Wheel and tire recommendations - R56 MINI

Time to play everyone's favorite game: spend someone else's money!

I'm looking for input from the hive on wheels, tires, and sizing for both to go on a 2009 MINI Cooper S.

I'm tired of cold weather and looking forward to spring. Once the weather gets warmer I'll need to get new tires, wheels and TPMS sensors so I can put the current wheels and Blizzaks away (<3500 miles on the tires).

I'm thinking I want to go with white wheels to go with the white roof and British racing green body. I also want to go with 16" wheels to keep a bit more sidewall to reduce harshness from the road conditions (potholes, construction, etc).

My options through TR are limited by the 16" white wheels. I like the sparcos (see below) if they had red lettering like the 17" version (that would match the red S emblems".

I've also looked at Rota, but didn't see RBs or any 16" wheels in white. The Empi version is close, but the offset/width looks like it would pose issues for fitment. 

I'll also need tires, and was thinking of the continentals below. 

Here's the current wheels and car for reference:

These are the Sparcos from TR:

FWIW, I had an R53 in green/white on silver RBs with those Continentals. I ran 205/50/16s though. I'll see if I have a picture of it in the morning. I think the Rotas look great on a retro styled car like the MINI, even if you can't find white. I also run RBs in a 17x7.5 size on my current gray R53, also with a 205 width tire. 

In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :

I think you may have said you were running 205s in a different post, but couldn't remember if you had said they were 50 or 55. 

Thinking about the fit when looking at my current snows, I think 205/55 would rub when approaching full lock (even at rest).

OEM tire would have been a 195/55, but I ran 215/45's on mine with no rubbing. It was more a style thing than much of a performance difference.....I liked the wide look! 

On my classic Mini I run 175/50-13's for the same reason, I like the looks even tho it limits top speed (90 vs 92 - who cares?) and probably affects the fuel mileage.......

Can't find a decent picture of my old green MINI, but here's the current one on 16x7 RBs, with 205/50/16 Continentals. A 205/55/16 is only 5/16" greater radius than the stock 205-17s. You should be fine with it.....

In reply to MiniDave :

I have an extra set of 17x8 wheels for my ND Miata, with 225/45 Continentals that I want to try on the MINI. I have a picture someplace of the MINI on some 16x8s  with 205/45s, and they stick out enough that I'm pretty sure the 17s will rub.

Here is mine with 205/55r16s. I like the Sparco Terras and they would be at the top of the list if I was ordering something new. 

In reply to MiniDave :

If you like the wide look, 15x10s fit...kinda

I am running 215/45-17 Hankooks on stock Mini wheels for the street and same size but RE's for AX

Fitment Industries has quite a few choices in white fwiw maybe get a decent used set and have a wheel shop refin them to white

Thank you for posting the picture. I need to do some searching, and think about whether to go white or silver/polished. 

I did find a white version of RB with a polished lip, although I haven't called to check availability or shipping cost:

This makes me miss my r53.  I aso vote for the Rota RBs even if you have to special order them in a single color.

I think I have 205/50 15s on my R53, the wheels are koings I got off FB marketplace.

Are you sure you want to go to 16s? 17s have a much better selection of tires and will be a more futureproof size.

The fig-style wheels do look good. EvanB, are those Rota RBs as well? Yours don't have the stepped lip which I think looks better.

DeadSkunk (Warren) said:

In reply to MiniDave :

If you like the wide look, 15x10s fit...kinda

I was under the impression that 15" didn't clear the brakes on an S?

The OP want's 16's,  those will clear.....some 15's will work but I think you have to play around with offsets to clear the larger calipers on an R56 vs an R50 - R50's came with 15's (1st gen non-supercharged cars)

In reply to No Time :

I used to have an NB Miata and multiple sets of 15" wheels. I test fit all of them on my R53  because I would take one of the miata wheels as a spare on long trips.

GameboyRMH said:

Are you sure you want to go to 16s? 17s have a much better selection of tires and will be a more futureproof size.

The fig-style wheels do look good. EvanB, are those Rota RBs as well? Yours don't have the stepped lip which I think looks better.

Mine are Minilite. 

GameboyRMH said:

Are you sure you want to go to 16s? 17s have a much better selection of tires and will be a more futureproof size.

The fig-style wheels do look good. EvanB, are those Rota RBs as well? Yours don't have the stepped lip which I think looks better.

I'm looking at 16s to keep a bit more sidewall to help reduce the harshness over sharp edged bumps and imperfections. 

Since it would be summer only tires I could go 17s, but even with the winter tires (195/55R16) I cringe when I can't avoid some of the smaller imperfections like the manhole covers that are recessed on my street. 

In reply to No Time :

I run the same size snow tires as you, for the same reasons. When I put any of my 17s on the car the increase in harshness is noticeable. If you put those 16" Continental DWS on it you will like them.

Thanks for the feedback. I need to see what options and colors I can get for RBs in 16", or if I can get the sparcos with red lettering.

I'd prefer RB style, but think either would be good. There is also the convenience of ordering for TR as a package I'll need to consider. 

I regret not downsizing to 16s on my R55 clubman S. 

It is just a harsh riding car. The wife refused to go anywhere in it after a while. The Bilstein sport "jiggle" combined with no sidewall made NVH pretty bad. Loved the way it handles though.
 

My unpopular opinion: I think the Terra S is the most "It's Ok, I guess" wheel design I have seen in years.

In reply to Trent :

I get it, wheels are very subjective. 

My personal pet peave is directional wheels. I don't like that they are going in the "wrong" direction on one side of the car. I know I can only see one side at a time, but it still bugs me. 

These are also an option from TR that could be a consideration. I like the smaller hub section, but they have some downsides. They add about $125 to price for a set (not a show stopper), but also move the scrub radius even more positive (ET 37 vs ET48 factory 17s) than the Sparcos (ET 42).

15x10s?! Damn, that's cool! 
 

I have nothing to add here except I like small diameter and wide wheels, especially on small cars like a mini. I like the RBs more than the Sparco and OZ. And I like the 15x10s the most! 

In reply to CyberEric :

I'm open to other suggestions for wheels, if anyone has something else they like. 

I've been watching FB, but haven't found anything that jumps out at me. 

In reply to No Time :

Here's mine on 16" Enkei RPF1 rims. I have three wheels that I think  look good on most cars, these Enkeis, the rota RB in silver, and Kosei K1s in silver or white. Some time this year I'll be trying the stock 17" ND Miata wheels on it. They need the center enlarged first though.

Keep watching FB Marketplace. Bargains pop up regularly. I bought 5 sets of 17" wheels last year for a total cash outlay of $930.