HRMINI

ok people....   215/55 16 on 16x7?  to big for the 2007 cooper?   or should i go with 205/55 16?

I put 225/45/17 with 17 X 7 on my 06 MC. They work just fine but I do have a couple of small issues with them. I had to put 5mm spacers on the front so the tires wouldn't rub the strut. That doesn't hurt anything but you need to put a wheel stud kit on because with the spacers your wheel bolts will only have about 3-4 thread engagment. I have also found that during extreme suspension motion (like agricultural racing) the tire will rub the plastic trim piece on the hood and will pop the rivets holding it on. It's a $2.00 fix.

My thinking is the 215's should be good but unless you drive at the limit of adhesion and need every ounce of traction go with the 205's and you won't have to worry about it.

Is this a difficult task?


What do you mean by this?

Nope, easy task! Just make sure you get some good quality studs, or check into the longer lug bolts. Remember you have 14mm not 12mm like us Gen 1's. Good spacers are a must, make sure you spend the $ and get the ones that are drilled to your bolt pattern, 4x100mm, not the universal ones(they suck, hard to keep centered while tightening the lugs down)
Heres a great spacer, H&R, but these are for Gen 1 12mm, so youll need to find something like this but for 14mm
http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html/subcategory_detail.asp?modelcode=Mini&subcat_id=93 (http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html/subcategory_detail.asp?modelcode=Mini&subcat_id=93)
and don't get Palo Uber studs, there crap.
I put these on Frank
http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=TWH9950 (http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=TWH9950) but again these are 12mm, somebody has to have 14mm
TSW has some good stuff, email Jeff and tell him what you have and he'll come up with what you need.
http://www.txwerks.com/servlet/Categories?category=MINI%3AWheel+Accessories&searchpath=19972&start=1&total=13 (http://www.txwerks.com/servlet/Categories?category=MINI%3AWheel+Accessories&searchpath=19972&start=1&total=13)

Oh yea, just wanted to mention we've got Mini envy!
Hope as is well, and looking forward to yall getting back to the states!

I've got the TSW lug studs and my only complaint is they have started to rust.  Admittedly I should have taken better care of them, so I would still recommend them.  What I would do is buy the TSW lug nuts, not a slam on TSW, they work great, the just need a special lug socket.  Where as 949 Racing has 17mm tuner lugs that would have coverd more of the stud, thus not letteing the stud corrode.   For me, I like the idea that I can get a 17mm socket anywhere, unlike the special lug key.   Lesson learned from reality.  Texas speedwerks sell the conversion stud kit.. 14 mm into the rotor and 12mm for the  lug bolts.   
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w40/MPETUOS/txs.gif)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w40/MPETUOS/949.gif) 

Nice Info Guys....   thanks alot!

Sorry, the "limit of adhesion" AKA the "edge of traction" is a racing term that refers to the amount of traction any given tire can give. It's that razor sharp edge between where the tire has the maximum amount of grip to the road and the point where the tire says "I'm done" and sends you off into the weeds. It can be a very thin line depending on the type of tire.

I could go on for days about it but I'll try not to bore you. Let's just say it's every racers dream to live there the entire time their on track. Although it never happens.

I feel I'm pretty good at the "weeds" part.....  :icon_evil:

None of these F*****'s will ship to APO....  i hate all of them

So have them shipped to us and we'll then ship it to you.  :023:

Would you do that if i needed? 

ok so Spacers?  100% nessicary? 

of course silly!! :045:

I've been running 215-50 16s for years. Very close to stock diameter. Just .1% taller than stock.
Your 215-55s would be too tall. The 205-55s would be closer to stock. Too large by just 1.8% in diameter.

Zero fitment issues using stock X-Lites(+48 ET), NZO wheels with stock offset and SSR Comps running +42 offset.

BF Goodrich Traction TAs. Never was a Goodrich fan until I started running these tires. Ask Angela. She autocrossed my old set. :023:

I run the ProMINI studs. No rust in over a year. he H&R spacers are great, running them too. You shouldn't need them for anything under 225 width on the stock offset.
Any machine shop worth 2¢ can punch out the holes in the spacers for about $20. Hell I could do it on a drill press. Of course the bit would run you $20  :icon_lol:

ok Everbody have decided on 225/45/16's on 16x7's and i need to know if i HAVE to have spacers and new lugs cause i would prefer not to have to do that

My quess would be YES.

Need to know the wheel offset. Without that you can't/won't get an accurate answer.
If your car isn't lowered and you are running stock offsets it'll be damn close on the inside of the tire. If you go 5mm spacers you will then need to get 10mm longer bolts or studs( you may find 5mm one but I couldn't). You will then almost certainly rub on the outside of the tire slightly. Probably just under full load of gas, 2 people or more, and spirited cornering involved. Just in the rear. Yes get 4 spacers.

Wheel studs are nice but remember that'll force you to change wheel locks or do like I did and use 3 studs and 1 lock but good luck finding a lock bolt that is longer than stock spec.

ob,

here are the tires...  16x7  MOTEGI RACING SX7 Flat Black w/Mach Lip (http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelCloseUpServlet?target=runWheelSearch&initialPartNumber=27986716FBML&wheelMake=MOTEGI+RACING&wheelModel=SX7&wheelFinish=Flat+Black+w%2FMach+Lip&showRear=no&autoMake=Mini&autoModel=Cooper&autoYear=2007&autoModClar=With+Rub)\

what do you think?

I like them and Motegi is good bang for the buck stuff. The downside is the only offset I can see, in a quick web look around, is +35. Running 225s you will get some rubbing on the outside. Shouldn't be too bad if you're not lowered but I can almost guarantee they'll rub some. The nice part is the tire will wear out exactly what needs to go :icon_lol:
If you're lowered I can't speak from experience but it'll obviously rub more. How much I can't say.

You'll love the 225s and that size(225-45x16) is pretty close to stock. Speedo will read high by 1.8%
Very close to the 205-50 16s I ran for a bit. An indicated 60mph will be close to an actual 56mph since most MINI speedos read fast anyway.

Pics will be a must

ok what about this combination will this work with out rubbing or the need for spacers and new lugs?  i just dont want to have to buy to much stuff to get a better grip i will do all that when we get home for autox  you know?

15x6.5 MOTEGI RACING SX7 Flat Black w/Mach Lip  (http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelCloseUpServlet?target=wheelCloseUp&wheelMake=MOTEGI+RACING&wheelModel=SX7&wheelFinish=Flat+Black+w%2FMach+Lip)
205/55ZR15 Yokohama S.drive Blackwall (http://www.tirerack.com/upgrade_garage/SetCurrentVehicle.jsp?vehicleID=3129747&nextPage=/tires/tires.jsp&tireMake=Yokohama&tireModel=S.drive&partnum=055WR5S&i1)

I think you're more apt to need spacers for the 15's than the 16's.  I run a 5mm spacer on the front, ($8 Pepboys) for the 15's to clear the caliper due to the shallow offset.  Shallow offset gives you that "Deep Dish" look.  My 16's are stock size 16x 6.5 with  a size of 215/40/16 with no spacers & no rubbing.  (Apologize for the size error in the above quote.) 

Now, studs, lugs and locks.  I run the studs only because I change tires at least twice a month sometimes 4 or 6 times a month, so the convience is worth the $100 bucks or so. It might be alittle more but you get the point.

I can poke around on NAM to see if you orginal tire size 225/45/16 needs spacers or if they are "self trimming" for the wheel arches.  Or go with the 215/40/16's, no rubbing, no spacers. 

I recall driving obehave crazy when I was buying rims & tires with questions and concerns, so we all understand your concerns too, I know everyone at HRMINI will help!   I'll even get them test fitted here in the US for ya!!  And as far as shipping....... buy what you want ship 'em to my house, I'll have 'em mounted, balanced and shipped to your APO address.


Have you looked at 18racing.com  ? some cool stuff and some great new colors.   :039:

 :066: 

Don't you be using all that tread up before August!!!!

Don't sweat it. The less tread the better.  :023: 

That is unless it's raining.

got to break them in before the ring....  DUH!