Gabe forgive me if this is a ridiculous question but can you explain what, if anything, is stopping you from putting all season tyres on your 18″ Ultraleggera’s?

Good question. Here are some answers:

1. I don’t want to make my wheels square from the winter chicago roads.
2. I don’t want to subject the OZs to salt.
3. Constantly installing and removing tires will eventually degrade them.

I understand you don’t prefer S-Lites… but than again, you were pretty much begging for any free wheels… so beggers shouldn’t be choosers!

Asking politely doesn’t make good podcasting :)

MINI of Dallas had a clearance sale on R99s, but I couldn’t do it… sigh.

See HERE for detail on the bolt differences. The 12mm R50/R53 bolt appears to have a slightly different taper where it meets the wheel. I guess you can make up your own mind as to what to do but I say keep R50/53 wheels on an R50/53 and keep R56 wheels on an R56.

I guess I was mistaken about Todd running other wheels on his GP. Sorry. I can say I’ve seen a GP with S-Lites (in person) and the S-Lites I have off an ‘04 fit (lugs and all) on my R56S.

That’s not true. Some later S-lites sure do, at least. Todd ran S-Lites on the GP. Same brakes and lugs, right?

To clarify – this has nothing to do with the wheels fitting over the brakes. The only question mark is how well they will fit with the different lugs. Todd is the one who told me they may not fit so if he had S-lites on his GP that would be a surprise.

A couple of things because I have no idea what I said I this show since I haven’t heard it yet :)

• I believe s-lites do fit and wouldn’t cause any issues but the fact that MINI makes a new S-lite with a new part number to specifically fit the R56 and late ‘06 R53s shouldn’t go unnoticed.

• I don’t really want S-lites. I’ve had two sets on two different MINI. They’re heavy and I’d rather have something a little less common.

I think s-lites should fit an R56 fine. I have a very late 06 R53 with the updated r56 standard faux-JCW brakes which have the new fine threaded lugs.

Congrats on getting the faux-JCW brakes first off! I wonder if your car has the new updated s-lites that MINI now has available for purchase with the R56?

There’s an internal memo that was posted on MotoringFile last year about this issue and it was pretty cut and dry on what should be fitted to cars with the new size. It’s somewhere on the site if someone wants to do some digging.

I think s-lites should fit an R56 fine. I have a very late 06 R53 with the updated r56 standard faux-JCW brakes which have the new fine threaded lugs. It came with s-lites from the factory, and I also have a set of R105 wheels that I bought used (they where made in late 2005 probably). No problems running either set of wheels.

That’s not true. Some later S-lites sure do, at least. Todd ran S-Lites on the GP. Same brakes and lugs, right? Mine came off an ‘04. They fit over the brakes and the bolt holds are just over 16mm (which means they fit the new 14mm bolts). Just went on the car with some Dunlop Winterspot M3’s.

There are a few other R56S owners on NAM who’ve showed off their S-Lites as well.