hi
I have read mixed comments on what wheel size to use for a handling. Comments to the effect that 17 in wheels are not as toss-able as 16, to grippy. i would appreciate your opinions as I could be way off base...I want a Mcs to run the twisties with.

I believe that a wheel that lends to making a car toss-able is actually decreasing the energy being transfer to the ground via the motor. So a grippier tire, would be transfering this power in a way that is more condusive to forward motion. The mini is bless with a design that really stops body lean, so wouldnt the issues of side wall flexiblity that other car makes have to content with be more of an non issue for the mini or mcs

I was talking this over with a friend that has a non turbo 96 Supra. After I told him his red cars butt will be mine in the curves he went on suggest he would just go to 18" wheels and stickier tires...Which says the 17 inch wheel is the way to start so its seems with the mcs...why is then that alot of mini/mcs owners suggest the 16inch wheel?

thanks for your reply
scout "d"

 

Width is more important that overall size. If you went 18" on a MCS you would have to decrease the sidewall height of the tire to have the same gearing, and this would result in a faster turn in feel. The reasons all the really fast auto-xers run 13x10s are gearing width and weight.