Hey everyone!

So, I will be getting my third MINI in a row since 2010, and I went for a JCW this time around!

Although it's not entirely specked as I would have done it myself, I couldn't pass up on what I think was a good deal on an incoming Midnight Black JCW. It's currently crossing the pond!

With that said, I have a very important question for you all: Black or Silver Spoke rims?

It was ordered with the black rims, but I could swap them for the silver ones. I'm unsure about the all black look...

If anyone has good pictures of both combos or any views to share, please do!

Many thanks!

 

I vote black on black, but this is my second MINI with black rims, so I'm partial. Actually this time around, I have the roulette with are half and half, but my preference is all black.

 

My vote is black.

I ordered mine in Rebel Green (almost black) and was leaning to silver until I saw one. Black is definitely the way to go ... and I do not like black wheels in general. My wife, who is very conservative, surprisingly said black was the way to go.

 

i say black.

 

Get a set of silver for winter tires and you don't have to choose.

 

Ha! I'm an expert on this subject! When I placed my JCW order in 2015 I went with the 17" silver track spoke wheels. Then, I started seeing some JCW's on Autotrader as I waited a LONG time for my 6MT JCW, and the 17" silver wheels just looked way too small to me. I decided to go with the optional 18" two-tone cup spoke wheels and it was the best decision I made for my all black JCW. The silver & black "larger" wheels look spectacular!

That said, if I was not going with the 18's I would definitely go with the 17" black track spokes on the black JCW.

I actually prefer silver wheels but the combination of the smaller 17's & the design of the track spokes just doesn't excite me at all.

Two years ago there were no aftermarket options for other wheel designs, but that isn't the case any longer. So, without opting for the 18's I believe you definitely made the correct choice!

Enjoy,

John

P.S. Forgot to mention, the silver track spokes look waaaay better on the MINI online configurator than in person on a "real car"! Ask me how I know? :-) BTDT!

 

I've always liked a silver wheel over black. Maybe due to my age. Anytime I see a car w/ black rims, reminds me of a car that had it's hubcaps stolen.

Not a chrome wheel either which looks a bit "over the top" to my eye. The matte/satin silver seems to strike the right look mating the tire to the car IMO.

That being said, I find I really like a black (or dark painted) rim with a machined face. They look outstanding and provides just enough flash to set the tires off from the rest of the car.

Kind of splits the difference between being a old "codger" and a young "whippersnapper".

 

Thanks! Half and half would be perfect for me!

Happy to get your (and your wife's) insight! I'm just worried that all black looks a bit too "dangerous"?!

 

Beautiful Carbon Edition!

 

Now that's very clever! Thing is I'm not sure I want to invest on a second set of rims as I'm leasing this car. But it would be a great solution.

 

Thank you so much for your comments! You are indeed an expert! Hadn't thought of the color affecting the wheel size's perspective. Very good point.

I do think the silver spoke rims look good, online at least! You wouldn't happen to have a pic before you switched to the 18's by any chance?

 

Yeah, me too. My current wheels are actually black, however my MCS is Eclipse Grey, not black, so there is some contrast there. A black-on-black combo seems a tad overpowering to me.

Haha! Great analogies! If I wasn't leasing this car, I would certainly look into more options, but I unfortunately have to stick to the MINI rims which are more on the whippersnapper side!

 

I think you've explained it for me, USA-RET! I have black factory rims on my Clubman and, while I like them well enough, every time I look at the car from a short distance I'm not lovin' the rims.

After reading your comment, it hit me, the wheels kinda do look like the hubcaps are missing and all that's there is the black wheel, like the kind of steel wheels that were on my Chevy, in 1967

But I like the ride on the 17" rims I have and it is a lease so no $$$ are going into aftermarket wheels for me this time around, unless a pothole creates an opportunity for me to reconsider.

 

I only have my build graphic pic off the configurator with the silver track spokes, because I had a long wait before being assigned a production number I had time to change my build to the 18" cups! But, go on Autotrader and search F56 JCW and you will see plenty of real car photos with the 17" silver track spoke wheels. You will see the difference! After my production number was finally assigned my dealer got their first JCW in stock & my MA had me come down to check it out....it had the silver tracks on it (Moonwalk Grey) & once I saw them on a car I knew I had made the right decision switching! :-)

Of course, everyone has their own opinion & tastes. That's just my story.

You'll love the JCW!

 

Black. This is a ridiculous question.

 

I'll take a good look at the silver spoke wheels my delearship has on another car before deciding (the swap wouldn't cost me anything other than the $200 fee that was included in the built of my JCW for the black rims). May end up keeping the black ones. MINIs silver rims always looked a bit plastic-ish to me.

 

Thanks again! I think I'm with ya...

Sure hope so!

 

Point taken.

 

I ordered mine w/ the 17 Silver (Tentacles). They look fine, but opted for a set of aftermarket silver Enkei RPF1's for the weight savings.

Oftentimes wheels are chosen just for the looks, but if one is interested in performance, look at the weight of each wheel first and the the looks.

I swapped the stock wheels and run-flats for the aftermarket wheels w/ Conti Extreme DW's and save 8 lbs at each corner of my car (6lbs. per whell and 2lbs per tire). Eliminating the 32lbs of rotating unsprung weight yields me 10 add'l WHP and 11 lbs ft of wheel torque. Additionally it made the car more responsive and lively.

The stock wheels and tires will be installed back onto my car come trade time. The 17 inch Eneki's will likely go on the F56 JCW replacement w/ those stock wheels and tires going into storage.

 

Silver for sure. I've never been a fan of the whole blackout thing myself. I think the chrome looks great on Minis. The only thing I have blacked out are the factory blackout headlights, but I don't think you can get those on the F56 right? I like my black wheels but my car isn't black either. I had silver wheels on my 2007 R56 they were great looking.

 

I tend to agree with you, and my JCW is all black. The chrome trim is a nice contrast & especially the beltline trim is rememicent of classic cars....one reason it's there in the first place no doubt. I admit blacking out can look very nice when tastefully done, but I love the two-tone 18" cup spoke wheels with black since they really go with the black & chrome trim! My car is staying stock for the foreseeable future. The problem with blacking out is you don't know when to stop! lol!

 

I would consider going aftermarket if it wasn't a lease, but very good point on performance. Thanks for the insight!

 

My current MCS is Eclipse Grey with black rims, and I think it looks good, but I'm liking the contrast of the silver rims with the black. However, I've always thought MINI silver wheels looked a bit plastic-ish. Is it just me?

I also like the chrome trim, and the two-tone 18" cup wheels are really nice. But not splurging on those since I'm leasing.

 

So Eclipse Grey was available on the Baywater as well as the JCW? Because I don't think it was available on the MCS. Great color. Was the Baywater a JCW model?

 

Eclipse Grey was one of the three colors available on the Bayswater (the other two were Kite Blue and Midnight Black). Don't know if it was available on the R56 JCW, but think it was for the MCS.

No, my Bayswater isn't a JCW; it's a MCS (with Nav + H/K on top of the special edition package).

It's a neat color (you should know)!