Thanks to all of you, I've learned and I'm slowly putting things together and fixing what needs fixed on my 2005 MINI.

I'd like to know if it is a hassle to go to a bigger tire-wheel-rim. I'm pretty sure it's not but my husband says if it was meant to have bigger it would have come with bigger. I want new rims-tires and thinking I want to go with 17's. It now has the original 15's, or would 16's be a better choice.

I changed my air intake filter and cabin filter. Got everything checked out and in pretty good shape. It seems the slow drip is fixed but I still lay a sheet of towel under it just to be sure.

I run to the store with any excuse and my trips now take all morning...

 

The rims will likely be a bit heavier....the car will look better, but it will feel less playful. I love the way my MINI feels with lightweight 15's during the winter....the 16's I run during the summer (OEM RIMS) are heavier, but the ride is only slightly worse, and a bit better handling. It is a trade off
IMO if you go with 17's....buy the lightest rims yo can afford. That and buy the tire+rim Insurance if it is offered. One big pothole, and BANG with low profile tires/Rims....can sometimes bend a rim...or even burst it...and blow the tire of course....

 

It really does depend on what you're looking for like Zippy said. I have 18's on mine in the summer with my stock 16's for winter driving and I can definitely tell a difference. My summers are a good inch wider so I have more rubber on the road and I can notice a good difference in handling. I wanted them for aesthetic purposes for the most part and it does make the car look nice. Also, definitely be careful of potholes with 17 and up....I cringe every time I can't swerve in time. Essentially, if you're looking for speed on a track, go 15's or 16's, and if you are looking to sharpen up the look of your car, go 17's or maybe even 18's. Happy motoring!

 

If you can afford it, 16's seem like a good compromise. They were offered on your car as an option. I'd second the opinion that the larger diameter the wheel, the heavier it will be, and ride quality can, indeed, deteriorate. I think if you go 17's, which is optional on the 'S', it means going with heavier wheels and even lower profile tires, both of which will conspire to make the ride less enjoyable.

If you go with after-market wheels (a likely and less costly proposition than factory direct), insure that the offset and/or back-spacing are appropriate. What looks neat may not always fit in the real world of potholes and the like.

If you stick with the tires that came with optional packages from the factory, you should not have fitment and clearance problems.

 

I thank you all so much for your replies.
I like the look of the larger wheels but I'd not actually given a lot of thought to a change in the feel of the ride, which is what made me want the car to begin with. So,,I'll order a badge holder for now and two new 15" tires for the back.
I also bought touch up paint and did a ding in the rear bumper. Everything is good and thanks again.

 

If you're happy with the 15's, that's all that matters. As for "if they were meant to come with larger....etc", well they do now, since the standard is either 16" or 17".

If you do decide to go with larger rims and tires, here's some recent info, since I just changed mine a couple of weeks ago;

I switched rims (stayed with the factory size 17 x 7) and tires (went up a size from 205/45/17 to 215/45/17). I agree with you, the larger size looks better.....and they handle very well. JMNEGRIN is right though, you an go "too large and it can affect the ride. However, you will notice very little, if any difference between 16" tires and 17" tires (since you were already thinking about the 16") and if you go with a 215/45/17, you will really like the way it looks on the car, fills in the wheel well and I think you'll be very pleased with the ride quality.

 

Thanks for that info kemo.

I've printed everyones input and it's so appreciated.