I have a friend w/ a 2006 S with white 17" wheels. I have another friend with an R56 Cooper w/ 16" wheels. Will the white 17's fit on the R56? Or, in other words, do the R53 & R56 have same bore diameter and bolt spacing?

 

No.

 

What are the R53 & R56 bore diameters and bolt spacings?

 

Actually, they *should* fit. The bolt pattern is 4x100 - don't know the bolt hole diameters. The late '06 coupes and the '07 convertibles have the new , larger bolts, and all of the old wheels fit them.

 

They'll fit. The bolt pattern for all the stock wheels is 4 X 100mm, the centerbore is 56.1mm, and the bolt hole diameter is about 16mm, so either the older 12mm bolts or newer 14mm bolts will work with either the R53 or R56 wheels.

 

Scott - I thought R53 (06 Model) has bigger centerbore (67.1) and second, I believe 06 Models are 14mm bolts, in any event by putting smaller bolts, that may cause safety wheel issues right?

 

The centerbore is still 56.1mm - that hasn't changed since the MINI was introduced in 2002.

The lug bolt size didn't change cleanly with the change from R53 to R56, or even with the model year. The easiest way to describe the bolt size is this:

"All GPs, and all MINIs produced after about mid-July 2006 have 14mm bolts - the rest have 12mm bolts."

All of the factory MINI wheels have bolt holes that are about 16mm in diameter, so they'll work with either the 12mm or 14mm bolts. In fact, my wife and I both have 2006 MCS cabrios, and hers has the 12mm bolts, while mine has 14mm bolts. Both cars have the MINI Web Spoke wheels, and hers are identical to mine. In fact, we even swapped wheels between our two cars because I curbed one of her rims (oops).

If you have the newer 14mm bolts and want to widen your options for aftermarket wheels, Texas Speedwerks sells conversion studs that are 14mm where they screw into the hub, and then taper down to 12mm so they can pass through almost any aftermarket wheels. I've had a set on my car for about 10000 miles, including lots of highway, around-town, and autocross miles with no problems at all.

 

So I with an 05 can get oem 07 rims and they will work on my car?

 

yep.

 

Right on, figured as much. I really like those new 5 star shaped jobs they have on the 07 S.

 

These? (S-winders)



or these? (5-star blasters)



Either one would be cool on an earlier car.

 

The S-winders are the ones I like, now I just need to find some

 

Just to put a bug in your ear, I'd love to see a set of those with the spoke "ribbon" (that's what it looks like to me) painted another color, like Anthracite. Or maybe just the center painted Anthracite. There's such a distinction with those wheels between the rim, spokes and center, that they kind of beg to be two-toned.

 

I put 07 S-Winders on my 02 several months ago. No problems. The new generation Run-On-Flat tires are much improved as well. I paid $450 for new (67 actual mlies) wheels and tires.

Motor On
Minzila

 

I want to get Snow tires for my 05 Cooper S, but I'm planning on getting a new mini soon. If I get snow tires for my car now, will I be able to use them on the new mini? Based on these comments, it looks like I can.

 

tires with wheels for the 05, of course

 

As long as the lug bolt hole are large enough, and the (snow) wheels have enough clearance for the brakes.

In late '06, MINI changed the diameter of the lug bolts from 12mm to 14mm. MINI wheels tend to have lug bolt holes that are about 16mm, so if you use MINI wheels you should be fine. Also, the R56 MCS brakes are the same as the JCW brakes for the earlier cars, and not all of the MINI wheels fit over them. If you are getting a new R56 MCS, make sure that the wheels you use for your snow tires will fit with the new car's brakes.