I actually run 20's on my 06 S. When you think about putting 20's on a mini at first it sound insane... there's a misconception about 20's when it comes to minis. People think they are just too big for the overall frame of the car. However, I think that comes from the preconceived notion that minis must have small wheels. If you actually look at the car's proportions you'll realize the stance of the car is just as wide as most cars on the road. The wheel wells are also abnormally big when compared to other cars. Our wheel wells almost poke out of our hood! It's my opinion that 20 inch wheels actually look proportionate to the cars overall design because the wheels actually fill-in most of the wheel well (like most hi-performance cars do). However, in order for 20's to not only look right but perform properly, you must drop the front of the car about 1" (springs of your choice) 225/30/20r tires. Only then will the car sit properly and the overall composition of the car will actually function like most of the concept mini's from BMW.

With Regards to Performance I feel thats another misconception. Trust me I actually own one! I shaved off about 1/8" from the inner return of the flat black fenders and that was it!! My turning radius is perfect and the handling of the car is identical to the stock handling. I've even gone back and switched out my wheels to the stock wheels and notice NO DIFFERENCE...In fact i feel it handles better due to the increase in tire width, slight drop in the front and high stance on the rear. The key is to get the lightest wheel possible. I race the car close circuit almost on a weekly basis and can honestly tell you there's no sacrifice IF DONE PROPERLY!!

No offense to all the SM wheel mini enthusiasts out there in mini land...I love mini's with small wheels just as much!!!

Attached is a picture of my car...Good luck!!

20" Team Dynamics
Perrelli 225/30/20R
H&R 1" fronts

 

LES: I think your car looks cool!
I agree with your assessment of the Mini--it's a much bigger car than it looks. It was designed by the same person who designed Dr Who's Tardis. When you put a Mini next to a 3 series BMW you see how big it is. I think that's why it runs 17s and 18s so easily. 19s and 20s do look big, but if done nicely like on your car (I personally don't like the chromy bling ones) they look great.

cheers,

 

Les,

I think your MINI looks great with 20s. Many of the choices for wheels come in chrome finish. Yours is different.

Which tire did you choose?

Running smaller wheels and tires in SM class is partly a matter of budget, weight savings, and having enough of a selection to give choices.

Another aspect of running 20s is with the rim so large in diameter-
stock brakes look too small and will need upgrading to a big brake kit front and back.
30 series sidewall tires might get damaged or the rim damaged if your roads are not very smooth.

Also cold or winter weather will be a limiting factor unless you can get all season tires in a friendly size.

Thanks for your input.

 

Dr. Phil

Your car looks sweet! I like the way the grey works with the black out kit...I'm anxiously waiting for my black out lamp rings! that will wrap up the " Black out" theme. Also dig your red stripes!

I also agree with you that the car is meant to run on 17's or 18's and in fact I think mini's running 17's or 18's look amazing without a doubt...(yours being a perfect example) with 20's there is some work involved...However, 20's can look appropriate depending on the wheel choice.

Rock on!!!

 

More bling!

 

Minihune

Thanks for the compliments! I thought i was going to get reamed!!! I cant agree with you more on the diameter of the disks. I'm currently doing some research on big brake kits...I does look very odd to have such a massive rim with such small brakes! You seem to be very knowledgeable with the whole performance thing...Do you have any recommendations in terms of Brake kits??

Your wood dash rocks! I've been trying to find a similar choice but a bit darker...I was actually thinking a black stained wood grain dash would look awesome on my ride. If any suggestions please let me know...

 

Sweet ground clearance

I like the color choice

 

Like Dr. Phil and Les said, there will always be those who think that an idea is crazy and it "won't work". People told me I was crazy for putting 22" on my Mercury Marauder cuz of "performance"...blah, blah, blah....I walk all over Chevy's and just added a Supercharged Range Rover to the list!! The look on the face of a $80,000 sport truck owner when a 2 ton Ford w/ 22s kills him...priceless!! Seriously tho, Dr. Phil, Les.....hot cars. Me personally, if I was back in the states I would do 20s. Here in Kuwait, there are some horrible roads, gravel everywhere and potholes galore.....I regret putting the 22s on the Marauder just cuz of that, but screw it. I just received my Breyton GTS-R today in 18s....WOOHOOOO!!

That being said a guy in the U.K at Wolfracetuning has some twankies on his mini......http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp9P3Cxg6uw

NOW THATS HOT!!

 

Please post pics of this in a new thread or the wheels thread! I dig those wheels.

Back to your scheduled bashing...