Sorry, I know my answer must be somewhere on the forum, but I just cant find it.

I want to know what rims & tires I should get for my R53. So far it has an Alta 22mm bar in the rear. I want to give it an aggressive lowered look, but I need it to be good for long trips.

My original idea:
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...All&sort=Brand

Enkei Ev5's, 17 inch.

with

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....Up%20To%206/06

Pirelli P Zero Neros

and lowering springs.

Will this combo work well? Do I want lighter rims? Will they fit well? Will it be less sporty then the 16 inch rims for handeling? Sorry, I know nothing.

 

 

Lighter is always better for rims. They will fit with the right offset. But this still comes down to personal opinion. Buy what you like, not what we like.

 

I know it comes down to opinion, I'm just asking if my selection will play well together. I wasn't sure if 17's were too big. I'm still looking for something lighter though. The rims I like are still 20lbs.

 

MINI's have come with 18's like on the 2006 GP. So yes 17's will fit. I run Enkei RPF1 in 17 inch and they weight 14.6lbs so 20lbs is still heavy IMO for performance.

 

^^ +1 on the Einki RPF1. Looks like the best bang for the buck, as far as getting light weight. Ive shopped where OP is looking at tirerack. In the 17" size, the next lightest wheel is only about 6 oz lighter, but almost $100 more! I like the way RPF1 looks too.

Choose tires based on intended use, and road conditions. For me, being that I'm not planning to track the car, and it rains about 9mo out of the year, when it's time for me, I'll get Continental Extreem Contact DWS. I'm on the second set of those for my Impreza. They hold up well to spirited street driving, with a 50k mile warranty, I got about 55k out of my first set. I'm known to be hard on tires, and wear them out long before the manufacturer suggested life expectancy. I think they grip very well for what they are, not quite as good as some summer tires I've had for dry, but still impressive, and cheaper, and last longer. They are awesome on wet roads, and darn decent in light snow.

I may be totally wrong here about how I will like them on a MINI, but I love them on my Subaru. I got my MINI a couple weeks ago, and it came to me with new Yokohama AVID Envigors. They seem okay (I dont hate them) but I've already noticed they seem to hydroplane more.... could it be that MINIs hydroplane more than Subarus -so its the car, not the tire?

 

I use these also and only got about 24k and I was living in the Pocono Mountains. They were great in snow. Now living in sunny Florida I will be getting summer tires soon.

 

I used to tear through some Dunlop sports like that. -beginning to wonder if my wife driving that car half the time slowed down their wear.

Florida sounds nice!

 

I lived in the NE for 22 years and had enough after a bitter divorce and custody battle. So I moved after I won to be with the rest of my family.

 

Seems like a sensible plan.