Hi guys,

I have a 2008 MCS JCW with about 45k miles on it. It has the stock 17in wheels on it. I live on Long Island in NY. If any of you are from here, you know these roads might as well be a bonus level on Super Mario. I have now cracked my THIRD wheel this year. I am sick of this and want it to stop.

I want to buy a new set of wheels and I'm turning to all of you for advice!

Specs I need:

- 17x7 or 8 (obv. 4x100)
- STRONG (hopefully not TOO heavy though)
- Under 1000 for the set (the cheaper, the better. all the down until xxr's and all that crap) Really trying not to break the bank.
- OEM wheels are fine if they are better than most

I have been suggested Enkeis, LMR's, and OZ's


I am very open to ideas and suggestions.

Thanks everyone!

 

I would recommend some steelies for those crazy potholes, but do you have a JCW brakes with brembo four pot brakes up front? There is no MINI factory steelies that will fit JCW brembos, they are 15" and 16", for winter wheel MINI have the aluminum 17" for the JCW Brembo brakes. . JCW 4 pot brakes came standard on 2009+ Factory JCW Cars.

Otherwsie if you have a 2008 MCS with a JCW engine kit on stock MCS rotor the 16" steelies will fit. MINI Part 36116764346 16" steel wheel & center cap 36116768504

See this thread for options and center caps.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...now-tires.html



Thanks

 

What tire profile are you running 45 or 40 ? The 45 series give a little additional cushioning . Another thought , though a big change , would be a 16 inch wheel with a 50 tire series perhaps ?

Randy

 

TSW makes some strong wheels. I'm very happy with them on the VW.

 

I've had Enkei RPF-1 in 16x7 for a couple years now, no problems here in SF and there's constant construction and potholes at every turn. I drive pretty fast too so the car needs an alignment twice a year. I have stock size tires (195/55) which help absorb the bumps too.

I think the RPF-1 clears JCW brakes from what I remember.

 

You can't be the only one suffering. Some collective bitching/griping and or complaining at the next city/township/county or whatever committee meeting might go a long way to improving the overall situation. Next step, maybe some serious reconsiderations at the voting booths.

 

^That sounds like a good idea, but you think they'd really listen?

I am also from Long Island and had my front driver side wheel and tire get demolished at the Wantaugh Parkway! Holes everywhere, especially at exits!

 

slow down????

I'm looking at a $3000 bill from a pot hole so I think I DO have some context to speak . . .

at under 30mph I found the pot hole from hell and my car is now receiving over $3000 in parts and labor and THEN they can put it on a rack and see if this fixes it ! ! !

When I called my insurance, did they want a police report? NO. Might they try to sue the city? Yuk Yuk . . . This is a collision claim . . . . ouch.

 

In the city of Chicago and some suburban areas, you can file a claim over the internet for damage caused by road hazards, including potholes. You need to submit photos of the pothole, time, place, etc. and believe it or not, they do pay $millions each year for car damage (of course, you may wait over a year to get a check, but it does happen).


I have a good comprehensive insurance policy (Allstate) that will also pick up most of the cost (less deductible) for road hazard damage. I have no idea if they try and get reimbursement from the city/state.

 

Yeah unfortunately this state is not very good at that, plus this winter has been brutal.

OP try 15 or 16 for the rest of the winter, if you get another set of 17's is not going to help.
Two days ago I hit the mother of all potholes on the Cross Bronx and bent my rim, thank God I didn't get a flat and I wasn't driving the Mini, regardless the rim will cost me around 500 or 600 (I think a repair is in order lol)bucks for one plus the tire is messed up too :-(

 

Having suffered out-of-roundness and other wheel disfigurement m'self, here is a resource y'all might find useful. I've employed them resulting in great satisfaction.
http://www.mobilewheelrepair.com/

 

You want strong wheels? Go with Team Dynamic wheels. Rally teams run them.

And for Pete's sake, stop running into potholes. :D

 

I book marked them, thank you. My wife's mini has some serious curb rash on one of the stock wheels. Any idea what they charge?

 

Strong, light, or cheap, pick 2. That's your choice when it comes to wheels.

My M3 wears BBS Rg-r's forged, light, strong, Not cheap....lol

 

I wrote the man a check for $100.00 even. The inside and outside rim had a matching dent and the whole wheel was out of round. Heck of a lot cheaper than a new wheel. He did the work out of a tricked out 5th wheel trailer equipped with everything he needed including balancer. It even had it's own generator for power at remote work sites. I just leaned up against the rear bumper and watched the whole process.
He didn't do any cosmetic work. For curb rash a body shop might be better at re-finish work.

 

I'm in Brooklyn, but travel to LI on the daily, run 16"s on my '12 MCS, have survived just fine, but really watching for the giant craters and avoiding those. Luckily the city's been fixing the big holes 2-3 days after heavy snowfall on the belt, not sure what's happening further out in LI.

Get 16s, you'll be better off.

 

+1 Excellent wheel, I have a set of 16x7, strong and light.

 

Thanks a lot everyone. Really good weigh-ins here. Time for some consideration.

 

Speaking of which...does anyone have a space-saving donut for sale?

 

Glad I got 16" wheels

 

I drove on the same roads and had given up on trying to survive them with 17" wheels with 40% or 45% profile tires. The wheels loose every time - on both the MINI and the bimmer.

For the winters, I run 195/55/16 Blizzak's - better winter traction, no problem surviving 3 winters in a row and staying round (tires may be done after this winter).
For the summers, I run 225/50/16 Hanook RS3.

Both sets of 16" wheels are take-offs from MINI owners who wanted larger and bling-ier wheels and were willing to part with 16" OEMs for under $300.

YMMV, but NYC roads and 17" wheels with low profile tiers are a repair waiting to happen. Just how it goes.
My better half just bent 2 225/45-17 winter wheels on our bimmer, one of them badly enough that it was loosing air. All cost of driving on NYC and nearby roads. Unfortunately on the bimmer, I can't downgrade to 16" wheels (17" barely clear brake calipers) and have no choice but to keep repairing the wheels.


a

 

the best strategy for you is the smallest wheel that fits plus the largest tire that fits, you may even want to consider a steel wheel, they are strong and cheap

http://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2010-C...eel/ES2707737/

i am running 16 inch wheels with 205/70R16 tires for the winter pothole season on my all4

summers on left, winters on right



lots of sidewall to protect the rim

 

^ this. get a taller tire

 

I had zero luck finding a used one. So ordered
One online. Nice to have a brand new wheel
And tire in my car.