Hello,

I am on the verge of ordering a 2012 Cooper S Hardtop w/ sport package (17" wheels). I had a Mazda 3 with low-profile tires and more than once had to repair an entire rim and replace a tire due to crappy New England roads in the winter. My drive to work is 100% city roads (no highway) and the pot holes can get to be as large as the grand canyon.

Both times I had to replace my rim/tire was because of what appeared to be an innocuous "puddle" was a deadly pothole.

I would like to get a rim/tire which would be friendlier to winter driving that I could swap myself in late fall and swap back once they repair the roads. How small of a rim can I get? Can you get 15's with the sport package and just up the tire aspect ratio to like 60? Or are 195/16 the most I can hope for (because of break clearance)? I am not concerned with keeping the run flats as I have AAA and only have a 7 mile commute to work anyway.

I also heard that thinner tires are better for the snow, but I think if I was to get 15's they would most likely be thinner, anyway.

Thanks in advance!

JMB

 

Well with an S the smallest wheel you can fit is a 16". So get a set of cheapo OEM 16s and put some fat rubber on there and you should be good. Hope that help but, there realy isn't and pothole friendly wheels. Pot holes suck!

 

OP, I have bent two OEM 17" rims so far in NE in the last 3 years. Both trimes I had the RFTs on. I even broke my passenger headlight clips in one bump. I went with Non RFT Conti 215/45 17 DWS @ 38 psi for the winter and the ride improved along with less nasty bumps. So far no more cracked or bent rims.

Thinner tires in terms of profile are not good for the winter snows but narrower tires such as 195 versus 205 would be better.

 

What size tires to make sure there are little if any mileage/MPH discrepancies?

 

The Mini speedo is generally pretty optimistic. The 215/45 17 tire does correct for the speedo error but it will still be a little optimistic.

There is as very slight odometer mileage difference maybe making the mileage displayed very slightly less than actual.

 

If your stock tires are 205/45-17 and you go to a 195/55-16 (there seem to be a lot of choices in this size), then the circumference of the new tires will be within 1% of the old tires.

The new tires will be a smidgen taller and in theory, this will cause your speedometer to read a little low. In reality, the MINI speedometers all read high anyway, so your speedometer would actually be *more* accurate with the slightly-taller tires.

 

I, like you, live in the Northeast and put up with the bad winter time pothles. I hit one so hard it popped open the driver's side car door. No damage to the tire or rim....these are what I am running in the winter and these are a really good deal:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co.../product/19687

I have been running the Bridgestone G019 all seasons, stock size 195-55x16 and they have been great (hummm a bit but tolerable). 16" is as small as you can go and still clear the brakes on the S. Actually these 16" are the stock size and your 17" are an option (at least for my year). FWIW, I have taken the Bridgestones skiing to northern NY and Vt and been in some pretty bad snow storms. Pulled me through. The Conti Extreme Contact DWS AS are also a good option; work well in the snow, quiet and nice ride. Just run them a little harder as Slinger said.

 

I will be using the stock 17" sport rims with the summer tires for the summer, and then buying a set of 16" rims with blizzak runflats for the winter.

I opted to buy the tire/wheel warranty when I purchased the car, which covers any rim/wheel tire hazard for the life of the car. I figured it was worth it, I have shitty luck with potholes.

 

I'm going to throw my 2¢ in.

I think we grow potholes here in SE Michigan and export them. I ran Dunlop Graspic runflats last winter on 17-in S-Lites. They are 215/45/17. I prefer the wider footprint since there isn't a ton if ground clearance. The runflat sidewalls are stiffer and those stock rims are almost indestructible.

I understand the concept of the narrow tire cutting through the snow but getting up on top worked well for me. I did a 30 mile round trip in 10 inch unplowed snow. Even though I only did 35mph at the most, I still passed SUVs and snow plows.

Anyway, best of luck with your decision making and enjoy the snow!

Cheers!
Chris

 

OK, bumping my own thread. My 2012 Cooper S (with sport Package) is in production now (woot!). I am still trying to decide if I want to just get winter tires or get 16" rims and winter tires for the summer.

I think price and looks wise I like these Konig Rims:

http://www.konigwheels.com/Konig-Hom.../RETRACK-WHITE

But I still cannot tell if they will work with my car and I would like to get the wheels/tires and TPMS sensors installed all at once either locally and/or shipped that way. I also would want Winter Tires mounted (most places do not have winter tires in their packages).

I like these a bit more, but I don't think they will fit at all.

http://www.konigwheels.com/Konig-Hom...IGHTNING-WHITE

 

I've got a set of 16" S-Winders from a 2009 S with under 10k miles on them. Literally NO curb rash for $185..... Will provide pics if you want! (Will be posted on market place soon)

 

I'll stick with what I said earlier:
Buy the 16" and put snows on them for the winter...it is a better setup then the 17" for the winter. Plus you are not changing tires on the 17" rims which is harder to do (shorter sidewalls, stiffer and harder to change) which in itshelf may damage the rims. Stick with the stock rims (16") which are stronger. Taller sidewall and strong, less likely to be damaged. Didn't see any offsets listed for the Konig...need to stick close to stock to keep from getting torque steering.