My order will be placed in about a week (I already have a place reserved for Nov/Dec delivery ) and I am debating on whether I should put the 16" Bridge Spokes or the 15" Rotator Spokes on the MC.

I think the 16" profile fits the car better than 15", however, they are run flats (I've read a lot of threads on this already).

I am also ordering the lounge leather. I am hoping that the combination of lounge leather with no sport suspension will help temper the run flats.

Is anybody out there running 16" on an MC (either with or without lounge leather)? How is the ride?

Thx!

 

I have the 16" wheels on non sport suspension. Opinions vary here on the ride but I don't find it that harsh. I don't think the seat covering material is going to affect the ride one way or the other.

If I had to do it again though I would save the cost of the 16" and get the 15". Then mount snow tires on the 15" and buy another set of rims for summer tires. As it is I have bought another set of rims and have the snow tires mounted on them/will put new tires on the aftermarket rims next year when the runflats are replaced.

 

I spent 4 day & about 1000 miles in a 2007 R56 MCS with 16 inch runflat tires. I thought that MINI rode smoother than my R53 MCS with non runflats. IMO the ride was very livable. If I was buying I'd buy the 15 inchers, but that's just me.

 

Yes, without LL. With standard suspension the ride is firm, a bit noisy (low-frequency clumping) on really rough surfaces, otherwise fine.

 

I have the 15" Rotator Six Spoke n/c option and love the ride, handling and braking, as well as the 'looks'.

Dealer Prep set them at 38 psi (door tag setting for max weight @ 100 mph +) and I have not changed them.

They are also very easy to clean and remove brake dust from.

I have no need or want of 'other' wheels, but have read here that it is better to get wheel 'options' after auto purchase.

This would still leave you with that spare and give you the maximum of options available to get you home.

 

You can always buy non runflats for the MC, you get a spare. That's what I did, we've got 16" and the sport suspension, the ride is about what I expect from a MINI. The runflats (or not) make the biggest difference.

 

Yes. According to a 2007 article in MotoringFile, the R56 was optimized for 16" wheels.

 

I debated getting 16's but for the price, aftermarket made more sense. I sold the summer tires that came on the rotator spokes and got high performance all-seasons in a slightly larger size.

 

I bought the 16-inch Bridge Spokes for my Cooper and am very satisfied with them.

I have a set of Continental all-season, run-flat tires and they don't seem as stiff as other, earlier models from other companies.

When I got my car, I read stories from a couple of BMW owners who detested the run-flats they originally received on their cars and made their dealerships replace them. They got the same Contis and reported they were night and day different from the original tires.

I think a lot of car owners detest the idea of run-flats and may be influenced by other people badmouthing them. But there are differences between brands.

 

Are you in a part of the country where snow tires would be useful? You might want to consider getting the 15" and using them for snow tires. Then get a set of 16" for summer tires.

For equal to or less than the cost of the upgrade to 16" you could get a set 16" wheels and still have the 15" set.

http://www.fastmini.net/wheels.html

Rota RB 16x7" $576 + shipping
I had a set of these and they are quality wheels. The are 1/2" wider than the factory 16x6.5" wheels. So, you can put wider tires on them, if you wish. I put 205/55-16 on mine. That is the same thread width as MINI supplies with the 17" wheels for the MCS.

I damaged two of the RBs and decided to replace them with the lighter-weight Rota Slipstream 16x7 (about $750 with shipping).

 

I've got the n/c standard 15" wheels on my MC. I love the ride. If you go with the 15" get the all-weather, my MA told me I'd get about twice the mileage out of them than the performance tires. They are pretty good tires.

 

16" Bridgespoke conti pro runflats w/ the SS and seems fine to me!

 

Thx for all the thoughts on aftermarket/second sets. I would normally consider that, except I will have a 3 year lease and can't justify spending money on aftermarket, especially when I'm only spending around 33% of the $750 upgrade + tax and interest in order to upgrade to the 16" wheels.

I'm not even sure if I would ever need to replace the tires from wear - depends on their lifespan. I doubt I'll put more than $36K miles on the car in 3 years.

Also,no need for a second set as I'm in S. California and not a whole lot of snow here. Rain occasionally, but never that bad.

 

Thx for the thoughts on the 15" wheels/tires. I think the MC I test drove had 15" on...not sure.

 

Thx for the input on the 16" performance.

I'm definitely not expecting a luxury car ride out of a Mini. I'll have to look out for the Continental tire option...I wonder what comes stock. I don't need all-season tires as it doesn't snow much in So Cal.

Also, almost all of my driving is commute driving on freeways. Fortunately, the freeways are pretty good in So Cal (the ride...not the traffic that is).

 

I have the bridge spokes as well. I am happy with the ride and performance after thinking of getting aftermarkets I decided to stay with them. Now, though, I am getting the 17" crown spokes for the Look. I know they will run a little harder but, I love the look.

I think you will be very pleased with the 16" selection.

Good luck

 

Thx for sharing your experience and for the vote of confidence!

 

I only got 18,000 miles out of the 16" run flats that came on my car.

FWIW, even if you are leasing I would not recommend getting the run flats. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that you have to return a leased vehicle with tires like the ones that came on it. If you put 36,000 miles on the car you would probably be replacing the run flats twice. Once while you're still driving it and once before you turn it in. If you go with the much longer wearing 15" all season non run flats you may only have to replace them when you turn the car in. Replacing a set of run flats is NOT cheap. Just something to think about.....

 

That's some good advice there.

 

Romi has the 16" Bridge spokes with the Dunlop performance runflats. In hindsight, it was a bad decision.

The wheels are very heavy (24 pounds each) and the tires are very noisy. They started out fairly quiet, but have gotten so bad now (13,000 miles) we (the Wife unit and I) have to shout at each other in the car when going over anything but the smoothest pavement due to the din from the tires.

Once I wear out the tires, I will be replacing the wheels with lighter weight 15" forged aluminum wheels.

I wish I had simply gone with the stock tire/wheel package now. Oh, and Romi has the stock suspension.