Thanks everyone for the help and advice. I went with the 17" ASA JH6 Bright silver paint wheels and the Yokohama AVS ES100 tires.
I'm not sure if it's the finish or the style, but these wheels stay alot cleaner than my web spokes.
The tires give a MUCH nicer ride than the run-flats and I don't notice any difference in handling as of yet.
I've had them on for just over a week.
Here's a pic,


Annette

 

I really like the Mini look wheels. They look great with pepper white.

 

Very nice choice of rim, looks a little like the Panasport and the Mini S-lites combined.

 

the wheels are awesome, but I cannot help to think with all the dark and black bits on the car that a darker wheel would have looked better ... my 1.5 cents

 

nice, what size tires are they?

 

17" ASA JH6 Bright silver paint

 

i asked tires, but thanx anyways Passat

 

I did try a darker wheel on the tire rack simulator thing. I guess it's a personal thing but I couldn't do it. It just looked like a fill in the blank spot to me. There was no definition, nothing to stop the eye, it needed something to anchor the black and white. Kind of how some people like those big huge spans of glass windows on a house and to me it looks like eyes without pupils, always gives me a feeling that the house is unfinished. Can you tell I worked for a home designer?


As to the tire size, here's the spec from the tire rack site.
Yokohama AVS ES100 (Ultra High Performance Summer)
Sidewall Style: Blackwall
205/45-17
WR Speed Rated
Annette

 

Great looking wheels and I know you'll like the drive of the Yoko's.

 

Awesome wheels !

Great choice, it gives the MINI a "classic" look

 

The wheels look great and your MINI too. I did notice your tow hook is in the grill, any reason why?

 

Thanks! That's just what I was going for

Kind of an inside joke, I have some friends that are way into racing, so I told them I wanted to be cool like them, and asked what it would take, hence the tow hook.

Annette

 

That's cool. Run one for me, race that is.

 

AWESOME WHEELS!! I was wanting to see what those look like in 17s.

 

I first went with a Gloss black 17 inch Motegi ff7 wheel and found that it disappeared into the wheel well but just last week found an 18 inch flat black 10 spoke that I think really makes this color combo work (for me). New wheels and tires sure do make huge a difference coming from s lites and run flat's.

 

I have the ES100s 205x45x17 with about 2K miles on them and I'm very pleased with all aspects (ride, handling, etc.) I spoke to a Yok factory tech at the "Run Offs" and he said for best results and to avoid tires becomming "noisy" I shoud rotate every 2-3K miles. I did rotate this past weekend and also washed the inside of the wheels.

 

Excellent picture, they look great!

I too have been trying to decide on a new set of wheels. Right now trying to decide between the 17" and 16" version.

Cheers.

 

Those wheels look great. Very clean and classic look.

 

Very nice choice!

 

Nice!

any trouble fitting the MINI hubcaps on?

 

What an absolutely great looking car....Congratulations

I guess the tow hook makes it go faster....LOL