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205/55 is a very awkward size in 15.
If you go down a step to 205/5o you have a readily available selection.
My suggestion would be Yokohama AD08RS, if you want more sporty, Toyo R888R, less sporty the Conti PremiumContacts.
All available on Camskill within 1-7 days.
Where did you order those bonnet vents from? Look like a knock off the GP Garage (based in Italy) vents, which are very good quality and look good too.
Depending on how much money you want to spend and how lairy you want to go, have a look at Italy and Japan to see something "a bit different". A lot of the UK R53s end up looking the same because everyone buys the same parts all stocked by a few UK suppliers.
Orrange G Wing (GP rep) is the wing you end up seeing on every modded R53 for example.
Not suggesting you buy a full bodykit, but have a look at 3D Design and Duell AG from Japan for example, for a bit of inspiration.
If you want a cheaper version of the 917 wooden knob, have a look at https://www.instagram.com/builtbybasil/
I have one made by him in the MX5, you can see it on my insta. He did a custom design for me and added metal weight inside, the MX5 shift is really affected by lightweight gearknobs so it needs to be >500g, closer to 1kg is better.
Over the Cravenspeed I would suggest the CAE shifter, but it's 4 figures (yikes). The Coolerworx is a decent cheaper example, but still £615...
NurseHolliday-
Yeah I really wanted to keep the circumference as close to stock as possible but there's definitely a bunch more options available for 205/50 alright. I think Dunlop used to do some Direzzas in 205/55 but I think they might be out of production. I'm pretty confident the Advan Fleva will be perfect for me if I can just get them so hopefully they'll be available next time around but I wouldn't mind having a set of wheels with R888Rs or something similar for summer/ trackday fun. I used to daily a 1997 Spi John Cooper Works on 13x7j w/ A048Rs and it was absolutely terrifying in the wet so not keen to repeat.
Those are the GP Garage ones in the picture, they look amazing but €300+shipping for two plastic vents is a bit spicy, not outrageous but the Type R style ones from Maxton Design were €85 shipped so they're worth having a look anyway!
I think they should look well on the R53 bonnet, a little smaller than the GP Garage ones but a bit beefier than the Focus RS ones.
The wing I'm thinking of going for is this K-wing that a chap off one of the Mini groups on FB is making. He does another version called a JC-wing which has deeper sides but I think the smaller sides are a bit more tasteful and a bit less similar to the G-wing everyone is running.
K-wing
JC-wingHe also does this splitter which is quite tasteful.
I've been checking out the Duell AG stuff alright, my mate has an R56 JCW and is mad for that stuff but I'd like to keep the R53 a bit more subtle (or as subtle as it can be with massive vents and a wing)... I really like the look of martijngizmo's one, it's sorting of drawing on classic Porsche RS/ Outlaw style with a bit of classic mini café racer style too. Hopefully going to keep along that kind of vibe and maybe a touch of older JDM style without it turning into a dogs dinner.
I have a Builtbybasil skateboard knob from my Alfa actually, I got him to do one highlighting the colours of the Alfa Romeo logo but I got it with a weird thread to fit an auto shift knob adaptor I had unfortunately. I'll certainly get him to do a 917 style on for me, great workmanship!
The Coolerworx shifter is definitely a possibility alright, it's a fair chunk of change but I know there are group buys for about £500 from some of the FB groups sometimes so I'll have to keep my eyes peeled!
Nahguavkire
Three weeks later my wheels are still sitting in the back of my car waiting for ,what I presume are mythical, tyres to arrive.
I appreciate we're in Covid-19 times but DT were bloody unimpressive from a communication point of view...
Also 205/55r15 -225/50r15 is a terribly tricky size to find a good tyre in :(
Any tyre recommendations for next time around? Hopefully Yokohama or Toyo will be available by then but I'm thinking I might shop well in advance in case I end up with this messing again.
Have also ordered the following bits:
I've also been future planning for performance upgrades and I'm conscious that R53s tend to run really hot so I've ordered a set of replica Mugen Civic Tyre R bonnet vents to vent the bonnet. I'm not absolutely certain I'll go with them until I offer them up for a look but I wanted something a bit different to the Focus RS ones everyone seems to be using and I didn't really want to spend the money on a set of RSI C6 ones when the Tyre R ones were a quarter of the price.
Exterior wise there will be a bigger intercooler intake scoop and a (relatively) tasteful wing and splitter planned too. I probably won't fit any of them until I've acquired all of them and sorted the coilers too for risk of veering into bad Max Power territory...