15X8 wheels????
 

Anyone running a 15X8 wheel??


I was thinking about having some Circle Racing, Kodiaks or Keizer made for testing after nationals and a bit for fun just before. I'm definitely going to DSP next season, I cannot wait to mod the Mini!!!

I wonder what offset to make them?

28mm?

I know they will probably ask for measurements but I figured I'd get a good baseline.

I'll take pics when finished!!!

15x8 is a bit extreme. You're going to use them for track?
Yours are Custom built since most times the widest you can find easily is only 15x7"

You might talk to Alex@tirerack.com about the options for offset. I'd think that maybe there may be some hidden rubbing issues depending on the rim design. Most times once the MINI puts on 225 or wider tires there are risks for rubbing without changing to wider fenders or doing some trimming of the wheel wells.

Track? No, autocross, this is in the DSP autocross forum. 15X7's won't cut it. I think SSR's make a 15X7.5 in the Comp, but I'd rather spend the same amount and get custom 15X8's. Oh, and, everything is extreme in Street Prepared class!!:razz:

About a 26mm for the 15x8, about 12mm for a 15x9. Obviously you're speaking of running a Hoosier 225/45/R15, correct?
Panasports would be a good option. Although I used to tought the Kodiaks (when there were no other 16x6.5's) I've found people with leakage problems with the 3 piece wheel, and it's annoying to deal with.
One of the well prepared FSP Scirocco's in D.C. is running a 13x9 with the 225/45R13 and they fit great.
The 225/45R15 actually has a wider section width, which means they'll easily fill the 15x9. Your biggest issue becomes weight.

The post I made in the Power forums about the guy with all the mods...that guy is supposed to be getting some Panasport 15x8's to run SM with. I'll see if I can get a hold of him and see what's happening.

Brian

Brian
thanks for the reply. Yes, definitely the 225/45/15 Hoosiers. I'll take a peek at the Panasports as well.

I guess I'll go for the 15X9's, you think??

Let me know if you find anything out from that other guy.

thanks
Craig

I just got off the phone with Keizer, they said they 10.5lbs or so on a 15X9. Not too bad and it will run $1320 list price for a set of four. He also said I would have to run spacers for this.(should I adjust the offest accordingly?)

I wonder if a 15X9 will be better than a 15X8. The 15X8 would allow me to switch to STX if I ever wanted to run that at a specific event, which would be nice, but I don't want to give up any performance for DSP.

What do you think??

I checked with Panasport, he said he guessed a 1 piece 15X8 would weight around 15lbs. Not sure though since he said he had not made any of these yet.

I am going to check Kodiak and Circle as well. My thoughts are that they probably won't know the weight until they are built, at least thats the vibe I'm getting.

Well, last weekend Scott (the guy I was talking about) ran the Level 3 school with 15x9 Kodiaks in the new style and 225/45R15 Hoosier R3S04's. So here's my evaluation from that:

MAN, that's a lot of meat!

First off, because the bead has changed on the S04 tire, and there is a bead "extension", the 9" wide wheel stretches the tire sidewall out a tad. Knowing this, I'd probably go with an 8.5" but wouldn't think an 8" would be bad.
So the notion of going with the 8" to work with STX wouldn't be unreasonable.

Clearance was only an issue because the wheels stuck out significantly, but his suspension is still stock. When hitting dips in the course, he bumped the rear flares. But, that would go away by simply adding off-the-shelf Koni SA's.

He definitely needs a couple of suspension changes, and probably won't be able to drop too far, but that's the only way to get that much rubber under the car, and it's significantly more than the 205/45R16. The difference is around one inch per corner of extra tread width.
The amount you can drop is still unknown, but it will obviously be directly related to how stiff the suspension is.

Hopefully, with the help of MINI Mania and/or other sponsors, you'll see me in DSP next year as well...

Brian

Has anyone found a 15" x 8" wheel that will just bolt up or is this custom only? We are looking to leave STX and run DSP regionally.

I think someone is running 15x8 Smoor wheels on his MCS. They look pretty badass

I gave up on the search for reasonably priced 15x8, 4x100's for my Miata. So I decided to design my own and start a company to make them.

I checked into importing the Smoors. 17 lbs and the retail would have been $190 ea. Yikes. I posted here about 6 months ago getting feedback for my wheel and appreciate the feedback. Design is just about final. I'll be casting them at +40. Double valve, 1-1/2" machined lip, heat treated, 505kg load, ISO9001, JIL (Japan) test standard. 12.8lbs is the target weight based on the design program calculations. Hub center is 69.1. The casting can be quickly changed to +20 but I'll do the first container all at +40 at and let people figure out what spacers they need. Looks like $139 ea + shipping from California. It'll work sorta like a group buy. I'll buy ad space here when it's official.

The wheels don't exist yet and I'm not selling them either. Just getting feedback is all. What's the hub center on a Mini?

For the MINI, center bore is 56.1mm. Often we look for offsets about +45mm, not sure about the clearance for a 15x8" rim with +40mm offset.

What finishes are your considering? Got any early designs you can post?

I would think on a 15x8 to clear the inside components, we would need probably something in the 25 range on the offset. The SSR Comps 15x7.5 require a very very small spacer in the rear I believe(with some camber). So, the 15x8 is going to be 1/2" wider. So, that would put the wheel roughly 6.5mm wider for both inside/outside. If the offset was 28-29mm it would have the same inside fitment characteristics as the SSR Comps. So, if we were in the 25-28mm range, that would be a bit more ideal I would think. So, 40mm offset with some H&R 15mm spacers would probably work.

Of course the above calculations are just off the top of my head, not knowing 100% if I am correct on how the offsets are calculated, so, if anyone considers themselves as an expert, please correct my Calculations.:)

Big question is, can we fit 225/50/15 Kumho V710's under the car with these wheels, lowered 1-1.5" with some good camber?

Hmm, if so, I'll probably buy a set.

Craig Wilcox

15x18? I will follow this thread to see what happens.

Bomboasy

Wyatt
 

I like american's classic cars and i'm glad that american's are recycling their heritage to compete with modern fast cars and they are working very well.

I ran the 15x8's +40 from 949 all last year with 10mm spacers. Things fit up nicely.

Darn restrictions won't let me Edit..... If I can come up with the money I plan to try the 949 15x9's on the front at least. I know 17x9's are going to require triming, I think I can squeeze the 15's on without trouble.

The 15x9's seem to work just fine with 225/50/15 V710's (front only)- using a 1/4" spacer. I've only used this setup once, unfortunately it was with my "winter setup" consisting of stock springs and zero camber. I'll be getting ready for the start of autox season here shortly, I don't think I'll have any issues with added camber and slightly shorter springs.



Jason

I am still waffling on getting some of the lovely Enkei 15x8 +40 that Alex got in about 6 weeks ago. Running 225/45-15 R1R on the Kosei 15x7 +38 isn't good enough.

But do help me understand please?

The stock rims are 16x6.5 +48.

The Kosei is 15x7 +38, and I've self trimming rear fender liners with my setup (H&R, lowered, LCA on the rear to -1 deg camber, -2.5 on the front)

I expected the 15x8 at +40 to correct the clearance issues on the outer edge of the rear tires by moving the rim centerline closer to the car (effectively decreasing the track slightly). I haven't checked, but had hoped that I would not have any issues on the inner edge with that width and offset.

But here you folks are talking about +28, or even spacers on a +40. Why is that? Is the wider track necessary to avoid clearance issues on the internal edges of the tires?

Thanks very kindly,

Charlie

With my 15x8's on the rear, the inside clearance problem is the edge of the rim rubbing against the trailing arm. My +36 offset wheels touch the trailing arm. I run a 3/16" spacer- I could probably get away with less, maybe 1/8" if I needed to.

Jason

Thanks Jason. I appreciate the heads up on that.

Charlie