Kansas City MINI Enthusiasts

Ok, going to be replacing the ASA AR1's this year. Looking into Flat Black Rota RB's. They look pretty good and they will be a heck of a lot easier to maintain over my current wheels.

What do you all think?

I have four 18 x 7 MKW w/ Michelin Pilot Sport+ tires for sale.
Make me a reasonable offer and I'm likely to agree.

18s are too big and I need a little more tire for these Lawrence roads. Plus those 18s you mention aren't my style. Good luck on the sale.

I'm not into the all black look, I think they look dirty all the time, worse than the silver colored wheels, but that's just my 2¢ (you DID ask for opinions)

OTOH, I'm a big proponent of doing what you like - it's your car and your money and what other people think is simply not important.

Did you get your rear brakes done yet?

Minidave wrote:I'm not into the all black look, I think they look dirty all the time, worse than the silver colored wheels, but that's just my 2¢ (you DID ask for opinions)

OTOH, I'm a big proponent of doing what you like - it's your car and your money and what other people think is simply not important.

Did you get your rear brakes done yet?

I was thinking the black wheels would be easier to clean since I would not have to deal with the polished lip getting damaged from road salt and dirt. Haven't done the rear brakes yet. That's next whether my friend helps me or I do them at a garage day or something.

Zackattack28 wrote:

Minidave wrote:I'm not into the all black look, I think they look dirty all the time, worse than the silver colored wheels, but that's just my 2¢ (you DID ask for opinions)

OTOH, I'm a big proponent of doing what you like - it's your car and your money and what other people think is simply not important.

Did you get your rear brakes done yet?

I was thinking the black wheels would be easier to clean since I would not have to deal with the polished lip getting damaged from road salt and dirt. Haven't done the rear brakes yet. That's next whether my friend helps me or I do them at a garage day or something.

Go for the black wheels. I sanded and painted my silver winter rims black and I couldn't be happier. I am actually going to paint my white summer rims black as well. White is impossible to keep clean.

IMHO - I don't like those wheels at all. I know they have the classic mini look but you don't have a classic mini. Go for something more modern. Just my .02 cents.

I'm still shopping around. Still debating 16" or 17" as well. I have a modern mini but I have a very classic look with the color scheme and chrome. Still I appreciate the input.

not my cup of tea

Zackattack28 wrote:I'm still shopping around. Still debating 16" or 17" as well. I have a modern mini but I have a very classic look with the color scheme and chrome. Still I appreciate the input.

In the end it is your choice and you will get 1000X opinions on the wheels . I still think the black will look excellent on your MINI. However, it you want the retro look go for those same wheels but in silver.

I'm thinking flat black or black with polished lip 16x7.5 ROTA RB with a 225/50R16 tire. I found a car with that tire size on it and I like the look. My car already has a kind of classic rally car look.

What do you think of the tire profile on this?
My biggest concern is maybe that the tire is too wide and I should try a 215/50R16. Or just get 17" wheels and use the tires I have.

Zackattack28 wrote:I'm thinking flat black or black with polished lip 16x7.5 ROTA RB with a 225/50R16 tire. I found a car with that tire size on it and I like the look. My car already has a kind of classic rally car look.

What do you think of the tire profile on this?
My biggest concern is maybe that the tire is too wide and I should try a 215/50R16. Or just get 17" wheels and use the tires I have.

DSC_1501.jpg

If you are asking........that is awful! Entirely too much tire. Do you just like the tire look or something because I almost threw-up on my computer looking at that picture.

I am running 205/45/17s as my summer set-up (standard factory size). I know folks who run 205/40/17 as well. 215 will work but I hear 225 rubs so stay away from that wide of tire.

You can get some very lightweight wheels if that is what you are looking for in your set-up. My Konig Feathers weigh-in at 17 pounds so they are very, very light for a street car and I haven't had any issues with them.

I personally like some additional tire. When I swap mine out, I will likely go with more sidewall to give me a little more gearing. Also, I spent to much time working on Troost and seeing too many Cadillacs with 24s and a pencil thin tire. Unless you are going with gold 150-spokes, keep some sidewall!

Hahaha. I love the responses I get. Yea I wasn't sure if that tire was right. If I stay with 17" wheels they will be flat black rota rbs most likely. If I go to 16" I'm thinking of those same style but with a polished lip and the tires are probably goig to be 215/50/16 which is about right and won't rub. I was curious how wide it could go before it was too wide.

Zackattack28 wrote:Hahaha. I love the responses I get. Yea I wasn't sure if that tire was right. If I stay with 17" wheels they will be flat black rota rbs most likely. If I go to 16" I'm thinking of those same style but with a polished lip and the tires are probably goig to be 215/50/16 which is about right and won't rub. I was curious how wide it could go before it was too wide.

I remember my friend had to take of his arches when he was on the track with 225s. Have you driven a MINI with wide tires like that before? It changes some of dynamics so I would suggest finding someone who has them so that you can at least see if you like it.

I decided to powder coat my white Konig Feathers a satin black.

MiniManiac wrote:

Zackattack28 wrote:Hahaha. I love the responses I get. Yea I wasn't sure if that tire was right. If I stay with 17" wheels they will be flat black rota rbs most likely. If I go to 16" I'm thinking of those same style but with a polished lip and the tires are probably goig to be 215/50/16 which is about right and won't rub. I was curious how wide it could go before it was too wide.

I remember my friend had to take of his arches when he was on the track with 225s. Have you driven a MINI with wide tires like that before? It changes some of dynamics so I would suggest finding someone who has them so that you can at least see if you like it.

I decided to powder coat my white Konig Feathers a satin black.

Thought about plasti dipping them so that if decided to go back to white later you could?

Zackattack28 wrote:

MiniManiac wrote:

Zackattack28 wrote:Hahaha. I love the responses I get. Yea I wasn't sure if that tire was right. If I stay with 17" wheels they will be flat black rota rbs most likely. If I go to 16" I'm thinking of those same style but with a polished lip and the tires are probably goig to be 215/50/16 which is about right and won't rub. I was curious how wide it could go before it was too wide.

I remember my friend had to take of his arches when he was on the track with 225s. Have you driven a MINI with wide tires like that before? It changes some of dynamics so I would suggest finding someone who has them so that you can at least see if you like it.

I decided to powder coat my white Konig Feathers a satin black.

Thought about plasti dipping them so that if decided to go back to white later you could?

No plasti dip for me. I am going all in!

The debate continues on. I'm trying to decide still between 16" and 17" and flat black versus black with polished lip. I know the polished lip ones would look fine on my car but I am tired of constantly worrying about making sure the polished lip stays clean and possibly getting it damaged. I found a kit on one of the mini parts websites that sells this polished trim piece you attach to the rim edge and it protects it from curb rash. It's polished silver so that could be a way of adding the polished trim back into the flat black wheel without going for a full polished lip wheel. So many decisions, haha. I wish someone had a Pepper White with chrome trim and flat black wheels so I could see it in person.

Zackattack28 wrote:The debate continues on. I'm trying to decide still between 16" and 17" and flat black versus black with polished lip. I know the polished lip ones would look fine on my car but I am tired of constantly worrying about making sure the polished lip stays clean and possibly getting it damaged. I found a kit on one of the mini parts websites that sells this polished trim piece you attach to the rim edge and it protects it from curb rash. It's polished silver so that could be a way of adding the polished trim back into the flat black wheel without going for a full polished lip wheel. So many decisions, haha. I wish someone had a Pepper White with chrome trim and flat black wheels so I could see it in person.

I like the black w/o the polished lip. Keep it simple

Well they're on their way. 17" Rota RB Flat Black. Keep it simple as Seth said. I already have a set of Black with polished lip so the black with polished lip Rota's didn't seem necessary. These will look good I'm sure. If they don't, I can sell them and still have the ASA's. But I think they will. I just couldn't make myself buy 16" wheels.

Also decided on a tire. I was tossing up between Fuzion UHP, Kumho Ecsta 4X, and Hankook Ventus S1 noble2. I think I'm going with the Hankook for these wheels. Found them for an affordable price ($340 or so on a different site) and so far that seems like the best price. Tirerack had them at $420. The Fuzion's seemed like a great bargain, but how good of a bargain I am not sure. The Kumho's are good but I haven't heard always great things. I had General, BFG, and Dunlop on my list but nixed those. Wanted something with a flatter sidewall and a wider tread like my Dunlop's were but not the Dunlop's. The Hankook looks like it fits the bill though that could change come when I actually buy them.

Zackattack28 wrote:Also decided on a tire. I was tossing up between Fuzion UHP, Kumho Ecsta 4X, and Hankook Ventus S1 noble2. I think I'm going with the Hankook for these wheels. Found them for an affordable price ($340 or so on a different site) and so far that seems like the best price. Tirerack had them at $420. The Fuzion's seemed like a great bargain, but how good of a bargain I am not sure. The Kumho's are good but I haven't heard always great things. I had General, BFG, and Dunlop on my list but nixed those. Wanted something with a flatter sidewall and a wider tread like my Dunlop's were but not the Dunlop's. The Hankook looks like it fits the bill though that could change come when I actually buy them.

Why are you going with all seasons? I thought you were going to run two sets of wheels/tires - winter and summer. You will like a high performance summer tire much better if you can do it. It is night and day compared to all season tires.

MiniManiac wrote:

Zackattack28 wrote:Also decided on a tire. I was tossing up between Fuzion UHP, Kumho Ecsta 4X, and Hankook Ventus S1 noble2. I think I'm going with the Hankook for these wheels. Found them for an affordable price ($340 or so on a different site) and so far that seems like the best price. Tirerack had them at $420. The Fuzion's seemed like a great bargain, but how good of a bargain I am not sure. The Kumho's are good but I haven't heard always great things. I had General, BFG, and Dunlop on my list but nixed those. Wanted something with a flatter sidewall and a wider tread like my Dunlop's were but not the Dunlop's. The Hankook looks like it fits the bill though that could change come when I actually buy them.

Why are you going with all seasons? I thought you were going to run two sets of wheels/tires - winter and summer. You will like a high performance summer tire much better if you can do it. It is night and day compared to all season tires.

The continentals will become my winter tire since I didn't want to spend the money on snow tires.

Zackattack28 wrote: The continentals will become my winter tire since I didn't want to spend the money on snow tires.

The tires you said you are looking at getting are all seasons. Are you going to run two sets of all seasons?

MiniManiac wrote:

Zackattack28 wrote: The continentals will become my winter tire since I didn't want to spend the money on snow tires.

The tires you said you are looking at getting are all seasons. Are you going to run two sets of all seasons?

That would essentially be the situation. Two sets of all-seasons. Two different sets of wheels. I would use the ASA's on the Continentals in the winter.

Zackattack28 wrote: That would essentially be the situation. Two sets of all-seasons. Two different sets of wheels. I would use the ASA's on the Continentals in the winter.

I think you are missing an opportunity to run summer tires. Keep the all seasons for the winter and buy some sticky summer tires. I don't understand why with two sets of wheels that you are going to run the same type of tire.