[02fanatic]

For those of us that may not want to keep the run flats at some point, or who are just trying to decide what alternate sizes are out there, here's what I was thinking for my JCW:

Stock Cup Spoke Wheel is 18" x 7.5" fitted with 205/40/18 summer performance tires. The same rolling diameter tire which matches the stock size is 235/35/18! Now that would probably look much better on there!

Of course it's probably too early to get any feedback since the likelihood of anyone upgrading their stock wheel & tire combinations on these new gen MINIs is minimal, but you have to start somewhere! For me, I will need to install all-season tires at some point if I plan to maneuver around safely in the winter, and the JCW only comes with summer tires on the 18" Cup Spoke Wheels...and this is what got me thinking. I've always thought the 205's were a bit undersized.

Anybody made swaps away from stock wheel & tire setups for the 18" Cup Wheels? How about the 235/35/18 tire size?...anybody try that size? Pics?


Offset may also be a consideration, but if I keep the Cup Spoke Wheels on there, clearance of the Brembos won't be an issue....but tire clearance may be a consideration from struts & wheel well clearance at full lock.

Finally, wheel width is important. The 7.5" width will easily support 215 or 225 widths, but 235 may be a bit of a stretch. But the 225 width will require a different aspect ratio, so the speedo may be slightly off. This is why I was inquiring about the 235/35 since it has the exact same rolling diameter as the stock tire size.

 

[02fanatic]

Nobody???


Surely there is experience out there about alternative wheel & tire packages for MINI's! On the BMW Forums I've frequented wheel & tire chat is one of the busiest sub-forum topics!


Nobody has fitted non-runflat wider/lower profile tires to your MINI wheels?

 

[SylleGS]

the 235/35 will be way to wide.. I have 205/40R17 on mine, non runflat. I would say max 215, but it will be a differnt ratio.

 

[02fanatic]

the 235/35 will be way to wide.. I have 205/40R17 on mine, non runflat. I would say max 215, but it will be a differnt ratio.

It would be on a 7" wide wheel, but the 18" Cups are 7.5" wide. Might still be a bit of a stretch though, I agree. 235's on an 8" wide wheel is perfect though. Personally, I think 225's would be just about right but the OD will not be perfect. Maybe that's not a problem though. 215's would work easily...just need to check availability and OD.

 

[02fanatic]

As a check, the stock size of 205/45/17 for the track spoke wheel (17" x 7"), a 225/40/17 tire is very close to the same OD only 0.8% smaller OD. But 225 width may be a stretch on a 7" wide rim. See the problem?

The arches on the F56 seem to have plenty of space for wider tires (and the Gen 3 MINI is a much larger car), so I suppose time will tell what works best as far as tire upgrades. 205's just seem too narrow to me. I believe I've seen 225's on the Gen 1 MCS and they looked excellent on that "smaller" MINI! I know they were wider than stock.

 

[SylleGS]

It's 3 cm wider, if i where you, i would keep the 205/40 in the front, and then try 235/35 i the rear, if you really want the 235. i think that 235 is to wide for 7,5 inch. And 235 will be a real pain in the ass, if you want to lower the car.

 

[R99]

It would be on a 7" wide wheel, but the 18" Cups are 7.5" wide.

Wrong.

They are 7" wide.

 

[siriuszero]

Wrong.

They are 7" wide.

On the Cooper S w/JCW pack, 18" wheels are 7", but on the factory JCW, the 18" wheel option is 7.5".

 

[02fanatic]

I've pretty much decided to just wait until I have my car and get used to it. I may decide to stick with the standard tire sizes, whether summer performance or M+S. Looks like the tire choices in the 205/40/18 size are somewhat limited, and larger widths have even fewer choices.


I'm leaning toward the 215/40/18 tire size which is off stock O.D. only minimally, but it's still off...speedo will register less mph with the 215's, and that may not be a good thing!

 

[02fanatic]

... The arches on the F56 seem to have plenty of space for wider tires (and the Gen 3 MINI is a much larger car), so I suppose time will tell what works best as far as tire upgrades. 205's just seem too narrow to me. I believe I've seen 225's on the Gen 1 MCS and they looked excellent on that "smaller" MINI! I know they were wider than stock.

Need to correct myself in the bold-italic statement above. I just went to look at the Gen 1 MCS I was referencing, and the tires are 205/45/17 (All-Season Goodyears)....so this obviously illustrates my point even better! The R53 MCS had the very same size wheel & tire combo as the F56 MCS, and just look how much smaller the same size wheel/tire package looks on the newer (and much larger) MINI! That size tire looks much better on the Gen 1 IMO.

 

[R99]

On the Cooper S w/JCW pack, 18" wheels are 7", but on the factory JCW, the 18" wheel option is 7.5".

Again, this info is wrong.

Please see this link:

http://www.etk.cc/bmw/EN/search/selectCar/F56/HC/BMW+JCW/ECE/36/36_2007/

They are 18x7 ET54, just like the rest of the OEM 18" wheel range...

 

[02fanatic]

Again, this info is wrong.

Please see this link:

http://www.etk.cc/bmw/EN/search/selectCar/F56/HC/BMW+JCW/ECE/36/36_2007/

They are 18x7 ET54, just like the rest of the OEM 18" wheel range...

From the MINIUSA website configurator:

18" x 7.5" alloy wheels in our JCW Cup Spoke design with a 2-tone finish, red edging and the "MINI John Cooper Works" logo embellished on the hub. Equipped with 205/40 R18 performance runflat tires.

I suppose time will tell.

 

[R99]

The MINI USA config has sadly been littered with errors since day 1.

The parts diagrams are correct, they are only 7" wide.

 

[02fanatic]

Well, I've noticed a couple things that I questiomed on the config . So we'll see. I chose the cup wheels partly due to the wider wheel width, but if the config is wrong I can't do anything about it now. One thing I question is the offset of ET 54. That seems to be inset alot to me, especially on the JCW with the Brembo calipers.

 

[R99]

Well, I've noticed a couple things that I questiomed on the config . So we'll see. I chose the cup wheels partly due to the wider wheel width, but if the config is wrong I can't do anything about it now. One thing I question is the offset of ET 54. That seems to be inset alot to me, especially on the JCW with the Brembo calipers.

Yeh, the offset is very high, they sit awfully in the arch.

If you look at the rims, the spokes bow outwards quite considerably for the brake caliper clearance.

My understanding is that to compensate for this fact MINI then fitted the arch extensions you find on the JCW...

 

[02fanatic]

Again, this info is wrong.

Please see this link:

http://www.etk.cc/bmw/EN/search/selectCar/F56/HC/BMW+JCW/ECE/36/36_2007/

They are 18x7 ET54, just like the rest of the OEM 18" wheel range...

You appear to be correct about the 7" rim width. Unless I really get surprised and they mysteriously end up being 7.5" (per the configurator). My parts guy confirmed the 18"x7" wheel size.

 

[G0G0BIG]

the 235/35 will be way to wide.. I have 205/40R17 on mine, non runflat. I would say max 215, but it will be a differnt ratio.

+1

I investigated. There is practically no room for anything bigger than 215. I wasted a lot of time with tire rack on this, they claimed to know what fitted the JCW but clearly did not have a clue.

In the end I stick with brand new set of Mini rims for winter tires. I went with Continental Contact for summer and will go Blizzak or Pirelli Sottozero 3 for winter. Rims are 498 race Spoke Silver 17 inch by 7 wide with 54 offset (standard with 2015 JCW). Tires are all 205/40 R17 and all non run flat. Run flats that come with the vehicle will be stored and mounted for resale.

...two cents but the ride on a JCW is rough so 17 inch rims and non run flat will help make for a way smoother ride...>> For those with the fancy 18 inch rims just make sure you have a great dentist and an amazing chiropractor!

In winter there is gravel on many roads here - wider tires with less offset to accommodate them are likely to throw up mud and stone chips on the rockers....

 

[G0G0BIG]

Yeh, the offset is very high, they sit awfully in the arch.

If you look at the rims, the spokes bow outwards quite considerably for the brake caliper clearance.

My understanding is that to compensate for this fact MINI then fitted the arch extensions you find on the JCW...

Yup. So finding suitable rims on tire rack is extremely difficult for JCW's added to the fact that F56's have a 5 x 112 bolt pattern and 66.5mm bore. I decided not to be a guinea pig and end up having to use spacers to fit a non OEM winter rim... I ordered rims direct from mini as I happen to really like the Race Spoke Silver rims anyway.>

I like the way the spokes bow out to make room for the big red brembos. I also find that aesthetically the brembos look even more meaty and big bad boy pro with 17 inch rims than with 18. The 18 inch rims make the brakes look more standard size.

 

[G0G0BIG]

+1

I investigated. There is practically no room for anything bigger than 215. I wasted a lot of time with tire rack on this, they claimed to know what fitted the JCW but clearly did not have a clue.

In the end I stick with brand new set of Mini rims for winter tires. I went with Continental Contact for summer and will go Blizzak or Pirelli Sottozero 3 for winter. Rims are 498 race Spoke Silver 17 inch by 7 wide with 54 offset (standard with 2015 JCW). Tires are all 205/40 R17 and all non run flat. Run flats that come with the vehicle will be stored and mounted for resale.

...two cents but the ride on a JCW is rough so 17 inch rims and non run flat will help make for a way smoother ride...>> For those with the fancy 18 inch rims just make sure you have a great dentist and an amazing chiropractor!

In winter there is gravel on many roads here - wider tires with less offset to accommodate them are likely to throw up mud and stone chips on the rockers....

Correction the above comment should state 205/45 R17 - and NOT 205/40 R17 which is too small and for which speedo will not work properly. In addition to a bumpier ride.

In Canada, Mini will offer this for winter:-

Race Track 501 / 17" Alloy rims by 7" with ET54 offset and 5 x 112 bolt pattern

Dunlop SP Winter Sport run flats in 205 / 45r / 17 88V

 

[02fanatic]

Yup. So finding suitable rims on tire rack is extremely difficult for JCW's added to the fact that F56's have a 5 x 112 bolt pattern and 66.5mm bore. I decided not to be a guinea pig and end up having to use spacers to fit a non OEM winter rim... I ordered rims direct from mini as I happen to really like the Race Spoke Silver rims anyway.>

I like the way the spokes bow out to make room for the big red brembos. I also find that aesthetically the brembos look even more meaty and big bad boy pro with 17 inch rims than with 18. The 18 inch rims make the brakes look more standard size.

Interesting input...thanks for offering your thoughts. I've all but given up on anything not stock on my JCW "for now"...time will tell if Tire Rack or anyone else produces a nice wheel that fits the JCW properly!

I had initially thought of larger tires because the stock tire sizes on the F56 just look "small"! This is one reason I opted for the 18"s...I've never had runflats before, so I'll see how the ride is. If I don't like it, I'll swap to non-runflat all-seasons...slim pickens for tire options but there is one I like.

My MA has a BMW M235 with runflat tires that have a 35 aspect ratio and he says the ride quality is absolutley fine, so we'll see.

I like the silver track spoke wheels (and I had them spec'd initially), but when I saw them on a real car I didn't think I liked them all that much. I had planned to possibly buy a new set of 17"x7"'s with all-season tires mounted for winter driving, but I agree with you regarding the open-look of the 17" race spoke wheels. So, maybe I'll take a second look at those.

I have grown to really like the 18" Cup Spoke wheels however...my only regret is they are not as "open" as the 19" Cup Spoke Wheels like on the Countryman...the open spokes would show off the Brembos much better!

I picked up on the 205/40/17's...figured you miss-typed (...just like the configurator! lol!)