my baby is now 4 days old and is in need of some new rims. i want 15 or 16 inch wheels. anyone know if there are any aftermarket options available?

here is pic of my baby

 

I actually like your current wheels very much. Are those web spokes?

 

yeay they are the web spokes 17's

I am looking for lighter wheels 16 x7 and put some 205/55 tire on them

here is another pic

 

Tire Rack

 

tirerack? well i thought of that one too, and alex does not know of any that fit

 

I'm sure there are a number of people who wouldn't mind swapping. Unless, of course, you're looking for something other than what's currently supplied via Mini.

 

I have heard that older style MINI rims don't fit the new R56 MINIs. BTW, the tire size in 16 is 195x55x16. Not sure you can go much wider and still clear the fenders and suspension. Grip with 195s is decent, though I have all-season tires right now. I want some great, high performance tires. I agree that the 17s are very heavy. I had R90 wheels with run flats on my Cooper and each wheel/tire combo weighed about 50lbs!
Mike

 

r56's come with the r53 jcw brakes so i believe if the rims can clear the those brakes than the wheel should fit. i email 18gracing about rotas but they wont clear the brakes according to jessica. in terms of the tires i meant to write 205/50/16. they sound be slightly smaller diameter than what i have now in the 17's. on the wheel and tire section 15 inch kosei K1 will clear the brakes so maybe that is an option

 

don't forget about Edge Racing
They May have something for you.

 

I vote for keeping the web spokes, nice wheels!!

 

With the 16s 205s are fine--at least on the R53. friend of mine replaced her RSCs with 205/50/16s conventionals and it just rides and manuevers so much better, with less unsprung weight. I dont see why 205s would not work on the new car.

 

huh, my Rota 16x6.5's fit fine.

Per

 

Interesting about the R53 wheel, R56 wheel compiblility issues. The wheels I want for my car are either the 17" S-Spokes or 17" Bridge Spokes. On research, I found that the Bridge Spokes are for the 2007 model only, but S-Spokes (they've been around for a while) will fit on cars up through the 2007 models. Reference:

http://www.libraryofmotoring.info/miniwheelguide.html

With that observation, wouldn't one wonder if the compatibility issue has more to do with wheels from the 2007s being not compatible with earlier models, but earlier wheel models indeed being compatible with the R56?.

 

Yep, that sounds reasonable. Only way to know for sure is to do an empirical test. In my case, that involves digging the Panasports out of the shed, pumping up the tires and fitting them to the new MINI. Perhaps I'll get to that tomorrow! I am very curious to see if getting away from all-season run flats helps with the acceleration wiggle.
Mike

 

Bridgespokes are 16".

S-Spokes are very similar to the new Crown Spokes. Both 17".

 

Oops! .. I meant Crown Spokes (wanting to replace the Bridge Spokes).

 

hey Per

so the rota slipstream 16x6.5 et 45 fits the r56 mcs. i really wanted the rotas but 18gracing told me they wouldnt clear the brakes

thanks for your help,
mike

 

give me the wheels

 

I like your current rims....littl ebaffled as to why you want smaller rims...unless you looking for "comfort" ride

 

lighter rims spells less unsprung weight, at the sacrifice of some steering feedback. In general I'd say the Mini has plenty of steering feedback to spare compared to other cars, and yet stands on even ground in terms of wheel weight. I'd rather the lighter wheels, but its less popular I suppose cause you can't feel it as directly as the steering.

 

Sheesh, how many times do I have to put this up?



235/40R17. 40mm wider than stock. No rubbing under normal driving. Tiny bit of rubbing when the car is in full "autocross banzai" mode.

We do carry several Rota styles that fit the R56 -- see this page. Remember that the R56 uses 14mm bolts, so make sure the bolt holes on your new wheels are 14mm or larger. (All Rotas will accept 14mm bolts.) Also, brake clearance on 16" wheels can be an issue. 17" is an easier fit for the R56 MCS brakes.

--Dan
Mach V
FastMINI.net

 

I like your wheels now as well. My MCS is coming with the S Winders which are pretty stock 16" for the MCS. I have seen other threads and sites online that cite they are the lightest OEM 16s available. Someone weighed them in at 16lbs. IMHO, I think they are an excellent balance between looks, ride, and weight. That said, your 17"s look great. If you are set at getting some 16s, go the the Tires & Wheels section of Marketplace. People are selling 16s all the time.

If you get rid of them, I will be happy to take them off your hands!

 

Hi all,

I ordered some 7.5 x15 rota slipstreams with 40 offset from 18 racing. Unfortunately Jessica didn't hear that they were for a 2007. They fit around the brakes on the front fine with a minium of clearance. Unfortunately on the rear they rubbed on the big aluminum arm. A 16 inch wheel allows the arm to stay inside of the rim. A spacer would make it fit, but it would have to be big and the wheel would stick out too far for my taste. I also played with a wheel offset calculator and I think that a 15x6.5 Slipstream with a 35 offset may fit without a spacer, but it would be very, very close. I sent them back and went with 16 x 6.5 which as Per states fit the 2007 even with a 45 offset.

I looked long and hard for a wheel I really liked. I wanted as light as possible and that's why I was looking at 15's. I also wanted a black center with a polished lip. I have a Dark Sliver with Black roof and mirrors. I really liked the ASAs with the black spokes and polished rims, but they don't come in 16" and they are too heavy.

Oh, I also wanted to avoid centering rings too and the Slipstreams come with a 56.1 hub. They cost 500 including shipping and have a quoted weight of 13.8 so I think they are the best bang for the buck.

 

Iautox,

can you show some pictures or a link to them :-)

 

Here you go:

http://www.18racing.com/wheel_slipstream.html