help me choose 15" or 17" or 18" wheels

[simonbuysellit]

hi, I need new tyres on the front of my OEM 15" 7 hole alloys.... so.... do i get replacement tyres (seems boring and i promise to put the new ones on the rear), buy 4 wider 205/55/15s tyres (looks fun) or look out for some 17" wheels? OR EVEN SOME 18s. Does anyone drive 18"ers? I cant decide. please help asap with your views asap.

[simonbuysellit]

would be silly to put the wider only on the rear i suppose?

[OJM]

I'd go for some 17s! Will transform the look of the car!

Do you have a pic of your car at the moment?

[simonbuysellit]

car is red with white roof, 15" white pepper pots. Standard cooper atm. I spoke to tyre centre and they dont recommend fitting wider tyres as "surely bmw have spent millions designing the car to know what tyres it needs" etc. Plus the insurance issue. Any thoughts?

[simonbuysellit]

what about 18" wheels like these 18" BMW Mini Black Pol Style Alloy Wheels & Tyres on eBay (end time 30-Jul-09 23:11:56 BST)
Guy says i wouldnt need spacers/steering limiters. Would i?

[MINIAC]

Quote: Originally Posted by simonbuysellit (original)

what about 18" wheels like these 18" BMW Mini Black Pol Style Alloy Wheels & Tyres on eBay (end time 30-Jul-09 23:11:56 BST)
Guy says i wouldnt need spacers/steering limiters. Would i?

With a 38mm offset you wouldn't need steering limiters with these replicas. If centerbore is NOT 56.1mm you would need hub-centric rings.

[Paul]

Depends what you want. For handling etc, stay with 15s, or get some light 16s (more expensive) or lighter 17s (usually even more expensive) or even lighter 18" wheels (even MORE expensive). But if you increase your unsprung weight too much with bigger, heavier wheels, you'll most likely regret it.

[simonbuysellit]

omg i dont know!
i have always hated the teeny wheels on it and yearned after some larger ones (bigger is better mentality) and i guess looks are important. do you think these replicas would weigh more than the stock 17s then? i know my 15s weigh v little.
Does anyone drive 18" and have an opinion?

[M.O.S]

Tyres are a lot cheaper for 15s

[mini doller$]

my wheels are 18s and after market. didnt need to do eney thing the tyre center fit them tuk 30mins thats them tracked and balanced to





think 18s make my mini one look a lot beter !!!!!!!!!

[simonbuysellit]

I'm in love with your car! I found these on ebay 18" MINI WORX STYLE WHEELS & TYRES MINI COOPER S ONE 1 on eBay (end time 25-Jul-09 12:50:58 BST) which look similar to yours. They said i need new nuts to fit them though, any idea where id get some?. I'd love some 18s i think youve convinced me BUT........ the offset is 42 not 38 like the others im considering. aaaaaaaaaaagh! Will this work.?????

[adam_Randell]

im running 18s....wouldnt have it any other way either. just make the car look so much better imo.

simonbuysellit - the bolts you are referring to are most likely to be TUNER BOLTS you these arnt likely to be stocked in many places. I got mine from wheelmania for about £20. they are all locking nuts too which is always good

if if has a bigger offset they may sick out slightly....which is illegal but depends by how much they stick out if you wil get pulled wtc. how wide are they? i.e 18x7, 18x8 18x8.5 etc

[simonbuysellit]

Wll i need to decide between 2 wheels really. They have different offsets, whatever that is. Need to buy asap as the fronts are pretty illegal. Please advise.

Rim Width:
7.5J
Tyre Width:
215
Rim Diameter:
18 inches
Aspect Ratio:
35
Offset:
38
which is the 18" BMW Mini Black Pol Style Alloy Wheels & Tyres on eBay (end time 30-Jul-09 23:11:56 BST)


or do i go for the Metal Type:
Aluminium
Tyre Type:
All-Weather
Rim Width:
7.5J
Tyre Width:
215
Rim Diameter:
18 inches
Aspect Ratio:
35
Offset:
42
18" MINI WORX STYLE WHEELS & TYRES MINI COOPER S ONE 1 on eBay (end time 25-Jul-09 12:50:58 BST)

[adam_Randell]

Quote: Originally Posted by simonbuysellit (original)

or do i go for the Metal Type:
Aluminium
Tyre Type:
All-Weather
Rim Width:
7.5J
Tyre Width:
215
Rim Diameter:
18 inches
Aspect Ratio:
35
Offset:
42
18" MINI WORX STYLE WHEELS & TYRES MINI COOPER S ONE 1 on eBay (end time 25-Jul-09 12:50:58 BST)

i say go with these - im not really a fan of GP wheels on anything but a GP tbf.

however - there are a lot of nice after market options? also - with the GP style ones, as they are polished and lacquered, (also, as they are replicas not as good quality as OEM) stones pierce the lacquer and then oxidize. here is a pic of my polished wheels which cost just shy of £1k



these were 2 months old - just been replaced as the ones i had before did the same (this was in the winter time).

[adam_Randell]

Quote: Originally Posted by mini doller$ (original)

my wheels are 18s and after market. didnt need to do eney thing the tyre center fit them tuk 30mins thats them tracked and balanced to





think 18s make my mini one look a lot beter !!!!!!!!!

dude! what profile are thos tyres?? r they 30?? theyr THIN...im on 35s and thats pretty uncomfortable at times....