I am currently running some 18' Falken CIRCUIT SPEC wheels on 215/35ZR-18 (They came on the car when I bought it) on my 2003 R53. No issues what so ever in clearance and such. However I'd like to replace them with a set of some OZ Ultraleggera Black 17x7 (offset 37mm backspacing 5.51" bolt pattern 4-100") or some OZ Superturismo white 17x7 (offset 40mm backspacing 5.62"
bolt pattern 4-100") for personal choice.

Is there a particular size or brand that will work great with any of these combination? I'd like to go like a 215 again. I mostly just use my car to commute in and a little drive through the canyons and turns on the weekend. Any suggestions? Advice? Warnings? Disagreements? Any and all responses are most welcome. I won't get butt hurt if you think my selection stinks.

I plan to purchase these online and save a buck or two, but I really want to make sure this combo will fits my car. Please help.

 

What suspension do you have?

If stock suspension then you can use
205/45-17
or
215/45-17

If you have lowered suspension then you can use
205/45-17
215/40-17

What tire model do you have now? How do you like them?
Do you have any cold weather or snow when using these tires?

 

Yea the suspension I assume is stock from what I can see. The tires on the car now are Falken 215/35ZR-18's. I will have to replace them once I get some 17's. No this is the only set of tires I got. I am about a good 90 miles away from any place (Lake Tahoe) that gets enough snow to worry about, as well as low temperatures during the winter.

 

With stock suspension and 17x7 wheels you can use-

215/45-17

If you were not on a budget then-
Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires (Max Summer tires)
$169 each, 300 treadwear

On a budget and decent tires? Then-
Continental ExtremeContact DW (Max summer tire)
$127 each, 340 treadwear (not for cold weather or any snow)

On a budget and longer treadlife? Then-
Continental ExtremeContact DWS (Ultra High Perf All Season tire)
$115 each, 540 treadwear (OK for cold or some snow, good in wet or dry, longer tire life but a little less sharp handling).
and
Kumho Ecsta 4X (UHP All Seasone tire)
$109 each, 420 treadwear

 

Minihune- Thanks for all the info and advice. Yea I plan to run a summer set up for now. Gonna go with OZ wheels. Still deciding on black or white though.

 

I have been going through the forums looking for the stock wheel specification on 17" wheel for my year 2003 R53. Do you know the stock offset and backspacing numbers? The OZ rims I am looking at have a 40mm offset with a 5.62" backspacing. I just want to be sure before I place the order online. I am gonna take your advice and get the Michelin Pilot Super Sports 215/45-17.

 

Stock wheels for R53 and R56 are-
17x7" offset 48mm, backspace 150mm (5.9")

Those OZ rims are fine.

215/45-17 is fine for stock suspension. If you lower with ride height adjustable coilovers that is also OK- just adjust height.

 

Thanks again Minihune for the info and your patience.

 

I would go with the white OZ's for your mini - I think they will work well with the white stripes and roof.

I have a lasar blue with the same white accents and almost went with those OZs myself. But decided to go with Motegei with a 40mm offset in hyperblack. They were cheaper than the OZ's and I wasn't too thrilled about the 37mm offset on the OZ Ultralegga's that I was considering. Seems to me 40mm is about the minimum you would want, and ideally I'd prefer something closer to 44mm.

 

Yea my first choice are the white Superturismo WRC 17x7 40mm offset with a 5.62" backspacing. How do your wheels fit? Do they stick in a bit or outward? What is your backspacing on your Motegei?

As mention above in my opening, I have a 18x7 wheels on now with a 42mm offset. (not sure on the backspacing) w/215/35/18 tires. They clear fine around the entire circumference. The closest points are near the shock/struts area. But even there I got almost an inch clearance.

My 2nd pick are the OZ Ultraleggera (Black) as well in a 18x7 offset 42mm Backspacing 5.67" I would not have to buy tires since I already have 18's.

But am a little weary of such a low profile tires given how crappy California roads are out here. (Pot holes bend large diameter rims out here easy)
That and I don't know how much of a cushion of a ride I would get going down to a 17" rim. I mean its a Mini Cooper right. 16",17",18"wheels Am gonna feel every imperfection in the road no matter what wheel I choose, right?

But then again these OZ rims are a lot stonger (low cast/shot peened construction) I got the money to get either one. Just bouncing both options around.

Thanks for your input C4Racer. I follow the C6R's all year in the ALMs and at the the 24 hour in France. They got a great team and cars.

 

I had a C4 Corvette race car for many years with the plates C4RACER, so that's been my handle forever on all car forums. My last pursuit was running in the NASA CMC road race series in a '84 Camaro. That was a serious blast with some amazingly good drivers that taught me a lot about how to go fast on a track.

But anyway - I don't have my wheels yet, just ordered from TR this week. I will have them next week. They may stick out a tiny bit compared to stock since the offset is 8mm less, which is about 1/3". Probably very hard to tell visually but would give a bit more clearance for a 215 tire, although I am running a 205 this go around.