use different bolts and I have never had to drill out a wheel in 30 years

 

If the hole on the hub is 14mm, and this won't fit through the Konig bolt hole, I don't understand how switching bolts to a narrower size would work without changing the hub flange.

Not trying to be a jerk, but I don't understand what might be available to me as an option.

 

Maybe I am not understanding your problem correctly, that is very possible
But if the people who make the wheels to fit your car, they should be made so you dont have to modify them. Maybe call them and see what they say,
There are all different types of Lug Bolts with different heads on them to fit different wheels, again maybe i am wrong but I cant see having to drill out a hole wider to make a bolt fit for a wheel

 

Another option is to switch from lug bolts to studs/nuts. TSW has studs that are 14mm to screw into the hub of the new cars and 12mm on the other end so that one can use wheels requiring 12mm lugs.

 

+1
I think Bean's solution is best.

 

I agree. Now I just need to find some of those studs!

 

Go to the TSW website and put in an order for their stud kit. That's what I run and it's a lifesaver when trying to swap wheels quickly for track days and auto-x.

 

here is the link to the parts you need: http://www.txwerks.com/servlet/Detail?no=42

 

Then I would need to get nuts for it as well. Plus, in our salty climate (you wouldn't believe the road salt used in Nova Scotia!) I'm concerned with how easy they will be to properly torque and remove later.

The shop I got them at is having a machinist drill them out at no cost to me. This is all Konig would have done with them anyway, so I don't see a problem.

 

It's good that you had them drilled out. However, I wouldn't worry about using nuts and studs for wheels....that's how most Japanese cars have their wheels mounted.

 

Yes, but with my Japanese cars, I haven't needed to remove the studs as well as the nuts to change the wheels. The corrosion is my concern especially where it's just a little allen key being used to mount the studs. Hard to get enough torque for installing and I'd hate to strip a head trying to get them off.

We've got major snow in Halifax today, and my damn wheels aren't back from the machinist yet! Oy.

 

Have you checked that they have right offset for the MINI? There is more to wheel fit than just the lug holes.

 

Yep, I know. I have an offset that will work. 40, I believe last I checked.

 

Konig will sell you the wheels with 12mm holes, knowing JCW's need 14mm. They've been told by many folks and they still ship them that way. And they also 'forget' the rings as many times they're not in stock.

Nice wheel, terrible service.

 

Got my hub rings today and installed the winter wheels.

The extra 10 lbs of lightness at each corner makes a HUGE difference and the black wheels look fantastic on my midnight black MCS.