I have ordered a 2003 Cooper S and want to get some 18's to put on it when it arrives... I have 2 questions:

What is the bolt pattern on the S?

Will 18x8.5 wheels fit? I know 18x7.5 will, but as I plan to lower the car I was wondering if the wider wheels would rub on the arches. Has anyone fitted 18x8.5's?

 

You will find the 17" Pirrelis rubbing. If you go to 18s and lower I think you'll be fine if you don't plan on driving the car.

 

I am also very interested in what the Tire Rack people have to say about fitment of 18" wheels and tires. What tire size? Also if the 18" combo will fit with a mini lowered with sport springs (about an inch). Anyone have first hand experience?

 

I have 17'' Alessios with Yokohama tires. No problem with 2 people in the car, but there is slight rub with passengers in the back when any bounce is encountered. If you go to 18'' wheels I can imagine loads of smoke from burning rubber....It might look great in a photo!

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sirron

 

The 18" wheel and tire total diameter should be the same as a 17" set. When switching to 18" wheels, you will reduce the tire profile to match the proper (stock) overall wheel/ tire diameter. If done correctly, there should not be any less tire diameter to wheelwell clearance than stock. However, usually when increasing wheel diameter, you also increase tire width slightly, this combined with the lowered chassis could cause clearance problems (as it could with a 17" set). I'd like to know from the tire rack guys (or someone who has done it) what tire width, in 18" diameter, will fit a lowered mini.

 

The H&R kit we have used drops the car .6 inches, and we've had no complications. Our HR coilover, however can drop to 1.5 inches lower than OE height. I would lower carefully below the 1 inch mark. My recomedation is 215/35/18, resulting in a slightly shorter diameter than your stock setup.

Dan

 

OK - That all makes sense. My main concern is the width, not the diameter of the wheels... Would a wheel 8.5" wide protrude outside the arch? A few manufacturers make wheels for the mini which are 18x8 and are pretty close to the arch, I'm wondering whether the extra 0.5" would cause problems.

 

Probably. I've got 215/45/17s on my S with a 7.5" rim and I think any wider or taller would be trouble. As always, IMHO.

Florida Mini Owners

 

Ok....
I know of atleast one MCS that is riding on 19x8's! Also... It's lowered 1in. with Eibach springs and custom swaybars.

As for if they stick out..... The above mentioned rides pretty much flush with the fenders.

Hope this helps.
SW

PS.... I'll try to get some pics posted sometime.

 

Cool - Thanks for the info! Maybe I'll go with 19's then!

 

Make sure and let us know how it goes....I can't imagine driving something stickier than I've already got...but I'm willing to try anything!

 

On word of advice:
I used to have a GMC Suburban, in which I installed 20" wheels, the problem was one day, I was driving down the freeway whey the differential broke and the rear right axe came out causing me to roll over. Thank God nothing happened to me, but my Suburban caught on fire because of the gas tank got busted.

A friend who works making research of steel took a sample of my rear broken axe, he then told me that it broke because of metal fatigue caused by the extra drag, because of the bigger and wither wheels and tires.

I know that big wheels look great but I think that going 19" in a mini cooper that was designed to use 16" max 17" its a little to much, I would use 18" tops.

Happy Mottoring.

 

I would tend to agree the larger amounts of unstprung weight will change handeling charateristics. For every pound you add below the spings, its equivalent to added 4 lbs above the springs. Added unsprung weight lenthens braking distances and slows acceleration. With larger diameter wheels, weight does increase, and unfortunatly perfomace can directly decrease. In this care I feel that you really have to anwser, is my objective show or go? There's really no perfect 1 size fits all solution. The closest marrage to haveing your cake and eating it to would be a light, strong 17 inch setup.

Dan

 

Dan,
The 17" Kosei Racing K1/ Yoko tires is a prime example. The wheel weighs 16 lbs. I haven't really figured out how much 'weight' the car has lost getting rid of the Mini 17s with Pirelli runflats but the handling is 'crisper' and although not measured, the 'off the line' speed is up.

 

>>Dan,
>>The 17" Kosei Racing K1/ Yoko tires is a prime example. The wheel weighs 16 lbs. I haven't really figured out how much 'weight' the car has lost getting rid of the Mini 17s with Pirelli runflats but the handling is 'crisper' and although not measured, the 'off the line' speed is up.


Oh GREAT!! Just went to the Tire Rack configurator... Now I can't possible live without the anthracite 17" Kosei Racing K1 on my Red/B S!

2Minis...are the YOKO's run flat? If not what are you doing for a spare or are these not daily drivers?

 

>>Oh GREAT!! Just went to the Tire Rack configurator... Now I can't possible live without the anthracite 17" Kosei Racing K1 on my Red/B S!
>>
>>2Minis...are the YOKO's run flat? If not what are you doing for a spare or are these not daily drivers?
>>
No, not run flats but the best tires(AVES 100s) in the $75 to $150 range(IMHO). As far as flats, honestly the last time I had a blowout was in a 1964 Mustang racing an Alfa Romeo(we both almost bought the farm and I advise strongly against street racing) around 1966. Other than that for slow leaks, come out in the morning and it is flat, etc. a can of flat fixer and buy a new tire. You could buy four Yokos for every one Pirelli runflat. I am keeping a set of runflats in storage in case I do a cross country trip but for around town, Oh Yoko...speaking of bad music...:evil:


Florida Mini Owners

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2Minis
Size matters!!!!!!

 

>>I would tend to agree the larger amounts of unstprung weight will change handeling charateristics. For every pound you add below the spings, its equivalent to added 4 lbs above the springs. Added unsprung weight lenthens braking distances and slows acceleration. With larger diameter wheels, weight does increase, and unfortunatly perfomace can directly decrease. In this care I feel that you really have to anwser, is my objective show or go? There's really no perfect 1 size fits all solution. The closest marrage to haveing your cake and eating it to would be a light, strong 17 inch setup.
>>
>>Dan

Dan, i've heard that the stock 17" runflats and rims weight about 25 lbs each (50 lbs per corner). If this is true, would increasing wheels to a lighter or equivalent 19" wheel/tire combo have any other adverse effects?

 

in theory the ligher reciprocating mass would benefit acceleration and braking. It may be counteracted by the weight being on a longer radius from the center hub. Its a matter of centerfuge at that time, where it negates the 2 lbs ligher, is hard to say.

Dan

 

Dan, what are your thoughts to 17x8 rims? Would these fit onto a MCS, or will there be some consequence of upgrading to a wider tire. I tend to think so since you dont offer them for the MINI on your website(at least that i've been able to find)?

 

I think I will have to go with the 18x7.5 SSR GT1's - ohhh they look NICE!!!

 

>>Dan, what are your thoughts to 17x8 rims? Would these fit onto a MCS, or will there be some consequence of upgrading to a wider tire. I tend to think so since you dont offer them for the MINI on your website(at least that i've been able to find)?
Tirerack doesn't have any 8 inch wide fitments for the MC, or MCS. We couldn't guarantee a trouble free fit. 4-100 wheels in 17 for us are rarley 8 inches wide (think honda civic, acura integra ect, golf w/ small motor)

 

215/35 is the tire size to do, man that will look hot on red. keep me posted

 

Dan...you must be talking about 215/35-18 right?? By my calculations 215/35-17 is way too small to keep the speedo readings correct...

Also, what are your thoughts on 18x7.5? Too wide, or will those work? Also, i was thinking about 225/40-17 or maybe even 235 on a 17 or 18!!! The problem i see is that those would require an 8" wheel, which you say you guys dont do.... What are the [dis]advantages to a wider tire/wheel? More grip, but less what (there's always a tradeoff!)? Thanks for all the great info Dan!

 

Got my 18" rims.... 18 x 7.5 .... 215 35 18.... H&R springs... 2 subs, 2 amps in trunk.... yeah... it will scrape... but only if you are careless...

The Link is

HERE

 

What wheels are they? How much did the springs lower the car? Has the wheel tire package and springs made a noticable improvement? Can you elaborate somewhat?