Mini Stats: Trim choices, production, and delivery times (shared album)

We went with the 16" wheels to try for a better ride overall. Based on past experience, they should be less susceptible to tire and wheel damage too when you do hit a bad pothole.

 

Yep, though even though I practically shredded a run flat on a pothole, I never dealt with wheel damage with the 17s. The run flats were horrible with potholes though.

 

I chose the unique 17-inch Power Spoke rims for my SE. Because the low-profile 17-inch tires bulge so little they offer no protection for the Energetic Yellow stripe around the circumference of those rims. Consequently, I was always in terror of curbing those wheels and transferring that yellow paint to a heartless piece of concrete.

So I purchased a used set of 16-inch MINI Loop Spoke rims and they are both less-prone to curb damage and better suited to coping with Ann Arbor's potholed streets. As a long-time sports car driver, I hate to admit I appreciate the slightly softer ride the 16-inch tires provide with their taller sidewalls. Fortunately, I don't notice any negative effect on handling due to the narrower 16-inch Hankook summer performance tires when conducting my reckless roundabout test.

My plan was to put the Power Spoke rims back on the SE whenever I drove that car to an automotive event. However, it was raining for the recent Drive Electric event in April so I didn't feel like swapping the wheels (which happens in my driveway). Instead, I just brought one of the Power Spoke rims for display.