I have OEM 17s on the 2008 Cooper s R56.

Is it worth spending money to buy 16s to get even more sidewall or will 17s on regular tires do the trick?

Will OEM 16s clear my front brakes?

 

OEM 16 inch rims clear the standard brakes on an S. I don't think they clear JCW brakes.

OEM 16", running 195/55 size, gives you more sidewall than the OEM 17" with 205/45.

 

Are you OEM suspension height? If so, 215/45-17 will fit OEM wheels. Go with a set of non run-flats in that size, and ride comfort will increase much.

 

yes stock ride height on Koni FSDs with stock springs.

Is the difference to 16 inch wheels with 55 sidewall so substantial to merit buying used rims? Im so tired of fixing this cars broken suspension parts everytime my girl hits a pothole.

 

16's with some 205/55-16 tires would probably be a good bet then....

 

more $$$...her next car will be a Toyota...so help me...

 

Maybe she needs to pay for it. A Toyota won't stop her from hitting potholes...

 

Its the time...labor is time spent. every other year more broken suspension parts.

Time for non runflats.

 

Any reason these remanufactured OEM 16s would not fit my girl's 08 Cooper S with 17s?

I assume the center cap is the same from the 17 inch rims?

 

Lex, I think njaremka is right. Switching wheels isn't the solution. My wife hit a pothole in Utah when we lived there; she was driving an '04 Chrysler 300M nice fluffy tires compered to a MINI. I got the car one morning, backed it out of the garage and noticed the steering wheel was 90 degrees off center. I asked the woman. "Hey! What's up with your car?" She said she hit a pothole. I took the car in for an alignment and the shop said they couldn't align it; the right front strut was bent.

Time for your daughter to put some sweat equity into repairing the car she drives so she'll learn to be more careful.

 

None of the other cars I own with similar sidewall profiles have had broken suspension parts from potholes. Only the Mini.

It rides like crap on the run flats.

 

Haven't experienced RFT on the Mini, but hated them in my Mercedes [2015 C300 Sport Pkg on AMG staggered 19s]
Went to a non-RFT & it dramatically improved the ride of the car.
Cheap non-RFT on my 16s on the R57, still a firm ride, but no damage from bumps in the road [not a ton of potholes here in Houston].
A few harsh bits of road around my office, enough to move the rear view mirror, but all good over those, too.

 

I never buy cheap tires. Always top rated and usually Michelin. Conti's have super soft sidewalls...too soft.

Dont know if its worth buying new 16 inch rims, new TPMS and tires or just swapping the runflats for non RFTs on the OEM 17s.

 

Not a lot of options for 16s in the OE size [195/50-16]. Sumitomo & Kumho are the only HP A/S options from tirerack. I've had good experience with Kumho in the past.

Going to the 205/55-16 mentioned above gets more normal options.
Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+ & Michelin Pilot Sport AS4

I had the RE980AS [without the +] on my Mercedes & they were a great tire.
We had the PS AS3+ on our Flex & it was great as well.

Good to know that's an option when I need tires in the future. I think my R57 has Maxxis tires on it right now.

 

Dont like either Sumitomo or Kuhmo.

Looks like 205/55/16 with Pilot AS4 is the best option or AS4 on the existing 17s, (much less sidewall).

 

I'm a fan of the Michelin, Potenza would be my #2 choice if it's a significant $ difference, and will probably go that route when it's time for mine [if I still have it by then...]