I have a question for the wheel experts......

So the runflats are finally worn out!!!!

Now I am looking for new wheels and tires. I have the wheels picked out, now for sizing. I do go to the mountains snowboarding, and although Big Bear does not require chains most of the time, sometimes they do.
Wheels in question:
http://www.wheelsnext.com/wheels-tir...C%20Black.html
Wheel offset is 45

18x8 with 215/35
or
17x7.5 215x35

I will be lowering the car on either H&R's or Eibachs to get rid of the wheel gap, any insight on these are appreciated.

Also going to install strut tower defenders as well.

I know LA roads are bad for low profile tires, but no worse than Jersey/Philly roads.

Thanks in advance for any insight.

 

If you will only be going to the mountains a few times a year the 18's will work but the 17's would do better on the bad roads. I actually went with 16 because I live in an area that has really bad roads and the extra side wall helps greatly.

Also for driving in LA you really do not need snow tires but REAL SNOW TIRES do make a hugh difference in snowy weather.

this may make it hard to get into the mountains when it is snowing.

These are really not needed on the 2nd gen cars where they were really needed on the Gen 1 cars.

I was just down in NJ and NY last weekend and the roads there are in great shape compared to where I live in MA and where i travel to go skiing in New England.

 

Thanks for all the info!! Very helpful!!!

 

Looks like you have two very different requirements there. Snow capability, and driving in LA.

Generally, if you are going to drive where it snows. Get SNOW tires. Usually you want narrower tires, with large tread blocks. I got a set of 16" wheels, TPMS sensors, and 195-16 snow tires for winter months. When I wear out the stock 205-17's, I'll get something like the star specs... yes, I have 2 sets of wheels and tires. They perform two different functions.

Face it, summer performance tires do not work well when it's cold, and don't work at all when it snows.

18's might work ok for summer, but I'd be worried about potholes. There just isn't a lot of sidewall and hitting a big hole can destroy a tire and a wheel. not to mention the even worse ride quality.

 

17's over 18's for the reasons mentioned, as well as IMHO 18's just look too hideously big on a Mini. The whole "bigger is better" thing when it comes to wheels got WAY out of control. Back in the day - late 70s / early 80s - when "plus" sizing your tire/wheel setup became a big trend - it was all about "+1" or 1 inch. And that typically meant upsizing your 14's to 15's, or even 13's to 14's. Nowadays we see insanity like this brain surgeon's ride...