right now my wifes mini has 16s on it.

08 mini HT with sports package if that matter

want to pick up a set of wheels with winter tires and I'm looking at just going with 15s and not 16s

can someone tell me that is ok with our setup? I assume the sports package didn't upsize the brakes calipers and I know 15s were an option on these cars.

can someone also tell me what the standard size was the the 15? Sites are saying 175/65/15 but I want to be sure.

and I know the bolt pattern is 4x100

Also, thinking of NOT getting the TPMS sensors. is that going to be an issue? can you tell the car to screw off so it doesn't yell at you?

 

If its an s, I don't think you'll clear the brakes.

No, you can't shut off the tpms light

I'd just go to tire rack and get a 16" package with new tpms sensors. I got run flats for the winter just for piece of mind...

 

it isn't a S, it is just the regular cooper but it has the sport package.

 

Steel rims from a Honda Fit or Civic ('05 or older, IIRC) in 15" 4X100 size fit the justa-MINI perfectly. Your local auto wrecking yard (sorry - "recycler") is the best source - I paid about $20 each for mine in like-new condition.

Tires are up to you. Mine are 185/65/15 Goodyear "Nordic" winter tires, but there are lots of choices in similar sizes. The "65" aspect ratio keeps the overall tire diameter the same as stock, so your speedo and everything else work correctly. In winter, a narrower tire is better - 185 was the narrowest available at the time I bought mine, but 175 or even 165 would be better still.

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"The "65" aspect ratio keeps the overall tire diameter the same as stock"

This is a common misunderstanding. The "65" means the side wall height is 65% of the section width. A 185/65-15 is approximately one half inch taller than a 175/65-15.

 

Didn't want to get into a discussion of section width vs sidewall height, etc., etc. My only point was that the 185/65-15 tire has an almost identical circumference to the stock 195/55-16 runflat, so that the speedo, gearing etc. are not affected when using the smaller 15" wheels with winter tires.

Sorry for any confusion.

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Hi,
I bought a 2011 base model last March which came with 175/65/15 wheels/tires. I wanted to upgrade to 16 inch wheels so I looked on several of the MINI enthusiast websites and found a pristine set of 16 inch wheels with almost new snow tires, drove to pick them up for about 3/4 the cost of a tank of gas. Got a good deal.

Since then, I bought another set of 16's for snow tires, and sold my set of 15's, both on my local Craig's list. However, in this process, I found out that the TPMS has changed starting with the 2009 model year, so the monitors I need for my 2011 cannot be ones that came off of 2008 or later models. I found the BERU brand that MINI uses on the "Outmotoring" site (good site, great people who helped with questions) but also found out that all TPM do not fit all wheels, and the MINI wheels I bought to use for snow tires were older model wheels and the monitors a 2011 MINI requires could did not fit these wheels. So I drive with snow tires with my TPM light on and it is no big deal.

My point being, would I feel better knowing my tires were being monitored? Yes. But it would have cost me another $400 for the monitors if I bought them new (they are $225-$250 a pair on the outmotoring site), AND if they fit the particular wheels that I bought.

Be patient and keep looking for what you need on MINI enthusiast websites (I found my 16 inch wheels/tires on this site) and on your local Craig's list. In my 3 dealings with MINI owners buying and selling tires/wheels, I found everyone to be upfront, honest, and helpful!

 

I'm lucky here in Canada. My '08 MINI has a simpler (more primitive?) type of tire monitor that uses the ABS computer and wheel speed sensors. When the computer detects a difference in rotational speed between one wheel and the others, it "assumes" that there's a low-pressure condition in that tire and sets off the tire pressure warning light. The system works well - it has alerted me to a low tire a couple of times over the years.

I say I'm lucky because - no tire pressure monitors are required in the wheels. It makes switching from summer to winter tires a snap - just change the wheels and tires and reset the TPMS - done.

I don't know if newer Canadian MINIs still have this system or if they've now got the in-wheel pressure sensors - someone with a more recent Canuck MINI would know more about that.

 

Got a brand new set of 15s from a member here. Ordered 4 michelin iceX 2s and TPMS so we should be go to go in the snow unless it is like 2 feet high.

Just have to remind the wife that sshe can't drivev like a crazy woman on the smaller snow tires.

Now to build a rack in the garage to store these things