Opinion on 17" wheels?

[kshapiro]

You know the blue Mini they've been showing with the 17" wheels and superlow profile tires? I think it ruins the look of the car entirely. Comments?

[BruceK]

Quote:

On 14-04-2001 19:39:10 kshapiro wrote:
You know the blue Mini they've been showing with the 17" wheels and superlow profile tires? I think it ruins the look of the car entirely. Comments?

I agree. The only reason to have bigger wheels is to make room to fit bigger brakes. Lower profile tires do not necessarily handle better - just differently and with different compromises. For example: poorer ride quality, tramlining effect wandering all over the roads, poorer performance in rain, etc.

Let’s face it, the real reason some people like larger wheels is because it is a big part of the "rooster" syndrome where all sorts of gadgets and ornaments festoon the car – most of them comically non-functional. Just look at the idiotic proliferation of aftermarket coffee can exhaust tips, multi-level rear spoilers and pseudo-ground effect kits that are intended to scream "Look at me!!" in a pathetic appeal to the opposite sex. You could also add clear rear taillight lenses, “driving lights”, and thumpa thumpa sound systems to the list.

(Not that I'm opinionated or anything)

[digidelia]

I like the style of the rims that the Blue mini has. Not necessarily the profile tires that they come with.

[MINIAC]

While I like Minilite-style wheels, I think that 17 inch wheels look terrible on the MINI. I actually emailed Frank Stephenson and asked him whether the Minilite-style wheels would be available in 15 and 16 inch fitments. Here is his response:

"Obviously we can't let the cat out of the bag yet, but sure, you can expect to see a smaller Minilite available in the lineup."

In the same email he addressed my concerns about the BMW-Chrysler joint venture in producing the Tritec engine going south and whether it might delay the US launch of the MINI, by saying:

"Launch in the U.S. is on schedule, with an engine guaranteed to kick some tail! Combine that with handling that needs to be experienced to be believed, and I think you'll agree the wait has been worth it!"

[jpfahrstar]

I have to agree that the super low profile tires and 17" rims don't do anything for the MINI. I think the 15" rims in a Minilite style will look pretty good. I'll let you all know what I see at the New York Auto Show next week.

JP

[MINIAC]

I just visited MINI USA and sent them an email (click INFO and then Ask Questions) saying I thought 17 inch Minilites were too large for the MINI and hoped they would be offered in 15 and 16 inch fitments.

I recommend that everyone who feels this way should send an email saying so. Let's be heard!

[doug]

Quote:

On 15-04-2001 4:39 kshapiro wrote:
You know the blue Mini they've been showing with the 17" wheels and superlow profile tires? I think it ruins the look of the car entirely. Comments?

Hmmm. While respecting eveyone's opinions, I must say that I think the bigger wheels make the look of any car, including "that blue MINI". I do agree however, that the 45 series tires yield a profile that's too low.

Quote:

On 15-04-2001 5:13 BruceK wrote:
[...]
I agree. The only reason to have bigger wheels is to make room to fit bigger brakes. Lower profile tires do not necessarily handle better - just differently and with different compromises. For example: poorer ride quality, tramlining effect wandering all over the roads, poorer performance in rain, etc.

I want to test drive one before I decide on the wheel and tire sizes. I'll probably end up with two sets of wheels and tires - one for auto-cross/track and one for street.

[droeck]

I hope you guys aren't emailing BMW with complaints about the 17" rims. I personally like the white mini-lites displayed on the Oasis MINI. I am sure that they are not standard issue on even the S model as 95% of all the pics on this site portray wheels of smaller diameter, likely 15" and 16" sizes.

I will definitely opt for the 17" rims on a Cooper S, if available. I'm not sure about this, but does anyone know if the S model comes fitted with larger brakes, rotors, calipers, etc? I know the configuration of some braking systems dictates the use of larger rims. Is this a possibility?

Daniel

[Robert]

I have to agree with Daniel on this one, I think that the more options available the bettter.

I know that the idea of 17" wheels on a Mini seems absolutely wrong but when I saw the MINI in Detriot with the 17" tire and wheel combo I loved it !

As for which tire and wheel combo perfom the best, I suppose we will just have to wait and see.

Robert

[jfunkhouse]

I have a picture of the blue mini with the white 17"s on my background. I hope people don't email BMW and tell them that they shouldn't make them available. I love the wheels. I do know that there are sooo many options for the wheels on the mini. In BMW magazine which they send around there is a picture of a whole bunch of mini's in Paris. I must have seen about 5 or 6 different wheels on those and i have seen another 2 or 3 types which I didn't see in the magazine. I am guessing there is probably as many as 7 or 8 wheels i have seen and i know there are options for white or silver wheels. It sure would be nice to have the choice between 14 wheels!

Jay

[MINIAC]

Quote:

On 16-04-2001 17:07 droeck wrote:
I hope you guys aren't emailing BMW with complaints about the 17" rims. I personally like the white mini-lites displayed on the Oasis MINI. I am sure that they are not standard issue on even the S model as 95% of all the pics on this site portray wheels of smaller diameter, likely 15" and 16" sizes.

I will definitely opt for the 17" rims on a Cooper S, if available. I'm not sure about this, but does anyone know if the S model comes fitted with larger brakes, rotors, calipers, etc? I know the configuration of some braking systems dictates the use of larger rims. Is this a possibility?

The intent of my email to BMW was to encourage them to offer Minilite style wheels in 15" and 16" fitments and not just in 17". When I refer to Minilite style wheels I mean the 8-spoke wheels on the MINI below:



I haven't attended any of the shows but the only photos I've seen with what appear to be 17" wheels are the one above and this one:



I think I read that the MINI One and MINI Cooper will have 15" wheels as standard with 16" as optional. The Cooper S will probably come with 16" wheels as standard.

I remember looking at the Lexus IS300 when it first came out. The sales brochure said that the tires on the standard 17" wheels would last only 20K (maybe that's why 16" wheels were a no-cost option). Personally, I don't want to be forking out money to pay for tires that often ... especially when they'll most likely be expensive 'run-flat' tires (MINI will have no spare).

But ... to each his (or her) own.

[Tarnofsky]

I'll go for them. I currently use 7J13 175/50 on my Cooper which is the widest road legal combination that is allowed for Germany.
I feel it is perfect. I also run 4.5J12 165/60 on my Cabriolet but I feel that the wider rims are better for cornering. The tyre does not travel on the wheel. It feels more direct.

Anyway: I already placed an order for the New Mini and I placed it with ALL options but spoiler. So - there will be 17" wheels...

Cheers,

Wolfgang

[droeck]

Can you list the options you ordered for your car? I'm curious to know what ALL options includes.

Thanks,
Daniel

[BruceK]

There isn't much content on the Canada version of the official mini.com website yet, but there is great picture of a silver MINI COOPER with fitted with some nice wheels. I don't know what size they are, perhaps 16 inch, but I think I like those wheels.

The silver color looks really nice in that picture. Just eleven months and counting....

[Tarnofsky]

Dear Droek,

they do not confirm yet, which options you can order but only confirm: all.
What I know is basically all that you can see on the MINI site plus heated front screen (info from the guy in the showroom), heated front seats, wipers with self-adjusting speed, headlight cleaning system.

Cheers,

Wolfgang