My mini is making its way across the the Atlantic. I already ordered some rims but need tires for them.

Where should I buy 215/45/17 tires? I priced out tirerack but the shipping came out to $250. Should I go to Firestone or somewhere get my tires. Though the base price of the tires are a little higher, the cost is $100 less than tirerack. Suggestions?

Next question can you recommend me a place to install swaybar, struts, and shocks? I live in a condo, therefore I can not DIY. I miss having a garage.

 

Where do you live?

Shipping to Hawaii for tirerack is expensive. Local sources include Lex Brodie, Sams Club, Costco and Sears.

Tire size you can use are 205/45-17 OEM and 215/45-17. Which tire does your base have in stock or can order?

Costco lists-
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 for $155 each, this includes shipping to your local costco if they don't have it in stock, (mounting, balancing, old tire disposal $15 for each wheel), and flat tire service if needed, and free rotations every 5000 miles. This is an Ultra High Performance All Season tire with 500 treadwear. You can also ask costco to search for 215/45-17 sizes. Costco may have a Michelin $70 off a set of tires offer right now.

Have you already bought your suspension parts?

I have a few shops that I use, one in the sand island area and one in Mililani Mauka area. Usually after installing suspension you will need to do alignment, I know shops in Mapunapuna, Waimalu and pearlcity areas. It is possible to get the alignment shops to do your suspension install work so it can be one stop for you, might cost a little more if done that way.

 

Live downtown.

215/45/-17 is for my RSE05.

So if I am reading this right, the local option will be cheaper than any online shop. Very cool.

Yeh I have NM Springs/swaybars and Koni Yellows. I guess for convenience what is the name of the shop on Sand Island? Do they charge a fair price?

Alignment what place do you prefer? That one I can drive anywhere to do.

 

How do you know if 215/45-17 tires on your RSE05 17x7.5" wheels is going to fit with a lowered suspension (1.2" front and rear drop)? I assume you have not tried it, do you know someone that did using an R56 MINI?

Typically once you drop your suspension you have much less clearance for wider than OEM wheels and wide tires. 205/45-17 makes more sense for clearance or even 215/40-17 but tires are harder to find.

What tire does your base sell and how much?

Do you have a Sams club or Costco membership? If so you can just call them to ask what tires do you have to choose from and what price. They may have to order them, takes one week or so.

The shop I use in sand island area is Sonic Motorsports. They work on my MINI and can do suspension install but not alignment. Prices are reasonable and fair, work is very good.
1927 Republican Street
Honolulu. 808-845-1192
Open 1030-6pm closed on thursdays and sundays. Ask for Seth.

After you get the suspension installed you may have to drive around for a week or two to get it to settle before you do alignment. I like Island Brake and Alignment in the Pearlridge Waimalu area next to Cutter Ford.
98-019 Kamehameha Hwy
Ste 1
Aiea, HI 96701
(808) 488-6521
Talk to Derrick about doing the suspension install and alignment at once or better to wait before alignment. He is honest and competent, they do a good job and are very busy.

 

How do you know if 215/45-17 tires on your RSE05 17x7.5" wheels is going to fit with a lowered suspension (1.2" front and rear drop)? I assume you have not tried it, do you know someone that did using an R56 MINI?
I'm going off the info from this thread. Seems like all of them run 214/45-17
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...517-rse05.html

Do you have a Sams club or Costco membership? If so you can just call them to ask what tires do you have to choose from and what price. They may have to order them, takes one week or so.
I'm not a member, but I will be. Yeh I'm going to go the costco route.

Thank for the info on the 2 shops. Will definitely use their services.

 

I just checked with costco, they said if your MINI has runflats on it now they can only replace with runflats but if you have nonrunflats they can replace with nonrunflats.

Costco does not stock 205/45-17 or 215/45-17 but can order Michelin or Bridgestone tires of those sizes.

If you had fully ride height adjustable coilovers you can consider both sizes but with just lowering springs it would be risky to use 215/45-17, I am not sure if it would rub in the rears or not. If you choose the 215/45-17 and it rubs you can increase rear negative camber using adjustable rear control arms (only one pair needed) and/or trim the rear wheel arch plastic. If you have an R56 you have a little more clearance than the R53 does.

 

Heads up-

As of this month Hawaii Safety check renewal will require recon inspection and valid sticker for any suspension mods.

Your inspector will note the changes you did, take pictures and include them with your online computer renewal. You then have 30 days to meet the recon requirements, document an alignment with OEM specs not more than 30 days old at the time of your recon appointment/inspection.

So if you are doing coilovers you will need recon.

http://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/fil.../HAR19-134.pdf

 

Thanks for the heads up. I had to deal with recon on my last car.

I think my suspension mods will be subtle. The give away will be different color springs, camber bars and swaybars. Guessing my front license plate will be to low too.

Hmm I wonder if I should exchange my two sticker safety check plate to a 3 sticker one. If they are really strict I have a year before the next inspection.

Or I have to find a friendly safety check inspector.

 

I do use a "friendly" safety inspector and still I have to do recon.
My suspension is also subtle. Coilovers set to minimal drop maybe 1/2".
It looks stock to me.

The inspector can easily see that you have suspension mods, just use a flashlight.

There are rules on max height of the bumpers not the plates and you need both front and rear plates to pass.

Before you do your safety check take your car to your inspector and see if they would pass you or not, that way you do not find out and get charged for an incomplete safety check.

Also you need to remove all stickers on your side and rear windows that cover the clear part of the glass, anything not transparent has to be removed.

 

For tires I have used citytireonline.com parcel post takes a month but if you plan a head it works nicely...I picked up a set of Federal 595 ss great track tire and DD

 

Finally I got my rims and struts after waiting 2 months.

Going to hit up sonic to do the full suspension install.

I dropped by Brodie to see if they had AS3 in stock. They do have them in stock but they quoted me $1010 and that's with a $100 discount. I told them I would think about it and immediately order the tires from Costco for $765.

 

What are you going to do for recon?

With change in ride height you will need to get recon sticker? When does your safety check expire?

If you don't get in contact with Sonic via phone keep trying, leave a message. They don't start work until 10am and they do work weekends.

 

Don't have to worry about Recon. Car is brand spanking new and I already have a safety check sticker. I'll address the issue next . I like the new stickers btw, it's alot smaller and 1 piece.

As for Sonic I did get a hold of someone, but they are moving shop and couldn't do any installs during the time period I want.. Basically in the next 2 weeks.

I ended up calling Island Brake and made an appointment for next week.. I have to say they are kind of expensive, but if they do great work I'm okay paying for it. Quoted something like $150 an hour.... est 680-800 alignment included. Wish I had a garage and tools so I could do the work myself :(

If you can suggest another place, I still have time to cancel.. I'm more use to $80-100 an hour.

 

I think Island Brake does reliable and good work (done right the first time).
Nice to have the parts install and alignment done at the same time. You can ask about the suspension settling causing the alignment to get a little off after a few weeks.

 

Yeh I don't mind if they do the alignment early, because I'm pretty sure it will be whacked after installing the camber bar. Just have to spend the money to do it again after a few weeks.

Mounted the AS3 today. Shop manager was hesitance because the computer didn't match up to the tires I want. Eventually I sighed a waver.

Rims as for now seems taller decreasing the wheel gap. After I lower it on Monday I think it is going to look pretty sweet. May have went overboard on blacking out. I feel it needs more contrast.

 

Minihune,

Thanks for suggesting island brake and alignment. They did an awesome job and the total cost at the end was reasonable.

If I had to nit pick they didn't adjust the rear sway bar end correctly. I know I could take it back and they would fix that in a jiffy.

As for recon they suggest me doing it, but recon is jammed up for 6 weeks plus, making my alignment paper invalid. I think I will just wait till next year or just do another alignment when the suspension settles in.

Can you recommend a shop to install my akarapovic exhaust? Preferable in town. I'm guessing anyone can install a bolt in exhaust.

 

It's pretty easy to do a catback exhaust with a lift on a MINI, in town you can try any of the Exhaust Systems of Hawaii and pay them just for labor. I have heard they will do it by appointment.

For the recon, call the phone number and explain that you would like to get recon done and just did an alignment (I hope it shows you are in OEM specs) and appointments are out 6+ weeks (which they know), would they allow you to use the alignment sheet if you book an appointment for next available slot? Usually they will take that sheet but good to ask. Get the name of the person you talked to.