I've been eyeing the TD 1.2's for a while. With winter rolling around, and my 16" sports balding, I can switch the 16"s to snow tires, and get the 17" TD 1.2's I've been drooling over. Problem is, I'm not sure where I can get a tire/wheel package. I know outmotoring sells the wheels alone. I have some questions if anyone has time to answer.

Anyone know a place for a TD 1.2 + Tire package place to buy from? (live on East Coast)

If you buy wheels and tires seperately, how much does it cost (average) to have them mounted/balanced?

Any suggestion on some Sports 17" tires? (preferably low walls)

To this day, I'm still not sure what a "offset" is... I'm not sure what is does, and how it effects the look. I always thought you just mount any 4x100 wheel to your car as long as it fits? Anyone can explain?

*Yes, I've used the auto search function for some of my questions, but especially for the offset question, I need someone to dumb it down for me to understand, as all I really know how to do is change my wheels and change my own oil.

 

If you can get a tire/rim package together, you will save some money.

Not sure about costs of installation in Boston, but in CT the install cost for four non RFT is about $100-$120 including mounting and balancing. They soemtimes charge more for TMPS and low profile.

The 17" tires that most people seem to use is 205 45 17, sometimes 215 45 17 or 215 40 17. I have used Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Specs, BFG Sport, Yokohama A048s on different cars. The tires depend on the tradeoff you want to have mainly between wear and grip (and price) since it seems like you want a summer tire. I generally do not like RFT because it feels to hard and jarring.

The tirerack website has a tech section that will answer most of your questions about offset etc. The lug pattern is 4x100 which is different from offset which is the amount the center point of the wheel (measured horizontally) away from the wheel mounting point (best to see the tech info for pictures).
http://www.tirerack.com/about/techcenter.jsp

 

If you're looking to save money on shipping the wheels, I'd suggest trying HMS Motorsports in Peabody. They're less than a mile away from MINI of Peabody and you'll see the Team Dynamics display wheels on the right-side as you walk in the entrance. I think I asked them prices a while ago when I was thinking about getting a set of Team Dynamics and they didn't seem too much more expensive than other places and you wouldn't have to pay shipping. They're all great people. You'll see Joe Marko at all the local BMWCCA events extolling how his MINI Cooper S can drive circles around M5s on the track. Very funny guy. Derek is also good too.

If you sit down and talk with them, they can probably give you some good suggestions regarding which tires to get (if you want to go with stock 205/45/17) or if you want to get a slightly wider tire. They may even be able to get or mount the tires on the wheels, although that's not usually what they do, I don't think. If they can't get the tires, call the people at Tire Rack and tell them what you're looking for and they could ship the tires directly to HMS if you wanted.

FYI, when I had my tires changed not too long ago, NTB on Needham St in Newton charged $157 for an alignment, balancing and mounting. The mounting and balancing itself would have only cost $70. And yes, the stock offset is 45 and I'd suggest sticking with that unless you have a reason to change. Lastly HMS is having an "Ocktoberfest" on Oct 11 and will have a bunch of cars on display and a sale that day if you bring their flyer so I'd check it out.

Feel free to PM with any specific Boston-related questions if you have them. If not hopefully we'll wave to each other on the road (I'm the Chili Red one...)

 

HMS is a great choice.

Just came from the other Oktoberfest at Watkins and HMS was also there with his Mini.

 

This is a good guide on wheel terminology

http://www.usacomp.com/terms.htm

 

I checked out both links, and I'm still not quite sure what an "offset." From the looks of it, how does it effect the wheel? Would the offset be in the way of the brakes and etc. if it's a negative offset? How would you change the offset and what for? What's the physical difference if you change the offset? Can't you just put on some rubbers on the TD wheels and just pop it on the MINI with 4 lug nuts? This is confusing...

 

Oh also thanks for the site for HMS motorsport def. going to call in and check it out. I actually live several streets away from Needham St. I live in Newton.

 

I would also give Good Win Racing, I believe they sold the 17" TD Pro for 169.99 and can also sell you tires. I really like the TD Pros 1.2 great rims.

 

doesn't look like they carry 4x100... i wish tire rack carries TD Pros. makes life easier.

 

From the links that you read, offset is the distance from the mathematical center of the wheel width to where the hub actually comes in contact with the wheel. As I said before, the standard is a 45mm offset and is the look that you see on most Minis. When you change the offset to say 42, 40 or 37, what you are doing is that you are changing how far from the center line of the wheel, the hub will connect. Because the wheel is the same width (say 7"), the effect is that the wheel will be pushed further away from the car. Many people like the look as it gives the car a wider stance, however the disadvantage is that there is a chance of "rubbing". With the stock offset when you go over a bump, the suspension compresses so that the wheel recesses under the fender/into the body of the car. When the offset is changed, the outside of the wheel is further away from the car/hub and when the suspension is compressed there is a chance that the outside of the wheel will actually touch the inside of the fender. This is "rubbing". You can change the offset a bit without rubbing. And yes, sometimes the offset can impact the brakes, but most people don't go in that direction.

As an aside, always good to find another Newton Mini driver out there. I work in Chestnut Hill and see a lot of Minis around NSHS and sometimes when getting coffee at Peets in Newton Center.

 

Understood every word. Gotcha Have you done business before with HMS Motorsports before personally? I checked out the site, can't find the wheels. Maybe it's in store only?

 

I've never bought wheels from HMS, but simply noticed the Team Dynamics Pro 1.2 matte-black on display when I was there looking for a pressure brake bleeder and brake fluid. That was in the spring when I still had my 2003 MCS and was going to replace a rear brake caliper. Everyone was very helpful. They're focused on motorsports, which you could probably gleam from their title and website. Any performance mods, e.g.: brake pads, wheels, driving shoes, helmets, tools and other necessities for the track. It's not a warehouse just a single showroom and they might not have something in stock that you need (they have much more for BMWs), but they're good guys to talk with and could answer your questions and order something if you needed it. When I was there getting my pressure bleeder I was coming from Mini of Peabody and forgot to get a replacement pad wear sensor. Derek asked Joe who checked if any of their BMW sensors would work and although they didn't have any, I trusted them. As I prefer to take my Minis to Peabody as that's where I purchased them, they're right down the road and it is worth stopping by.

I also always think you should shop local first. There's no substitute to seeing a future big purchase item in the flesh before taking the plunge. You could call and see if they still have the wheels on display and/or for order.

 

Last question, how would you change the offset of the tires?

 

You can't change the offset of a wheel, it is an inherent characteristic. You just buy a wheel that has a different offset. When explaining offsets, we stated the number is the measurement in mm from the virtual centerline of the wheel to the hub mounting surface of the wheel. Thus each wheel is designed differently and extends either further inside or towards the edge of the wheel.

 

Really? I thought that's what a hub centric ring is for..?

 

Hub centric rings are for something different and only used with aftermarket wheels. Your car's hubs are a particular size and the aftermarket wheel's hub mounting surface is usually larger to fit a variety of cars. When you put a wheel with a larger hub mounting surface onto your hub, there is a gap between the extended part of your hub and the recessed/bored-out part of the wheel. The consequence of this gap can be a vibration or wobble as the wheel is not perfectly centered. The hub centric ring fits into the wheel's center bored recess to perfectly fit onto your hub and keep the wheel centered. It does not increase the distance between the hub and the wheel. What you're probably thinking about are spacers which are thin pieces which can be fitted between the hub and wheel. These are somewhat similar to increasing the offset of the tire.

 

a picture is worth a thousand words...