I am going to be buying a new set of rims for my mini s. My question is, whether i should go with the 17" rims or the 18" rims. The car will be lowered by about an inch, so will an 18" be too large for the wheel well? Also, what differences in power/acceleration/etc... would i see if any from the different rim sizes?

 

I.m in the same boat But I,m looking to replace them on my old style mini. The tires and wheels are just to small. I was thinking perhaps your old ones will fit my mini if your getting rid of them give me a price? JIM

 

if you want them, id be happy to give you the stock 16" rims when i get the new ones... unless i want to put some r-compound tires on them... i really dont know... if i do decide to sell them, it will be here.

 

Just my 2¢ but I think 18 in rims are overkill on the Mini, either functionally or aesthetically. As has been gone over here many times, the larger rims are going to be heavier and more expensive than the next size down - quality being equal. One of the major mags (I think R&T) just did an article about changing the 18 inch wheel/tire combo on a new Porsche 911 to a high-bling, high quality, hi-perf. 19 inch aftermarket setup, and the car did not perform better. The only reason I can see for going with an 18 inch "rim protector" setup on the mini is if for you personally it just looks better - but be prepared for likely lower performance and worse ride (and more $$$$).

 

thanks for the advice. I went on to tirerack's site and i found a very nice bbs rim for the mini only 16lbs!

 

After what I had experience today with my MCS getting alignment. Stay with 17" if you are planning to lower your mini.

 

another thing. When i change the size, can the dealer adjust the ratio so that the spedo gives an accurate speed reading?

 

I'm not sure but I don't thing they will and who know maybe?????

 

This topic has been gone over quite a bit, and many opinions vary. However I believe it is a matter of priorities, what do you want the wheels and tires to do best, and what are you willing to trade off? 17" will give a more comfortable ride. The larger sidewall of the tires will offer more cushioning from the road. However that same larger sidewall will deflect more under high lateral loads, causing reduced handling. Shorter 18" sidewalls offer a harsher ride, but they deflect much less, and offer more precise handling and better grip.

When addressing weight, you must consider not just the weight of the wheel, but also the tire. 18" wheels are slightly heavier than 17" but the 18" tire is lighter than the 17". In many cases the total 18" package can be lighter than the 17", and the lighter outer most rotational weight (tire) can have a greater benefit to handling and acceleration.

Again, the above only matters in regard to handling performance. If your visual aesthetics are the top priority, then let that be your guide. If acceleration is top, then perhaps a smaller overall wheel and tire diameter would be preferred, effectively changing the gear ratio of your MINI to accelerate faster (with reduced top speed).

My point is that there is no one answer. You must decide what YOU want from the package, and what you are willing to give up to get it.

 

thanks for the tips DK23, but since i am lowering the mini by 1", would it be beneficial to me to get the low profile tires for the 17" rims? I really dont care about ride.

 

When you change wheel diameter, the tire profile changes in order to maintain the original overall wheel/tire diameter. Keeping the overall diameter stock, preserves your speedometer accuracy, and effective gearing. Lowering your car 1" shouldn't have an impact in your choice of wheel size. The gap between tire and fender lip should be the same with either choice, as the overall diameter of the two sizes should be the same.

As I mentioned earlier, make the decision based on ride, performance or looks (look of the wheel/tire size, remember, the gap will be the same), whichever of these characteristics is most important to you.

BTW, our MINI has 18" wheels and lowered more than an inch, because track handling was the highest priority (although we also love the visuals).

 

ok. again thanks for the help! I found a nice set of BBS rims that came in 17" but not in 18". i will probably buy the 17" rims, unless i find a model of them in 18".